Stuck in between Philadelphia and east of the Mason-Dixon line (yes, east), Delawareans have quite a mashup of northern and southern slang and pronunciations. It kind of reminds us of the Osmond song, "A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock 'N Roll." And, while we're not sure Delaware is big enough to warrant its own vocabulary, or that these are unique only to Delaware, here are some words, phrases and terms that we've heard around the state that we're hoping you/you guys/y'all will understand. Do any of these Delaware words surprise you? How many, if any, did you hear growing up?
A deli sandwich on a long bun. You don't order a hoagie, or a grinder; you order a sub.
We know there are other words that are used throughout the state, mostly said by grandmothers, grandfathers and great aunts and uncles. What are your favorites?
The First State has a reputation for being a tiny, boring state, but those of us living in Delaware know that's the farthest thing from the truth! Check out a few of these treasures that are unique to Delaware and you'll see just how much is hiding in the First State.
Eleuthèrean Mills was the first place that the DuPont family planted their roots in America. Needless to say, it's one of the most historic places to visit in Delaware. The home was adjacent to the DuPont gunpowder mill, and you can still tour the mill and home today.
Rehoboth Beach is home to the best boardwalk you'll ever stroll. With Dolles Candyland, chicken from Gus & Gus Place, hours of entertainment from Funland, and tasty Thrashers French fries, it's hard to imagine any better place on earth. Life in Delaware sure is great with a beach town like this!
The Wilmington Riverfront is home to the DuPont Environmental Education Center and Russell W Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge. This unique park is one of the only places in the area where you can get a close look at the fascinating ecosystems present in a riverfront city. See how the coastal marshes and river traffic coexist, or just explore the outdoor interpretive trails.
Miles the Monster is the world's largest monster, and he lives right in front of Dover International Speedway. Even if you're not a NASCAR fan, stop by to see this impressive concrete giant for yourself.
Sure, the Stone Pony gets all the love, but in Dewey Beach, Bottle & Cork is a favorite of those in the industry for a reason. This legendary rock club is the most underrated in the country, and you'll find yourself appreciating it for its history, sound system, and killer line-up night after night.
The world-famous Chalybeate Spring is hiding in the woods in Brandywine Springs Park. This mystical healing spring was recently unearthed by a volunteer group, and you can now visit the spring itself. In the 1800s, the spring was so famous that a gigantic resort was built at the site for travelers.
Auburn Heights Preserve is home to the Marshall Steam Museum at Auburn Heights where you'll be able to walk alongside antique steam cars or ride a small-scale steam engine train. The Museum is fascinating, and you'll want to mark your calendar for their occasional steam celebration days.
The gorgeous Hotel DuPont was once the most luxurious in the world, and today, it's still a sight to see. Visit to dine at the elegant Green Room, where you'll find the tastiest macaroons in America. You can also book a stay at this iconic hotel on Booking.com.
Fort Delaware is one of the most haunted places in the world, and Delawareans are lucky to visit whenever they please. Drop in for a daytime historic tour, or mark your calendar for October, when you can participate in a paranormal investigation after dark.
The Zwaanendael Museum and Park celebrates the first European settlers in Delaware. This quirky museum is one of the most fascinating Delaware attractions and is even home to a mummified mermaid. You've got to see it for yourself.
Living in Delaware is certainly interesting with places like these! What's your favorite place that's unique to Delaware? Tell us in the comments!
Dela-where? Yep. It’s the question that all native Delawareans are used to answering. No, we don’t mean a county in Pennsylvania or a town in Ohio. This is Delaware: the second smallest state, the center of the East Coast, and a place that many are proud to call home. We love living in Delaware, and we think the First State has so much going for it that anybody could find reasons to love Delaware.
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Here are 20 undeniable things to love about Delaware.
First in the nation, that is. While all the other states were trying to figure out this whole Constitution thing, Delaware said, "Sign us up," and we became the first state to ratify.
Forget seven degrees of separation; in Delaware it’s more like two. We’re like one big "Cheers" bar - you know, where everyone knows your name. It’s no big deal to run into the Governor at the State Fair, see your mayor at the local bar, or have an elected official as your kid’s soccer coach. If you don’t know someone, someone you know does. The close-knittedness of the folks in our state is just an aspect of life in Delaware that we've all come to love.
And speaking of knowing somebody, President Joe Biden, a former vice president and senator, is from Delaware! Whether his gaffes make you cringe or chuckle, to us, he’s "Just Joe" and he’s ours.
Delaware is home to some of the cleanest beaches in the world. Whether your perfect beach spot is along a shop-lined boardwalk, in a party town, or on a quiet stretch of state park land, we have 28 miles of oceanfront for you!
Home to famous Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales, tiny Delaware ranks 14th in the nation for craft breweries per capita. Hit the Delaware Wine and Ale Trail and find them all.
Even though Delaware is surrounded by states with sky-high property taxes, we benefit from taxes paid by companies that incorporate here, meaning that they shoulder most of that burden.
We can be climbing the rocky outcrops at Alapocas State Park in northern Delaware in the morning, and biking the Breakwater Trail along the Atlantic Coast in the afternoon.
All year round, at road side stands, garden centers, Christmas tree farms, farmers markets and family-run stores, you can get great Delaware produce, and meet the people who grow it!
We have four of them, and everyone has their own favorite. Our springs are mild. Fall is perfect football weather. Summer is full of sunshine, and we still get some snow in the winter.
Maybe it comes from the part about knowing everyone, but Delaware has a huge volunteer base, helping with everything from fighting fires to giving food and shelter to those in need.
While we Delawareans know that music has been an undeniable reason to love our state for decades. The Firefly Music Festival, held annually in Dover, draws flocks of fans from all corners of the U.S. for its chill vibe and sweet sounds.
In every corner of Delaware is a small town with historic charm, taverns, quaint boutiques, a sense of pride and community, and a parade for every major holiday.
Forget what people tell you about crabs from the Chesapeake Bay or Louisiana. We get ours from the Delaware Bay. Steam them up at home, or pick up a dozen at a local seafood place.
Lots of it. From numerous state parks to two National Wildlife Refuges, eco-explorers find places to hike, bird watch, hunt, fish, and just be one with the outdoors.
In a state as small as Delaware, we only have one major university, and man is it a pretty one, with a quintessential college vibe. Many Delawareans are proud alumni, including….you guessed it...#3 from above!
Sussex County, one of our three (yes, only three) counties, produces more chickens for meat consumption than any other county in the U.S. And the Fightin’ Blue Hen is the University of Delaware’s mascot, selected for its ‘cocky’ attitude during the Revolutionary War.
20. Because there's a little something for everyone.
Whether you are a city mouse or a country mouse, or somewhere in between, there’s something for you, and you can drive there in under 2 hours.
So the real answer when someone asks "Dela-where?" is "Dela-right here baby!" And we have at least 20 things to love about living in Delaware that make our state undeniably awesome. In case you couldn't tell, one more aspect of life in the First State is that we folks from Delaware are proud of where we come from, and we're not afraid to wear our roots for everyone else to see.
So, how about you? What's your favorite thing about the First State? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to let us know what we missed in making this list.
