My bags are packed...to Elkton, MD ??!!?

[radhak]

My BIL moved recently from nice So-Fl to Elkton, MD, and we are visiting them this weekend and all of next week. This is a place close to the Delaware border, and does not seem to have anything around it - car rental agencies don't allow one-way-rentals to it !

I see that Philly is about an hour away, as is Baltimore. LOML was to visit NYC just to relive our time when we used to live in NJ, and that's a 2+ hour drive.

Me, I was interested in visiting (first time) the Chesapeake Bay bridge, despite it being a 5 hour drive. And seeing that I am gonna pay for the rental and the food and maybe a hotel too, and will do all of the driving, you know which we will end up doing - yup, NYC it will most probably be, for the nth time !

Anybody know this area? Is there any place to visit that's not too 'city' or urban? Would love to fit in a small hike or something one of the days; maybe a nice place to photograph sunrise or sunset. That drive to the the CBB should be scenic, right? There seems to be a lot of shore-points close by.

http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=32...5,4.943848&z=8

[cwithboat]

Back in the 40's and 50's it was famous for quicky weddings Fill out the certificate while you say "I do". Couples would drive down from NYC.

[kirkroy]

A little SW of there (between there and balmer) is the US Army Ordnance Museum (http://www.ordmusfound.org/), which is pretty cool...

Kirk

[jziegler]

I work just over the Delaware less than 10 minutes from Elkton, and live less than an hour away in Salem, NJ just over the Delaware Memorial Bridge (DMB). So I know some things in the area, but not all super close to Elkton, and little in MD.

First, ist he Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove, NJ less than 10 minutes from the bridge. http://www.cowtownrodeo.com/ Rodeo every Saturday night in the summer. If you've never been to a Rodeo, it is fun.

There is a civil war ear fort in hte middle of the Delaware river on Pea Patch Island that has some good history, and some walking trails. There is a ferry from both Pennsville, NJ and Delaware City, DE to get there. The three forts ferry. One forst on each shore, and one in hte middle to protect the delaware.
http://www.destateparks.com/park/fort-delaware/

Newark, DE is a college town (U of D) with the usual assortment of college town shops and eateries, including at least on micro-brewery. I haven't hit any of the restaurants (not enough time to go for lunch), but hear many are quite good.

The Mannington Meadows in NJ can have some nice sunsets. I got this coming home from work one day:



There is even a road in mannington sunset road. There are a number of wildlife managements areas and a national wildlife refuge in the meadows and surrounding area.

If your wife needs a shopping fix, DE is sales tax free. The easiest would be the Christiana mall, but there are also outlets at the DE beach areas around Rehobeth beach (about 2 hours away)

Elkton is near the chesapeake and delaware canal, and there is a small museum in Chesapeake City. I've never been in, so I don't know what it is like.
http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2261/places/37837/

Winterthur Gardens is just north of Wilmington, and is an old DuPont family country estate. The gardens are very nice, and you can tour the mansion. There is also a small museum, and when Campbell's Soup in Camden closed their museum, the soup tureen collection was moved here.
http://www.winterthur.org/


http://jziegler.smugmug.com/gallery/...94752262_VsEZQ
(sorry for the shamless link to my photo gallery)

There are some assorted art museums in the Wilmington, DE area. Not all are in the city. I can get some more info if you'd like.

That's what I can think of for now. Sorry that none is in MD, but I know NJ best, and DE better than MD.

Ask away if you want anything more specific. I know at least on member on here lives near where I work, there may be more ideas coming.

Jim

[atgcpaul]

Kennett Square, PA has Longwood Gardens and Winterthur Museum which is
loaded with woodworking pieces. Those are about 25 miles. Longwood takes
at least half a day to do. Haven't done Winterthur yet but really want to.

You can tour (for free) George Nakashima's shop in New Hope, PA--north of
Philly. It's only open to the public on Saturday, I think. Very cool place. I
think his daughter-in-law or someone in the family answers questions.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is cool but that is a hike!

There's a Herr's Potato Chip tour in Nottingham, PA about 20 miles from
Elkton. I love factory tours. This is one of the better ones.

There's Elk Neck State Forest right down the road for hiking. There's also
Havre de Grace, MD down the road, too, which is an up-and-coming little
town.

Philadelphia is one of my favorite cities. I used to live there. There are a ton
of museums to see and, I think, a lot for kids to do. The Art Museum is top
notch. Franklin Institute is good for the kids (and adults). Philly is urban but
nothing like NYC.

Hope you have fun!

Paul

[radhak]

Wow, great info, Jim, Paul and Kirk! Now I am looking forward to this trip! I need to make a list first.

And you have some pictures there, Jim! I could look at those pics all day...

And Charlie, with the history you quote, maybe I need to keep a short leash on my daughters - of course they are still single (digits, in age )!

[germdoc]

If you do go to Philly, visit the Mutter museum--haven't been there, but it's on my list!

http://www.collphyphil.org/mutter.asp

Also, if you haven't been there I would consider driving to Gettysburg and Antietam battlefields--about 2 1/2 hours away.

[jziegler]

Longwood gardens is very nice as Paul mentioned, but I do prefer the more relaxed setting of Winterthur. Both are former DuPont estates, Longwood is the formal gardens, Winterthur is much more relaxed. Both are very beautiful.

Jim

[Sparky2002]

And less than an hour away you could go to Amish country in Lancaster and stop at Hearne Hardwoods on the return trip. Only problem is everytime I go to Hearne I can't just look, something has to come home with me.

[radhak]

Come to think of it, we've been to longwood, years ago, when we were young and I was foolish (ie, I thought we were taking a stroll in some garden and would get some 'privacy' ) : turning out to be a very popular and crowded place! LOML will definitely look forward to Winterthur.

I am surprised I've never been to Mutter; looks interesting.

I would love to visit Hearne; on second thoughts, I'd hate to visit them or any other lumber shop ! I need to take a flight back, not like I could throw some nice lumber into the back of the vehicle...