Delaware’s Brandywine Valley is so filled with attractions that it invites a stay of several days to savor them all. So we decided to settle in for a few days of leisurely touring and chose Homewood Suites by Hilton Wilmington-Brandywine Valley as our home base.

The hotel is well designed for long-term stays, full of features that cater to families and business or leisure travelers. We were only there for a few nights, but appreciated all the extras – a suite with plenty of space to relax, a full kitchen (which we could have had stocked with groceries during our stay), hot breakfast, evening social hour with light foods and large welcoming public areas.

The Homewood Suites by Hilton brand is designed to make longer stays more comfortable, but all those features are just as welcome for overnight or short stays. The light buffet was especially welcome after our day-long drive to Wilmington and saved us leaving the hotel to find a restaurant for dinner. All we wanted at that point was a light meal and a good night’s sleep, so the hot pasta dish and salad was just right. Other nights (the complimentary social hour is offered on Monday through Thursday evenings) choices included sliders, pizza and hearty salads.

A good night’s sleep was easy in our spacious suite. The bedroom was large, with a full-sized closet, an easy chair and good bedside lighting. The king-sized bed was fitted with Serta Suite Dreams bedding. Our large living room had a full-sized sofa and upholstered armchairs, a desk with a swivel chair, and good lighting and plenty of connections for our computers and chargers.

The full kitchen had a full-sized refrigerator and good quality dishes, utensils and appliances. If we had been staying longer and wanted to prepare our own meals, the staff would have stocked the kitchen with groceries. The shopping service is complimentary, and groceries are charged to the room bill.

Daily breakfast is included in the moderate rates, with several hot choices that change frequently: eggs, ham, sausage, bacon, pancakes, French toast, and other hot options. Make-your-own waffles, hot oatmeal, granola and cold cereals, yogurt, cut fruits and berries, bagels, muffins, pastries and toast are there every morning, along with juices and milk. Coffee, tea and hot cocoa are available 24/7 in the spacious lounge, which doubles as a breakfast room, with wooden tables and upholstered chairs.

This large guest lounge is separate from the reception area, another attractive space with comfortable seating and fresh flowers. Just off the reception area, a small canteen offers snacks, drinks and heartier ready-to-heat dishes. In the hotel courtyard is a large terrace with a swimming pool, and there’s a well-equipped fitness room.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Wilmington-Brandywine Valley is well located for visiting the region’s main attractions, the several estates of the duPont family. The palatial Nemours Mansion and its extensive gardens are less than 10 minutes away, and just beyond is Hagley, the historic gunpowder works and estate. Winterthur’s outstanding collections of American furniture and decorative arts is to the north, and just across the Pennsylvania line are the breathtaking Longwood Gardens and the Brandywine River Art Museum, in Chadds Ford.