Looking for a fun place to visit in Delaware? We stopped at the DuPont Environmental Education Center, and found it’s quite the little treasure trove in Wilmington.
When we made a whirlwind day trip to Delaware last month, I had our day very carefully planned so we could make the most of our time there. The DuPont Environmental Education Center in Wilmington came up as one of the “Top 10 Places to Visit,” and I quickly added it to our list for the day. We drove there right after our visit to the Brandywine Zoo, and it was pretty close by.
It’s located in a sort of industrial park area, and I kind of thought we were lost as the Waze app was directing us. As we went under an overpass, scenes from Law & Order flashed in my mind … like if I go missing, they should start the search here. But never fear, we continued to follow the directions and then we saw the center. Phew.
The parking lot isn’t huge and was already full when we got there, but we parked on the street easily enough. There is no admission cost, but donations are, of course, always appreciated. As we walked to the center, we meandered through the gardens and the pathways, taking our time to enjoy the scenery along the way. The property is situated on the Wilmington riverfront, and is 212 acres of marsh, gardens, ponds, and home to many different animals. The gardens are kind of amazing in and of themselves, with so many different plants and flowers that we’ve never seen before.
Once we got through the gardens near the parking lot, we climbed the stairs and followed the bridge to the environmental center. Three stories tall, there is a little bit to explore inside, including a baby turtle and clean restrooms, and the history of the property and what you can see. Along the perimeter of the center, there are outside balconies so you can get panoramic views of the marsh and pond areas.
We went down to begin walking along the marsh, and between looking for birds and wildlife, listening to the running water, and basically exploring every nook and cranny there was to see, we could have easily spent several hours here.
If you find yourself in the area, or are looking to plan a fun day trip to Delaware, the DuPoint Environmental Education Center is definitely worth checking out. They have many different programs that are available for free, and you’re welcome to visit for a self-guided tour, as we did, or even pack a picnic lunch!
DuPont Environmental Education Center
1400 Delmarva Lane
Wilmington, DE 19801
Telephone: 302-656-1490
web site
Hungry for more to see and do in Delaware?
The Brandywine Zoo is a super cute stop where we saw many different animals that we haven’t seen before.
A few years ago, we visited the Historical Society of Delaware and the world’s largest frying pan.
And a 34 foot tall stainless steel status of the Virgin Mary.
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