For as tiny a state as Delaware is, we all know it’s divided. There’s part of the state that’s above the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal – and then there’s the best part of the state. Life in Slower Lower Delaware (or, LSD, as our bumper stickers say) is just better. It’s quieter, calmer, and at the same time, more exciting. Here’s why.
- We have the BEST festivals.
Flickr / Victoria Pickering Between Punkin Chunkin (it’s BACK!), Apple Scrapple, and the State Fair, LSD knows how to throw a party. Wilmington can keep its craft beer garden festivals, we’ll keep on like we’ve been doing down here with our rural Delaware fun.
- We know the history of our state - beyond the DuPont Corridor.
Flickr / PWBaker Don’t get us wrong, we are aware of how important the DuPont Family has been to Delaware - but we also know what the history is like beyond that. We know what farmers originally owned the entire town. We know what railroad stop lead to the population booms, and what industry crash lead to the opposite, too. Anyone here can tell you how their town was founded, and we all know the families down here that are just as important as the DuPonts up north.
- There is no “rush hour.”
Flickr / Bill Herdon Yes, we do deal with the beach traffic during the summer, but even that’s not as bad if you’re a little more west. But, beyond the busy beach times? We can travel Route 9 for ten minutes between towns and only pass one or two other cars. It’s lovely. Note - sometimes we do get stuck behind tractors, and yes, that’ll make you late for wherever you’re going. But that’s okay, we’re in no rush anyway.
- We make the BEST dumplings.
Flickr / milsom Slippery dumplings are unique to Delaware, and particularly Slower Lower Delaware. Don’t try to explain it, really - they’re square, they’re flat and they’re dumplings. Everything else is just wrong.
- We’ve got the best downtowns - and we always have.
Flickr / UD Library Between Dover, Georgetown, Milton and Milford - we’ve got the best main streets and downtown districts. Here you’ll find everything you need, and everyone you know, too!
- The beaches are ours, year-round.
Flickr / Arianraven We all know that local summer is the best time of the year - all of the tourists go home, but the water’s still warm and the weather is nice, so off to the beaches we go. No crowds, no trouble finding parking… could it get any better?
- We know where to get the freshest fruits and veggies.
Flickr / Lee Cannon There’s nothing like picking up a basket of fruit from the fruit stand on the side of the road on your way home. These honor-system stands are a slower lower Delaware tradition.
- We know our neighbors.
Flickr / Lee Cannon Even though they might not be as close to us as neighbors are in the more dense areas of the state, we actually know our neighbors down here. We’ll trade you our farm fresh eggs for your gardens spoils, and everyone is always willing to lend a hand with whatever project we’re working on. The sense of community is one of the best parts of living down here.
- You’ll find the best fishing spots in the state down here.
Flickr / Lee Cannon
- We can cook. Oh, can we cook!
Flickr / Robert Couse-Baker Between the way we make scrapple (perfectly, that is), our Delaware chicken dishes, baked mac and cheese, and homemade EVERYTHING, we’ve got this whole food thing down. We grew up with family dinner and learned to cook at a young age, so we’ll feed you ’til you’re stuffed, and send you home with leftovers.
See? Now you’re convinced, right? Well, if you already live down here, you already knew we’ve got it better. Of course, if you’re from Upstate, you might disagree with a few things here. Be sure to let me know, and keep an eye out for a part two.
Flickr / Victoria Pickering
Between Punkin Chunkin (it’s BACK!), Apple Scrapple, and the State Fair, LSD knows how to throw a party. Wilmington can keep its craft beer garden festivals, we’ll keep on like we’ve been doing down here with our rural Delaware fun.
Flickr / PWBaker
Don’t get us wrong, we are aware of how important the DuPont Family has been to Delaware - but we also know what the history is like beyond that. We know what farmers originally owned the entire town. We know what railroad stop lead to the population booms, and what industry crash lead to the opposite, too. Anyone here can tell you how their town was founded, and we all know the families down here that are just as important as the DuPonts up north.
Flickr / Bill Herdon
Yes, we do deal with the beach traffic during the summer, but even that’s not as bad if you’re a little more west. But, beyond the busy beach times? We can travel Route 9 for ten minutes between towns and only pass one or two other cars. It’s lovely. Note - sometimes we do get stuck behind tractors, and yes, that’ll make you late for wherever you’re going. But that’s okay, we’re in no rush anyway.
Flickr / milsom
Slippery dumplings are unique to Delaware, and particularly Slower Lower Delaware. Don’t try to explain it, really - they’re square, they’re flat and they’re dumplings. Everything else is just wrong.
Flickr / UD Library
Between Dover, Georgetown, Milton and Milford - we’ve got the best main streets and downtown districts. Here you’ll find everything you need, and everyone you know, too!
Flickr / Arianraven
We all know that local summer is the best time of the year - all of the tourists go home, but the water’s still warm and the weather is nice, so off to the beaches we go. No crowds, no trouble finding parking… could it get any better?
Flickr / Lee Cannon
There’s nothing like picking up a basket of fruit from the fruit stand on the side of the road on your way home. These honor-system stands are a slower lower Delaware tradition.
Even though they might not be as close to us as neighbors are in the more dense areas of the state, we actually know our neighbors down here. We’ll trade you our farm fresh eggs for your gardens spoils, and everyone is always willing to lend a hand with whatever project we’re working on. The sense of community is one of the best parts of living down here.
Flickr / Robert Couse-Baker
Between the way we make scrapple (perfectly, that is), our Delaware chicken dishes, baked mac and cheese, and homemade EVERYTHING, we’ve got this whole food thing down. We grew up with family dinner and learned to cook at a young age, so we’ll feed you ’til you’re stuffed, and send you home with leftovers.
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