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Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's online News, Opinion, Arts and Entertainment information archive, serving the PA Capital Region. |
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Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's online News, Opinion, Arts and Entertainment information archive, serving the PA Capital Region. |
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 What
are the holidays without a Christmas light display? The holidays don’t
officially begin for me until I’ve enjoyed one. I’ve played in
Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane every year since childhood, and I’m a
huge fan. But this year, I was in the mood for a change of scenery. I
wanted more — more lights, more decorations, and a bigger area to explore.
Happily, I stumbled across Longwood Gardens, a horticultural showplace
featuring 1,050 acres of exquisite flowers, trees, fountains, and
architecture all bedecked in holiday adornments. Thus, I embarked on what
I’d like to call the perfect, holiday One-Tank Getaway.The drive to Longwood Gardens is relatively painless. Head east on the PA Turnpike to Exit 23 (the Downingtown Exit). Follow Route 100 South to Route 202 South and then to Route 1 South. You’ll find Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. Construction on Route 100 can make for slow going, but the trip still only takes about one hour and 45 minutes. You’ll be delighted to find that parking is free and admission is reasonable. This popular holiday display, which runs through January 6, usually becomes quite crowded after dark. The gardens are open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, so arrive in the early afternoon to avoid spending an absurd amount of time in line at the entrance. Don’t worry: the indoor exhibits are just as spectacular during the day as they are at night. One attraction not humbled by daylight is the Conservatory, which accommodates 20 hothouse rooms covering four acres of ground. Enter the East Conservatory to find a fountain and a small waterfall surrounded by white, red, and silver flowers that almost seem to shimmer. The Great Hall is home to a reflecting pool and a towering evergreen, which looks more like a floral arrangement than a Christmas tree. The Orangery is filled to capacity with fragrant poinsettias and decorated evergreens. A Children’s Garden and a Bonsai exhibit are hidden off of the East Conservatory and absolutely should not be overlooked (even if bonsai trees aren’t exactly “Christmassy”). Guests are free to explore the East Conservatory, Great Hall, and Orangery at their own pace, which makes it even more relaxing and enjoyable.  Next,
line up in single file to follow the narrow trail through the rest of the
Conservatory’s gardens. You’ll find wreaths made from living flowers,
trees decorated by area students, and the Cascade Garden, with its
waterfalls and streams flowing among picturesque flora. Other highlights
include the Rose House, the Tropical Terrace, and the Silver Garden. Once
you take on this portion of the Conservatory, there really isn’t any
stopping or getting out. Make sure you want to invest the hour or so it
takes before you embark on this walking tour … and reconsider if you’re
claustrophobic.If you’re interested in the history of Longwood Gardens, don’t miss the du Pont House. In its library, you can watch a 10-minute movie about the “horticultural legacy” that is Longwood. Comprised of home movies snippets and old newsreel footage, this feature is actually pretty interesting (but more importantly, it’s short and sweet). If this doesn’t satisfy your curiosity, check out the Heritage Exhibit, which winds through the historic mansion once occupied by Longwood’s founders. This display showcases old photos, artifacts, and more bits of information than anyone could retain in just one day. Think twice before entering the Heritage Exhibit, though. It could prove too long and boring for children (and even some adults) anxious to see the pretty lights and flowers. Another indoor attraction is the Rose Pavilion, where you’ll find sounds of the season resonating in the air. Visitors can take part in holiday sing-alongs in the afternoon and delight in concerts presented by area choral groups and hand-bell choirs in the evening. Seating is ample in this theatre, and the raised stage guarantees that there isn’t a bad seat in the house. You’re probably hungry by now. Not to worry: several dining options are available at Longwood Gardens. A Yuletide Buffet and Breakfast with Santa are available during the holiday