<p>As a freshman parent, this will be our first Parents Weekend and I've heard good things as well as horror stories about the crowds, parking and eating out! Just wanted an honest opinion from parents who have been here before and whether or not it's really worth it. Thanks!</p>
<p>I’ve heard it’s fabulous, but we aren’t crowd people – my daughter especially – so she chose to hop on the train and come home last year. She is going to do the same this year.</p>
<p>I just signed up for Cosby and Football tickets. It is my S’s first year, and although I heard it was crowded, we thought we would try it for his first year. I don’t even know if my kids will like Bill Cosby!</p>
<p>We did it last year - our first. A lot of DD’s friends went home (like zoosermom’s DD). I definitely wanted to be part of the first parents weekend of her college career. We bought tix for the comedy night (Seth Myers and Steven Wright - awesome!) and the football game. (Seth Myers is an alum from my college, so I loved his references; DS - in HS - loved Steven Wright comedy – the whole night was fun.)</p>
<p>Definitely make reservations for dinners (esp if on/near campus) or plan to wait.</p>
<p>There were other tours, but DH not interested. We spent a lot time doing shopping with DD (so no need to go to Parents Weekend again; we can shop with her and take her off campus any time).</p>
<p>Just plan for crowds. It really wasn’t so bad.</p>
<p>We enjoyed it last year. Since we live only an hour away, we just went for the day. We ate at one of the lunch events, went to the football game, S showed us around campus, and then we went to dinner at Iron Hill (a reservation was definitely necessary). </p>
<p>Many of S’s friends went home for that weekend, and that’s what he’ll do this year, but it was fun to see him in his new home, and see how well he was settling in.</p>
<p>LINYMOM, where do you suggest for dinner? Or other meals that need advance planning?</p>
<p>I would recommend Cafe Gelato and Cucina di Napoli for dinner. Klondike Kates is an UD icon and you might want to try it for lunch (dinner is good too-you really get a good feel for UD students and the school at this restaurant-it is kind of a Pub environment, like Iron Hill). All of these restaurants are on Main Street. Also on Main street you will find Mexican, Chinese, and Indian restaurants if that is your interest. There are also a nummber of faster food restaurants on Main Street like IHOP, Panara’s, Grotto Pizza, Cheeburger-Cheeburger, and many others. I have visited many college campuses over my many years and I have never seen a school with a better selection of restaurants than those on Main Street at UD. Even though it is crowded during Parents weekend you usually will have little problem finding a decent place to eat (I’ve been to 3 of these weekends). Still, reservations at the first three I mentioned would be a good idea. Have a great time.</p>
<p>Thanks, MW. We’ve already eaten at Klondike Kate’s and Iron Hill. D is not really into Italian so we haven’t made it to Gelato yet. Our favorite place is actually Home Grown on Main Street, which we discovered accidently on our first visit and have eaten there each visit since. What I’d had in mind was possibly someplace more out of the way or further away that she might not get to on her own or without a car.</p>
<p>We didn’t have a reservation on Parents Weekend (Fri) so we ended up eating outside at Cucina di Napoli (only a little chilly).</p>
<p>My kids really like Deer Park Tavern (they have a parking lot - big +) - also on Main St.</p>
<p>My DH likes middle eastern - I think we ate at Ali Baba on Main Street when we dropped DD off for school last August.</p>
<p>When I visited DD in the Spring, I wanted to take her off campus to eat. We went to Potstickers and loved it.</p>
<p>[Potstickers</a> Asian Grill & Sushi Bar :: Wilmington and Newark, Delaware Restaurant](<a href=“http://www.potstickersasiangrill.com/]Potstickers”>http://www.potstickersasiangrill.com/)</p>
<p>Haven’t really explored too many restaurants outside of the immediate area. If you find any that you like, please share here. I’ve got three more years!</p>
<p>wilmington is only 8 miles away. They have many restaurants. While I can’t recall where I ate, go on yelp.</p>
<p>I can recommend the Deerfield Country Club/Golf Club (open to the public) at 507 Thompson Station Road in Newark. It is about 15-20 minutes outside of Main Street. The menu does not include a lot of selections but the food is very good. They also have an excellent Brunch on Sundays which will start again in October. It is in a relatively rural area surrounded by a golf course. The grounds are beautiful. It was originally built as a Country Club/Golf Course for Dupont employees. The prices are also very reasonable. Their web site is deerfieldgolfclub.com if you want to check it out further.</p>
<p>We did the official parents weekend the first year and didnt have the best experience. We were late in booking and had to stay at the Super 8 on Main Street (kind of yucky) spent too much money of the pre game buffet and football game (buffet was awful and seats at game were at the very top of the bleachers on the visitors side and my husband is afraid of heights and couldn’t sit there) and over all the weekend was kind of blah. Although I have to say the halftime show at the football game (agianst UMASS) was awesome!</p>
<p>Last year my daughter ended up coming home for parents weekend so we came up another weekend in November. Had a better hotel room (Homewood Suites) had a great dinner on Friday night at Kildare’s on Main Street, great football game against Villanova, did our own tailgate pre-game and had a great weekend.</p>
<p>This year, I think we are going back on parents weekend because my daughter wants to see Bill Cosby. Still have to find a place to stay but not staying at the Super 8!!!</p>