Five people who organize group excursions from China disembarked a little late from a chartered van that pulled up to our Visitor Center. They were on a mission to scout the region for potential stops on tours they could bring here from China, the largest outbound tourism market in the world. The group was escorted by Greg Edevane, director of global development for Chester County Tourism, which promotes the entire Brandywine Valley.
The five guests had already seen other area attractions that weekend and had more to enjoy later in the day. So with their ambitious schedule in mind, we set out to experience everything Winterthur offers. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to do it all.
First, we took a house tour, which allows visitors to see highlights of the 175-room former home of museum founder H. F. du Pont. They delighted in the décor, photographed the furniture, and appreciated the antiques.
After a whirlwind trip through several rooms in the mansion, we embarked on a tram tour of the breathtaking garden. The group took in the flowers and foliage, the leafy trails and paved paths, and the magic of Enchanted Woods, a three-acre children’s garden that offers several play areas to climb in, on, and over, including a Faerie Cottage with a thatched roof, a giant Bird’s Nest, and an Acorn Tearoom for make-believe tea parties.
It was tempting to get out and explore some of the sights we passed, and other guests on the tram did just that, but we had to press on.
Greg suggested skipping a visit to the Museum Store to maintain their schedule, but the guests from China wouldn’t hear of it. They checked out the multi-room retail space that houses a remarkable collection of gifts, books, jewelry, honey made from hives on the estate, and more.
They didn’t have time to walk the trails, dine in the Visitor Center Café, marvel at the exhibitions in the galleries, or gawk at the Campbell Collection of Soup Tureens before reboarding their van and continuing to another wonderful destination in the Brandywine Valley. But that gives them a reason to come back.
Gabby Chen, general manager of Now-Trip in Chengdu, the capital of southwestern China’s Sichuan province, said: “This will be a unique place to bring people. It is somewhere people might not think to go if they’re planning a trip to America for themselves.”
Winterthur offers many options for customizing your visit. If you’re considering organizing a large group tour to Winterthur, visit https://www.winterthur.org/group-tours/. If you’re planning a visit with a smaller group or as an individual, visit https://www.winterthur.org/visit/plan-your-visit/. We look forward to welcoming you soon!
