101 THINGS TO DO IN THE BRANDYWINE VALLEY IN THE WINTER.  Recently updated 1-17-12 with nos. 8 & 9.

I’ve just started compiling this list so it is no where near complete.  We’ll see if I can get to the 101st item by the end of winter.  Point is, the Brandywine Valley has lots to do in the winter months and you won’t have to contend with all the crowds.

Think there is nothing to do in January, February, and March in southeast Pennsylvania?  Well, think again.  Here are just a few of the fun things going on and I’ll add more during the coming weeks.  Want to brave the outdoors?  How about horse back riding on the magnificent Icelandic horses at Viking  Horse Stables in West Chester, Pa.  They offer a variety of year round treks through the country side of Chester County, Pa.  Each guided trek is customized for you and is offered for as few as one person or up to four people at a time.  For more information 610-517-7980 or click here.

1.

Enjoy the bucolic countryside of Chester County on an Icelandic horse at Viking Stables.

2.  If horseback riding isn’t for you, there are plenty of trails nearby for hiking and cross country skiing.  Enjoy going over the hills and through the woods  not to grandmother’s house but past historic buildings in Ridley Creek State Park and Tyler Arboretum which are only a 10 minute drive from Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast.  For more information on Tyler Arboretum click here or call 610-566-9134.  And for more information on Ridley Creek State park click here.

Ridley Creek Park

3.  For a slower pace grab your binoculars and head over to John Heinz Wildlife Refuge at the Tinicum Wildlife Refuge.  The refuge is about a 15-20 minutes from us.  For more info click here.

Bird watching at John Heinz Wildlife Refuge.

You can still enjoy visiting Longwood Gardens.  Even though the outside gardens are resting for the winter there is the spectacular indoor gardens in the conservatory.  Did you know it is 4 1/2 acres under glass and includes 20 indoor gardens and 5500 varieties of plants?  It takes about an hour and a half to stroll through the entire conservatory.  The Orchid Extravaganza begins January 20, 2012 and runs through March 25. For more information

Orchids at Longwood Gardens

5..   February 11-18 – National Curling Championships at IceWorks Skating Complex.  For tickets:  610-497-2200

6.    January and February  Winter bird walks held every Wednesday at Tyler Arboretum 8:15 – 10:15 a.m.  610-566-9134×212.

7  .  March 11 – Brandywine Battlefield Charter Day:  honors charter between King Charles II and William Penn.

8.  Celebrate Chinese New Year – Chinese New Year (also called the Lunar New Year) occurs in the early months of our calendar year, typically January or February and this year falls on January 23rd.  This is the first of 15 days of celebration and the start of the Year of the Dragon.  For more information on things to do click here.

9.  The Hedgerow Theatre
  For more info click here.

Educating Rita by Willy Russell 2/9-3/6

Shirley Valentine by Willie Russell  2/25-3/10

And, of course, we won’t mind if you come just to enjoy relaxing in front of the fireplace and enjoying a good book and good conversation.  We are open all winter and look forward to seeing you.

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.

Lots to do in Media, Pa. which is a short 10 minute drive from Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast.  Here is a short list of what to look for:

www.visitmediapa.com for details and other great events!

Brandywine Prime is looking for a butcher or butchers!   No, not a butcher of meat, but a butcher (carver) of pumpkins. This job is one night only, Thursday,  October 27^th, beginning at 5pm. You (and your team) will check in at Brandywine Prime before 5 and then head down to the Chadds Ford Historical Society to carve their sponsored pumpkin. After the carving is complete, hang around to see the judges decision or head back to Brandywine Prime and join them for the after-carve party.  

For those of you interested in the party and not the job opportunity visit,  http://www.brandywineprime.com

 Those wishing to apply for the job must meet the following criteria;  at least 21 years old,  possess carving tools and be able to use creatively, friendly, don’t mind having a beer or two after a hard day’s carve, must use the term CHOP! CHOP! when speaking to your team. 

Please respond to Michael@brandywineprime.com, if you are interested. Include your idea of how the pumpkin will look.  Compensation $100 gift certificate to Brandywine Prime for you; $50 for each of your teammates; snacks and drinks at the after carve party for you and your team; hopefully lots of fun. 

