DAILY VACATIONER: Brandywine River Museum's A Brandywine Christmas

As Daily Vacationer attempts to choose which holiday events to visit with the little time we have during the holiday season, A Brandywine Christmas at the Brandywine River Museum always makes our list. We enjoy all the festive displays and decorations (not to mention picking out the perfect Critter ornament for our tree!). We love the snowy scenes throughout the galleries, from the famous Wyeth family paintings to the still-lifes, and couldn't help but notice the pictures that call attention to the time of year such as "Twas the Night Before Christmas..." by N.C. Wyeth, "The Settlers" by Howard Pyle, and "Snow Hill" by Andrew Wyeth.

As if enjoying the beautiful galleries wasn't enough, the Museum also hosts special exhibits for A Brandywine Christmas. The Ann Wyeth McCoy Doll Collection features the façade and re-creations of the rooms from Ann Wyeth McCoy's dollhouse originally standing at almost 10 feet tall! The rooms are painstakingly furnished down to the smallest detail, and you'll find yourself admiring each one for an extended period of time.

Make sure you head to the Brandywine River Museum Railroad which is displayed every year for the holidays. At first you'll only just stare at all the movement and sounds (trains! airplanes! railroad crossings!), but then as you get closer, you'll begin to notice all the little details throughout the display (and what to our wondering eyes did appear, but a miniature sleigh and 8 tiny reindeer!). All we can say is give yourself lots of time to enjoy this impressive display.

Stop for lunch in the Restaurant with its beautiful view of the Brandywine River and browse the delights of the Gift Shop. And you must (MUST) pick out a Critter to take home! The Critters are a Brandywine Christmas tradition, made from natural materials by volunteers for over 40 years with proceeds benefiting the Museum Volunteers' Art Purchase Fund. They are displayed all over the Museum and are on sale until supplies run out. A Brandywine Christmas is open November 27th - January 3th with extra holiday events going on all season long.