City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington, Delaware may be famous for Du Pont history and the banking, innovation and corporate industries, but it’s an excellent destination for boating, culture and nature watching. From traveling the ICW on a Great Loop adventure, cruising from Cape May to Philadelphia or enjoying a private boat dock rental, you shouldn’t miss a stop along Wilmington’s urban shores, historic streets and country lanes of the Brandywine Valley.

Wilmington is located on the Christina and Delaware Rivers. Along with the famous crossing by Mr. Washington back in the day (You were paying attention in history class, right?), the Delaware is a major river that provides drinking water and recreation opportunities. It’s the largest free-flowing river in the eastern U.S. We hear the fishing report is great for largemouth bass, brown trout, sunfish and rainbow trout.

While Washington’s crossing site was further north (crossed from Buck’s County, PA to Mercer County, NJ), there’s no mistake that this section of the river offers outdoor recreation for boaters, anglers and nature enthusiasts. Looking for access to the Atlantic? Just head down the river and out through Delaware Bay near Cape May, New Jersey.

Wilmington is home to the Wilmington Rowing Center and a variety of sunset cruises and charter fishing trips. The Wilmington Riverfront has a 360-foot length of public docks located along the Christina River. It can accommodate 10 – 12 boats on a first-come-first-served basis. There are also launch sites for paddleboards and kayaks. Fun events and concerts are also held along the riverfront.

Let’s check out Wilmington, Delaware!

Bellevue State Park

Photo: Wikimedia

Bellevue State Park offers a wide array of activities for travelers of all interests. The park has a running track, hiking trails, a tennis center and an equestrian facility as well as a summer concert series and the former du Pont estate at Bellevue Hall. There’s also a catch-and-release pond filled with catfish, bass and sunfish. You can take introduction to fishing classes and participate in fishing camps.

Hagley Museum

Photo: Wikimedia

Check out more du Pont family history, including their Georgian-style home, at the Hagley Museum. Sites, exhibits and galleries include 19th-century gunpowder works, American patent models, a library and archives, exhibits on inventors, a rustic water wheel, the Conestoga Wagon used to transport black powder to the port of Wilmington, a 1928 du Pont Motors Phaeton and more. Take a walk through the gardens and along the Brandywine River before heading back to a private boat lift for rent.

Delaware Children’s Museum

Photo: Delaware Children's Museum (Facebook)

With interactive play areas and hands-on exhibits, the Delaware Children’s Museum is the perfect place to take fidgety youngsters. Located on the Wilmington riverfront, it’s convenient to private boat dock rentals and marinas. The museum allows kids to explore the worlds of science, technology, art and math with exhibits such as a 350-year-old sycamore tree log, climbing structures, banks and creative discovery in painting, weaving and printmaking. Kids can learn how to be engineers, architects and steel workers through fun play environments.

Delaware Art Museum

Photo: Wikimedia 

The Delaware Art Museum features a collection of pre-Raphaelite art and sculpture as well as American, modern and contemporary art and illustration. Give it a visit when you’re searching for an activity from a private boat lift rental. The Copeland Sculpture Garden features a variety of unique bronze, granite and metal designs in an outdoor setting.

Rockwood Park & Museum

Photo: Rockwood Park & Museum (Facebook)

Rockwood Park & Museum has hiking trails, gardens, event space and a museum. Tour the Gothic Revival mansion built by Joseph Shipley (a Quaker banker), which was built between 1851 and 1854. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was built in the likeness of an English country estate with gardens and landscaping. Tours of the museum and six-acre garden are guided or self-guided.

Brandywine Zoo

Photo: Brandywine Zoo (Facebook)

Looking for a two-for-one day trip from a private boat slip rental? Located in Brandywine Park, along the Brandywine River, the Brandywine Zoo features a collection of Asian, African and North and South American mammals and birds. Visit capybaras, red pandas, lemurs, toucans and tortoises as you make your way around this small zoo.

After enjoying the zoo, explore the park. Established in 1886, the 178-acre park offers an array of things to do and see. There’s a sports stadium for high school and community events, tennis courts, a fitness track and Brandywine Creek, which is a popular spot to reel in white perch, American shad, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Don’t miss the historic rose garden or the Josephine Fountain, which becomes a lovely focal point when the spring cherry blossoms are in bloom.

We hope you’ve discovered some new sites and attractions to visit the next time you’re in the Wilmington area. Whether you’re on a stopover along the ICW, moored at a private boat dock rental or cruising to Philadelphia, Wilmington is a terrific place to check out. Happy boating!