Wilmington, DE Road Trips

Downtown Visitor Center, 100 West 10th Street, Suite 20, toll-free: +1-800-489-6664. M-F 9AM to 5PM. Information on attractions, things to do, hotels, restaurants, city history, suggested itineraries, maps and transportation info. Parking available at the Community Services Parking Garage at the corner of 11th Street and Orange Street.

At the center of downtown Wilmington is Rodney Square, a public square featuring a statute honoring its namesake, and signatory to the Declaration of Independence, Caesar Rodney. Wilmington's Riverfront has been transformed from a blighted area into a local tourist attraction. It offers a variety of places to eat, outlet shops, and the newly developed Chase Center which hosts special events and exhibits. Nearby is the Frank Furness Railroad District. Trolley Square, which is home to restaurants, cafes, bars, and specialty wine shops, is walking distance to Brandywine Park. Other points of interest include Old Swedes Church (dedicated 1699), a monument to the colony of New Sweden at nearby Fort Christina State Park, and Delaware's tall ship, the Kalmar Nyckel. 1 The Brandywine Zoo, 1001 N Park Dr, ☏ +1 302 571-7747. Fun for the whole family. You can take the #2 DART First State bus from the Amtrak station to the zoo. 2 Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Pkwy, ☏ +1 302 571-9590. Art museum showcasing exhibits from established and emerging Delaware artists, featuring paintings, sculptures, photography, and crafts. Free on Sundays. 3 Delaware History Museum, 505 N Market St, ☏ +1 302 655-7161. Museum showcasing the history and heritage of Delaware, featuring interactive exhibits. (updated Jul 2017) 4 Hagley Museum and Library, 298 Buck Rd E, ☏ +1 302 658-2400. Museum and library on the banks of the Brandywine Creek at the site of the DuPont family's gunpowder mill and first home and garden. Open for tours.

1 Delaware Park, 777 Delaware Park Blvd, ☏ +1 302 994-2521. Delaware Park consists of a thoroughbred race track, casino, and golf course located to the south of Wilmington. The race track offers seasonal thoroughbred racing in along with simulcasts of races from other tracks year-round. The casino at Delaware Park has table games and over 2,500 slot machines on two levels. There is also keno and betting on professional and college sports. Delaware Park offers casual and fine dining options including Legends Restaurant, Picciotti's Pizza and Craft Beer, Del Cap Room, At The Rail Wine Bar and Grille, On A Roll Deli, Rooney's, Kelso's Coffee Shop, New Castle Room, Sports Book, The Grove at Delaware Park, and The Terrace. Delaware Park also has facilities to accommodate banquets. Bars at Delaware Park include Paddock Pub, Hops, Oval Bar, and Wheel Bar. Delaware Park offers an 18-hole public golf course. (updated Nov 2017) Delaware Theater Company, 200 Water St, ☏ +1 302 594-1100. Local theater company in a small riverfront theater that is home to a professional acting group that performs classic, modern, and youth plays. Playhouse on Rodney Square (formerly The DuPont Theater), 1007 N Market St. Inside the Hotel Du Pont. 2 Grand Opera House, 818 N Market St, ☏ +1 302 652-5577. 19th-century opera house offering a diverse selection of performances from opera to ballet that is home to the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and Opera Delaware. Skating Club of Wilmington, 1301 Carruthers Ln. Rock Manor Golf Club, 1319 Carruthers Ln. Public links.

Wilmingtonians are not wanting for good places to eat. To wit: River Rock Kitchen, 818 Shipyard Dr, ☏ +1 302-397-5518. Inspired by local ingredients, providing the freshest flavors of the season, River Rock Kitchen is a multi-occasion gathering place for a power breakfast, lunch with business associates or friends, and socializing over drinks and dinner. Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, 510 N. Union St. Original location of sub shop that, since opening in 1976, has expanded into eleven states. Charcoal Pit, 2600 Concord Pike, ☏ +1 302 478-2165. This local institution, and favorite of former President Joe Biden, has been serving up burgers, cheesesteaks and milkshakes since opening in 1956, and offers ice cream sundaes named for local high school mascots along with the "Kitchen Sink" sundae. (updated Apr 2021) Grotto Pizza. A Delaware favorite, Grotto Pizza is a modestly-priced local pizza chain known for pizza with a swirl of sauce on top. Grotto Pizza has two locations in Wilmington. , 1819 Pennsylvania Ave, ☏ +1 302-777-3278. , 2015 Concord Pike, ☏ +1 302-888-2222. Harry's Savoy Grill, 2020 Naamans Rd. Upscale American cuisine. Mikimotos, 1212 N. Washington St. Upscale Japanese cuisine. Pricey. Mazzella's Italian Restaurant, 729 Philadelphia Pike. Family owned pizzeria. Mrs. Robino's, 520 N. Union St. Little Italy institution open since 1940. Walter's Steakhouse & Saloon, 802 N. Union St. Well-known for their prime rib. Yi Palace, 4435 Concord Pike. Chinese.

