Smyrna is a charming small town located in northern Delaware, situated along the Smyrna River. With its quaint downtown area, numerous parks, and family-friendly attractions, Smyrna has plenty to see and do for visitors of all ages. From outdoor adventures like kayaking and hiking, to hands-on museums and interactive galleries, Smyrna offers an array of activities guaranteed to entertain the whole family.
The affordable attractions, walkable streets, and array of dining options also make Smyrna an accessible and budget-friendly destination for families. Read on for 12 of the top things to do with kids of any age in Smyrna, Delaware!
Explore Downtown Smyrna
Downtown Smyrna’s Main Street has preserved the old-time charm of a traditional small American town. The pedestrian-friendly streets are lined with cute boutiques, antique shops, casual eateries, and historic buildings.
Kids will love stopping in the old-fashioned candy and ice cream stores, while parents can browse the boutiques and antique shops. Be sure to stop by the Smyrna Museum to learn about the history of the Smyrna region. The downtown area also hosts festivals and events throughout the year, like the annual Smyrna Peach Festival.
Walk or Bike Through Five Points Park
Stretching over 20 acres, Five Points Park offers plenty of room for kids to run around and explore. Families can enjoy an easy walk or bike ride along the paved pathways that meander through open green spaces, shaded sections, and scenic wetland areas.
Kids will love checking out the large playground and spotting birds and other wildlife at the pond. Pack a lunch or snack to enjoy at one of the picnic areas. With restrooms, water fountains, and parking available onsite, Five Points Park provides the ideal spot for families to connect with nature just minutes from downtown Smyrna.
Launch a Kayak Adventure
Paddling down the Smyrna River in an inflatable kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard allows families to experience Smyrna from a fun new perspective. Young kids can tag along with parents in a two-person inflatable kayak or paddleboard, while older kids can captain their own vessel.
Gliding along the tranquil waters surrounded by nature provides picturesque scenery and opportunities to spot herons, turtles, and other wildlife along the shores. Companies like Northern Delaware River Adventures offer kayak and paddleboard rentals, tours, and classes just minutes from downtown Smyrna.
Learn Hands-On at the Smyrna Museum
The Smyrna Museum brings local history to life with interactive exhibits and displays. Families can watch a Victorian-era kitchen demonstration, learn how to churn butter, and try their hand at tin punch crafts. Budding builders can construct their own bridge out of blocks in the children’s discovery room.
Kids can also dress up in period costumes and pose for a photo. Special events and temporary exhibits — like an extensive model train display around the holidays — ensure there’s always something new to discover. Affordable pricing and limited hours make the Smyrna Museum an ideal rainy day destination.
Play Mini Golf at Lighthouse Cove Adventure Golf
Lighthouse Cove Adventure Golf offers ideal family fun with an 18-hole mini golf course packed with imaginative features. Kids will feel like giants as they make their way through miniaturized lighthouses, pirate ships, waterfalls, and even a giant sea serpent!
Parents can let kids take the lead while offering a little guidance on angles and force when needed. Arcade games, ice cream treats, and affordable pricing all make Lighthouse Cove Adventure Golf an affordable way to make lasting family memories in Smyrna.
Tour the Air Mobility Command Museum
Aviation enthusiasts young and old will be amazed at the immense collection of aircraft on display at the Air Mobility Command Museum. This free museum houses over 30 planes and helicopters from World War II to present day, many of which you can even climb inside.
Kids can try out the cockpit of a Huey Helicopter, sit at the controls of a C-131 Samaritan, and stand in the cargo hold of a massive C-5 Galaxy. Interactive exhibits let visitors try out a flight simulator, watch vintage aircraft videos, and learn about aeronautics. Special events like summer camps allow kids to design their own aircraft.
Play and Picnic at Woodland Park
Nestled along the Smyrna River, the scenic Woodland Park allows families to play, exercise, or simply relax in nature. Kids will love the large wooden playground with modern equipment like arched bridges, climbing walls, slides, and tunnels.
