Delaware: Wilmington, Family Vacation Ideas – Winterthur, Longwood Gardens,  and Tax-Free Shopping. Imagine a family getaway that takes little effort yet provides a slew of pleasant memories. Wilmington offers families many choices all with opportunities to imagine. Imagine fairies in a garden, imagine life before the turn of the century, and imagine a family getaway filled with fun tax-free shopping?
 
The Wilmington area provides just the right mix for making memories. The close proximity of interesting places for families allows for little wasted time in the car and a greater feeling of being away. No one I interviewed mentioned long lines or endless parking lots. Some did mention tax free shopping while others endorsed great hiking and biking, even a canoe or two and all in one weekend. We have a list of the fun stuff to make vacation planning easy.

Walk in the woods. According to Joyce Spindere, a retired nurse with five grandchildren and a penchant for gardens going to Winterthur is the best way to start a summer holiday. While she loves the gardens and the history attached, it is “The Enchanted Woods” that thrills her grandchildren. She told me that the three plus acres themed for the wee faerie folk make experiencing nature and tale telling easy. The forest, so the story goes, was created by (imaginary) woodland fairies for their own entertainment and so they might have just a little fun with the children. Under ancient oaks it is easy, with just a little nudge, to imagine the wee folk scurrying about hidden by the leaves. “Imagining with kids is great, it makes memories,” she confided. Discovery: Other must-sees at Winterthur include the breathtaking 60-acre breathtaking naturalistic Winterthur Garden, and the fun hands-on Touch-It Room. (Winterthur GardenRoute 52, Winterthur, 19735. 1-800-448-3883 or 1(302) 888-4600 or www.winterthur.org)

Smile at a sunflower. This is not the only great garden connection for families in the area. Longwood Gardens also has a small Children’s Garden, complete with the ruins of an old stone cottage, a hedge row maze, and three elfin sized pools with magic fountains. When the sun is new to the day the shadows of the larger-than-life topiary rabbits create odd shapes on the ground.  During the warmer months the Kids Corner is open. Families will enjoy the sunflower house and the A-to-Z garden. According to Sinja Bilme, a French teacher and mother of twin first graders, her kids love to do the garden hunt complete with special rubbing stations. They all enjoy the story times and the box made for root viewing. Bonus: In the winter months, Longwood hosts ice skating performances at their outdoor skating rink nestled near the Chimes Tower. Past performers have included Olympians and US National medalists, as well as local competitive championship skaters. (Longwood Gardens 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, 19348. 1(610) 388-1000 or www.longwoodgardens.org)

Go natural – kiss a butterfly. The Ashland Nature Center has oodles of activities for families. Seth Meyers and his grandfather Dr. Homer Meyers, a retired trauma surgeon, first discovered the “coolness” of the center during the Harvest Moon Festival held each year during the first weekend in October. Now it is their way to hangout as they hike the trails together. In the warmest months their weekend outings include the Butterfly House where they will select their favorite butterflies and see metamorphosis in action. “I like to go and just imagine what it is like to be in a cocoon and then become a butterfly,” Seth explained. “Sometimes we just sit and watch them (cocoons) wiggling,” he continued. The center has organized programs suited for participants ranging in age from 18 months to 108 years. Bonus Point: The Ashland Nature Center offers a series of customizable and themed overnights with topics ranging from astronomy and nocturnal animals to “maple sugaring” and birds, bees & butterflies. (The Ashland Nature CenterBarley Mill and Brackenville Roads, Hockessin 19720. www.delawarenaturesociety.org)

Go wild in a rainforest. In the meantime the imagining can be done at Brandywine Zoo, a 12-acres haven for a variety of rare and endangered species. Take an imaginary trip through the exotic world of the South American Tropical Rainforest. Discover the plants, animals, and people who live there. Learn how important the rainforest is and what you can do to save this beautiful habitat. Learn about the animals' special needs and how they are cared for at the zoo. Pretend to be zoo architect and design imaginary habitats for the animals. Bonus Point: Every week the zoo offers a program called Close Encounters of the WILD Kind, focusing on different species and animals and during the summer the zoo hosts a series of celebrations designed to bring the natural world into focus for families. (Brandywine Zoo, 1001 North Park Drive, Wilmington 19802. www.brandywinezoo.org)

Delve into the past. Along with tranquil countryside and inviting natural settings there are numerous places to connect with history. For families a place not to be missed is Delaware History Museum, located in a renovated art deco Woolworth store. They provide fuel for imagining. Highlights include: a unique Revolutionary War-era flag, a flight jacket owned by a fighter pilot from Delaware who shot down four Japanese planes during the attack at Pearl Harbor, “hippy” furniture from the 1960s, and even a chair once owned by George Washington. (Delaware History Museum, 504 Market Street, Wilmington 19801. 1(302) 656-0637 or www.hsd.org/dhm.htm)

Have a Hagley of a good time. One of the shining spots in the area is The Hagley Museum located on 230 riverside acres, once the site of the du Pont powder works. The location now provides vignettes of nineteenth-century America and specifically the Brandywine Valley. On the grounds is the du Pont family home and garden, the Blacksmith Hill workers' community, the powder yards, and a nineteenth-century machine shop. Through the demonstrations provided visitors can see just how the du Pont Empire began and how it fueled the building of America. On the ground dozens of interpreters in period attire make the time period believable to visitors. Discovery: The “Easy Does It! How Machines Make Life Easier” is a wonderfully colorful, interactive exhibit which features plenty of hands-on fun. One really neat section of the exhibit allows kids to raise family and friends to new heights with the help of pulleys, while another explains the inner workings of the wheelbarrow, an eggbeater and even a line shaft. (The Hagley Museum Route 141 in Wilmington 19807. 1(302) 658-2400 or www.hagley.org)

Discover something new. The Delaware Museum of Natural History provides even more opportunities for families to learn together. The newest collection, “Animal Secrets,” explores nature from an animal’s point of view using imaginative role-play and hands-on activities in five different environments: stream, woodland, cave, meadow and naturalist’s tent. Kids can see the world from an eagle’s nest, pretend to be a chipmunk gathering nuts for the winter and even help a raccoon family escape from a hungry fox. Bonus Point: This is the place that conducts “Dino Days” every December, an activity designed for those with dinosaur experts in the family. This unique public art project presented by DuPont, in partnership with The Office of the Mayor, Delaware College of Art & Design and Wilmington Renaissance Corporation portrays the family spirit of the community.  (The Delaware Museum of Natural History 4840 Kennett Pike, Wilmington 19807. 1(302) 658-9111 or www.delmnh.org)
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