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27 Reasons for Families To Visit Wilmington, Delaware
4/6/18
- By Kristen Sullivan
Delaware Museum of Natural History
Winterthur Museum
The Delaware Children’s Museum
Dupont Environmental Education Center
Brandywine Zoo
Kalmar Nyckel
Hagley Museum and Library
Tubman-Garrett Park
Delaware History Museum
River Walk Mini Golf
Stratosphere
Wilderness Canoe
Brandywine Creek State Park
Christina River Boat Company
Alpocas Run
Wilmington and Western RR
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Carousel Park
Rockford Tower Park
Riverfront Market
City Theater Company
New Candlelight Theater
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts
Dutch House
Delaware Art Museum
Delaware Children's Theatre
There is so much to see and do in Wilmington, Delaware. And with its proximity to Philadelphia, families can consider making a day trip or a weekend stay. A straight shot down I-95 (and even accessible by Amtrak), this family-friendly city is a delight for parents and kids alike. From sites along the Riverwalk to museums and outdoor adventures, Wilmington will have you coming back for more. Here is our roundup of the top 27 things to do as a family in Wilmington.
Still not sure where to take your next day trip? Check out our city guides for more ideas!
OUR LATEST VIDEOS
- Encounter dinosaurs, see a giant squid replica, explore the shell gallery, and say hello to the life-sized mammals at the African watering hole at the Delaware Museum of Natural History.
- Wander about the Enchanted Woods, a unique three-acre children’s garden, at the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Kids in strollers can take a squeaky wheels tour throughout the gardens and museum, and truck and tractor lovers won't want to miss the annual Truck and Tractor Day held every October.
- Budding engineers can participate in monthly Junior Engineer programming while those interested in testing out scientific hypotheses can experiment with Try Science events at the Delaware Children’s Museum. Save a few dollars on admission by visiting on $2 Nights.
- If you still have energy to burn after the museum, bounce it off at the Stratosphere Trampoline Park.
- Learn about where city, river, and marsh meet at the DuPont Environmental Education Center.
- Visit the small but quaint Brandywine Zoo, located in the beautiful Brandywine Park. To extend the learning and gain additional insight on how the animals are cared for, sign up for an Animal Enrichment Workshop or a Career & Animal Science Workshop which are offered monthly.
- Take a dockside tour of the Kalmar Nyckel, a seaworthy recreation of the ship that brought the Swedes to Delaware in 1638. In the spring, the fort hosts Festival at the Fort, a family-friendly experience.
- Get a unique glimpse of what life was like in the 19th century for the rich and the working class at the Hagley Museum and Library. Stop by on a Saturday to experience Science Saturday.
- Experience the history of the Underground Railroad at the Tubman-Garrett Park, a one-mile walkway along the Wilmington riverfront.
- Learn about the history of Delaware at the Delaware History Museum. Monthly Family Saturday events engage children of all ages in exploration and discovery.
- Enjoy a family-fun round at the Riverfront Mini Golf, followed by a delicious milkshake.
- Grab lunch at the Riverfront Market, with a European style marketplace featuring local farm goods and café style eating
- If you are tired of walking on the Riverfront, and have older kids, rent a canoe and take a unique self-guided tour.
- Take a hike in the Brandywine Creek State Park, which features 14 miles of trails, as well as fishing, picnic areas, and seasonal events.
- Tour the river with the Christina Riverboat Company, easily accessible from six docks throughout the city. A great way to take in the sights!
- Try your hand at some low-level rock climbing in the Alapocas Run State Park. Kids can run off energy while grown-ups and teens test their skills.
- Take an old-fashioned train ride aboard the Wilmington and Western Railroad and enjoy unique views of the countryside. Special train rides are offered at Halloween, Easter, and Christmas.
- Check out a Wilmington Blue Rocks game! Now that the Camden Riversharks are gone, you need a new minor league team to cheer for!
- For families taking a group trip or making it a special birthday surprise, check out Bump n Play, which is basically playing soccer in a giant bubble. Better for kids 8 and up. Not into playing? Contact them and watch a league game.
- Check out some adorable animals at the Carousel Park Kids Corral, featuring alpacas, miniature donkeys, pygmy goat, and a variety of peacocks.
- Be amazed by the 100-year-old Rockford Park Tower, which looks like it belongs in medieval England. This is another great hiking site for families.
- Watch an off-beat, “off-Broadway” show with older kids at the Delaware City Theater Company.
- Laugh or cry at a comedy show or dinner theater event at the New Candlelight Theater.
- Spend a cultural afternoon with tweens and teens at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts.
- Learn what life was like in the 1700s at the Dutch House.
- See a children's show such as Aladdin Jr. which is on stage now at Delaware Children's Theatre.
- Head to the Delaware Art Museum and find inspiration with the works of art on view. Visit on a Friday to participate in Glory of Stories, the museum's weekly storytime or on the second Sunday of the month for Sunday Studio.
Places featured in this article:
Delaware Museum of Natural History
Winterthur Museum
The Delaware Children’s Museum
Dupont Environmental Education Center
Brandywine Zoo
Kalmar Nyckel
Hagley Museum and Library
Tubman-Garrett Park
Delaware History Museum
River Walk Mini Golf
Stratosphere
Wilderness Canoe
Brandywine Creek State Park
Christina River Boat Company
Alpocas Run
Wilmington and Western RR
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Carousel Park
Rockford Tower Park
Riverfront Market
City Theater Company
New Candlelight Theater
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts
Dutch House
Delaware Art Museum
Delaware Children's Theatre
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