Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport is Perfect for Families

While we all like to expose our kids to historic places and cultural experiences, admission costs for the whole family can add a lot to the cost of a vacation or even a weekend outing. The Brandywine Valley solved this problem for families (and for couples and solo travelers as well) with the Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport, a summer pass that includes a dozen of the most popular attractions along this corridor rich in both history and art.

The Brandywine Valley is in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic region, stretching from Wilmington, Del., into southern Pennsylvania. It’s less than a two-hour drive from both New York City and Washington, D.C. The attractions are major ones — the famed Longwood Gardens, two world-class art museums, the historic powder works at Hagley, Winterthur and two other outstanding historic du Pont mansions, as well as the Delaware Museum of Natural History, known for its dinosaur exhibits.

There’s more than the dinosaurs to fascinate children on the Brandywine Treasure Trail. Hagley Museum is filled with hands-on exhibits, with technology experiences, gun powder demonstrations and special Science Saturday programs for kids. Longwood Gardens features spectacular daily fountain shows and Winterthur Museum has a charming Enchanted Woods for children, as well as a hands-on area with period costumes and miniature rooms to play in.

Delaware Art Museum © Stillman Rogers

At the Delaware Art Museum, kids will enjoy seeing Howard Pyle’s original paintings that illustrated Treasure Island and learning how he invented the “traditional” pirate costumes. They can get up close to the giant glass flowers by Dale Chihuly and even climb on works of art in the outdoor sculpture garden.

Exhibits at the Delaware History Museum and Center for African American Heritage detail the Underground Railroad’s role in smuggling escaped slaves to freedom. In the Delaware Museum of Natural History they can visit an African watering hole and see a giant squid, or they can become a paleontologist and learn more about dinosaurs and fossils in the museum’s Science in Action lab.

Wilmington Children’s Museum © Stillman Rogers

The dazzling Nemours Estate will wow all ages with its palace-like rooms and ingenious technology (be sure kids see the icemaker and dedicated ice cream freezer). Personable guides here delight in answering kids’ questions. You can explore more than 70 rooms in the mansion, the formal gardens, the 300-acre grounds and the chauffeur’s garage.

With individual tickets costing as much as $20 for the major sights, adult admission to just two of the major attractions costs more than the entire pass. The deal is even better for families. A family pass covering two adults and as many as three children (aged 17 and under) costs just $95. Individual passes are $45. Learn more about the Brandywine Valley and Wilmington.