Out of Town Guests: Things to Do

Exploring Kennett Square

If you're in town on Friday evening for our gathering in the town Kennett Square, you might be interested in checking out some of the restaurants listed below for lunch (before) or dinner/more drinks (after). Below, we've listed a few favorite restaurants/pubs on State Street, which is the main street in Kennett. We've also included some tasty options that are less than a 10 minute drive from the town center.

Kennett Square Parking Garage

If you're driving to Kennett, there is a parking garage at the center of town. There is also street parking.

Braeloch Brewing

If you're coming from out of town and looking for a drink and a bite to eat, we'll gather here Friday, May 2 from 5-7pm. Navigate to the "Schedule" page for additional details.

The Creamery of Kennett Square Restaurant & Beer Garden

The Creamery is walking distance from Braeloch Brewing.

Portabellos of Kennett Square

We recommend calling to make a reservation for Portabellos if you're eating dinner there.

Letty's Tavern

Registration recommended for dinner.

Lily Sushi and Grill

Trattoria La Tavola

BYOB

The Naked Olive

The Naked Olive does not take reservations. It's less than a 10 minute drive from the Kennett town center.

GuGu Asian Table

Less than a 10-minute drive from the Kennett town center.

Antica Restaurant and Wine Bar

Less than a 10 minute drive from the Kennett town center.

Giordano's

Sports bar, cheesesteaks, etc. Less than a 10 minute drive from the Kennett town center.

Brandywine Valley

If you're looking for activities in the area, the Brandywine Valley is spectacular for botanical gardens and museums. We've included a few favorite spots and suggestions below. Early May is one of the peak times for spring blooming. There are quite a few lovely gardens, estates, museums, and hiking areas nearby.

Longwood Gardens

A world-famous botanical garden with outdoor spaces and a conservatory. There is very whimsical children's garden in the conservatory. Timed reservations are required. Go to the website for tickets and information. It's about a ~20 minute drive from the celebration venue.

Winterthur

Sprawling mansion and estate featuring 18th and 19th century American furniture and artifacts and extensive naturalized gardens. You can tour the mansion and museum and walk/tram around the gardens. Hot tip from Maddie's mom Donna: Opting to only walk around the gardens is well worth it as the massive azalea gardens will be in spectacular bloom at this time of year. Whimsical outdoor children's garden. About a 20 minute drive from the celebration venue.

Hagley Museum

This is the original DuPont gunpowder works situated along a beautiful stretch of the Brandywine River. It features an early American museum, tours of the gunpowder manufacturing process, a garden, the original DuPont estate and lovely walks along the river. About a 24-minute drive from the wedding celebration venue.

Brandywine Museum of Art

This lovely museum features the work of artists Andrew, Jamie and Nathaniel Wyeth. They lived in and painted the Brandywine Valley. You can visit their studios, but make a reservation early. About a 22 minute drive from the wedding celebration venue.

Delaware Museum of Nature & Science

Nice kid-friendly museum. About a 20 minute drive from the wedding celebration venue.

White Clay Creek Preserve

Lovely nature hikes along a river. Two adjacent parks meld into one other, one in Pennsylvania and one in Delaware to cover a large area. One of the parking lots is next to a Quaker meeting house and a cemetery with headstones from the Revolutionary War era. About a 12-minute drive from the wedding celebration venue.

Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia is about an hour's drive from the wedding celebration venue. It's a walkable city with a rich history and lots of good food and activities.

SpotHero

Maddie's parents have had success using SpotHero to find parking in Philadelphia. There are also many parking garages and other options.

Independence Hall

A foundational site in our nation's history--where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were debated and adopted. Maddie's mom Donna still gets chills when she sees Ben's Franklin's chair. You have to make reservations in advance.

Liberty Bell

National Constitution Center

Museum of the American Revolution

Philadelphia Art Museum

A world-famous art museum. If you'd rather stay outside, you can run up the "Rocky steps" (from the film) leading to the museum--though you'll have to provide your own soundtrack. The Schuylkill River trail surrounding the museum also has a beautiful paved Rails to Trails path that goes to Valley Forge and beyond, for strolling and biking options. You'll pass the crew boathouses on the river, as well as the (free) Fairmount Water Works museum (quick, worth a look if you're into infrastructure).

Barnes Foundation

A unique private art collection--it was controversially relocated from a suburban mansion to the city several years ago.

Reading Terminal Market

From Maddie's mom: "The iconic Philadelphia food market. Lots of places to get all kinds of food and buy any type of groceries that you want. A bustling place, but worth the trip. Great place to get a cheesesteak or another Philly favorite, a roast pork sandwich with broccoli rabe and provolone at DiNic's. I also love the pastrami at Hershel's East Side Deli. Beilers donuts are amazing, but often have a long line. You can see that a lot of food is from Lancaster."

Philadelphia City Hall

It's possible to book tours Monday-Friday.

The Franklin Institute

Science museum, fabulous for kids of all ages.

Penn's Landing

There is a nice park here along the Delaware River, fantastic for strolling.

Society Hill

One of the oldest neighborhoods in the country, also nice for strolling along cobblestone streets.

Rittenhouse Square

One of the five original squares of Philadelphia, designed by founder William Penn. A lovely, small park surrounded by some good restaurants.

Swarthmore College

Outside of Philadelphia, about a 45-minute drive from the Celebration venue. The campus is an arboretum and is very walkable and pretty. This is where Maddie and Ben went to college!