This time around we'll be taking a rather lengthy look at the Wilmington, Delaware area. There's plenty to do and see up there and it's only a short drive away, assuming of course 95 is free of accidents or construction.
We'll begin at Winterthur, about six miles north of Wilmington on route 52 in the Brandywine Valley. USA Today said it was one of America's 10 great places of historical proportions. The current main exhibit is Uncorked, Wine, Objects and Tradition. You'll learn a little about the historic role wine has played in the worlds of design, international trade and social life. The exhibition is organized into six categories. The time period is from the 1600s through the 1800s.
Winterthur itself is a magnificent place, once the home of the Duponts. There are 175 rooms and a fabulous garden. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $18. The museum is known worldwide for its preeminent collection of American decorative arts, naturalistic gardens and research library. (winterthur.org/uncorked)
About a mile away from Winterthur you'll find the Delaware Museum of Natural History. The main exhibit is Earth From Space, a fascinating display of about 40 detailed satellite images of earth. If you arrive too late and the exhibit is gone, not to worry, they'll be something else of interest. Also in the museum you'll find two life sized Asian dinosaurs, over 119,000 specimens of birds and 11,000 skeletons. The museum is open seven days with $9 adult admission.
If baseball is your sport, then drive on over to the Dan Frawley Stadium, located at the Riverfront, just off 95, and home of the Blue Rocks, farm team of the Kansas City Royals. The team plays 140 games in the Carolina League. There are eight teams in the league, four in two divisions. The stadium has about 6500 seats. The Blue Rocks staff keeps the crowd entertained just about every half inning. There's even rides for the kids. Ticket prices range from $6 to $11, a real bargain and there's free parking. By the way, each game has only two umpires. (bluerocks.com)
If you really want some action, then I'd have to recommend Delaware Park, one of three casinos in Delaware. It was opened in 1937 by one of the Duponts, not for gambling but for horse racing. Today the track features Arabian and thoroughbred horses along with a 5,000 seat grandstand. The casino is 100,000 square feet with 2,500 slots, 42 table games and eight food outlets. Parley sports betting on football is available. I walked out of the casino a three dollar winner. Yes sir, I am a high roller indeed.
Admittedly, I did not do all this in one day. There was a night in between. It was spent at the Hilton Wilmington Christiana. It's located in Newark on Continental Drive, about one mile from the casino and 10 minutes from the stadium. There are 266 rooms, an outdoor pool, gym and a pond with beautiful swans that you can see fed daily at 5:30. I advise taking advantage of one of the many overnight packages they offer, like the Hunt Club and Godiva. Dining options include The Hunt Club and Brasserie. Rates range from $119 to $199. (hiltonestate.com)
