Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1989, is famous for mushroom farming and is lovingly referred to as the Mushroom Capital of the World. There are many attractions for visitors to enjoy in Kennett Square, PA including beautiful Longwood Gardens, the Mushroom Cap, and the Anson B. Nixon Park.
1. Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
Founded by Pierre S. du Pont, Longwood Gardens is a living expression of everything that inspired him. Visitors will feel motivated by the gardens filled with intricate fountains and the architectural grandeur replete with detail just as Pierre du Pont did. There are many gardens for visitors to explore, both indoor and out, on over 1,000 acres of land.
Some of the choices include a woodland garden, an orchid house, a Mediterranean Garden, and a Banana House filled with various fruit and flowers. Visitors with young kids will enjoy the indoor children’s garden that has many hands-on water displays, creative sculptures, and plant displays.
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, 610-388-1000
2. Anson B. Nixon Park, Kennett Square, PA
A wonderful place to spend the day with the family, Anson B. Nixon Park is a hidden gem in Kennett Square. The 106-acre park is filled with ponds, streams, woodlands, and kids’ play areas for everyone to enjoy.
Other areas include a community garden where many people come together to produce nutritious organic food, five picnic pavilions with wooden tables and grills for those summer barbecue days, a dock on the ponds to go fishing with the family, and over 3 miles of walking trails winding through the park for visitors to enjoy. There are many performances and seasonal programs scheduled, including a free summer concert series, sky tours, summer art programs, and other events.
Waterworks Drive, Kennett Square, PA 19348, 610-444-1416
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3. What to Do Near Me: The Mushroom Cap, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
For mushroom farms, mushroom exhibits, and mushrooms to buy, visitors of Kennett Square have no need to go further than The Mushroom Cap to get an understanding of the borough’s extensive history with mushrooms. The farm has been operating since 1946, and though visitors can’t visit the caves because of food sanitation laws, they can learn how mushrooms are grown and processed through great videos and exhibitions of a mushroom house and more. Visitors can buy some unique products such as Snack N’ Shrooms, pickled mushrooms, and mushroom-based pasta sauce. Shiitake, oyster, maitake, crimini, and white mushrooms that are grown on the farm can also be bought.
114 W. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, 610-444-8484
4. Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
The Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery gives visitors a unique wine tasting experience that is filled with nature, science, art, and of course, wine. The winery was constructed in 2005 with little to no knowledge of growing grapes, constructing a winery, or making wine. Over 10 years later, the Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery has over 90 awards under their belt and creates wines that go head to head with those produced in California, New York, and even Europe. Visitors can relax in the serenity Chester County offers with a glass of Chardonnay made right there on the 4-acre property. The vineyard and winery also schedules many events throughout the year including live music, pop up art shows, and Sunday Salons.
700 Folly Hill Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, 484-899-8013
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5. Things to Do in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania: Taste Kennett Food Tours
Taste Kennett Food Tours is a family-owned company that provides food tours showcasing Kennett Square’s diverse cultural cuisine by visiting many of the local restaurants and trying out the foods Kennett Square is famous for. For over three hours visitors are taken on a guided walking tour of the boroughs during which they stop for famed dishes, including many mushroom-filled ones, something Kennett Square is famed for. Visitors will also enjoy cooking demonstrations conducted by renowned chefs, and they will have a chance to chat with owners to better understand Kennett Square’s cuisine. This is also a great opportunity for visitors to purchase edibles from the many specialty food shops along the way.
484-734-0740
6. Things to Do Near Me: The Woodlands at Phillips, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Relaxing in the wondrous nature of Chester County? Visitors can stop by the Woodlands at Phillips to add some retail therapy to their day. Since 1828, this wonderfully traditional shop has been offering visitors flavorsome mushroom-related products. While there, visitors can also tour the lovely restored home and the tranquil surrounding landscape filled with Oak and Maple trees. There is a wide array of fresh, dried, and jarred mushrooms for sale, and other merchandise includes gourmet soup mixes, sauces, and other mushroom-based products. Visitors can also stop in to find an authentic mushroom recipe, attend a free cooking demo, watch videos and tour the mushroom growing room and museum.
1020 Kaolin Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, 610-444-2191
7. Things to Do in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania: The Willowdale Steeplechase
The Willowdale Steeplechase is a Kennett Square landmark, and the 160-acre land is right in the heart of Cheshire Hunt County, a place that has produced many jockeys, trainers, and owners over the years. Willowdale was built with the safety of horses in mind, and has a remarkable water jump, hedges, and post and rail jumps surrounding the natural amphitheater style of the steeplechase. There are many races and polo games held at the Willowdale in addition to numerous events scheduled throughout the year for visitors to partake in such as Mardi Gras auctions and cocktail parties.
101 E. Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348
8. Things to Do in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania: Country Butcher
Food connoisseurs and visitors who enjoy fine foods in general need not go further than the Country Butcher. Complete with a meat market, cheese shop, produce market, deli, bakeries, and a kitchen, this 30-year-old family-owned fine foods market/ restaurant is the perfect place for visitors to enjoy locally produced goods. Popular for a hearty meal or a mouthwatering snack, Country Butcher also welcomes visitors to their open kitchen to see how chefs prepare the gourmet foods or to offer culinary suggestions. Throughout the year there are many tasting events open for visitors to try something extraordinary.
