Dreaming of myself walking at the park, I was jubilant when I considered a day trip in a post-pandemic era. But, speaking of my new job responsibilities and promotions, I decided to take on work boundaries and plan a trip unlike some of my unsavvy friends did – taking a day trip to Wilmington via public transportation.
A Tuesday morning when it was my adventure day in Wilmington since I requested a day off to explore. Overall it worked out excellently.
Delayed for about 15 minutes; I learned how to overcome delays by writing this blog about my day trip and trying to contemplate.
As I started to board the train, I was entertained when unlucky passengers were late for work. But, overall, the train was crowded because of rush hour.
As I was commuting to an out-of-state place, I was excitedly admitted to another excursion. I have not been to the park in Delaware and am willing to try to conceive how I will get there. So now, I can explore and have fun with my “monocation.”
Fact: “Monocation,” in my definition, is a vacation taken by one person. It was known as “Solo Travel” or “Solo Trip.” To break up, the word “Mono” means “one person” or “alone,” and the Suffix “-cation” refers to “Just a trip” or “to travel.” In sum, the new word I learned was “Monocation.”
Upon arriving in Wilmington, I diligently figured out where I could safely walk on my feet and get going.
Tips: Remember that some neighborhoods are unsafe to walk, even though the bubby system. Always thoroughly research which places are suitable for visitors.
As I scrambled, the downtown was tranquil, but there was a police presence for added public safety.
Walking confidently, I realized Wilmington was safe with some visitors and stopped by to take pictures. Overall, I haven’t heard people yelling, arguing over items, and people screaming for help. Instead, it was a typical quiet morning.
As I walked north on Market street, I realized I had entered a historic district.
Now, I realize that I learned something I spied on.
After a quick glimpse of the downtown personal tour, I stopped by the novelty market called Chancery Market, which was opened in the Fall of 2022. It was known as the “Food and Dining Hall,” part of the Riverfront East project to attract booming tourism and visitors. It was listed as the place to visit in 2023, nominated by the Conde Nast Traveler (“The 23 Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2023,” 2022).
- Empanada + Vegan fries
- Lounge Area
- Overview of Chancery Market with dining area and restaurants
- Games such as 4-connect
- Another Lounge Area where you can relax and recharge
Relaxing, I started this blog about how excited I was when I took my breeze time in the lounge area, which was spacious.
And took a break and a quick nap.
I took another tour around Chancery Market with a woman who worked there and explained how wonderful that place was. Then I interviewed about how important the place is in boosting the economy in a post-pandemic world when some restaurants went out of business. Now, it was the time to recover from pandemic-related losses.
After considerable time with her, I decided to try on a new restaurant called “rooted af,” an authentic vegan cruise like no other.
After a quick lunch, I took off to a park on my following bucket list for 2023 – Brandywine Park.
About Brandywine Park
Established in 1886, it was maintained by the City of Wilmington. It was the first state park in Delaware, with 178 acres. The park was mixed with the largest zoo in Delaware, playgrounds, trails, and gardens. Today, Brandywine Park is the largest park in Delaware.
Exploring Brandywine Park, I trekked on the walking trail and took pictures. And it will be exquisite in springtime when the flowers and trees bloom. Plus, it will be an excellent time to revisit again because of the pleasant weather.
While walking, I spotted a Sugar Bowl Pavilion established in 1902.
Features at the park:
- Delaware’s largest zoo, known as Brandywine Zoo (Paid Attraction)
- Walking trail along with Brandywine River
- Historic Jasper Crane Rose Garden
- Historic Josephine Fountain
- There is exercise equipment throughout the park where you can stop by and work your body out. That exercise was installed in April 2022. It is known as the “Fitness Trail.”
- There were benches and walking trails for you to exercise.
- Rodney Street Tennis Courts
- Abessinio Stadium
- There are picnic tables where you can eat meals or enjoy yourself at the park.
After minutes passed, I spotted something sensational, Swinging Footbridge in Brandywine Park.
That bridge was built in 1909 with extended maintenance and renovations to preserve its bridge as part of its history. That bridge was contemporary.
Walking on the bridge, I also experience walking with vibration.
After the long, relaxed afternoon, I was amused that my day trip went well until I took these pictures…
Finally, I strolled down the H. Fletcher Brown Park until I noticed something extraordinary. The music garden experienced both marvelous wonders – another musical instrument.
And took some time to take a break in the cold weather, eating snacks before heading back to the Amtrak Station via the Dart First State – the only public transportation in Delaware.
Finally, as I was on the way home, some of my travel friends were distressed when I planned a “solo trip to Wilmington,” but overall, it worked well. They claimed that “Wilmington is a dangerous place to visit,” but I believe it is the opposite. While riding the train, I wondered, “Safety is the top priority, so speaking of that, I only visit the safest neighborhoods within tourist parameters. So now, I stand tall when planning a trip with extensive research and feel safe.”
One day will update my Dela-Cation: Part 2 – Another Breeze, which will be in Mid-April.
Information: If you decide to take a day trip to Wilmington, stick to a downtown or more tourist areas. Do not wander off from the “safe zone.” A safe zone means that the places are well-lit, with more visitors and well-maintained infrastructure.
Reference:
The 23 Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2023. (2022, November 29). CN Traveler. Retrieved from https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-places-to-go-in-the-us-2023
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