posted by Cindy Boyer, Director of Public Programs

I’ve just returned from a visit to the Brandywine Valley area, in preparation for The Landmark Society‘s 4 day/3 night tour in September 2013. The kind Delaware folks invited me on a familiarization tour. I was able to visit some of the sites and restaurants we’ve scheduled for our group tour, and I know we are all going to be so spoiled by the ambiance, the interesting sites, and the unique stories we’ll experience.

But I was pleasantly surprised by a new experience, one that I did not know much about before my trip last week: a visit to Historic New Castle, Delaware. Imagine a small village with a green designed by Peter Stuyvesant, lined with buildings from the 17^th, 18^th, 19^th and 20^th centuries.The streets hold charming restaurants and shops, and some of the byways and alleyways still boast cobblestone surfaces.

It’s a living community, with many of the historic structures lovingly restored as homes and businesses. There are several house museums and historic sites open to the public. Add to that a breathtaking panorama of the Delaware River, and you have a destination like no other. I am thrilled that we are able to add a visit to Historic New Castle to our itinerary! We will enjoy a guided walking tour, lunch in the village, and time to explore on your own.

New Castle will top off our Brandywine Valley experiences: At the Hagley Museum we’ll enjoy an elegant home, stunning autumn vistas of the Brandywine River, picturesque “blue stone” structures – and a black powder demonstration. Nemours estate is a little bit of Versailles in America – well, given the size of the estate it’s a lot of Versailles. Winterthur offers gardens and grand mansions. Of course the granddaddy of all of them – Longwood Gardens – the largest horticultural site in North America – provides massive gardens, intimate tree houses, conservatories on a grand scale – even organ concerts and dancing fountain shows.

PHOTO: Courtesy Longwood Gardens

The creature comforts that await you on this tour are not to be missed. My stay at the Hotel DuPont last week had me feeling like a princess – an elegant place to call home for a few nights. They’ll be celebrating their centennial year when we visit. Meals will reflect the diversity of the area’s cuisine. I hope you will make a point of trying the product of the nearby mushroom farms, some crab cakes – or that local delicacy, scrapple.

Please consider joining our executive director Wayne Goodman on this very special trip.  Follow this link for more information or to register for the tour.