MythBusters: Sundays Shine IN WilmINgton!

October 29, 11:39 AMWilmington Tourism ExaminerGregory Coin

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   Green Room at the Hotel Dupont.  (Hotel photo)

There seems to be an insidious myth out there that Wilmington is “closed” on Sundays – probably promulgated by some Wilmington “wanna be” without our charm, world-class cultural attractions and stunning natural resources.  Busted!  In point of fact, the vast majority of Wilmington’s cultural venues are open every Sunday, and many of the city’s unique restaurants go out of their way to provide special incentives and presentations on the proverbial “day of rest.” But you’ll need a car or a taxi to reach some of the venues since Sunday bus service is limited. 

For starters if you’re not in Wilmington on Sunday you’ll miss the renown Sunday Brunch in the luxurious Green Room at the Hotel Dupont on Rodney Square. Nothing compares to it anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic region. For the less opulent but no less demanding consumer, enjoy brunch in the Ballroom at the "D" overlooking the spectacular grounds of Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club (open to the public).  Or, take advantage of a great Sunday Prime Rib Special from 1 to 9 at the Iron Hill Brewery on the Christina River. And if it’s NFL football that pleases your pallet, head on down to the C.W. Harborside restaurant and riverfront patio for $4 hand-carved roast beef sandwiches and $2 beers. In fact, all of Wilmington’s waterfront restaurants are open on Sunday for lunch and dinner. 

But the fun doesn’t stop with food. For nature lovers, Wilmington’s brand new Dupont Environmental Education Center overlooking the Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge near the Shipyard Shops on the Christina River is open from noon to 4 on Sundays, and the Brandywine Zoo in Rockford Park is open from 10 to 4. A great inclement weather alternative is the Delaware Museum of National History on Route 52 just outside of Wilmington. 

History buffs will enjoy touring the extensive grounds of Hagley Museum and Library on Sundays – the ancestral home of the du Pont family and company on the banks of the picturesque Brandywine River. Or totally immerse yourself in the past in the New Castle National Historic District -- a charming, friendly community with an amazing array of well-preserved historic and architecturally significant structures, abundant open spaces, quaint specialty shops, excellent restaurants, and engaging museums less than fifteen minutes from Rodney Square. On Sundays you can tour the Delaware Historical Society’s Read House & Gardens, and the New Castle Historical Society’s Amstel and Dutch Houses. Or just wile away the hours on “The Green” or in Battery Park enjoying the ebb and flow of the majestic Delaware River.   

Delaware’s three major art museums are also open on Sundays -- the Delaware Art Museum with their world class Pre-Raphaelite and Howard Pyle collections; Winterthur Museum & Country Estate a 200-room mansion and exhibition gallery that houses the largest collection of American antiques in the world; and the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts near the Christina riverfront restaurants, shops and a beautiful new Riverwalk that connects them all. 

“A Sunday well-spent brings a week of content” so bust the myth and spend your next Sunday in Wilmington, Delaware!

TravelTip:  Springtime in Wilmington is full of some very special events on Sundays like the Point-to-Point Steeple Chase Races at Winterthur and the Wilmington Flower Market, not to mention Saint Anthony's Italian Festival and the nationally acclaimed Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. Be sure to check the online Calendar at the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau to get the most out of your Sundays in Wilmington.