Bala Farm Cottage Guidebook
Sightseeing
A little of everything - gardens, museums, historic sites and nature areas.
Longwood Gardens
1001 Longwood RdWorld-class botanical gardens!
Beautiful, historic DuPont estate...free to walk the grounds & gardens, with tours of the estate available.
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Winterthur Visitor's Center
5105 Kennett PikeBeautiful, historic DuPont estate...free to walk the grounds & gardens, with tours of the estate available.
Nemours Estate comprises an exquisite, 77-room mansion, the largest formal French gardens in North America, a Chauffeur's Garage housing a collection of vintage automobiles used on the Estate, and nearly 200 acres of scenic woodlands, meadows and lawns. http://nemoursestate.org/
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Nemours Estate
1600 Rockland RdNemours Estate comprises an exquisite, 77-room mansion, the largest formal French gardens in North America, a Chauffeur's Garage housing a collection of vintage automobiles used on the Estate, and nearly 200 acres of scenic woodlands, meadows and lawns. http://nemoursestate.org/
A short, scenic drive from the cottage, and recommended for both the beautiful grounds on the river, and for the beautiful art inside!
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Brandywine River Museum of Art
1 Hoffmans Mill RdA short, scenic drive from the cottage, and recommended for both the beautiful grounds on the river, and for the beautiful art inside!
Located on 235 acres along the banks of the Brandywine in Wilmington, Delaware, Hagley is the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont in 1802. This example of early American industry includes restored mills, a workers' community, and the ancestral home and gardens of the du Pont family.
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Hagley Museum
200 Hagley Creek RoadLocated on 235 acres along the banks of the Brandywine in Wilmington, Delaware, Hagley is the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont in 1802. This example of early American industry includes restored mills, a workers' community, and the ancestral home and gardens of the du Pont family.
Our favorite nearby hiking spot, 571 acres just 5 minutes from the cottage! Try the 4.1 mile red loop, and then finish with a stroll along the river.
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Stroud Preserve
454 N Creek RdOur favorite nearby hiking spot, 571 acres just 5 minutes from the cottage! Try the 4.1 mile red loop, and then finish with a stroll along the river.
Ridley Creek State Park is a little further from the cottage (about 20 minutes), but it has a great range of multi-use trails (bikes are okay), and single track dirt hiking trails. Over 2,600 acres, so pick out a the route of your choice and hike to your heart's content. Check out the cool old mansion in the middle, too!
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Ridley Creek State Park
1023 Sycamore Mills RdRidley Creek State Park is a little further from the cottage (about 20 minutes), but it has a great range of multi-use trails (bikes are okay), and single track dirt hiking trails. Over 2,600 acres, so pick out a the route of your choice and hike to your heart's content. Check out the cool old mansion in the middle, too!
Marsh Creek State Park is in the rolling hills of north central Chester County. The 1,727-acre park contains the 535-acre Marsh Creek Lake, which is a wonderful resource for fishing, sailing, and migrating waterfowl. The lake can be accessed from either side, both are a 30 minute drive from the cottage, with boat and kayak rentals available at the eastern boat launch & lot. The park has a decent amount of multi-use trails, great for both hiking and mountain biking.
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Marsh Creek State Park
675 Park RdMarsh Creek State Park is in the rolling hills of north central Chester County. The 1,727-acre park contains the 535-acre Marsh Creek Lake, which is a wonderful resource for fishing, sailing, and migrating waterfowl. The lake can be accessed from either side, both are a 30 minute drive from the cottage, with boat and kayak rentals available at the eastern boat launch & lot. The park has a decent amount of multi-use trails, great for both hiking and mountain biking.
British Troops marched down Birmingham Road past the original farmhouse on September 11, 1777, toward the Battle of the Brandywine. There are battlefield sites just down the road, but check out the visitors center and website for more information about this revolutionary war battle. http://brandywinebattlefield.org/
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Battlefield of the Brandywine
British Troops marched down Birmingham Road past the original farmhouse on September 11, 1777, toward the Battle of the Brandywine. There are battlefield sites just down the road, but check out the visitors center and website for more information about this revolutionary war battle. http://brandywinebattlefield.org/
Food scene
The food scene in West Chester is thriving! The recommendations below are our favorites, but there are many more to choose from!
