See the U.S.A.: Play and Dine Along the Water’s Edge

By Theresa Smith

     If you have not visited the waterfront in Wilmington, Delaware in a while, then it’s high time you made some plans. The city of Wilmington has really developed this area of the city and is constantly offering fun events and activities for the entire family. As someone who used to work by the Wilmington waterfront (shout out to Delaware Theatre Company!), it has been amazing to watch the change from a more industrial feel to a buzzing, bustling attraction. The waterfront has transformed into an amazing location to visit and there seems to always be some event taking place for visitors to enjoy.

     Even though the summer is over and cooler, fall weather is on the horizon, the fun along the Wilmington Waterfront doesn’t end. There are many places for you to visit this fall and winter along the Waterfront and create lasting memories.

     If you have young kids, a stop at the Delaware Children’s Museum should be on your list. Focusing on the worlds of math, science and technology, the Delaware Children’s Museum has created exhibits that spark creativity and the desire to explore and learn in young kids. There are exhibits about nature, money, the human body, transportation and more. And kids will really enjoy the 30-foot climbing structure, Stratosphere, where they can stretch their legs as well as their minds as they figure out how to get to the top. You can also walk through a 350 year-old Sycamore tree that has been hollowed out to allow guests to explore the inside.

     There’s also special events throughout the year at the Delaware Children’s Museum. This October, you could take part in their first ever Harry Potter Science Day! This event will feature magic potion classes, Fantastic Beast scavenger hunts and other fun Harry Potter related activities. Harry Potter Science Day will take place on October 27^th from 5 – 8pm. The museum is located at 550 Justison Street in Wilmington.  Visit their website for more information: delawarechildrensmuseum.org.

     If you enjoy being outside enjoying the weather and the Christiana River, then you are in luck! The Riverwalk Mini Golf will be open on the weekends through September. There’s also the Riverwalk that follows alongside the river connecting the attractions between Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park to the Shipyard Shops where you can enjoy some tax-free shopping at the many shops. This 1.3 mile long path makes visiting multiple locations easy – just park at one and walk to the next. Enjoy the myriad of native plantings as you stroll along or relax at one of the gathering places and watch the river roll by.

Speaking of the river, how about enjoying a evening cruise on the Riverboat Queen? The Riverboat Queen is a paddleboat that takes you on a scenic rider down the Christiana River to the Delaware River and back. The evening cruises will take place on Thursdays and Sundays and will feature a full buffet. You can view the menu and book your tickets online at wilmwaterattractions.com/riverboat-queen.   

There’s also the Kalmar Nyckel, which is the re-creation of the historic tall ship that brought settlers to Delaware in 1638. You can enjoy a ride down the river on this beautiful tall ship on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through October. Make sure to mark your calendar for their 20^th anniversary celebration on September 17^th from 12pm until 5pm. The free event will be at the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard at 1124 East 7^th Street in Wilmington, and will feature ship and building tours, fun kid’s activities, guest speakers, and birthday cake.

There are also several places to enjoy lunch, dinner or a late-night snack along the Waterfront too. Enjoy a meal at Harry’s Seafood Grill, Iron Hill Brewery, Joe’s Crab Shack or Del Pez. There’s also several restaurants in the Shipyard Shops including a wonderful ice cream shop.

A bit further down the waterfront is the DuPont Environmental Education Center where you can walk through the 10 acre ornamental garden, canoe through the marsh or watch for bald eagles, beavers, turtles, and more. This center is a way for you to connect with nature and learn about the importance of various plants and animals to the waterfront. There are free activities on the weekends like Lunch with Live Animals and Meet Marsh Animals. You can join the DEEC on September 23^rd for the Marsh and Monarchs Celebration. Help catch butterflies to tag them for research, canoe through the marsh and see what other insects you may find. This event is free and will start at noon and go until 4pm. The DEEC is located at 1400 Delmarva Lane in Wilmington. You can find more information about them online at www.delawarenaturesociety.org/DuPontEnvironmentalEducationCenter.

Besides all of these attractions, there’s also a movie theater and more museums in the area for you to enjoy. As you can see, the Wilmington Waterfront is chock full of fun for all ages. It’s close enough to our area to plan a day trip but if you’d like to make a weekend out exploring the waterfront, there is lodging available.

You can find more information about the Wilmington Riverfront at riverfrontwilm.com. Feel free to share a photo on our social media pages of your visit down to the waterfront!