Delaware is a great place to grow up! Though it’s a small state and often underrated, there are a few things about growing up in Delaware that make it one of the best places in America to be a kid or lay down your roots. Check out some of the perks of growing up in Delaware, and see if you can relate to any of these.
- You get to know everybody in your town.
Facebook / Cab Calloway School of Art Most of Delaware’s towns are small communities of fewer than 2,000 people, so it’s pretty easy to get to know most of your town. When you grow up in such a close-knit community, it’s easy to really feel at home.
- You’re always just a short drive from the beach.
Flickr / Ted Eytan And we all know that salt water and ocean breezes can cure any bad day.
- You get the best of the city and rural life.
Flickr / TCDavis Even our largest city, Wilmington, is full of parks and green space. It’s easy to experience rural life and city life all in the same place.
- You grow up in the heart of America’s history.
Flickr / Mike Mahaffie Dover, New Castle, Odessa, Georgetown, Lewes… it doesn’t really matter what town you grew up in, chances are you grew up close to a significant historic landmark, or place where America’s revolutionary history was made. That’s something most Americans cannot say.
- You’ll really appreciate nature.
Flickr / Mike Mahaffie You’re always close to a water trail, hiking trail, park, or lake when you’re growing up in Delaware! It’s no wonder we all learn how to fish, kayak, and bird watch from a young age.
- You’re close to everything.
Flickr / The West End We’re a short train ride or drive away from Philadelphia, New York, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, so it’s easy to take an exciting day trip when you’re based in Delaware.
- You grow up around the most interesting festivals — you’re never bored!
Flickr / Kurt Komoda From Punkin Chunkin to Apple Scrapple, nobody does small-town festivals quite like Delaware. If you’re a part of FFA (which so many of us were!), these festivals really take on a special meaning.
- It’s fun to grow up with lots of school spirit!
Flickr / Jeffrey High school sports and high school pride are both a big deal in Delaware’s small towns. You can walk into any corner store and find out pretty quickly how the local basketball, football, or baseball teams are doing.
- You found ways to make your own fun.
Flickr/ Michael Keene When you don’t have many places to hang out, like in plenty of small Delaware towns, you’ve got to make your own fun. These memories of bonfires, barbecues, and afternoon-long bike rides will stick with you forever.
- It’s easy to find peace and quiet.
Facebook / Blackbird State Forest If you need some peace and quiet, you can find it around the corner in nearly any Delaware town. Head to a serene state forest or park and enjoy some time to yourself.
- You grow up spoiled with the best kind of treats.
Flickr/ Bigbirdz Thrashers, Fisher’s, Ibach’s… when these are the treats you wait all year for, you know you’ve got it good! Growing up in Delaware meant counting down to the first beach visit to stuff your face with all of our traditional summer treats.
- You know just how wonderful Delaware can be!
Flickr / Eric B. Walker While people joke “dela-where?!” and think that our state is nothing but a drive-through state, we all know that Delaware is a hidden treasure — and perhaps that’s the best takeaway one gets from growing up in Delaware.
What was your favorite part of growing up in Delaware? I think my favorite was enjoying the state fair every year… because while Boardwalk food is good, State Fair food is truly epic.
Facebook / Cab Calloway School of Art
Most of Delaware’s towns are small communities of fewer than 2,000 people, so it’s pretty easy to get to know most of your town. When you grow up in such a close-knit community, it’s easy to really feel at home.
Flickr / Ted Eytan
And we all know that salt water and ocean breezes can cure any bad day.
Flickr / TCDavis
Even our largest city, Wilmington, is full of parks and green space. It’s easy to experience rural life and city life all in the same place.
Flickr / Mike Mahaffie
Dover, New Castle, Odessa, Georgetown, Lewes… it doesn’t really matter what town you grew up in, chances are you grew up close to a significant historic landmark, or place where America’s revolutionary history was made. That’s something most Americans cannot say.
You’re always close to a water trail, hiking trail, park, or lake when you’re growing up in Delaware! It’s no wonder we all learn how to fish, kayak, and bird watch from a young age.
Flickr / The West End
We’re a short train ride or drive away from Philadelphia, New York, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, so it’s easy to take an exciting day trip when you’re based in Delaware.
Flickr / Kurt Komoda
From Punkin Chunkin to Apple Scrapple, nobody does small-town festivals quite like Delaware. If you’re a part of FFA (which so many of us were!), these festivals really take on a special meaning.
Flickr / Jeffrey
High school sports and high school pride are both a big deal in Delaware’s small towns. You can walk into any corner store and find out pretty quickly how the local basketball, football, or baseball teams are doing.
Flickr/ Michael Keene
When you don’t have many places to hang out, like in plenty of small Delaware towns, you’ve got to make your own fun. These memories of bonfires, barbecues, and afternoon-long bike rides will stick with you forever.
Facebook / Blackbird State Forest
If you need some peace and quiet, you can find it around the corner in nearly any Delaware town. Head to a serene state forest or park and enjoy some time to yourself.
Flickr/ Bigbirdz
Thrashers, Fisher’s, Ibach’s… when these are the treats you wait all year for, you know you’ve got it good! Growing up in Delaware meant counting down to the first beach visit to stuff your face with all of our traditional summer treats.
Flickr / Eric B. Walker
While people joke “dela-where?!” and think that our state is nothing but a drive-through state, we all know that Delaware is a hidden treasure — and perhaps that’s the best takeaway one gets from growing up in Delaware.
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