Chaddsford Winery is a great spot nearby to taste their surprisingly good local wines, served by enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff, in great surroundings. Check with us to get a card for a free wine tasting!
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Chaddsford Winery
632 Baltimore PikeChaddsford Winery is a great spot nearby to taste their surprisingly good local wines, served by enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff, in great surroundings. Check with us to get a card for a free wine tasting!
Neighborhoods
Cute, walkable downtown with a burgeoning restaurant scene and more events every year, such as the Mushroom Festival. Check it out!
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Kennett Square
Cute, walkable downtown with a burgeoning restaurant scene and more events every year, such as the Mushroom Festival. Check it out!
No visit to the cottage is complete without a stroll through downtown West Chester. Less than 3 miles away, and filled with great food, great bars...with over 65 to choose from in the borough alone, you can sample different establishments every night. Check out our restaurant recommendations for help choosing!
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West Chester
No visit to the cottage is complete without a stroll through downtown West Chester. Less than 3 miles away, and filled with great food, great bars...with over 65 to choose from in the borough alone, you can sample different establishments every night. Check out our restaurant recommendations for help choosing!
In between West Chester and Philly, Media is another historic little town with a cute, walkable downtown area. Stroll up and down State Street for shopping & dining, and check out Dining Under the Stars during the warmer months
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Media
In between West Chester and Philly, Media is another historic little town with a cute, walkable downtown area. Stroll up and down State Street for shopping & dining, and check out Dining Under the Stars during the warmer months
Stadsadvies
Cultuur en gebruiken
Restaurant recommendations
West Chester recommended restaurants and bars:
Fine Dining – Andiario; relatively new, but best restaurant in town. You’ll likely need to make a reservation.
Sushi – Tsunami; best sushi in town, with plenty of other tasty Japanese and Thai dishes. Wasabi; good sushi, etc. Both BYOB.
Organic Farm to table – Roots Café; really good, high quality food.
Brewpub – Iron Hill Brewery; their beers are pretty good, and the food is really solid.
Mexican – Los Sabores de Mexico; pretty straightforward Mexican, fairly authentic, casual. BYOB.
–La Rancherita is also really good and authentic. BYOB.
Southern/Cajun – High Street Caffé/Vudu Lounge; good Cajun food.
Pizza and mostly authentic Italian – Fiorellos, Limoncello, Mercato. Of course there are plenty more pizza places around town, but these are more like the pizza you’ll get in Italy, and have plenty of other menu options.
Greek – Opa! Opa!; just casual, tasty Greek food.
Thai – Baan Thai Sabadee; really solid Thai food. We’re fans.
Rai Rai Ramen & Hawaiian BBQ – Good Ramen and tasty but limited BBQ dishes. Casual.
Delivery – Just plug in the address on Grub Hub for options: 380 Jenissa Drive, West Chester, PA 19382
Bars with good food:
•The Social - Cajun-influenced menu, pretty good all around.
•Side Bar - the best beer selection in town and good food, too.
•Split Rail Tavern - gastropub – solid all around.
•Kildare’s Irish Pub – food is quite tasty, solid beer list, whiskey, etc.
•Barnaby’s – multiple rooms, patio area, decent food, pretty lively.
For craft beer fans, check out Levante Brewing Company. Food is limited to food trucks, but the beer is good.
And plenty more! All of these are with three miles of the cottage, and all within walking distance of each other (except Baan Thai Sabaidee, which is outside of the center).
For prepared foods, great sandwiches, salad bar, cheese & olive bar, soups, pizza, Italian specialty products, etc., check out Carlino’s, on Market Street. It’s between Darlington and Church Street.
We also recommend the Amish Market, at 1165 Wilmington Pike, West Chester, PA 19382. It’s got a breakfast & sandwich shop, donut shop, cheese & lunchmeat deli, smoothie & salad bar, produce, bakery, and more. Note that it’s only open Thursday through Saturday and hours are somewhat limited.