The Frontstretch: Top Ten Other Things To Do In Delaware Besides The Monster Mile by Kurt Smith -- Wednesday May 27, 2009

Go to site navigation Go to article

New Jersey resident Kurt Smith has been to Delaware at least three times, and he has even on occasion found time to attend a race in Dover! Today he shares his travel knowledge of the First State with you Frontstretch readers who may just be witnessing an event at the Monster Mile this weekend, and sends apologies to Delaware’s Chamber of Commerce (if there is one)…

10. Wait for autographs after the race.

9. Get a track pass and lay down backwards on the high banking to induce vomiting.

8. Really, there is other stuff, just give me a minute…

Racing and slots and flying pumpkins, oh my! It’s a sure sign NASCAR’s returning to Delaware this weekend.

7. The casinos at Dover International Speedway. It’s not like you need money for much else.

6. Oh yeah! The Polar Bear Plunge in Rehoboth Beach, where people (including this writer) walk the fine line between brave and stupid, risking hypothermia to benefit the Special Olympics.

5. The Wilmington Blue Rocks – check out minor league stars who may someday become Kansas City Royals and earn slightly better name recognition!

4. The City of Dover is home to the famous Cliffs of Dover. OK I’m sorry, that’s BS; Dover really just has crime and traffic, in case you’re into that kind of thing.

3. Make the locals feel better by complimenting them on their nice speedway.

2. The Punkin Chunkin in Sussex County, where pumpkins are launched from different devices (OK, I know I started this list in the interest of humor, but is Delaware really THAT tame?).

1. Tax-free shopping! (At least there’s a reason for New Jersey folks to visit).

Contact Kurt Smith

DON’T LET THE FINAL WEEKEND OF SILLY SEASON PASS YOU BY!

The Frontstretch Newsletter’s got you covered all weekend long as Managing Editor Tom Bowles gives you all the latest news from Homestead. And if you don’t get the Newsletter… now’s your chance to sign up. It’s action-packed with the latest in breaking news, commentary, and driver features from your favorite writers … and it gets sent FREE right into your email inbox! Click here to jump on board with content you won’t see anywhere else on the site.

 

©2000 - 2008 Kurt Smith and Frontstetch.com. Thanks for visiting the Frontstretch!

 

Fred W
05/27/2009 08:13 AM
permalink

What a jerk you are. I’ve been to over 30 States, and about 7 countires. And you know what, it’s always a pleasure to come home. But someone from the tixic State of joisey wouldn’t know much about that.

Humor is not your strong point, try something esle. And Stay out of the first State!

M.B. Voelker
05/27/2009 09:54 AM
permalink

I lived in Delaware for several years. Yes, its a quiet, mostly rural state. This is not a problem.

Delaware has splendid beaches. My favorites were the park beaches at Cape Henlopen and Fenwick Island. But Bethany Beach and Rehoboth offer more of the boardwalk tourist trap experience if that’s what you’re into.

At Cape Henlopen you can also find historical artifacts — WWII sub spotting towers and gun emplacements (tours of the latter available).

Within site of the track at Dover there is a collection of small but fine museums AND there is a military museum at the air base. It was closed for a long time after 9-11 so I never got to that one.

And anyone with the faintest interest in the Civil War must take the ferry to Fort Delaware. Bring a flashlight and shoes you can get wet because getting semi-lost in the dark, inner passages under the ramparts is half the fun.

The Punkin Chunkin is a tremendously fun, family event. While the air cannon division might be considered semi-pro, the balista and trebuchet people give as fine exhibition of backyard engineering as you’re likely to see anywhere.

Of course the reason I’m in North Carolina now is that the flood of refugees from the taxes and chaos of New Jersey, Maryland, and DC drove the cost of living beyond what a family on one, modest income could sustain.

Kurt Smith - Frontstretch Staff
05/27/2009 10:28 AM
permalink

What is “tixic”?

Gordon82Wins
05/27/2009 10:38 AM
permalink

Seriously Kurt, you don’t think Delaware’s a worse place to be than New Jersey do you? When are you guys going to stop electing politicians whose only skill is taking people’s money?

PJ
05/27/2009 01:37 PM
permalink

remember Dover is as close as New Jersey is ever going to having a CUP race

Ann in DE
05/27/2009 02:05 PM
permalink

Kurt, you truly are a jerk and not funny in the least. I know this was meant as comedy, but the state of the economy in this country is so dire with unemployment, underemployment, and foreclosures that people are just a wee bit defensive when you choose to crap on their territory.

Dover has crime and traffic — now that was funny, coming from someone who lives in NJ. Jersey does grow the best tomatoes I’ve ever eaten and the Jersey corn is delicious. Having said that, Jersey is as rural as Delaware, your property taxes are ridiculous, your government corrupt, and Atlantic City is a blight on your state. To see the slums that surround those gaudy casinos is the worst crime of all.

Dover is the capital of our great state and I’d like to hear your crime statistics before you shovel crap on them. I live near Wilmington, so we’re not in the rural area but I’ll defend them anyday.

As to the Chamber of Commerce to whom you owe an apology:

Founded in 1837 as the Wilmington Board of Trade, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce has a long history as the largest, most influential business organization in the state.

Guess what, Kurt, we have electricity and all that fancy stuff, too!

Jeff Meyer
05/27/2009 02:23 PM
permalink

ROFLMAO!

Hey Kurt ol buddy, what to do this every week?

Loved #8 !

SouthJerseyGirl
05/27/2009 02:36 PM
permalink

wow, people from Delaware don’t have a sense of humor

when you’re from Jersey (like I am) I guess you learn how to take a joke ;-)

MJR in Springfield VA
05/27/2009 03:41 PM
permalink

Kurt, I think Fred meant “Toxic.” It must be really bad up there if he forgot how to spell it…

Carl in PA
05/27/2009 03:44 PM
permalink

I loved it!

Freakin’ Delaware lol.

Hey Kurt, you know why all the trees in Philadelphia lean to the South?

Because Delaware sucks Kurt, that’s why.

Keith
05/27/2009 04:23 PM
permalink

If Delaware is so bad why is it free to cross the bridge to NJ and $3 to come back.

AndrewFromTN
05/28/2009 06:01 PM
permalink

@Keith

Actually all the toll bridges/tunnels between New Jersey and Delaware, Pennsylvania or New York are that way. It’s free to enter New Jersey but it will cost you to leave!
———————————-
That said there are parts of New Jersey I like, mostly in the southern part. And, I think that Delaware is a wonderful state. There’s even a school named for my grandfather in New Castle. (He was a superintendent of schools in the Wilmington area.)

IMHO I don’t have a problem with poking fun at a state. (I’m currently living in Tennessee where the state legislature actually passed a law that made it legal to pick up and eat roadkill!)

My problem with your list Kurt is that it’s not very funny!

Contact Kurt Smith