Philly Escapes: New Hope, the Brandywine Valley, and Winterthur
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The definitive gay accommodation in New Hope is the Raven Resort, a familiar presence since 1979. You may not recognize it, however, if you haven't been in a while - new owners took over the Raven in 2005 and have done a fantastic job renovating it top to bottom. This is a full-scale gay retreat, complete with 10 handsomely outfitted rooms, a massive pool and sundeck (popular for Sunday tea dances), a piano cabaret and dance club, and one of the better restaurants in the area. Fans of Victoriana should consider the 1870 Wedgwood Inn, a gay-friendly B&B right in the center of town, within walking distance of retail and dining. There are eight rooms here, all with fireplaces and four with whirlpool tubs. The same owners run the nearby 1833 Umpleby House and 1873 Aaron Burr House bed-and-breakfasts.

With New Jersey having passed same-sex civil unions legislation, the upscale Inn at Lambertville Station has become a favorite venue for gay commitment ceremonies - its 45 spacious rooms, many with views of the Delaware River, are quite inviting whatever the occasion. Set high on a hill in nearby Stockton, N.J., the romantic and gay-popular Woolverton Inn sits on a 10-acre plot of gardens, meadows, and woodland. Rooms come in a variety of sizes and styles, but they're all furnished beautifully and include such amenities as CD players and soft featherbed mattresses.

The Brandywine Valley and Main Line Suburbs
The posh "Main Line" suburbs west of Philadelphia enjoy a reputation for neatly manicured country estates and gentleman's farms, not to mention bustling downtowns rife with terrific shopping and dining opportunities. The area is easily accessible from Philadelphia by SEPTA commuter rail or by car. A great reason for a visit here these days is the bounty of fine-arts attractions, with the star being the Barnes Foundation, in the town of Merion. Art collector Albert C. Barnes amassed a tremendous collection, specializing in French Post-impressionist and early Modern works, during the early to mid-20th century. He established this museum, which contains 181 works by Renoir, 69 by Cezanne, and 59 by Matisse, as well as countless works by Picasso, Degas, and Rousseau. You'll also find quite a few paintings by gay Pennsylvania artist Charles Demuth, plus a considerable trove of fine antiques and collectibles. There are few private collections in the world of greater significance.

The region's other art must-see is the Brandywine Museum, in the town of Chadds Ford, where generations of the Wyeth family - including N.C., Andrew, and Jamie - have earned international acclaim for their paintings and drawings. Inside this airy museum you can explore the works of the Wyeth family along with many of their contemporaries. While you're out this way, be sure to pay a visit to Longwood Gardens, a 1,000-arce compound of gorgeously manicured gardens - there are photo ops at every turn, from the sparkling fountains and airy conservatories to beds of roses and rows of imaginatively trimmed topiaries. Longwood routinely hosts concerts and seasonal events.
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