Delaware has gained national attention for the lower Delaware brew, Dogfish Head. Catherine Rooney's, 1616 Delaware Ave. Meat and potatoes Irish bar. Iron Hill Brewery, 620 Justison St, ☏ +1 302-472-2739. Newark-based brewpub chain's large Riverfront location. Kelly's Logan House, 1701 Delaware Ave. This Trolley Square tavern opened in 1864 and is a popular watering hole for young professionals.

1 The Westin Wilmington, 818 Shipyard Dr, ☏ +1 302-654-2900. Brand new riverfront hotel, opened in 2014. (updated May 2017) SureStay Plus Hotel Brandywine Valley, 1807 Concord Pike, ☏ +1 302 656-9436, fax: +1 302 656-8564. Courtyard by Marriott - Wilmington / Brandywine, 320 Rocky Run Parkway, ☏ +1 302 477-9500, fax: +1 302 477-0929. 2 Courtyard Marriott Wilmington Downtown, 1102 N West St, ☏ +1 302 429-7600, fax: +1 302 429-9167. From $139 a night, plus $9.50 a night parking Su-Th, free F-Sa. (updated May 2017) Doubletree Hotel Downtown Wilmington, 700 King St, ☏ +1 302 655-0400. 3 Hotel DuPont, 42 W 11 St (at Market St), ☏ +1 302 594-3100. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2020) 4 The Inn at Montchannin Village & Spa, 528 Montchanin Rd (Rt 100 and Kird Rd), ☏ +1 302 888-2133, toll-free: +1-800-COW-BIRD (269-2473). Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Nov 2020) Sheraton Suites Wilmington Downtown, 422 Delaware Avenue, ☏ +1-302-654-8300. Club-level suites grant access to the Sheraton Club Lounge, free Wi-Fi, and daily breakfast. The hotel's fitness center has free weights and cardio machines, and Basil Bar & Grill serves American cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pet-friendly suites available with luxury bedding, mini-refrigerators, microwaves, flat-screen TVs and pullout sofas. (updated Dec 2020)

1 New Castle Airport (ILG IATA Wilmington Airport), 151 N Dupont Hwy (6 miles or 10 km south of Wilmington on US Hwy 13, or I-95 and US Hwy 202). Limited commercial airline service with: (updated Aug 2021) Avelo Airlines (Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, San Juan, Sarasota, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Wilmington NC) American Airlines (operated by Landline Motorcoach) (Philadelphia) Car rentals are available in the airport, as well as taxi service and passenger vans for larger groups. Bus service via DART First State #25 and 40. The #40 bus connects New Castle Airport to the downtown Wilmington Station for connections to Amtrak, SEPTA, Greyhound/Flixbus, and other DART First State routes. Wilmington is served primarily by the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL IATA), which offers flights on all major airlines to cities throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Caribbean and Mexico City. PHL is about half an hour away by car on I-95. You can also take the train in from PHL, which costs $9.25 using the Airport Line into Center City Philadelphia and the Wilmington/Newark Line to Wilmington. Other major airports in driving distance: Baltimore/Washington (BWI IATA) Newark (EWR IATA) John F. Kennedy (JFK IATA) By car, Wilmington is easily accessible along I-95, the major north-south highway along the East Coast, running north to Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston and south to Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

DelDOT's network of DART First State buses serve Wilmington and adjacent areas in northern New Castle County, but these are designed primarily for commuters. DART First States buses primarily operate Monday through Friday with several routes offering Saturday service and a few routes offering Sunday service. Fares for DART First State buses are $2.00 per ride and transfers are not issued. Reduced fares for senior citizens or persons with disabilities cost $0.80 per ride, a student fare costs $1 per ride with a student ID, and blind persons and children 46 inches in height or under who are accompanied by a fare-paying rider can ride for free. A Daily Pass may be purchased for $4.00, offering unlimited rides for the day. A 7-day pass costs $16, a 30-day pass costs $60, and a 20-ride pass costs $26. A car is the best way to get around the city, especially if you plan on driving to office parks, tourist attractions, or other locations outside of the city proper. There are several locations to park in the downtown area of Wilmington. On-street parking in downtown Wilmington is regulated by parking meters. Parking meters have a time limit of two hours and accept nickels, dimes, and quarters as payment. A nickel buys 3 minutes of parking, a dime buys 6 minutes of parking, and a quarter buys 15 minutes of parking. There are also commercial parking lots throughout the downtown area of Wilmington.

Wilmington is said to be one of the most dangerous small cities in the United States. The violent crime rate is very high, and in the 2010s the city has repeatedly broken its record for homicides in a single year. Most of the violence, however, is related to poverty and drugs (Wilmington's location in between Philadelphia and Baltimore makes it a natural way station for drug traffickers), so it is less likely to affect visitors who stick to the popular business and tourist neighborhoods.