Wilmington lives in the shadows of its neighbor, Philadelphia, to the north and of its own majestic suburb, the Brandywine Valley. What makes this little city neat is how well it supplies all the amenities of a big city-great museums, good theater, a lovely opera house, excellent restaurants, and, of course, the famous Hotel du Pont. But, despite all it has going for it, Wilmington isn't really much of a tourist destination. Its downtown can be a bit too urban for many tastes and there isn't much to do there. Also, because so much of what goes on in Wilmington is business related, on weekends downtown can seem almost desolate. This has its upside though: Because there are so many quality hotels catering to business travelers, weekend travelers headed for the Brandywine Valley or Historic New Castle can often find great rooms cheap (or pay a premium for the best rooms of all at the Hotel du Pont). And Wilmington and its northern suburbs have a terrific restaurant scene. Outside downtown, greater Wilmington has some great attractions that complement those in the Brandywine: the First USA Riverfront Arts Center (showcasing treasures from around the globe), the Rockford Museum, and the Delaware Art Museum (home to one of the best collections of pre-Raphaelite paintings outside England). Treasures, art, great food, good hotels-they all make up for Wilmington's shortcomings. That's why so many people stay here as a launching point for visits to the Brandywine Valley-so they can visit Winterthur or Nemours, hit the opera, and then sleep in style. You might even begin to feel a little like a du Pont.
Frommer's Trip Idea: Road Trip to Delaware
What to expect in Wilmington, Delaware.
Published: Mar 17, 2002
|Updated: Oct 11, 2016