Second the Terrain Store and I am not normally a shopper (good even with kids).

Wilmington

Kennett Square is really nice and there is so much to do between Longwood, Chanticleer and the Wyatt museums - I would limit my driving and just stay right there. The area is mostly BYOB so plan on bringing ! I cannot remember the B&Bs I have stayed at but an airbnb might be better anyway. Although it is owned/run by Anthropology the Terrain store in Glenn Mills (10m from Longwood) is a beautiful place with a lovely restaurant that will satisfy any plant/gardening inspiration you get from Longwood etc. If before Halloween - they will have amazing pumpkins and gourds and cozy fires to have hot cider and tea around.

Anonymous wrote:Someone once recommended Chanticleer Gardens to me as well. I grew up near there and have been many times to most of the places mentioned, but hadn't heard of it. Reviews are good but I still haven't made it. Have periodically looked for rentals as well without luck.

It’s totally lovely and a beautiful walk if you’re in the area, but it’s not the kind of thing you’d make a day trip for (unless you were devoted to gardens). It’s much more compact than Longwood (and less touristy, more local).

Anonymous wrote:OP if you find a good house, can you let us know? I am always searching in that area so we can visit the grandparents (they live in Brandywine Valley) without staying at their place and possibly infecting them, but I have a very hard time finding houses in that area!

I’d think it would be slim pickings. It’s not a very dense area. I’d try Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, and the areas of Delaware across the border: Hockessin is very nice.

Someone once recommended Chanticleer Gardens to me as well. I grew up near there and have been many times to most of the places mentioned, but hadn't heard of it. Reviews are good but I still haven't made it. Have periodically looked for rentals as well without luck.

Anonymous wrote:You're definintely want to stay in the Brandywine Valley. Lancaster and Hershey aren't bad but are over an hour away and Brandywine Valley area is really lovely.

+1 on Brandywine Valley. Lovely area and you could also do the DuPont mansion if it is open.

OP if you find a good house, can you let us know? I am always searching in that area so we can visit the grandparents (they live in Brandywine Valley) without staying at their place and possibly infecting them, but I have a very hard time finding houses in that area!

You're definintely want to stay in the Brandywine Valley. Lancaster and Hershey aren't bad but are over an hour away and Brandywine Valley area is really lovely.

I called it the Wyatt Museum above. The real name is as follows

https://www.brandywine.org/museum

No help to give, but would echo that Chadd’s Ford is exquisite. I love the Wyatt Museum in that area (even if you are not in the mood for museums - and it might be closed due to covid - the building is worth a look even from the outside.

I would look around Lancaster, we really like that area for a fall weekend getaway. We have done the Strasburg train and pick your own apples at orchards in the area. There are a lot of farm stays, my kids would love something like that.
Something like this could be fun:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/29558246?source_impression_id=p3_1599672007_NxK8dR4XkeOVMX4a
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/18959027?source_impression_id=p3_1599671825_7R1vdPfIO05zDgo1

We just went to Longwood Gardens this weekend, and it was an easy day trip. Not sure I would rent a house just for that.

I have family that lives close to there and despite the encroaching housing developments, there are still pockets of really lovely farm country nearby. No idea what sorts of rentals exist but the area I was thinking of specifically is Chadd’s Ford but there may be others- might be worth a look on vrbo or Airbnb. Some wineries in the area too.

Would like to rent a house to go with my parents this fall. I have 3 kids ages 3-11. When I was a kid, we lived in Philadelphia and my parents’ favorite place was Longwood Gardens. I would like to take them there this fall or winter. I love Philadelphia and haven’t been in a while. I would love to rent a house where we could see fall foliage and go to Longwood Gardens.

Can you recommend where we can rent a house?

I looked at the poconos and it is 2 hours away and Hershey area is 1.5 hours.