Delaware experiences make excellent gifts

When life returns to normal post-COVID, fun-deprived Delawareans will turn to experiences over material things, two authors predict.

“There’s a huge pent-up demand for people to get out and do things, making experiential gifts the perfect presents,” said Rachel Kipp, co-author of “100 Things to Do in Delaware Before You Die.” Her co-author and husband is Dan Shortridge.

“Season passes, gift cards, lessons, and tickets are a fantastic way to show friends and family that you’re thinking about them – and sharing the experience can make lasting memories. Restaurants and retail shops are other excellent options for gift cards or certificates to support buying local,” she said.

The First State is known for its outdoor recreation opportunities, from birding to boating. And the outdoors is the best place for proper social distancing. For free access to state parks, a standard pass for a Delaware vehicle is just $35, and $18 for seniors 62 and older, available online or at most parks offices. Enjoy the solitude of one of Delmarva’s natural wonders with a kayak or canoe rental from a local outfitter. Try paddling along the Nanticoke River near Seaford, exploring Trap Pond State Park outside Laurel, or going up close to the lighthouses on the Delaware Bay breakwater at Cape Henlopen State Park.

Delaware has plenty of art and history to explore. The Delaware Art Museum’s offerings include world-class collections of British Pre-Raphaelite art and American illustrations. The Hagley Museum and Library is located on the site of the gunpowder works founded by E.I. du Pont in 1802. The grounds include restored mills, a workers community, and the ancestral home and gardens of the du Pont family. Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes serves as a showcase for the Lewes area’s maritime, military and social history.

For more ideas, check out @100thingsinde on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or go to 100thingsinde.com.