Delaware’s Fall Bucket List
The temperature is beginning to cool, growing as crisp as an apple. The leaves are changing into brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. Pumpkin spice is in the air, and it’s time for fall activities to begin. What better way to plan for the season than through a bucket list?
Pick the Perfect Pumpkin : At Fifer’s, you can absolutely pick the perfect pumpkin, whether you like your pumpkins orange, light pink, white, spotted, big or small! Fifer Orchards, located in central Delaware, is known for its fresh and local produce, so plan to do a little shopping during your visit. Throughout October, you can also pick apples, play in a corn maze or treat yourself to some delicious apple cider donuts. Or, check out Ramsey's Farm in northern Delaware for flower fields, pumpkins galore, cute photo ops, fresh produce, games and a corn maze. Ramsey’s has it all! For more pumpkins, visit The Station on Kings in southern Delaware. Not only does Kings serve up the most delicious food and pastries, but their Garden Center offers fall plants and decorations perfect for your front porch.
Taste Pumpkin Spice Everything : Ground cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin, oh my! For seasonal delights, Delaware’s coffee shops and restaurants offer many selections. We can’t possibly name them all. But, visit Milford’s Dolce Bakery and Coffee Shop in central Delaware for a delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte. The Farmer and the Cow is a local fall favorite for a delightful cheeseburger and milkshake combo. You can choose from festive flavors like s’mores! In southern Delaware, find your perfect fall ambience at decorative locations like Salt Air in Rehoboth Beach, where every nook and cranny is made to fit the season. Are you a Gilmore Girls fan? Hit up Lewes for an experience akin to Stars Hallow with visits to local spots like Notting Hill Coffee Roastery for coffee and Eggcellent for some pumpkin pancakes.
Admire Fall Foliage : Fall is truly a special season when you’ll find Delaware’s landscapes filled with vibrant colors and scenic views. The numerous Delaware State Parks provide the perfect opportunity to spend time outdoors and explore nature. There are over a dozen to explore, and each offers a different view from reflective ponds to wooded paths and oceanside charms, so choose carefully! Or, opt to view the foliage from a different perspective. Cape Water Tours and Taxi provides a 4-hour cruise down Broadkill River where you see the fall foliage from the water with a hot cup of apple cider in hand. Delaware Botanic Gardens offers numerous trails with hidden surprises, while Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library offers an elegant experience amongst its mansions and gardens. Whether on land or shore, on or off the beaten path, there is beauty to be found.
Shop till You Drop : Whether you’re back-to-school shopping or looking for fall-themed decorations, Delaware’s tax-free shopping experience includes so many different areas to explore at great prices. There’s Tanger Outlets and Christiana Mall, where both high-end retailers and local businesses await your arrival, and places where fall aesthetics meet coastal chic, like Rehoboth Ave. and downtown Lewes. Are you looking for stores off-the-beaten-path where unique finds await? Explore Riverfront Wilmington or downtown Dover or Milford!
Sip Fall Flavors : On a cool day, there is nothing like comfort food. Between chicken and dumplings, butternut squash soup and pumpkin pie, Delaware’s craft beverage locations offer a selection of delicious comfort foods with wine, beer, mead, and cider pairings. Favorites like Crooked Hammock Brewery, Autumn Arch Beer Project, Big Oyster Brewery, Revelation Craft Brewing Company and more await. Looking to sip a glass of wine amongst peaceful country roads and fall foliage? Try Salted Vines Vineyard and Winery or Harvest Ridge Winery for just that. May your drinks be strong and your autumn long! Maybe you’ll find yourself at an Oktoberfest celebration along the way.
Have a Frightful Halloween : BOO! Did I scare you? For titillating thrills and spooky sights, you can take a ghost tour at the historic Fort Delaware, one of Delaware’s most haunted attractions as a former defense fortress and Union prison, or visit Frightland to walk through an exciting, haunted house. Opt for nautical charm with a Ghost Ship Tour aboard the Kalmar Nyckel for a Ghost Ship Tour. Are you one to dress up for Halloween? Then, you can’t miss Rehoboth Beach’s annual Sea Witch Festival. Anybody who’s anybody will be there disguised in their best costumes during this popular weekend-long celebration.
Enjoy the Off-Season at the Beaches : While the summer beach season comes to an end and crowds dissipate, the Delaware Beaches remain open and enjoyable. Snuggled in a sweater, stroll the sands, soak in the last of the warm sun and listen to the relaxing waves, or dine on the boardwalks next to the ocean to relax after a bit of shopping and sightseeing. At the end of the day, you can cozy up by a fire, like at Bellmoor Inn and Spa.
