​What’s always mattered most about our life in Delaware is the broad range of opportunities we have to enjoy nature, entertainment and culture, and the simple pleasures of good friends and neighbors. That’s why my last two posts about the winter holidays have focused on parades, performances, gorgeously decorated homes and other wonderful experiences.

Down here in Sussex County, we’ll soon be in the midst of our annual Lewes Lights festivities – a month-long event featuring astonishing displays of holiday illuminations https://www.leweslights.org/.

It’s time to write one of the most enjoyable blog posts of the year, spotlighting all of the wonderful things to do during the winter holiday season all around The First State. It’ll probably amount to two posts since the list is so extensive.

Earlier I had the pleasure of posting about ways to simplify Thanksgiving by dining at a restaurant or ordering all kinds of dishes from restaurants and grocery stores offering carry-out options. This post is even more fun for everyone who wants to cook a little less and enjoy all kinds of wonderful cuisine throughout the off-season months at the beach. 

Most of us have had Thanksgiving celebrations that involved hours of shopping, cooking and cleaning for large groups of family and friends. While we might have enjoyed a lot of it, the process is a recipe for exhaustion. And even though most of us like leftovers, we’ve often had to toss out extras after the third day or [...]

As described below, The Lodge at Truitt Homestead https://truittlodge.com/ offers a similar opportunity. It’s located in Rehoboth near King’s Creek and the Rehoboth Beach Country Club. The best way to describe the feeling I get when perusing the Web site is that I’m looking at a brochure for a luxury cruise with fine accommodations, great food, and a wide range of social, recreational and educational activities, all of which are summed up in this fun video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZePM4XcXoB0.

It's hard to believe that I have been living in Delaware for nearly 25 years. My first visit here was way back in 1991, and by 1999, I made the decision to make this place my permanent home. The main reason behind my move was for a fresh start. I was looking for new opportunities and a change of scenery. Delaware seemed like the perfect place for that.  Before that, I've lived in a few different places like Pennsylvania, The Netherlands, New Mexico, South Korea, and Maryland.

If you’re looking for an Independent Living option https://mooringsatlewes.org/independent-living/, you can enjoy a spacious home with minimal maintenance and access to a wide range of amenities, including a fitness center, dog park, library, performance hall and fine dining at the Boathouse Bistro and the Chart House. The dining option may be especially appealing if you don’t feel like cooking even though you have a full kitchen in your home. 

A lot of us spend a lot of time thinking about how we’ll transition from living in our wonderful Delaware single family homes and condos to places that will give us a lot more joy as we age. It’s inevitable, in fact, for that sprawling green lawn to lose some of its appeal when we get tired of pushing the mower . . . 

Our state is filled with beautiful historic places, many replete with stories of hauntings and unexplainable phenomena. Throughout October you can enjoy walking tours with knowledgeable guides who will share both facts and fiction about these happenings. Highlights include Paranormal Adventures in Fort Delaware State Park every Friday and Saturday this month...