Longwood may be the most romantic place in the Brandywine Valley. Even on a busy day, you can feel as if you have the gardens all to yourself. Walk down to the sloping hillside of Peirce's Woods through the sunlight falling on native azaleas and cottony foam flowers, and you'll discover a pair of lakes and the Love Temple, a cupola-topped structure perfect for relaxing by the water. Near the lakes, the Italian Water Garden features tiled pools and fountains that evoke a hidden Tuscan oasis. Paths wind through dozens of out-of-the-way spots, such as the Wisteria Garden, with its rough-hewn arbors and violet blooms, and the area around the six-story Chimes Tower, with its hourly carillon serenade.

At the Terrace Restaurant, you can have a glass of wine and dessert or a full meal. It makes a great place to relax and schedule the rest of your day--even if you plan on doing nothing more than finding a slant of late-afternoon sunlight in which to doze. Sometimes, nothing's more romantic than that.

left: The six-story Chimes Tower