Wondering what to do in Delaware on spring break? How to have a fun staycation at home

Spring break is a great time to decompress from the woes of work, school and life, but sometimes shelling out cash for an elaborate vacation is a bit overrated.

Whether you’re trying to save money or prefer to kick it like a homebody, there are plenty of ways to make your spring break staycation here in Delaware a blast, too.

From local day trips to activities to do solo or with your pals, here’s all the fun you can get into at home this spring break.

Visit Delaware beach towns

Delaware beaches are a blast in the summer, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t fun to be had in local beach towns during the offseason, too.

Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Dewey Beach, Fenwick Island and Bethany Beach are home to an ample amount of outlet stores and small businesses and plenty of restaurants serving local cuisine. And there are plenty of lesser-known beaches to finally explore, too.

Spend a weekend trying a new brunch spot you didn’t get a chance to visit during the summer before perusing nearby shops and ending your day with a sunset walk along the beach or boardwalk. Another perk of visiting Delaware beach towns outside of summer? Fewer crowds and more parking available.

The best part is that there’s so much to do in Delaware’s coastal towns that you’ll more than likely want to come back during another day of spring break.

Buy a ticket for Longwood Gardens

It’s not an island getaway flush with tropical plants, but Longwood Gardens is a local option for seeing seasonal florals to get you into the spring spirit, and if you’re someone who has yet to see what the botanical garden is all about, spring break is the perfect time to visit.

Open year-round, Longwood Gardens near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, features more than 1,077 acres of gardens, woodlands and meadows. Longwood is known to present the latest innovations in horticulture with marvelous, themed displays throughout the grounds, featuring mesmerizing lighting, holiday décor, seasonal nods and much more.

Botanical installations you can enjoy this spring break include:

• Winter Wonder, open from Jan. 20 to March 24, features nearly 200 acres of winter’s beauty in an outdoor arrangement, followed by a warm, colorful display in the grand conservatory.  

• Spring Blooms, open from March 30 to May 5, teases early spring blooms, flowering trees and vibrant tulips in the gardens this year, an ode to springtime warmth and splendor.

For more information, visit longwoodgardens.org.

Hike around Delaware

Instead of becoming a couch potato this spring break, how about hiking through Delaware’s plush forests, sandy beaches and historical areas?

The state boasts 17 state parks filled with plenty of opportunities to fit your hobbies and fitness level, from paved walking paths to rugged trails to fishing at local ponds to kayaking on the water.

No matter where you call home in Delaware, the state’s parks system features locations in each county with various ways to get into some recreational and educational fun.

Check out White Clay Creek State Park in Newark, Killens Pond State Park in Felton or Delaware Seashore State Park in Rehoboth Beach, among many others.

Channel your inner artist or historian

Delaware has no shortage of museums throughout the state, and there’s guaranteed to be a local exhibit for you and your crowd if you’re chilling at home on spring break.

Bring the kids to the Delaware Children’s Museum in Wilmington, have a family day at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, visit the Discoversea Shipwreck Museum in Fenwick Island, walk around the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington or spend the afternoon at the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society & Museum in Rehoboth.

After your museum adventures, explore the area by shopping at local businesses and checking out nearby restaurants.

Spend a few hours at the zoo

For those needing family-friendly entertainment, especially for younger children already driving parents bonkers on day two of spring break, the zoo is the perfect adventure.

The Brandywine Zoo in Wilmington features animals from the tropical and temperate areas of North America, South America, Asia and Africa, ranging from common species to those that are highly endangered. Animals you can find are the Florida bobcat, red pandas, toco toucans, a western burrowing owl, a radiated tortoise, a scarlet ibis, a prehensile-tailed skink a green tree python and more.

Not only will visitors get to enjoy the animals on exhibit in natural settings, a trip to the zoo is also a great way to get some educational fun in through a normal visit or participation in one of the zoo's many special events. And who could pass up seeing the pudu fawn and crowned lemur born at the zoo in 2023?

