We just love Longwood Gardens! Its one of our favorite places in Philly. We’ve gone here on dates for lots of romantic strolling among flowers and we’ve brought the kids for some fun in the gardens. Its a quick drive from the Main Line out to Kennett Square. We’ve gone in summer, of course, and to see the famous Spring Blooms where you can walk through an ocean of tulips (so so amazing) but somehow, we’ve lived here over 10 years and have never actually been there at Christmas!! Wow – have we been missing out!

I wandered around a winter wonderland, with over half a million twinkle lights, thousands of poinsettias, and so many Christmas trees I lost count. It was gorgeous and magical!

I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite part. We have so many favorite parts of Longwood already. The Conservatory was breathtaking.  Can you even imagine the elegant parties the duPont’s threw here?

I highly recommend Longwood at Christmas! Its perfect for a family holiday tradition – and makes a romantic date night as well!

A few tips and tricks for enjoying a Longwood Christmas:

1. Timed Tickets Required: Timed tickets sell out quickly, so purchase early and online at tickets.longwoodgardens.org to make sure you can get in when you arrive. Once you’re in, you can stay as long as you want.

2. Dress Warm: The Conservatory is lovely, but the grounds are impressive as well! Make sure you can enjoy them comfortably!

3. Save on Non-Peak Days. Purchasing a timed ticket during a Non-Peak day means fewer crowds and you save! Non-Peak days are Mondays through Fridays (except December 26–31) Click here for pricing.

4. Become a Member: Members only on Mondays! So to really avoid the crowds, join Longwood and enjoy a smaller, members-only crowd on Monday evenings.

5. Make a Reservation: The fine dining restaurant, 1906 is divine! BE sure to make a reservation the same day you purchase your timed admission ticket in order to enjoy – this place is especially popular during the holidays. You can also enjoy a more casual Café service which is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

6. Make a Day of it in Kennett Square! Before heading over to Longwood, head into the adorable historic Kennett Square! I was just there the other evening and I could have spent hours pouring through the lovely shops and boutiques! I saw fashionable boutiques, like Frolic and Green Eyes Lady, great gift shops, like Greenable and BedBuggzz… lots of gorgeous sparkley things at Bove Jewelers and yummy treats at Sweet Christines and Opa Yo Greek Frozen Yogurt… and La Verona was delicious! I’ll definitely be back to wander around and explore Kennet Square more!

 disclosure: I attended a blogger event at Longwood and Kennett Square and received samples and complimentary admission to Longwood. As always, all opinions are my own.