The Best of Delaware 2009

From crab cakes and cheesesteaks to prime rib and clam bakes, little Delaware is packed with great places to eat and terrific places to shop. Here’s the cream of the crop.

by Matt Amis, Maria Hess, Drew Ostroski, a host of guest critics (click on page 52 to meet them) and, of course, you Published June 16, 2009 at 08:21 AM

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Best Place to Find Urban Beauty

Critics, upstate: Monty unwinds in Brandywine Park, “a few minutes from downtown, where spring is gloriously saluted by tall flowering trees with a breathtaking abundance of pink and white blossoms” from dogwood and cherry trees. In summer, Monty enjoys the rose garden “that attracts with bright colors and sweet aromas.” Designed by Frederick Law Olmstead of Central Park fame, Brandywine is a treasure of landscape architecture.

Best Place to Get Away

Critics, upstate: There’s a lot of stress running a small business with so many challenges,” says Lucinda Williams, executive director of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. “Winterthur Museum & Country Estate is the one place I can go to walk, empty my mind, and just take in all the beauty around me.” Says Lee Kimball of OperaDelaware, “I enjoy Winterthur’s gardens in the spring.” (5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, 888-4600)

Best Place to Hang Out

Critics, upstate: When you’re an “Action News” reporter like Wilson, you know there’s real danger of bringing the bad news home with you. Wilson unwinds at picturesque Battery Park on the Delaware River in New Castle, where a playground, a small sandy beach, picnic areas and a paved trail make for fun and relaxation. “It’s a great, quiet place to sit and clear your head,” she says. “You can walk off your stress on a scenic path by the water.” There are even weekly open-air concerts in summer.

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