The largest colonial tall ship in the world glides effortlessly by as you enjoy champagne and oysters on the half shell. The kids are anxious to finish lunch so they can catch a water taxi to the brand new Delaware Children’s Museum and still have time to visit the Wildlife Refuge. And you’ve got dinner reservations at a great waterfront restaurant within easy walking distance of Frawley stadium, where the family will cap off a great day rooting for the hometown Wilmington Blue Rocks followed by postgame fireworks.
Not too long ago, none of this would have been possible in Wilmington, Delaware. But thanks to the extraordinary effort and insight of the Riverfront Development Corporation, Wilmington’s waterfront is now the envy of cities all over America. The new 1.3 mile Christina Riverwalk starts at Wilmington's historic Amtrak Station so you don't even need a car to take advantage of all of the waterfront options. If you do drive, Wilmington's riverfront is right off of Interstate 95 with acres of free parking. And the Wilmington Trolley provides easy access to downtown hotels, restaurants and attractions Monday through Saturday.
There aren’t just one or two but six waterfront restaurants along the Riverwalk - that’s more waterfront restaurants than they have in Philadelphia or New York City!
Harry’s Seafood Grille next to the Riverfront Market has a great wine list and the best raw bar in town as well as a large selection of seafood, steaks and chops.
FireStone will be opening just a few steps down the Riverwalk in April.
Joe’s Crab Shack is just around the bend - a great place to bring the kids.
The Iron Hill Brewery is right next to Crab Shack. If you like home-grown, small batch beers this is the place for you.
The Big Fish Grill the newest waterfront restaurant on the Riverwalk (until April!) is.
And Timothy’s on the Riverfront is in the Shipyard Shops complex of outlet stores.
Of course, for kids eating is just a way to refuel so they can get back to the good stuff. And Wilmington has a boat load of the good stuff - literally and figuratively. The new, state-of-the-art Delaware Children’s Museum – also scheduled to open in April – will rival any in the country. For the artistically inclined, the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art is less than a block from the Riverwalk and it’s free, as is the $14,000,000 Dupont Environment Education Center at the Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge.
What makes a good waterfront experience great? Attractions that take you right out onto the water. And that’s where Wilmington sparkles! In addition to riding the water taxis, which is a great kid-friendly activity in its own right, Wilmington is the home port of the Riverboat Queen, offering all you can eat crab dinners and other special cruises. But Wilmington’s flagship (no pun intended) is the majestic “Kalmar Nyckel,” a full-size replica of the colonial tall ship that brought the first settlers to Wilmington in 1638. In addition to daily tours given by enthusiastic guides in period garb, the Kalmar Nyckel schedules public sails on the Christina and Delaware Rivers throughout the spring, summer, and fall. But this extraordinary tall ship is in great demand all over the world, so be sure to call ahead to make sure she’s in port when you visit.
No matter how you choose to spend your day on the Christina Riverfront, the ultimate family-friendly adventure is a night at the ball park. It’s fun and inexpensive, and if you plan ahead you can schedule your visit on one of the many nights the Blue Rocks sponsor fireworks immediately following the game. For thespian lovers, the Delaware Theatre Company is also on the Riverfront. And the massive, 87,000 square foot Chase Center on the Riverfront special event and exhibition facility hosts a full schedule of trade and consumer shows throughout the year.
So the next time your family is looking for a great waterfront experience, just drive on over to the Christina Riverfront IN WilmINgton, Delaware - "IN the middle of it all"!
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