Delaware doesn't even get its own puzzle piece on the Official Flyover America Vintage Map Puzzle. (Nor do Maryland or New Jersey, but don't tell Jenna. She's funny about New Jersey.
Sometimes, to amuse myself, I try to list all 50 states from memory. I probably shouldn’t admit how bad I am at this game but I really stink at it. Still, nobody can blame me for often forgetting poor, forgettable Delaware. How forgettable is it? I can’t remember if I’ve ever been there. Maybe I drove through it sometime. I really couldn’t tell you.
Or, as Stephen Colbert said on the Colbert Report Monday night, “Tonight, I profile the state of Delaware. You’re in luck, fans of beige.”
Introducing the segment, he pointed out that Delaware is the only state in the nation that has no national park, seashore, battlefield, historic sites, or monuments. Wow. That’s lot of ignominy.
Still, it does have this distinction: On December 7, 1787, Delaware was first to ratify the U.S. Constitution, making it the first state. (“And state officials expect they’ll have another accomplishment any day now,” Colbert said.) State tourism slogan: It’s Good Being First.
I see the state has an important anniversary coming up in a few weeks. How shall we celebrate? Something low-key, I think. Beige-ish.
Poor ol’ Delaware. I have now set a personal goal to visit the state (intentionally) to find something to love.
Ahhh. Delaware. I lived there for two years. I call them the “lost years”. Wilmington, Delaware was convenient in that it was less that two hours to Philly or Baltimore, less than four hours to DC and NYC. And it was on Amtrak. Also, it had no sales tax. But yeah, there’s nothing particularly notable about the state itself with one exception… it does have some very lovely beaches.
The lost years! That made me laugh. But lovely beaches sounds good. And no sales tax, provided there’s anything there I’d want to buy. I picture stores full of beige clothing …
Oh, poor Delaware. Nice beaches are nice but when your greatest attribute is that you’re within decent driving distance of better places, ’tis sad.
I offer a hearty second on the beaches….and maybe its us (we do a big summer thing…4 families, lots of kids, beer (for us, not them) and great food) but don’t remember any beige. But then we’re tourists there. Bringing our dollars and splashes of color
We here in Dallas speak often of its international airport…
And there I was expecting you to serve up another Jersey joke!
Ooh, darn. Missed the setup…
Delaware also has a very large toll bridge on Interstate 95, the main route along the East Coast. The Delaware Memorial Bridge is/was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Entering Delaware from New Jersey via the bridge (which must cost $5-$6 a car by now), the driver next crosses the 11-mile entirety of the Delaware Turnpike (another $4 +/- toll) before entering Maryland. The combination is a few miles or roads for (relatively) many dollars. Corporation-friendly Delaware also has du Pont, which is usually cited as the reason that taxes are low. I always thought that the the rolls another part of the reason. A one-way toll must be the tolls. And Delaware also gave us Joe Biden (tho’ he grew up in Pennsylvania).
Claire @ http://www.travel-babel.com
Delaware is also notable for having very friendly laws regarding corporations. Basically you just have to rent a PO Box to incorporate there. Also, you only have to be 16 to sign a contract, which is why all the major credit card issuing banks are based there. Delaware: Corporate America Calls Us Home.
Yeah, Colbert mentioned that, too. Apparently, there’s one address–and he showed a photo of it, very beige–that is the headquarters for a bunch of major corporations.
Including one of my clients, ironically.
So many jokes made at poor Delaware’s expense! Sure, it may not be New York City, but Newark, Del. (not to be mistaken with NJ’s Newark) was a pretty idealic place to grow up: I lived in a real neighborhood, not a suburban housing community. I learned to ride my bike in the street. I climbed trees in my front yard. I walked to Main Street with friends and hung out there – because yes, Main Street is/was cool (two high school classmates now own restaurants there). I went to the beach for a week every summer with my family – only a two-hour drive from home. And with the Univ. of Del. just down the street, we took advantage of performances, concerts, camps (and later, parties). If all this means I grew up in a “beige” place, then I guess that’s OK with me.
Sounds like where I wanted to grow up … the place where Charlie Brown grew up looked like heaven to me, the urban kid.
I promise, I have every intention of visiting Delaware to see it for myself!
You tell us Meghan! (And I mean that.) Seriously, when I get a car, Delaware will be one of my first road trips. I’m looking forward to it. (And please fill us all in on the details of your friends’ restaurants. Would love to hear what all kind of chow is going on in the state.)