The final fireworks and fountains light and sound show for this season will be Labor Day weekend, Saturday September 3.  If you don’t catch this show you’ll have to wait until the Christmas season for their spectacular shows.  The annual multi-sensory evening series is an absolutely-can’t-miss summer event. And you’ve got one last chance to enjoy it: 

Enjoy the fountains and fireworks at Longwood Gardens

• Summer Pops (September 3): A night featuring American composer Leroy Anderson’s best known works, including “Blue Tango,” “The Syncopated Clock,” and “Home Stretch.”   Bring or rent a folding chair for a front-row experience of the gardens’ lights and sounds!  Tickets are $38.00 per person and can be purchased online at www.longwoodgardens.org or by calling 610-388-1000.

Hamanassett only has one room left for that weekend plus the two cottages which are each 2 bedrooms with 2 baths so grab your friends and family and don’t delay in making your plans.

Looking for something different to do Labor Day weekend?    Now you can not only learn about how wines get bottled but help Kreutz Creek Winery bottle their new vintage.  On Monday, September 5 you can join them from 9-5 as a volunteer wine bottler.  They have only a few spots left so if you are interested call 610-869-4412 to reserve a spot.

Their last evening concert is this coming Saturday, August 20. The Red Alert Band will be entertaining guests with their motown and funk!  It’s 6-9, you can bring a picnic and lawnchair.  Hamanassett has a couple of nice lawn chairs you may borrow.  Your well behaved pooch is welcome too!  The fee is $10 for adults.  Steuben and Port slushies will be available at the concert!  Kreutz Creek is approximately 40 minutes from Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast.  Lots of other neat things going on in the Brandywine Valley so book your room soon.  We still have a few available.

Get ready for some foot tapping, head shaking music headed our way.  The Philadelphia Folk Festival is actually in the little town of Schwenksville, Pa. which is a 45 minute drive from Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast.  The festival includes bluegrass,  rock and roll,  and traditional American Music.  Some of the performers include Tom Rush, The Wood Brothers, The Levon Helm Band and, of course, Arlo Guthrie.  There is even a band from Canada, The Wilderness of Manitoba.  For more information and show schedule click on www.pfs.org/folk-festival/schedule.

Enjoy Wine, Polo, Food and Music every Friday night from June 3 through August 26th!  Watch polo, enjoy concerts, bring a picnic (or buy food on-site) and sip great local wines from the wineries of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail.  The Polo field is in Toughkenamon, Pa.  Where the heck is that you ask?  It is 18 miles due south of Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast just off Route 1, about a 30 minute drive.  For more information on this family friendly event click on our Activities button and then click on calendar of events.

Enjoy an evening of the classics on Friday, April 15, 2011 in the conservatory at Longwood Gardens.  Olga Kern is the Russian Gold Medal winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano competition.  The program will include the music of Robert Schumann, Sergei Rachmaninoff and others.  You may start your evening with a preshow dinner at Longwood’s 1906 restaurant.  For more information http://www.longwoodgardens.org/OlgaKern.html.  Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast is only 15-20 minutes from Longwood Gardens and we have a few rooms left for next weekend.  We also have a couple of rooms for Friday night only also.

When you visit the Brandywine Valley, don’t forget that we are only 30 minutes southwest of Philadelphia.  I just learned about this super way to tour Philadelphia.  London isn’t the only city that has double decker buses.  Right in our own back yard (almost, Philadelphia is a 30 minute drive from Hamanassett or you can take the train into downtown Philadelphia).  The Big Bus is a tour that takes you around the major tour spots in Philadelphia.  Included on the tour are The Liberty Bell, Elfreth’s Alley, The “Love” Sculpture, Betsy Ross House, Independence Hall, Independence Seaport Museum, Boathouse Row, Museum of Art,  Row Houses, and  Carpenters Hall.  The pass is good for 24 hours and allows you to hop on and off as you choose.  I’ve always liked to take a full tour and then decide which ones to disembark for.  A full tour takes about 90 minutes.  Tickets are only $27.00 per adult and can be purchased on line.  For more information on the Big Bus Tour www.bigbustours.com/eng/philadlephia/default.aspx.