The Brandywine Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed on Christmas Day) and is free to enter from Dec. 1 to March 15 due to limited visibility of some animals on exhibit. From March 16 to March 31, prices will be as follows:

• Members and children under 3 years old get in for free.

• Children between ages 3 and 17 get in for $5.

• Adults between ages 18 and 61 get in for $7.

• Seniors aged 62 and above get in for $6.

After April 1 the following pricing will last until Oct. 31:

• Members and children under 3 years old get in for free.

• Children between ages 3 and 17 get in for $7.

• Adults between ages 18 and 61 get in for $9.

• Seniors aged 62 and above get in for $8.

The zoo is wheelchair and stroller accessible. For more information, visit brandywinezoo.org/.

In Townsend, 3 Palms Zoo & Education Center is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding holidays.

Animals at the zoo are most active earlier in the day, when temperatures are cooler, so staff members advise planning a visit for as early as possible. This also will give you a chance to chat with animal keepers and ask questions about their zoo friends!

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Admission during the day is $6 per person no matter the age and $1 per scoop of petting zoo food. Kids under 1 are free before 12 p.m. with two or more paid admissions.

For more information about the zoo, visit 3palmszoo.org/.

Ride the ferry to Cape May

Just because you’re kicking it at home this spring break doesn’t mean you have to stay home the entire time, and luckily for Delaware, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry accommodates those seeking wallet-friendly and fast travel to a nearby beach town.

The ferry sets sail from Lewes for a short trip across the Delaware Bay to Cape May. Passengers can travel by vehicle, bicycle or on foot to meet Cape May’s shores in about 85 minutes.

Enjoy the open waters and breathtaking views along the 17-mile journey, along with visits from animal friends along the way like dolphins, seals, bald eagles and whales, before docking at Cape May and starting your adventure.

While in Cape May, you can visit Cape May Point State Park, the Cape May Lighthouse, Washington Street Mall, the Lobster House, Cape May Brewery, Beach Plum Farm and much more.

Cape May (and Lewes) have electric bikes available for rental during your trip that can help expand your exploration of the area and give you a workout!

More Cape May area attractions include the Cold Spring Village, Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation, Cape May County Park and Zoo, Willow Creek Winery and Farm, Emlen Physick Estate (a historic Victorian house and museum) and many annual events.

The 2023–2024 fall/winter scheduling and fare began on Nov. 1 and remains in effect until March 31, 2024.

According to the winter fare, adults, ages 14 to 61 years old, pay $8 for a one-way ticket and $14 for a round trip. Seniors, ages 62 years old and up, pay $6 for a one-way ticket and $11 for a round trip. Children ages 13 years old and younger ride for free.

Daily departure times from both the Cape May and Lewes terminals vary based on day. Consult the winter schedule for more information about arrival and departure times.

Go shopping

Maybe you want to use spring break to get a head start on your summer wardrobe or need to stock up on workwear for your upcoming internship.

Whatever you’re looking for, spending the day at the mall is a worthwhile activity fit for college students, families and adults alike.

You can browse the books at Barnes & Noble, grab lunch in the food court or at one of the restaurants in the Christiana Fashion Center, buy new pantry organizers at the Container Store and revamp your vanity with new makeup from Sephora.

Even if you don’t feel like buying anything, maybe you’ll find some apartment décor inspiration while getting your steps in at the same time.

Take the train out of town

Sometimes your city can get a bit boring, and after sitting at home for a few days during spring break, you might start feeling a bit stir-crazy.

If you’re hankering to get out of town for a quick trip or want to catch up with some pals in other college towns, take the train elsewhere for a quick trip.

Not only does Amtrak eliminate the dreaded middle seat dilemma by offering two seats per row, but the company also allows you to travel in green style by producing 72% less carbon emissions than flying and 83% less carbon emissions than driving, according to Amtrak. 

Trains also are a much cheaper option than flying if your wallet is still on the rebound from holiday and back-to-school purchases for spring semester.

