Delaware: Nature, Culture, and Special Family Experiences

Delaware combines expansive natural areas, American history, and vibrant cultural offerings into a varied destination. In Delaware County, you will find parklands, trails through forests and meadows, museums with a regional focus, and places where history comes to life.

Nature Trails, Parks, and Special Landscapes

The Delaware County Parks and Recreation Department manages nearly 1,000 acres of parkland. These include scenic nature trails, picnic groves, playgrounds, and sports fields. This makes it possible to plan a stay around different interests: A day can combine exercise on a trail with a break in a green setting, while playgrounds and sports fields offer additional ways to spend time together. Delaware County’s Primary Trail Network is also connected to the East Coast Greenway.

A striking natural area is Ridley Creek State Park, with more than 2,606 acres of forests and meadows. Hunting Hill Mansion stands there, a large English country house to which an original Pennsylvania stone farmhouse from 1789 was added in 1915. The combination of landscape and historic architecture makes the park an interesting choice for travelers who want to experience nature together with regional history rather than separately.

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum also offers various ways to observe nature. The refuge has 10 miles of trails as well as guided and self-guided nature walks. Visitors can also travel a 4.5-mile tidal section of Darby Creek by kayak or canoe. Binoculars and fishing rods are available to borrow free of charge at the visitor center. For trip planning, this means you can choose between walks, guided activities, and an activity on the water without leaving the nature-focused character of your stay.

Tyler Arboretum adds 17 miles of hiking trails to this selection, including the ADA-compliant Scenic Loop. Historic trees and state-record trees stand alongside meadows, woodlands, and gardens. The Chester Creek Rail Trail, in turn, offers its own historical perspective on the landscape: The middle section through Middletown and Aston townships is 2.8 miles long and was the first completed section at the end of 2016. The trail follows Chester Creek along the Chester Creek Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which dates back to the Civil War era.

Art, History, and Performances

The Brandywine Museum of Art focuses on American art from the Brandywine region. Its areas of focus include landscapes, still lifes, trompe-l’œil, illustrations, and works by three generations of the Wyeth family. The museum also offers guided tours of the Andrew Wyeth Studio, the N. C. Wyeth House and Studio, and Kuerner Farm. Those interested in art and the places where it was created can incorporate these offerings into their trip planning.

Admission to Brandywine Battlefield Park currently includes an 18-minute orientation film, access to the museum, and a guided tour of Washington’s Headquarters and the Gideon Gilpin House. The Benjamin Ring home was used by George Washington as his headquarters during the Battle of Brandywine. At the Christian C. Sanderson Museum, visitors can explore eight rooms displaying more than 200 years of American history, as well as objects related to the history of Chadds Ford and memorabilia reflecting the American experience.

Historical everyday culture is also part of the offerings. Newlin Grist Mill has a functioning gristmill; Newlin Grist Mill and Park includes twelve historic buildings. Scheduled demonstrations of 18th-century skills and crafts take place there, including woodturning, papermaking, and candle making. The Media Theatre presents musical productions, intimate concerts, and performances for children. Hedgerow Theater offers a year-round calendar of diverse performances, courses, and workshops. Depending on your preferred pace of travel, you can use these options to complement time outdoors with art, theater, or historical topics.

Regional Products and Special Excursions

Linvilla Orchards is a 300-acre farm operated by the Linvill family for more than 100 years. Visitors can pick fresh fruits and vegetables there themselves. Penns Woods Winery produces wines from grapes grown in Pennsylvania and has a rustic tasting room as well as outdoor seating amid the vineyards. These two destinations offer different experiences: One brings the agricultural character to life through picking your own produce, while the other combines regional products with a vineyard landscape.

Places for Further Trip Planning

To find suitable starting points and additional information, you can explore the following places individually: Media, Chester, Rose Valley, Glen Mills, Elwyn, Ridley Park, Springfield, Chadds Ford, Darby, Tinicum Township, Radnor, Aldan and Swarthmore.

When choosing your vacation rental or vacation home in Delaware, one simple consideration can help: Should the stay focus primarily on nature trails and water experiences, place greater emphasis on museums and history, or combine different interests?

For the broader travel overview: Pennsylvania.