11 Undeniable Ways You Know You're From The State Of Delaware
By Kim Magaraci|Published August 16, 2017
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Kim Magaraci
Author
Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
There are a few ways to spot someone who is from Delaware – they’ll always order scrapple while complaining about scrapple, they’ll warn you not to go to Wilmington and then head upstate for a great dinner or concert on the waterfront, and they’ll happily tell you that our state is more than just a 15 mile stretch of I-95. However, there are a few things about being from Delaware that you might not notice we all have in common… take a look, and let me know if you relate to any of these signs that you’re really from Delaware.
1. You know better than to drive south on Route 1 on a Friday afternoon.
Beach traffic might be the worst part about summer in Delaware. Luckily, there are so many back roads that natives know and we can figure out three different ways to get to nearly any place in the state.
Delmarva is famous for its chicken, so it's easy to see why we consider ourselves the authority on chicken and dumplings. Flat, or "slippery" dumplings are the way to go.
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3. There's nothing that can quite match a Delaware Bay oyster.
Delaware Bay oysters are served all over the world, and they are known for their delicious flavor. I swear, it's better when they've just been pulled out of the bay at a restaurant like JP's Wharf in Bowers Beach.
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4. And you know that Delaware Bay crabs are the best around.
Many Maryland restaurants actually use Delaware's blue crabs - don't let their secret out! The truth is, our crabs are bigger and meater, and they don't cost as much as Chesapeake Bay crabs.
Whether it's El Nopal in Dover, Malin's in Newark, or any of the dozens of tiny spots along the coast, Delaware's family restaurateurs really know how to serve up unforgettable food. Forget the big chain places, Delawareans eat local.
If you need some sand time and don't want to fight the crowds, you can find a hidden beach in under an hour. Keep these quiet - we don't want everyone knowing about our charming bay towns!
The bay towns are beautiful, but sometimes you need the ocean. After Labor Day, it's game on. Delawareans prefer to celebrate during Local Summer, when the beaches are less crowded and the water is the warmest.
Delaware is known around the world for birding - but Delawareans are convinced that our state bird is either the horsefly or the greenhead. If you grew up here, you know when to avoid the coast.
GO UD! Our University of Delaware pride is pretty strong... I mean, we don't wear our flag on our pants like certain neighboring states do, but we do love to cheer on our fantastic Blue Hens.
It's easy to roll your eyes when an out-of-stater asks if you know their neighbor's friend's cousin, who lived "somewhere in Delaware" for a few years... until you go to the State Fair and run into 45 people that you know, including that friend's neighbor's cousin. Our state is tiny, and we are apparently very good at networking.
