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.

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 [...]

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 . . . 

Cape Henlopen is front and center of my radar since we live about a mile away and we take our dog for a long walk there just about every single day.  But regardless of where you live you’re never too far from other parks and nature preserves that are likewise protected. Even better, the Delaware State Parks Web site https://destateparks.com/ spotlights an astounding array of experiences you can enjoy – from paranormal adventures to Autumn-specific nature and cultural events to the perfect camp site or gathering place. Here are a few especially cool ones.

Unfortunately, we can count on brutal temps and cloying humidity ahead. If you still want to spend most of your time outside there are lots of great parks offering shady trails for walking and biking. But there are also so many fabulous museums where you can spend hours enriching your brain in air conditioned comfort.

With New Legislation, Cape Henlopen Will Continue to be a Natural Wonder

I’ve written often about all of the wonderful reasons to spend time at Cape Henlopen State Park (https://www.activeadultsdelaware.com/blog/posts/2023/07/14/wherever-you-are-cape-henlopen-state-park-is-a-wonderful-getaway/), and virtually every post has emphasized its vast acreage filled with natural wonders. The forests filled with aromatic pines. The marshlands that can be traversed by raised biking and hiking trails. Gordon’s Pond, which brims with wildlife. And miles of a shoreline stretching from Delaware Bay to the Atlantic Ocean, with multiple places to swim, fish, and simply enjoy the views.

Wherever You Are, Cape Henlopen State Park is a Wonderful Getaway

Getting there is easy, even in the summer if you know when to go. If you’re up north it’s probably a 90-minute drive on a weekday and much faster if you’re mid-state or downstate and also able to go during the week. Once you go through the gates from the Lewes side at the end of Cape Henlopen Drive, or on the Rehoboth side near Henlopen Acres https://destateparks.com/wwwroot/maps/cape-henlopen/CapeHenlopenMap.pdf, you’ll find all kinds of ways to enjoy the sand and surf, biking and walking trails, and WWII history as well. Here are some highlights:

The post was timely because so many of our clients are retired or semi-retired and yearning for lots of leisure time as opposed to yard-maintenance time. Many want to enjoy active days with less time on our increasingly busy roads. The really great news is that builders are responding in a big way to this demographic, as you can see when you visit the communities spotlighted at our Web site.