Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens takes first place on the list of the best day trips from Pennsylvania. Pierre du Pont created this series of show gardens covering more than 1,000 acres of woodlands and meadows in the late 1800s, and it is now one of the country's finest year-round horticultural displays. The complex contains a variety of gardens, both indoors and outdoors, including formal gardens, brilliant displays of flowering spring bulbs, children's gardens, water gardens, an arboretum of rare and exotic trees, a fruit garden, glass houses and pavilions, and a fantastic topiary garden. Longwood Gardens announced its $250 million Longwood Reimagined project in 2021, which includes a new 32,000-square-foot glass conservatory.

The Italian Water Garden, based on Villa Gamberaia near Florence, Italy, is perhaps the most spectacular. It was meticulously planned and designed by Pierre du Pont to create an air of serenity. The Topiary Garden is a magical world of meticulously sculpted yews that have been trained over decades to create the 20 different shapes. In November and December, the gardens are transformed into a magical extravaganza of colored lights in the evening. Fountain shows are set to music, and 500,000 lights illuminate trees, shrubs, and buildings. Because tickets are timed and limited, it is best to reserve ahead of time.

Google rating: 4.9/5.0

Phone: +1 610-388-1000

Address: 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Website: https://www.winterthur.org/