Faunbrook Bed And Breakfast: West Chester, Pennsylvania Getaway

Kick back and enjoy yourself

The common areas are designed for relaxation. Sip on the complementary wine on the winter porch or he outdoor sitting areas during the summer months. In colder months, settle into the library and browse through the black binder on the coffee table. This black notebook is full of newspaper clippings portraying past events like the Fourth of July fireworks at Faunbrook. One such newspaper article tells the tale of a special trolley that brought townsfolk to the outskirts of West Chester to enjoy a spectacular fireworks display at Faunbrook.

There is also a mention in the black notebook of a short biography of Smedley Darlington Baker, a war hero. This Smedley was the grandson of Smedley, the banker, and is the only American soldier to have received both the Medal of Honor and the Marine Corps Brevet Medal twice!

Local periodicals and brochures are available to chart your course for the area’s attractions, dining, and shopping. For breakfast you’ll be treated to an excellent meal at 9:00am or even earlier if needed. Lori sources most of the produce locally and gets her eggs from a friend’s backyard chicken coop. The meat items come from Lancaster, Pennsylvania where quality farm goods are sought after. Fresh home-made baked goods accompany this delicious breakfast.

Near Faunbrook

For dinner, Lori recommends Limoncello for Italian fare, Roots Café for locavore cuisine and live music or High Street Vūdū Lounge for Cajun dining. Vūdū Lounge is notable for exotic dishes like rack of wild boar, kangaroo, ostrich, and alligator and is well-suited for adventurous diners.

One of the most amazing bookstores in the U.S. is Baldwin’s Book Barn. The barn was built in 1822 and features over 300,000 used and rare books, maps, and prints. Be sure and take time out to visit this five-story barn as it’s only a two-minute drive from Faunbrook. Rumor has it that the barn has three resident ghosts. You might encounter them while browsing the bookshelves!

For local shopping, check out the Artisan Exchange on Saturdays held throughout the year. This market brings craft food items from dozens of mom and pop vendors and is located in the center of West Chester. Drive 20 minutes’ away to Kennett Square, the Mushroom Capital of the World to shop for mushroom products. On State Street in Kennett Square find the Mushroom Cap, or drive a bit farther to The Woodlands At Phillip’s Mushrooms. At either shop, you’ll find more mushroom products than you knew existed.

Also in Kennett Square is the world-famous Longwood Gardens, a former home of Pierre S. du Pont. At these gardens find one of the most dramatic fountain displays in the world, a pipe organ with 10,011 pipes, a carillon, an indoor conservatory, and three unique tree houses on the extensive grounds. Drive just a bit further to see Winterthur, another famous du Pont mansion now open to the public. Both du Pont properties require a fee for admission. Check out their websites for prices and events throughout the year.

Special events at Faunbrook

Faunbrook is popular for special events and can accommodate up to 100 guests. Weddings are held mainly in May, June, September, and October and need to be reserved months in advance. Events as varied as company parties, family reunions, and even funerals have been held at Faunbrook. One of the best reasons to come here has to be the annual harvest dinners.

Each harvest dinner features local vendors and farmers celebrating themes like mushrooms, tomatoes, herbs, and more. These four-course dinners are held outdoors on the enclosed patio, and usually sell out every time. Wine and beer are included, but guests are allowed to bring their own if they have a particular wine or beer to pair with the dinner.

Disclaimer: Although my stay was comped by Faunbrook, my opinions are my own.