Chester County’s Brandywine Valley is the perfect place to celebrate the holiday season. The Brandywine Sampler package offers a great value for touring and discounts for shopping also, to get a head start on finding holiday gifts.  Book a stay at one of the participating hotels or Bed & Breakfasts and receive a coupon book for free admission to nine area attractions and discounts for shopping and dining in the region.

Start your Brandywine Holiday Sampler at the magnificent museums and gardens of the DuPont family. Admission is free with the Brandywine Sampler package at Longwood Gardens, Winterthur Museum and Country Estate and Hagley Musuem and Library.  Each of these reflects the elegant holiday traditions of the DuPont family.

At a Longwood Gardens Christmas, acres of gardens sparkle with thousands of colored lights, while hundreds of poinsettias thrive inside the heated Conservatory. Open Air Theatre fountains spring to life daily with dancing fountain shows set to holiday music hourly. After 5pm, continuous shows illuminate the night with vibrant colors and a glittering backdrop of twinkling snowflakes. Even ice skaters dance amid the beauty of the gardens, performing 20-minute vignettes on an outdoor rink.

Yuletide at Winterthur will showcase Henry Francis du Pont’s ancestral home in seasonal splendor.  Rooms are decorated to reflect various seasonal vignettes, including the perennial favorite, Winterthur’s magnificent dried flower tree.  Tours will showcase the elegance and opulence of du Pont family celebrations, while a full series of special events, performances and workshops will help to make your season bright.

Christmas at Hagley highlights the 1803 du Pont ancestral home; Eleutherian Mills is decorated primarily in Colonial Revival style for the holidays.

Dried flowers, greenery, fruits, and other natural materials create a beautiful holiday ambiance accentuated by soft lights and Christmas music.

The Brandywine River Museum is another must-see on the Brandywine Sampler itinerary. A Brandywine Christmas features an extensive O-gauge train layout for the holiday season. The Museum’s traditional whimsical critter ornaments, lovingly crafted by hand by volunteers, are an added treat. Each little critter is carefully made from all natural objects such as seeds or nuts and berries and adds a distinctive Brandywine touch to any holiday décor, with all proceeds benefiting the Brandywine Conservancy.

Forget the sleigh – on December 19, Santa touches down at the American Helicopter Museum in a Whirlybird! The Brandywine Sampler coupon will be your key to the American Helicopter Museum, the only museum in the country dedicated to rotor – wing flight. Family helicopter rides are another favorite activity at the museum.  Gift certificates for a helicopter ride make a unique holiday gift. 

Shopping is synonymous with the holidays and what better place to shop (and tour) than QVC.   Receive a complimentary tour as part of the Brandywine Sampler package.  This behind the scenes studio tour of the electronic shopping giant is a unique look into the world of live television broadcasting.  Visit the QVC Studio Store for a variety of products and gifts or shop anytime at QVC.com.