Wilmington, DE

Just minutes from Wilmington, Delaware, and about an hour and a half from Baltimore/Washington International Airport lies a rural retreat named The Inn at Montchanin Village. Once a working community for 19th-century laborers, Montchanin has been restored and transformed into a world-class resort.

A trip to this pastoral hamlet will reveal winding pathways that curl between 11 quaint buildings constructed in the mid-1800s, 9 of which now house guestrooms. Lush gardens surround the property, where visitors can relax amid the blooms. The atmosphere is elegant but informal.

The Inn at Montchanin Village: (302) 888-2133, 1-800-269-2473, or www.montchanin.com.

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