Delaware has Amtrak stations in Wilmington and Newark with passenger trains traveling through major cities like Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Providence, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts and more.  Other passenger trains like the Carolinian can take you to one of 24 destinations located between New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Bowl, jump and play for your inner child

Whether you’ve got bored kids to entertain or are looking for a throwback to childhood with your college friends, checking out local arcades and events or sports centers is an easy way to occupy a few hours of a day during spring break.

Across Delaware, there’s a plethora of bowling lanes, family arcades, trampoline parks and escape rooms to check out depending on what vibe you’re feeling.

Plus, there’s something about the neon lighting, funky music and wacky designs of arcades and events centers that always feels welcoming, along with the inevitable junk food you’re sure to indulge in.

Here are some places you can bowl, jump and play your way through for your inner child (or actual child) in Delaware:

Family Fun Galaxy at Mid County Lanes in Middletown has a laser tag arena, indoor bumper cars, arcade games and more for everyone in your household to enjoy.

Main Event in Christiana has a gravity ropes indoor course, laser tag, pool, bowling, arcade games and tasty eats.

Xbos in Smyrna has an arcade, bowling, a trampoline park and an indoor playground. Bring the little ones to play while you relax at the café.

In Bethany Beach, Shore Fun Family Fun Center offers pinball machines, Skee-Ball, air hockey, arcade games, crane games and more.

And for those of you who are a part of the “pictures or it didn’t happen” crowd, you can snap some pictures at the photo booth before you leave.

New Castle’s Xtreme Zone features indoor go-karting, ax throwing and virtual reality fun.

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Take a scenic train ride

If a train ride out of town for spring break isn’t the type of fun you’re looking for, how about a train ride through Delaware?

The Wilmington & Western Railroad in Prices Corner operates steam- and diesel-powered tourist trains on 10 miles of track in the Red Clay Valley between Greenbank and Hockessin.

That means you get to cruise through beautiful state views without doing any work or dealing with crowds of travelers at regional train stations. Pack your lunch to enjoy on the ride or just sit back and relax.

Coming up, Wilmington & Western Railroad has two events in March.

Brews on Board is a 21+ event on Friday, March 15, at 7 p.m. celebrating St. Patrick’s Day that takes passengers on a 2-hour round-trip through the valley, powered by a historic first-generation diesel locomotive, and supplies libations and snacks on board.

A ticket for the event includes two 12-ounce pours of your choice and a complimentary beer mug. Additional pours will be available aboard the train for $5 cash each.

Reservations are required and table seating is $80 for a two-person table or $160 for a four-person table.

The Easter Bunny Express is a family-friendly, 1 ?-hour round-trip ride to Ashland aboard a historic first-generation diesel locomotive, with the Easter Bunny as a special guest. The Easter Bunny will visit everyone onboard and pose for pictures, and all kids in attendance will receive a special treat.

The Easter Bunny Express will operate on Saturday, March 23; Sunday, March 24; Saturday, March 29; and Sunday, March 23, with each day offering a 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. timeslot.

Tickets are free for children under 2 years of age, $25 for children between ages 2 and 12, $27 for adults and $26 for seniors aged 60 and above. Reservations are required and seating is assigned for this event.

Dine out at new restaurants

It’s easy to get stuck in the routine of making those same frozen meals at your apartment every week, and if you’ve spent the semester so far solely eating dining hall food, well, we know what you’ve been through.

While you have a bit of free time to venture off campus during spring break, treat yourself by checking out new restaurants around the state.

Not only are new eateries popping up on every corner, but Delaware also has restaurants that were recently ranked as some of the best restaurants in the nation.

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If you’re a parent working with a tight budget or dealing with children who are picky eaters, don’t worry. There are plenty of other restaurants around Delaware that cater to diners of all tastes and ages, and you just might come across a few chefs who have competed in food competitions on Netflix and the Food Network.

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at [email protected]. 

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Spring break fun in Delaware, beach visits, hiking and traveling