Getting Oriented

The Brandywine Valley's major attractions are less than an hour's drive from each other, so you can cover a fair amount of ground. In just a few days' time you can explore quiet country roads, admire the art collections and gardens of some of the region's best-known families, visit key sites from the Revolutionary War, taste a little wine, and hike, walk, or bike along some of the area's most lovely byways.

The Brandywine Valley. Ruled by two families, the Wyeths and the du Ponts, there are many reasons to stay awhile here, whether it's to take in the quintessential Brandywine vistas or explore other top attractions like Winterthur and Longwood Gardens.

Valley Forge. The two main draws of Valley Forge are at odds with one another—George Washington's Revolutionary War encampment at Valley Forge National Historical Park on the one hand and the King of Prussia mall on the other.

Bucks County. The main draws here are Washington Crossing, an area rich in American Revolutionary history, and New Hope, a cosmopolitan village known for its antiques stores and day-trippers.