To all our friends and guests who helped make 2011 such a success, thank you so much.  We enjoyed having you stay with us and will look forward to seeing you and your friends next year.  I’ve uploaded many pictures of Hamanassett decked out for Christmas on our face book page.  Tried to upload pictures here but word press is acting persnickity.  All the attractions with Christmas decorations such as Longwood Gardens, Winterthur, Hagley Museum, and the Brandywine River Museum keeps their decorations in place through the first week of the New Year so you still have time to visit us.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/Hamanassett.  And while you are there would appreciate your “Liking” us.

We were honored at Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast to take part in the Bed and Breakfasts for Veterans program.  Started last year in West Virginia, the program is now part of the Better Way to Stay program at the Professional Association of International Innkeepers.   As a result, hundreds of bed and breakfasts across the United States offered free rooms to our veterans on 11-10-11 to thank them for their service to our country.  This year we had the Army, Navy, and Air Force represented. 

  In addition to the rooms offered by Hamanassett, the good people at the Delaware County’s Brandywine Valley Conference and  Visitor’s Bureau secured donations from many of the attractions and local businesses in the area.    Included were  items like a WALK FOR THE WOUNDED T-shirt (a major fundraising event that draws thousands of people to Delaware County each year to honor soldiers who have been wounded overseas), plus a bottle of Chadds Ford wine, a box of Fudge made by a local candymaker – and a variety of free admission passes to places like Longwood Gardens, the Simeone Car Museum, the American Helicopter Museum, the Brandywine River Museum and more!   There was also a $20-25 gift certificate to a local restaurant in each bag.  

B&Bs for Vets Couple

Retired Army Veteran and his wife

All year long we consider ourselves so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area.  This is even more true during the holiday season.  Below are just a few of the events going on the Brandywine Valley during November and December.  Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast is within a 10-25 minute drive of all the attractions and we still have availability for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Not to be missed, the always enchanting Longwood Gardens.  See their 52 baskets of poinsettias in the conservatory.  This year they are hanging white poinsettias rather than the traditional red.  For railroad buffs, there is the garden railway display.  As always,  the Brandywine River Museum has an incredible train display.   It is one of my favorite places to go during the holiday season.

 

GARDEN RAILWAY DISPLAY

This event occurs on the following dates:

Daily from Tuesday, September 07, 2010 through Wednesday, November 24, 2010
9:00 AM — 5:00 PM

Daily from Thursday, November 25, 2010 through Saturday, January 09, 2010
9:00 AM — 9:00

 November 20, 2010-January 9, 2011

Experience traditions of the past and dazzling holiday entertaining displays in this special wintertime tour. New this year are vignettes depicting mid-1800s Christmas celebrations at Winterthur and the January 1938 wedding festivities of Pauline Louise du Pont. Garden-inspired trees and the perennial favorite, Winterthur’s magnificent dried-flower tree, will also be on display. A full series of special events, performances, and workshops will help to make your season bright. 
Winterthur is open on Mondays throughout the Yuletide season. Tuesdays, December 7, 14, 21, and 28 feature extended hours with evening tours and shopping and dining opportunities.
Tour reservations are recommended. Purchase tickets there or call 800.448.3883 or 302.888.4600. 

Even Nemours is decorated and open for the holidays.  Their hours for holiday tours are from 11/5/10 through 12/31/10.  Reservations are definitely suggested.

   
A toy monkey found in the attic of the Nemours Mansion sits under a Christmas tree in the main foyer Monday. (The News Journal)