Can’t get to the French countryside? Try Delaware.
No need to hop on a plane to enjoy the gilded glamour of Versailles. Wilmington, Delaware, is full of hidden gems (and just a quick train ride from NYC, D.C., or Philly). We love a walkable city, and this one’s packed with inventive restaurants and cocktail lounges, historic theaters, an opera house, browsable bookstores, and Black-owned boutiques.
The Setting: Just a short drive outside the city, the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley are home to European-inspired châteaus and gardens. The scenic route is ideal for leaf-peeping, antique-hunting, and shouting “cow!” out the car window.
Stay:
Hotel du Pont: Built in 1913, this landmark is dripping in Italian Renaissance grandeur, with all the modern luxuries for a lavish stay. They’ll even pamper your pup (a.k.a. #1 travel bud) with welcome toys & treats, ‘A La Canine’ room service menu, and ‘pawsh’ custom robes.
Eat & Drink:
Coffee: Brew Ha! Ha! Curl up on a couch with a latte and an asiago bagel to fuel your adventures ahead.
Lunch: Bar Reverie pairs a stacked menu with cozy fire pits to create the perfect fall patio.
Dinner: Le Cavalier is palatial elegance, but still intimate. Sit at the bar, chat with the bartenders as they craft a cocktail to your taste, and order “le cheeseburger” with fries. (Tip: Don’t skip the warm madeleines.)
After Dinner: Sip a martini at speakeasy-style Simmer Down.
See:
Nemours Estate: Jaw-dropping architecture and 200 acres of gardens capture early-20th-century life—how America’s elite lived and entertained among 3-ton chandeliers and gilded pianos. You’ll also sense the Downton Abbey–style bustle behind the scenes: staff kitchens, ice-making rooms, and a chauffeur’s garage of rare cars.
Winterthur Museum: Wander through opulent estate rooms, log your 10k+ steps in enchanted woods, and explore Almost Unknown, Dr. Jonathan Square’s powerful exhibit amplifying art and stories long overlooked in American museums.
Wear:
