We at Cool Nerds Marketing, love and support where we work, live and play. We’ve put together a list of each team member’s favorite things to do in Delaware. Enjoy!
Main Street in Newark
Olivia Roehm, Account Executive
Living in a ‘college town’ means access to a number of great places to eat, shop, and hang out. Living a mile from Main Street means I can walk or bike easily to the hub of eating and shopping for the neighboring University of Delaware community. Main Street is home to 70+ businesses from shopping to various cuisine options, and also puts on annual events like the Taste of Newark – food and wine festival, Food and Brew, and more. I can also choose to grab something to go and head into the nearby White Clay Creek Park or up to the Newark Reservoir for a picnic lunch. Since I’ve moved to the area a year ago, I’ve tried a new restaurant almost every Saturday lunch, and still have so much more to taste! No day spent in the Newark Main Street area is wasted – and you’ll want to keep coming back!
The Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington
Kristian Segelken, Social Media Specialist
The Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington is home to works by great American artists such as John Sloan, Edward Hopper and Wilmington native, Howard Pyle. Visitors have access to a large collection that stretches from the pre-Raphaelite era to present-day and is constantly being updated. The museum also offers a variety of events including crafting events for kids, yoga in the sculpture garden and free public tours. In the past I have enrolled in their studio art classes where professional artists teach drawing, sculpture, jewelry-making and more. Located between Rockford park and the Brandywine River, it’s the perfect place to stop on a walk or bike ride through town.
The Christiana Mall
Mahmut Celal CIKRIK
Coming from a state where sales tax is nearly 7%, the Christiana mall has to be one of the best things in Delaware. In the First State, not only is this mall tax-free, but it’s one of the biggest and nicest malls in the tri-state area. Christiana Mall is massive with almost everything you could possibly need. For those who love to shop, they have a vast variety of clothing outlets. For those who love to eat, the options are open from Chinese food to a luxury Italian restaurant. Need your phone fixed, want a custom printed t-shirt or in the mood to spend all your money on legos? Christiana Mall is the place to go. With a new movie theater right next door, you can spend the hour before your movie starts shopping and dining. The mall is truly a beautifully structured building with tons of options to spend all your time and all of your money. Tax free of course!
Beaches! Beaches! Beaches!
Ally Nagle, Web Designer
Being a warm weather freak, and a person who loathes cold and winter, the beach towns and State Park beaches in the summertime are what have kept me content as a Delawarean for my entire life. Delaware is home to numerous state park beaches and resort towns that are meticulously maintained and satisfy a multitude of recreational preferences: from surf fishing to swimming and sunbathing, to entertaining the entire family and enjoying great restaurants and nightlife. The best part is that they are only a little over an hour drive from the top of the state, so it’s no big deal if you want to take a spur-of-the-moment day trip down to the seashore! Delaware beaches were even ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2013 and in 2018 Rehoboth Beach was named one of the top 10 most popular beach destinations in the US!
Wilmington Public Library
Michael Venezia, Digital Marketing Director
from beautiful Rodney Square. Once you’ve made your way through the intimidating entry, scurry on over to the reading room and browse the shelves of used books for sale. The sale section of the library, and occasional special book sale events throughout the year, are maintained by the Friends of Wilmington Public Library and you never know what type of treasures you might discover. Several long-forgotten, first edition, classics that would otherwise be discarded have made excellent additions to my personal collection. The library building itself is something worth exploring as the Wilmington Free Library Institue dates back to 1754 and has been through tough times having almost been abandoned during the Revolutionary War. Those tough times have passed, for now, and the library stands secure with backing from some of Delaware’s elite and a team of Friends and staff that work tirelessly between the stacks to make it all possible. This Digital Director hopes that we might always be able to appreciate the sense of accomplishment when turning the last page of a good book bought at a bargain.
Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton
Ryan Goldberg
Dogfish Head started in 1995 in Milton it has grown into one of the biggest microbreweries in the country. They have just one brewery that is still located in Milton and it’s defiantly worth the trip! They offer free tours with tasting along the way and after that, you can try 4 more beers of your choice in the tasting room. If you want a deeper dive into how the beer is made you can do the paid tour for around $15 and it comes with more tasting plus two different Dogfish beer glasses! They have outdoor seating to enjoy a wonderful day with cornhole and an always on-site food truck with some beer-inspired cuisine. Along with cornhole, they have an awesome steampunk treehouse that was actually at burning man!
Lums Pond State Park in Bear
Bruce Gunacti
One of the best areas to find in Delaware is Lums Pond State Park. There are so many activities available to enjoy at the pond. You can spend the entire day enjoying any of the following activities on your own or with friends and family:
Camping
Fishing and Boating
Horseback Riding
Sport Fields and Courts
Nature Preserve
Going Ape (Zip line)
Hunting
Hiking
Biking
Picnic
More information about the pond:
Before the pond existed, St. Georges Creek flowed through the hardwood forest and was the site of several Native American hunting camps. The creek was dammed in the early 1800’s when the C & D canal was built. Water from the pond was used to fill the locks of the canal and power a small mill. This area was first used as a state park in 1963. information https://www.destateparks.com/PondsRivers/LumsPond
Winterthur
Amanda Pearl, Project Manager
One of my favorite local getaways! WWhether you’re looking for a peaceful afternoon or interested in exploring somewhere new on the weekend, Winterthur Museum,Garden and Library is a Delaware treasure and must see. Founded by Henry Francis Dupont, Winterthur is nestled in the heart of Brandywine Valley and offers a variety of tours, exhibitions and programs for the whole family. Stretching nearly 60 acres, the impeccably manicured gardens are boundless. During your exploring you’ll find plants and flowers from all over the world, ponds with beautiful fish and frogs singing, and several intricate structures. The Enchanted Woods is magical and great for the kids. For the history buffs and art enthusiasts, the nine-story old Dupont mansion houses nearly 90,000 American artifacts and fine art pieces. They offer guided tours of the 175-room museum where you can dive into the Delaware and American history first hand. The library is home to some rare finds and is open to the public, free of charge, all year long. The mansion is the perfect setting for weddings and events. A Delaware staple event is the annual Point-to-Point Steeplechase and Tailgate, held at Winterthur every year.
Spending Time on the Riverfront in Wilmington
Michael Venezia, Digital Marketing Director
For the past 20 years, Delaware has been working hard to revitalize the Wilmington Riverfront which runs along the Christiana River just south of downtown Wilmington.
With the addition of several popular restaurants including Iron Hill Brewery, attractions such as a movie theater, fitness studios, coffee shops and family fun centers, the area has transformed into an excellent destination for a step outside of the city vibe of Wilmington, and into a relaxing and enjoyable adventure.
Events are scheduled to showcase the features of the area throughout the year. A central part of the area exists as a beer garden during the warmer months, then transforms into a family-friendly ice skating rink during the winter. Adjacent to the Riverfront is the Blue Rocks Stadium where you and friends can catch a game before capping the night off with dinner all in a short walking distance to the areas largest public transit station.
The Queen | Downtown Wilmington
Peyton Beard, Social Media Specialist
The Queen has been many things: a hotel, a movie theatre, and now a Live Nation venue on the rise. Through its many states of being, it has always remained a staple in the culture of Downtown Wilmington. From Drag Queen brunches, trivia nights and emo nights, The Queen is a local mainstay for people of all ages. The venue has been played by Philadelphia punks The Menzingers and sadboy crooners in The Wonder Years, to guttural metal bands like Black Label Society, Hatebreed, and Killswitch Engage. Heavy music not your thing? Manchester Orchestra, Less Than Jake, The Naked And Famous and St. Vincent are just a few of the incredible local and internationally renowned acts to hit the Wilmington stage. Gone is the need to travel to Philadelphia, Baltimore, or New York City for a night of entertainment! I love ending a day at the Cool Nerds office by walking down Market Street, grabbing a bite to eat or cup of coffee, and checking out a show all on the same block. Long live The Queen!