145 South Walnut Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, 619-444-5980
9. Braeloch Brewing
Braeloch Brewing was established to provide the Kennett Square community with a place where people could come to relax and hang out with family and friends and enjoy local food and great craft beer. The brewery’s spacious taproom features a long bar where visitors can sample the available craft brews. There are also several small tables, living room areas, community tables, and booths. Visitors can see the Brewhouse to view what goes into making Braeloch Brewing’s craft beer. Friendly dogs are allowed in the large, dog-friendly outdoor beer garden featuring shade, sun, and picnic tables, weather permitting.
225 Birch St, Kennett Square, PA 19348, 610-612-9242
What is Kennett Square, Pennsylvania known for? What are the top attractions to visit in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania?
The top attractions to visit in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania according to local experts are:
- Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
- Anson B. Nixon Park, Kennett Square, PA
- What to Do Near Me: The Mushroom Cap, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
- Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
- Things to Do in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania: Taste Kennett Food Tours
- Things to Do Near Me: The Woodlands at Phillips, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
- Things to Do in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania: The Willowdale Steeplechase
- Things to Do in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania: Country Butcher
- Braeloch Brewing
Attraction Spotlight: Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square
Longwood Gardens aims to sustain and present vibrant public gardens while providing valuable horticulture educational opportunities. Visitors can expect world-class gardens, landscaping, and sculptures as well as exciting events and programs for members of the entire family.
The land which currently houses the Longwood Gardens has a rich cultural history dating back to when the native American tribe, Lenni Lenape, called the land home. The tribe were stewards of the land for thousands of years and evidence of their residence have been found all over the property.
However, in the year 1700, George Peirce, a Quaker farmer, purchased 402 acres of the land to build a farm for his family. The land was cleared and provided the family with rich soil and prosperity for decades.
In the year 1730, the son of George Peirce, Joshua, had a brick farmhouse built on the land – the house is still standing today. As the years went on, the property was passed down from generation to generation of the Peirce family and in the early 1800’s, 15 acres were used to plant and arboretum with rare tree species.
By the mid-19th century, the arboretum and the surrounding park became a popular place for members of the local community to gather. This was when the area received the name – Piece’s Park. Over the years, the park began to deteriorate and by 1906, a member of the community, Pierre du Pont, had purchased the land. His goal was to not only preserve the trees but to create a gorgeous formal garden filled with walking trails and European influenced landscaping.
Throughout the next few decades, du Pont built an open-air theatre, a 600-foot flower walk, formal gardens filled with fountains, and had built many new additions to the land. He purchased 25 pieces of land over the following years, growing the gardens to more than 900 acres.
His gardens became the hit place to attend garden parties and host special events. It was then that the gardens received their formal name – Longwood Gardens. Many changes occurring through the 1900’s, new directors, the addition of research and educational activities, sustainability and conservation efforts, and much more. Today, the gardens are known as some of the best in the world.
There are more than 1,000 acres of gardens to explore both inside and outside at the Longwood Gardens. There are dozens of specialized gardens including formal gardens, children’s gardens, and spectacular fountain gardens. Some featured gardens for the summer include the following:
Peirce’s Park: This area features some of the first plantings at the park and one of the nation’s first official arboretum collection. Besides the great sights, the history of this park is sure to delight guests of all ages.
Trial Garden: This outdoor garden features the plant research and evaluation process for the garden’s top-notch horticultural team.
Orangery: This garden is inside of the property’s iconic greenhouse and is filled with perfectly manicured lawns, colorful blooming flowers, and expertly landscaped trees and topiaries.
Flower Garden Walk: This was the first brick path ever at Longwood Gardens which happens to have the first ever fountain installed at the garden as well. An entire spectrum of colors can be found here along the gorgeous and sunny outdoor pathway.
Idea Garden: This 5-acre outdoor garden encourages visitors to experiment and get creative with growing their own vegetables, fruits, annuals, and perennials. There are dozens of colors, scents, and textures to explore and enjoy.
There are a variety of colorful fountain and fireworks shows held year-round at Longwood Gardens. All summer long, there will be daily and nightly fountain shows known as the Summer of Spectacle. The grand marble fountains with thousands of jets will be performing dancing water shows set to beautiful music. These shows are not to be missed.
There are also events featuring live music, theater performances, dining, wine tasting, and group tours. Be sure to check out the Longwood Gardens events page for more detailed information of all the dates, times, and prices.
There are a wide variety of programs for children and adults of all ages available year-round at Longwood Gardens. From continued education programs for adults to specialized educational courses for children ages K-12 as well as a myriad of resources for educators, there is something for everyone. There are also internship and training programs for those interested in studying horticulture and science related topics.
Additional Information:
Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, Phone: 610-388-1000
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