season, and the Terrace Restaurant features a self-serve cafeteria and a full-service restaurant. My perfect, holiday One-Tank Getaway couldn’t be such without a classy dinner, so I opted for the full-service restaurant, which is fittingly decorated with fresh flowers on every table. An upside-down Christmas tree, complete with presents, hangs from the ceiling, and soft lighting finishes this beautiful atmosphere. I would call the Terrace romantic had it not been for the large number of tables crammed into this small restaurant. Come prepared to make fast friends with the patrons sitting next to you (that is, the patrons sitting about six inches away on either side). A delicious meal quickly placated my initial displeasure with these close quarters. Individual loaves of bread, baked in little flowerpots, are served to each person. The wine list is extensive, and even the salad dressing is to die for (even though the salads look like trimmings gathered from overgrown bushes outside). Diners raved over the Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Chesapeake Crab Cakes, and Filet Mignon entrées. Demanding the attention of every patron within 15 feet, the dessert tray boasted Pumpkin Crème Brulee, Pecan Caramel Tarts, and the house favorite, Longwood Snow Cream with Raspberry Sauce (a unique combination of heavy cream, whipped cream, and cream cheese … almost like cheesecake, but with a consistency more like whipped cream — scrumptious). Here is a tip I stress adamantly: EAT DINNER EARLY! During my visit, it took the hostess 20 minutes to seat us at 4 p.m. Only one hour later, that wait had reached two hours, and the line stretched out the door. Exit the Terrace Restaurant after your early dinner, and — Ta Da! — you’ve been transported into a holiday-light-display utopia, courtesy of 400,000 lights strung on 40 miles of wire. Longwood’s outdoor gardens are filled with flowers and Christmas trees, all fashioned from strings of twinkling lights. The tall trees and twisting topiaries are also illuminated. As if that isn’t enough, strolling yuletide singers in Victorian attire wander about the grounds singing favorite carols. Can’t you just feel yourself being overcome by holiday cheer?  You’ll
kick yourself if you miss the Open Air Theatre, which is home to a
beautiful fountain show. Holiday music accompanies the dancing fountains,
which appear in shades of green and red. Beginning every half hour, the
show can be seen during the day, but it is much more magnificent in the
dark, when large snowflakes and icicles are suspended in the trees
surrounding the watery stage. The show runs continuously after 5 p.m.,
leaving just enough time in between to herd one crowd in and one crowd
out.Don’t leave Longwood Gardens without visiting its Gift Shop & Greenhouse. Books, puzzles, calendars, and videos, as well as plants and accessories, fill the shelves year-round. Tasteful seasonal gifts beckon the shopping addict in each of us. Which brings me to an important question: can a holiday One-Tank Getaway be truly perfect without opportunities for holiday shopping? Thankfully, I didn’t have to find out this time around. The Exton Mall, which is larger than any mall in the Harrisburg area, is on the way on Route 100, a bevy of strip malls can be found on Routes 100 and 202, and I passed at least a half dozen antique shops on Route 1 alone. Although not exactly on the way, two more shoppers’ paradises are located nearby. First, Wilmington, DE, (a.k.a. The Land of No Sales Tax/Strip Mall City) is less than 10 miles away. If you’re willing to travel just a bit further (albeit in the opposite direction), you’ll find the King of Prussia Mall, the largest mall on the east coast, off of Turnpike exit 24. Afraid that there aren’t enough hours in the day to thoroughly explore Longwood Gardens and all of these stores? Well, the perfect holiday One-Tank Getaway can easily be transformed into an overnighter. Many hotels and motels are close by. For example, the Brandywine Valley Comfort Inn & Suites offers reasonably priced accommodations. For those looking for a bit of luxury, the Mendenhall Hotel has an overnight package that includes a deluxe room for two, dinner, a continental breakfast, and a bottle of champagne upon arrival. Bed and Breakfasts are also very popular in this historic area. So there you have it: the perfect, holiday One-Tank Getaway. You have lights, trees, decorations, holiday music, Christmas shopping, and even a dancing fountain. It sort of makes me wonder what Longwood Gardens will have to offer come spring… |
Longwood Gardens |
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