I’d venture to say that many if not most Americans have not known where Delaware is, let alone Wilmington. Now, thanks to Joe and Jill Biden living there, more people have certainly heard of it. The place where I grew up after having been born in Philadelphia, I decided to return and do it like a tourist, besides visiting some of the President’s favorite places (including eateries). What I found is things to do in Wilmington, Delaware that were way better than I remembered, and insights into the person who is our 46th President. You’ll see that if you have a trip to Philadelphia in store (a great place for art, history and eating — see link below about my getaway there), Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley  make for an ideal add on, including a landmark, historic hotel to stay in — the HOTEL DU PONT (post coming up next week).

Interesting Historic Highlights:

First, some quick interesting historic and current highlights: Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution.  Though it was in the Union during the Civil War, it was a slave owning state. In fact, it was a treacherous transit point for Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. The gunpowder used in the Civil War was made by the Wilmington based DuPont company whose owners came from France. Approximately 93% of all U.S. initial public offerings are entities registered with Delaware, a state with fewer than 1 million residents (want to know why? click here) .

And on to the sites and Joe. The Bidens live in Northern Wilmington in beautiful rolling hill country, an area called Greenville,  with mostly large estates, some with horses, right near the Pennsylvania border. It is here that one finds probably the state’s premier attraction, Winterthur.

Attractions:

Nestled in the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley, Winterthur is a historic estate on par with some of the most famous estates in the country. The 175 room home   is an eye popping museum of American decorative arts with some rooms arranged exactly as they were in the days it was lived in (I was especially impressed by the 50 sets of China and linens to go with each set). It sits on close to 1000 acres ​of woodlands and meadows with a 60 acre naturalistic garden. Lived in by four generations of duPonts , at one time it was a dairy farm ​​that bred the finest dairy cows in the world from a herd imported from Switzerland. Mr. W who has been to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville said Winterthur was even more impressive.

Nearby is the Nemours Estate, another opulent du Pont mansion with 200 acres of gardens that can be visited.

Drive for five miles and you can visit the Brandywine River Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, Discover an outstanding collection of American art housed in a 19th-century mill with a dramatic steel and glass addition overlooking the banks of the Brandywine River. Renowned for its holdings of the Wyeth family of artists, the museum features galleries dedicated to the work of N.C., Andrew and Jamie Wyeth. (NOTE: This museum is temporarily closed due to damage sustained by Hurricane Ida flooding. A reopen date has not been announced).

History buffs will enjoy the Hagley Museum where the du Pont story begins! Set on 235 acres along the Brandywine River, Hagley Museum and Library includes the original  powder mills and the first du Pont family home in America. If you’re in that area, an ideal place to have lunch is Sovana Bistro where the locals go for its creative American menus and to die for baked goods, along with friendly service.

The Bidens

While we were there we went to the Bidens church, St. Joseph on the Brandywine in Greenville. This lovely, unpretentious yellow stucco church is just a few minutes from Biden’s home, and he is a regular worshipper here. Its roots stretch back to the thousands of Irish Catholic immigrants that came here in the 1800’s to work for the E.I. du Pont de Nemours Company.

Near there is Brew Ha Ha in Greenville, his favorite place for coffee. He had been there the day before, having his black coffee and bagel and cream cheese (none of the close to 20 different lattes for him).

Foodie Stops

Joe likes his comfort food. And I’m with him when it comes to Capriotti’s which has my favorite sandwich in the whole world (even better than corned beef or pastrami). Biden famously visited the Washington, D.C. outpost (now closed) of this locally grown sandwich chain on opening day in 2013, stating to the press gathered around him, “This is gonna settle once and for all, the best sandwich in America is out of Wilmington, Delaware.” They have different iterations, but the one I get is the classic Italian sub with Italian cold cuts, lettuce, tomato, pickles, papers, oil, on a roll. Folks, I ate the whole thing. OMG (note: there’s a Capriotti’s on Alton Road but it’s a franchise and I can’t vouch for it being the same experience).

Rounding out the comfort food fare is the Philly cheesesteak — thin sliced beef with melted cheese and onions. Wilmington is also a great place to have Maryland crabs and seafood of all kinds. My favorite for that is Febys Fishery that has no fewer than 14 varieties, many you never get in Florida, and they’re all wild caught.

Performing Arts:

Performing arts and live music spots are in Wilmington’s downtown .With grand theaters old and new that host national concert tours and Broadway shows, to improv comedy and classic dinner theater, there’s lots to choose. Catch a show before it heads to Broadway at the Delaware Theatre Company, or see your favorite pop star perform an intimate acoustic show at The Queen Wilmington .

Other leading venues are the Playhouse in the Hotel duPont, which reopened recently. ( Stay tuned for my post about the Hotel dupont). Another is the Grand Opera House: Grand Opera House | Wilmington, DE 19801 (visitwilmingtonde.com).

Do not miss Longwood Gardens,  one of the great gardens of the world, featuring 1,100 acres of meadows, gardens, and woodlands including a 4-acre Conservatory. USA Today named it the Best Botanical Garden in the USA.  Professionals from all over the world visit for their dazzling horticulture displays and research. In the evenings there are sound and light shows with their majestic fountains and classical music.

Other Things to Do in Wilmington, Delaware,  nearby places to visit :

Centreville: Discover the Hidden Hamlet of Centreville in the Brandywine Valley (visitwilmingtonde.com)

Kennett Square: Kennett Square is a charming borough in Chester County. It is known as the Mushroom Capital of the World because mushroom farming in the region produces over a million pounds of mushrooms a day. Its historic downtown is a great place to spend an afternoon shopping and dining at one of its many wonderful restaurants. (NOTE: Longwood Gardens is in Kennett Square).

Chadds Ford: Best known for its history—especially thanks to Brandywine Battlefield—Chadds Ford has plenty to offer, from walking trails to antiquing spots to gourmet cuisine. Spend a day exploring the many museums, historical attractions and shops in this charming village.

How to Get There:

Wilmington is very easy to get to from Philadelphia. It’s 22 miles from Philadelphia International Airport, under a half hour  by train from Philly and 32 mile drive from downtown Philly.

For extensive information on things to do in Wilmington, Delaware and the Brandywine Valley, as well as  places to eat and more, click here.

Thinking about a getaway in Philadelphia? Click here for a link to my trip there, my first during COVID.