In response to my request about local family outings in the fall, Lisa from Delaware sent me an excellent and extensive run-down of what to do in her home state. It is so informative I decided to use it as the feature article in my October newsletter. Thank you Lisa!

"Delaware is a small state and we have lots to do near us. Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D. C. are all within a few hours and offer tons of museums, aquariums, historical sites, musical concerts, etc. I am not really a "city" person, though we travel there occasionally. I prefer more natural outings and there are plenty of options for that, here in Delaware and close by in Maryland.

Delaware is known for its beaches and Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey and Bethany are all really neat places, but there are lots of people there and lots of ways to spend money, like going on the boardwalk and riding the rides at Rehoboth. Dewey is more of a party scene with lots of college kids and bars (and some really good bands). If you are near Dewey and want to have a combined kid/parent fun dinner event, go to The Rusty Rudder where they have food, music and a little beach with a volleyball net for the kids. Sundays they have live Reggae on the deck, really cool. You can leave before it gets too crowded in the evening. Bethany is the most family oriented beach with a quaint little boardwalk and a few shops. Lewes is a quieter spot and good for parents of little ones because it's at the mouth of the bay, so no waves. There's also a museum there and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry is also there. You can get on and take a 40-minute ride to Cape May, NJ, which is a beautiful Victorian town on the Jersey Shore. They have a special for walk-ons where you can get a ride through the town and to the zoo in Cape May Courthouse. This zoo is totally free and one of the nicest I've ever visited. Further south you will find Ocean City, MD. It is a big tourist spot, big boardwalk, lots of night life, lots of stuff for kids to see and do, but it all costs money.

Not far from Ocean City are Assateague National Park and Chincoteague, VA that are great natural areas where you can see wild ponies wandering around and camp close to the beach. (Make reservations ahead of time). Chincoteague is a little resort town, very quaint. So if you have a little cash, by all means, visit our beaches and spend a little time there, but check out some of these other ideas to stretch your vacation dollars. Here's a good site for all of the above info: http://www.beach-net.com/index.html Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Smyrna is a great place to go in the fall. We drive through and see all sorts of migrating birds, deer, and even bald eagles. There is a small beach nearby called Woodland Beach with no facilities, no stores, and no distractions. You can hang out there (just sitting or fishing) as long as you like, with free parking. My daughter and I walk the beach all the time and pick up sand glass and shells, and colored rocks. We are planning to use some of our treasures in a mosaic wall hanging. Close to my home is a state forest called Blackbird Forest near Townsend. It's a great place with beautiful pine trees. Camping is totally free there. Again, there are no facilities but it is a free place to stay, in-between hotels, to stretch your vacation dollar. You can pitch a tent and have a campfire and take a walk through the trails. If you are there during the week you might be able to request a tour of the brand new educational center, which is nearby and really neat!! There are many tracts of forest throughout the state and another Educational Center at Redden Forest, near Georgetown, about an hour South. There's a cool nature center nearby called Abbott's Mill Nature Center with lots of kids' programs, usually all are free. If you travel up Route 9 in Delaware, you will find a couple of interesting little towns including Delaware City and Old New Castle. You can check out Fort Delaware State Park on Pea Patch Island, which requires a short ferry ride, about $6 each. There is lots of historical stuff, including Civil War reenactments. They have a Web site that you can go to for more info. http://www.destateparks.com/fdsp/index.asp

Old New Castle is a very historical town as well. The streets are lined with antique shops, pubs, a playground and a nice park there for picnicking. Further north, there's a great place called Ashland Nature Center that offers lots of kids events and programs, especially in the summer months. Since Delaware is so small, it doesn't take long to drive to any of these places. The entire state takes no more than 2 hours to drive through, at the longest point. If anyone would like more specific information about Delaware, please write to me at lsipple@yahoo.com and I would be happy to assist. I'm 37 and mom to a quick-witted 10-year-old daughter who loves nature!!! I would even consider renting a room out in my house or trading for a visit with someone who lives in a place where I'd like to visit.

Thanks for putting us in contact with other single parents, Brenda. Although we all may not be able to afford the trips, we can use this as a place to get ideas for less expensive outings and maybe get together with others to find travel companions and share some of the cost!"