Two baseball fields, walking trails, and open green space provide room to run freely and play group games. The picnic pavilion is ideal for birthday parties or family gatherings. Visitors can bring their own food or have pizza delivered to the onsite benches and tables. With playgrounds for both older and younger children, Woodland Park is an ideal destination for families with kids of varying ages.
Craft Pottery Keepsakes at De La Coeur Studio and Gallery
At De La Coeur Studio and Gallery’s daily open studio sessions, both kids and adults can channel their creativity to produce handmade pottery pieces. Visitors can choose from an array of bowls, mugs, platters, figurines, and other blank bisque pottery pieces to paint and customize using a multitude of vibrant glazes.
The relaxed, cozy environment encourages creativity and fun for all ages and artistic abilities. The knowledgeable staff provides plenty of guidance for newcomers to ceramics. Families can even book private parties to paint pottery together. De La Coeur fires and glazes the bisque pieces, so visitors can pick up their personalized creations — the perfect handmade family keepsakes — a few days later.
Pick Fresh Fruit at Fifer Orchards
From sweet strawberries in early summer to crisp apples in fall, families can pick their own seasonal fruit straight from the orchard at Fifer Orchards. The family-owned farm dedicated to sustainable practices offers pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, pumpkins, and more depending on the time of year. Kids will love venturing out into the orchards and berry patches to collect ripe fruit.
Afterward, families can grab a snack or lunch featuring fresh-picked produce at Fifer’s on-farm store and cafe. Seasonal events and activities like hayrides and corn mazes ensure Fifer Orchards offers family fun all year long.
Splash the Day Away at Smyrna Splash Park
When summer temps climb, Smyrna Splash Park offers free family fun with its interactive water play structures. Kids will love dashing through the pop-jet water curtain, spinning the giant flowers to shoot water across the pad, and activating mini water cannons for friendly splash battles.
Parents can relax on the perimeter benches and grassy areas while watching the kids stay cool in the water park. Since Smyrna Splash Park is located adjacent to Woodland Park, families can enjoy both playground equipment and water play in one convenient location. The splash park makes an ideal summer spot for birthday parties or family gatherings.
Cheer on the Blue Rocks at Frawley Stadium
For affordable family entertainment, Smyrna’s minor league baseball team, the Wilmington Blue Rocks, offers an evening of pure fun at Frawley Stadium. Families will be rooting for the home team from the stands and enjoying ballpark snacks like hot dogs and ice cream.
Kids can try to catch fly balls during batting practice before the game, meet the furry mascot Rocky Bluewinkle, and enjoy in-game entertainment like dizzy bat races. Special theme nights based around holidays or popular characters plus post-game fireworks shows ensure Blue Rocks games deliver smiles across generations all season long.
Explore Hands-On Science at Galileo’s World of Discovery
With dozens of interactive STEM exhibits spread across three stories, Galileo’s World of Discovery engages inquisitive young minds through hands-on science activities. Kids can launch their own bowling balls to learn about physics, operate a robotic arm to grab prizes, and use their body to power electrical exhibits.
Interactive displays allow kids to build villages, control model trains, view themselves in funhouse mirrors, and touch a tesla coil to make lightning. Special toddler rooms feature age-appropriate building toys, musical elements, and games for Smyrna’s littlest learners. Galileo’s World of Discovery opens up a world of scientific wonders sure to inspire kids.
Conclusion
With historic downtown areas, numerous parks and waterways, family-operated farms, and interactive museums, Smyrna offers an array of family-friendly things to do guaranteed to engage kids of all ages.
From active adventures like kayaking and hiking to hands-on science experiments and pottery painting, Smyrna provides affordable options catered toward families looking to bond and make lasting memories together.
The variety of activities ranging from seasonal fruit picking to year-round museum visits ensures Smyrna makes an ideal destination for families any time of the year. With this list of top things to do, visitors can easily build an itinerary packed with family fun during their next trip to Smyrna, Delaware.