Wilmington, DE & The Brandywine Valley, PA, Guide and Information

While Wilmington, Delaware, and the adjacent overall Brandywine Valley may not be as familiar to frequent travelers as nearby Philadelphia, the region is still worth a visit for anyone interested in destinations offering fantastic dining, world-class shopping and loads of historic charm. Likely most well known as a key landscape in the Revolutionary War, the area now offers ways for visitors to interact with area history, enjoy James Beard award-winning dining experiences and shop tax-free.

But before you can really enjoy all of the above, you'll need to find a place to stay. Here are four great picks for travelers considering a visit.

If you’re traveling around Delaware, chances are good that you’ll end up in Wilmington. The state’s urban hub boasts both a thriving downtown and a bustling riverfront, where you’ll find some of the best dining in the region! Wilmington restaurants are the place to go to try some of the state’s famed seafood (don’t miss the steamed crabs or the Delaware Bay oysters) and other regional favorites in a casual setting or fine dining that boasts dishes from James Beard-award chefs. Whether you’re traveling for business or exploring with the family, Wilmington has so much to see, eat, drink and do! Here are just a few suggestions:

This riverfront restaurant with an award-winning chef at the helm is a favorite for its extensive seafood options (including a fresh raw bar) and an array of cocktails and wines available by the glass. Make your reservations in advance and expect delicious menu options such as oysters on the half shell and surf and turf.

Part of the Brandywine Valley, which it shares with neighboring Pennsylvania, Wilmington, Delaware, is a small destination in a small state — but it manages to pack a big personality and a lot of history within its small footprint.

Beyond offering a bevy of interesting museums and historical sites for visitors to peruse, as well as lots of outdoor attractions and great restaurants and watering holes, Wilmington also offers some stellar shopping options. This is, in part, thanks to the lack of sales tax all over the state. When you shop in Delaware, you save.

Just slightly south of Philadelphia sits a somewhat overlooked destination that deserves any traveler’s attention when considering an East Coast vacation. Wilmington, Delaware, combined with Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley, provides a wealth of culture, history and world-class cuisine, where you might least expect it.

Intrigued? We thought you might be. Here are three things to do in Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley to get you started on your explorations of this can’t-miss region.