You’re probably thinking I’ve lost my mind, A rest stop?? Really? Yes, really. I’m not sure what you think of when you picture a rest stop but I picture a small building with some bathrooms and some vending machines. The Smyrna Rest Stop offers much more than that!
A handicap accessible playground, memorial garden, bathrooms, picnic area and gift shop are all located on the expansive, shaded rest stop property.
Sometimes we get tired of going to the same playground all the time, so this is a great alternative to our usual play locations! The boys headed straight for it (naturally) when we got there, but it was hot and sunny and the playground doesn’t get much of the beautiful shade that the rest of the area does so I steered them toward the memorial garden.
Complete with a large pond and a beautiful landscape filled with native plants, the memorial garden gives families an appropriate way to remember their loved ones who have died on Delaware roadways. Engraved bricks, which are provided for free, line the gently curving pathway surrounding the pond. The pond is home to goldfish, koi, catfish and many happily croaking frogs.
The landscape designer in me was very impressed (and that’s not easily accomplished) by their plant choices and design, not only in the memorial garden but surrounding the playground and parking areas of the rest area.
Additionally, the picnic area is large, with tons of better-than-average picnic tables, charcoal grills and even a water spigot so if you are looking for a place to host a small party or get together, this could be great! Especially because of the nearby bathrooms.
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