Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
Love where you live? Of course you do. So throw the kids a birthday party that shows them what’s special, and fun, about where they’re growing up — our farms, beaches, gardens, even race tracks. They’re all a part of who we are, so celebrate it.
Beach bash
Slather on sunscreen and take advantage of the mix of activities offered at local beaches. Rent a pavilion at Lewes’s Cape Henlopen State Park, complete with a barbecue grill, picnic tables and easy access to the beach, a disc-golf course and a basketball court. Or book a private boat ride on the Delaware Bay, Lewes Rehoboth Canal or Broadkill River via Cape Water Tours and Taxi, with options to bring your own food and play the music of your choice.
Flower power
Public gardens are the perfect place to marvel at extravagant floral arrangements and landscapes sure to impress junior gardeners. Opt for a group tour at Hockessin’s Mt. Cuba Center botanical garden, which offers gourmet boxed lunches or a buffet for groups of 10 or more. Or bring the gang to the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library in Wilmington (pictured above), to explore H.F. du Pont’s 60-acre garden, then grab a bite at the on-site café.
Need for speed
Kids who want to bring the thrill of the area’s racing scene to their special day are in luck! Score a birthday party package at New Castle’s Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix, an indoor go-kart center that lets racers go head-to-head on 6 miles of track. For those who’d rather watch the pros, Delaware International Speedway in Delmar hosts races April through November.
Pick-your-own party
Searching the fields for the biggest, ripest fruits and veggies at farms or orchards is a fun, hands-on way to teach little ones about where their food comes from — it’s also a great group activity. Set the kids loose at Bennett Orchards in Frankford to pick blueberries and peaches, or visit Camden-Wyoming’s Fifer Orchards for blueberries, strawberries, peaches and apples. Then bring your bounty home to make farm-fresh birthday treats.
