The votes are in and families have spoken. Here are the top ten family attractions in Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley in 2010. Be sure to read closely as there have been several adjustments to the list this year, as well as two new additions - the Delaware Children's Museum and Fort Dupont. It's also worth noting that three of the top 6 family attractions (#2, #5 and #6) are located on the Christina Riverfront  within easy walking distance of each other

1.   Wilmington & Western Railroad - A perennial favorite, the WWRR has jumped into the top spot this year. Riding on an authentic steam locomotive through Delaware's beautiful Brandywine Valley is a great family outing.

2.   The tall ship Kalmar Nyckel - Sailing down the Delaware River on the largest colonial tall ship in the world is hard to beat for a family-friendly activity.

3.   Brandywine Zoo - Lions and tigers and bears oh my! Wild animals will always be a big hit with kids and families, and the Brandywine Zoo is a Wilmington treasure.

4.   Ashland Nature Center - When it comes to nature, they've got it all - walking trails, babbling brooks, waterfowl, native plants, soaring hawks and even a covered bridge!

5.   Delaware Children's Museum - Brand new to the "Top 10 Family Attractions" list because it's brand new to Wilmington. The state-of-the-art museum opened in April of 2010 to the oohs and aahs of children and parents, alike.

6.   The new Dupont Environmental Education Center at the Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge is a great new addition to northern Delaware's family-friendly arsenal.

7.   American Helicopter Museum - Nothing peaks a child's imagination like flying, and the American Helicopter Museum has some of the neatest flying contraptions anywhere.

8.   Marshall Steam Car Museum at Auburn Heights - While it's the Stanley Steamers that make Auburn Heights unique, it's the 1/8th scale train rides that keeps the kids coming back.

9.   Delaware Museum of Natural History - What kid can resist dinosaurs, scorpions, crocodiles and snakes?

10. Fort Dupont on Pea Patch Island - A tour of the Fort with costumed interpreters is exciting enough. But the ferry ride from Delaware City propelled the Fort Dupont experience into the top 10 for the first time in 2010.  

For more information about all of the tourist resources and attractions in Delaware, check out the list tourism information websites at the bottom right hand side of the page.

A complete list of articles by the Wilmington Tourism Examiner can be found on the Wilmington Tourism Examiner.com website. SUBSCRIBE to get complimentary notifications each time a new article is published. For your convenience there are links to a variety of Delaware Tourism Resources at the bottom right hand side of the page.