Things to Do

Courtney adores where she grew up - with its beautiful farmland, nature trails, and small town feel. She did her best to create a curated list of places and activities for you all to explore while you’re visiting. Everything is kid-friendly, including the vineyards. 

Quintessential “KSQ”

Kennett Square (KSQ), PA is Courtney’s hometown - a quick 20 minute drive from the hotels in Wilmington, DE. Known as the “Mushroom Capital of the World”, KSQ is of course home to lots of mushroom farms (and manure to grow the mushrooms in…). But the Chester County area is also home to incredible nature preserves, parks, museums, and gardens. 

Talula’s Table (~20 min drive)

Start off your day with a La Colombe coffee (local to Philadelphia) and a scone at Talula’s table. This local gem is a sweet introduction to the small KSQ town. From here, you can walk down State Street to pop into some of the shops. 

Longwood Gardens (~20 min drive)

In a word: stunning. This is the place locals bring all their visitors. Their own website describes it better than Courtney could: “Spanning more than 1,100 acres, our Gardens showcase horticultural splendor, intricate fountain systems, architectural grandeur, and so much more—all with conservation at the core of our mission.”

The Creamery (~20 min drive)

Think indoor/outdoor beer garden meets hip community watering hole meets axe throwing joint (yes, very 2018 but it’s there). This old industrial space has been updated to entertain old and young alike. In late May, they’ll be sure to have food trucks, live music, and outdoor lawn games.

Sovana Bistro (~25 min drive)

A community staple. This bistro focuses on locality and seasonality. Their corn pizza is a favorite.

Outdoor Adventures

Okay nature lovers, Chester County has A LOT to offer you. Don’t feel limited by the list here, feel free to check out AllTrails as you plan out your routes.

Rockford Park (~10 min drive)

Close, cute, and you can even walk around the surrounding neighborhood to see the beautiful old houses.

Brandywine Creek State Park (~15 min drive)

As the name suggests, the park land is along the Brandywine Creek - which, depending on the rain we’ve gotten in the spring, looks more like a river. There are trails for hiking and biking, as well as a disc golf course, and tables for a picnic. 

Northbrook Canoe Co (~30 min drive)

Choose your own adventure: canoe, kayak, or even tube. Best done with a group of friends or families, as you’ll gently glide down the Brandywine with the sounds of the water and a canopy of trees on either side. You’ll be taken to the starting point and end back where you parked the car. Be sure to pack snacks, drinks, and your sunscreen! 

Natural Lands’ Stroud Preserve (~35 min drive)

This is one of Courtney’s favorite nature preserves in Chester County. It’s close to West Chester, PA - a cute college town about 40 minutes from Wilmington. You could take a long walk through the trails, and grab lunch in West Chester afterwards.

Natural Lands’ ChesLen Preserve (~30 min drive)

A Mainwaring family favorite. With the rolling hills, this hike offers breathtaking views of the surrounding farmland and forested areas. 

Brandywine Zoo (~10 min drive)

Small, local zoo. Great for the kids.

Art & History

Even though Courtney has been to many of these museums growing up, even she was surprised with how many there are!

Winterthur Museum & Library (~10 min drive)

Yes, this is where we are getting married. You’ll get to see a small piece of the land while you’re at the wedding, but certainly not all of it. If you’d like to explore the rest of the 1,000 acres, you’ll get free access all weekend as a wedding guest!

Additional Museums

Sports Fans

Wilmington State Park Pickleball Courts (~5 min drive)

Bring your pickle rackets and balls!

Deerfield - Golf (~25 min drive)

A bit of a drive but the nicest public course in the area. This is where Courtney played club golf in college!

Rocky Manor Golf Course (~10 min drive)

A local public course.