Publisher’s Letter

July! Time for packing a family picnic, taking a summer car trip, watching fireworks, enjoying an outdoor concert and settling down with a cold one. Let us tell you how.

“A Year-Round Guide to County Lines Country” tours Chester County and beyond, starting with the Big Three sights — Longwood Gardens, Winterthur Museum and Brandywine Museum of Art. Then on to prime picnic places, Delaware towns worth visiting, three car trips to the south and west, plus the annual Town Tours & Village Walks. We also recommend visiting our favorite parks, nature centers, zoos, more museums and local covered bridges

Check out more travel options in “Spend a Weekend in Wilmington” — who knew there was so much to do there? And, of course, we highlight two “Summer Getaways” on the Jersey Shore: Long Beach Island and Wildwood.

For those new to County Lines country, welcome! We know you’ll love it. To help you settle in, we’ve assembled a “Newcomers Guide” to local businesses, services, schools and more.

In “Tap into Summer in the Great Outdoors,” Kari Mullan rounds up beer gardens and rooftop bars in the Brandywine Valley for you to check out. Plus, we’ve got a few of the faces behind the great food profiled in our January dining guide (find it online) in “Best of the Best Photo Recap.”

Looking for a bit of serenity? Rediscover it in “Foster Wellness, Find Your Center” by Emily Hart. For a bit of history, Brandywine Stories’ “Dare to Declare” recounts Independence Day celebrations over the years as we prepare for the 250th celebration in 2026.

And for things to do, “Fall Guide to the Performing Arts” previews the upcoming season — offering our Top 10 Picks — along with outdoor summer concerts. There’s also a guide to local fireworks shows, family fun ideas and the Best Local Events anywhere.

Perhaps you already have County Lines delivered to your mailbox. Save it for future reference. At CountyLinesMagazine.com, you can read the July issue online. At Issuu.com, you can read the digital issue. Or click “Get A Copy” on our website to find locations to pick up your own print copy.

We hope you’d like to subscribe to County Lines. Do it on our website or call 610-918-9300. For single issues, try Wellington Square Bookshop, Main Point Books, More than Books, Bookish Notions or Reads & Co. Bookstore. Visiting an advertiser is also a great — and free — way to find copies!

We hope you enjoy this issue.

Thank you for reading. I hope you discover a new favorite summer escape.

Ed Malet, Publisher

610-918-9300

A Year-Round Guide to County Lines Country

“A Year-Round Guide to County Lines Country” is our annual guide to some of the best destinations in Chester County and beyond. It’s our custom to start with the Big Three sights — Longwood Gardens, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library and the Brandywine Museum of Art. Then we highlight places to picnic in Chester and Delaware Counties along with places to go for a daytrip in Delaware or car trip in Maryland or central PA. We also recommend walking tours plus our favorite parks, nature centers, zoos, museums and local covered bridges.

Summer Getaways

County Lines country almost has it all. But summer means is you want beaches, then head for the Jersey Shore — only a little over an hour away. Long Beach Island — LBI — is an 18-mile stretch that runs from Barnegat Lighthouse to the 48,000-acre Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. It’s a peaceful retreat, even in high season. Farther south is Wildwood, a five-mile beach with a boardwalk, waterparks, amusement parks, craft festivals, athletic competitions, fireworks and a family atmosphere. Plus Wildwood is just 15 minutes north of Cape May.

Brandywine Stories: Dare to Declare

The 4th of July is always fun. Families gather. Children laugh, shriek and splash. The grill is loaded with hot dogs and burgers. Fireworks light the sky. But did you know how Independence Day has evolved? We’ve got a short history.

In 1776, John Adams predicted July 4th would be celebrated as a “day of deliverance … with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations.” Fifty years later, the president and vice president enjoyed dinner, fireworks, religious services, speeches and parades. In 1876, the nation’s centennial was celebrated with a World’s Fair in Philadelphia. In 1926, the president declared an eight-day celebration. In 1976, the 200th birthday was called the “Festival of Freedom” and dedicated to the advancement of human welfare. In 2026, how will we celebrate?