Hotel at a Glance: Wyndham Garden Glen Mills Wilmington

Located about 25 miles outside of Philadelphia, this Wyndham Garden hotel offers an upscale retreat in a peaceful atmosphere. Enjoy dinner and a cocktail at the onsite BW Bistro, or channel your inner child with air hockey and other arcade classics in the game room.

• Use your optional dining credit at the onsite BW Bistro or Thornbury Breakfast Cafe.
• Get some rest on your room’s Serta Perfect Elite Series mattress and wake up with a steaming cup of joe from the in-room coffeemaker. Each spacious room and suite is also outfitted with a fridge, microwave, and flat-panel high-definition TV.
• Take the free shuttle anywhere within a 5-mile radius. This will take you to attractions such as Brandywine Battlefield and Chaddsford Winery.
• Notable accolade: This hotel was awarded a 2014 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

Glen Mills, Pennsylvania: Small Community in Greater Philadelphia

In the 1800s, the tiny town of Glen Mills created special, patented paper for the government’s bonds and notes. Of the many mills from which the town got its name, only Newlin Grist Mill still stands—it has since 1704, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tour this working mill to see how grain is turned to flour. You can also learn to forge metal in blacksmithing classes or sport a red-tailed hawk while wandering the mill’s 160-acre grounds.

Get some fresh air at the nearby Ridley Creek State Park. Here, you can hike or ride horseback through miles of trails; in winter, you can cross-country ski through much of the park. On its south end, you’ll find the Tyler Arboretum, where you can visit the butterfly house or wander through the picturesque meadow maze created with high walls of grass and wildflowers instead of bushes or corn husks.

Downtown Philadelphia is about 25 miles away. Its historic district dates back to the city’s founding in 1682. Today, Center City is Philadelphia’s central business district, with several skyscrapers and high-profile museums. The neighborhood is also home to Independence National Historical Park, whose high concentration of notable landmarks make it America’s most historic square mile. While you’re here, visit Independence Hall—birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution—or head to the Liberty Bell Center to see the approximately 2,000-pound bell that Martha Washington famously rang to let George know when supper was ready. At the north end of the park, the National Constitution Center features a multimedia presentation on the country’s founding displayed on a 360-degree domed ceiling, as well as galleries of artifacts, including a rare copy of the Emancipation Proclamation.

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