1. Delawareans Are Super Cocky About The Fighting Blue Hens
All Delawareans are obsessed with everything UD. Even the weirdly adorable, blue chicken mascot warms their hearts.
2. Bet You Can’t “Chews” A Favorite Flavor At Dollle’s Candyland
Dolle’s Candyland in Rehoboth Beach is known all across the state (and region!) as the best place to satisfy your sweet tooth. While everything at the shop is super tasty, nothing can compare to the deliciousness of Dolle’s salt water taffy. One taste and you’re hooked. Make sure you have a good dentist if you live anywhere near Dolle’s.
3. “Nosy” Is Just Another Way Of Saying I Love You In Delaware
Because of the size of Delaware (the state only has 3 counties—yes, only 3), Delaware has a “small-town” vibe across the entire state. Meaning everyone is always in each other’s business because everyone actually genuinely cares about the lives of everyone else around them.
4. Wawa is Delaware's Most Wa-Wanted
Wawa blue raspberry icee could be the only thing Delawareans have to drink (besides Dogfish Head). If you want to insult a Delawarean, insult their Wawa.
5. Move Over Philly, Cause Delaware’s Actually Got The Best Cheesesteaks
This country is horribly mistaken in thinking that the best cheesesteaks are found in Philadelphia. All Delawareans know that the best cheesesteaks are in Delaware. Don’t believe it? Head to Capriotti’s or Casapullas and you will be in for a happy surprise!
6. There Are Scenic Routes And Then There Are Epic Scenic Routes Like Bayside Drive
Everyone in Delaware knows that Route 9's Bayside Drive is one of the most beautiful drives in America. One of the best parts of the drive is going past Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge, where you’ll see untouched nature. Even if you’re not a tourist, it’s hard not to stop every couple of miles and take in the beauty!
7. Shopping Without Uncle Sam Is Anything But Taxing
Delaware is one of the lucky states where you can shop without taxes. Dollar stores are actually dollar stores. Clothes are actually the price they say they are on their tags. It’s glorious. Glorious.
8. Delawareans Are Literally Picky About Fresh Produce
If there’s anything Delawareans love, it’s fresh produce. And there’s plenty of it for people to enjoy with all of the farmland in Delaware.
A local favorite is Fifer Orchards in Camden Wyoming, Del. People love to head over here to go strawberry or blueberry picking, try their delicious heirloom tomatoes, or have the sweetest corn on the cob you’ll ever taste. This is the real Delaware right here.
9. Armageddon A Doomsday Burger From Deerfields And So Should You
Located in Newark, Deerfield’s Doomsday burger has been named the “Best of Delaware” by “Delaware Today” magazine for the past four years. These burgers are stacked high with deliciousness and grease. Plus, Deerfield as an all-you-can-eat raw bar and a gourmet mac-n-cheese station. Yum.
10. Listen Up Beaches, Your Seaside Sunrises Can’t Compare To Delaware's
This is just true. Not only is sunrise when the beaches are the most quiet, it’s when they’re the most beautiful. Even typically crowded beaches like Rehoboth are at their absolute best when the sun is on the rise.
11. Delawareans Put Up With A Lot Of Bull—Once A Year
The annual Running of the Bull at Dewey Beach may not be as intense as the actual Running of The Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. But Delaware still holds its own! Instead of real bulls, people wear bull costumes while others wear red bandanas, and—of course—everyone wears their running shoes. Still as thrilling as Spain…just a lot safer!
12. The Beaches Here Are World-Class
Delaware has almost 30 miles of coastline, and when you add to that its many inlets, bays and mouths of rivers it adds another 350 miles of shoreline—that’s a lotta beach. If you’re looking for a populated, touristy beach, head to Dewey Beach or Fenwick Island. But for a quiet, non-touristy spot to get your ocean-fix, you want to go to Beach Plum Island, Big Stone Beach, or Bethany Beach. I can’t promise there won’t be any bro-y tourists…there will be. But not as many!
13. Get Ready To Give Folks From Jersey And Long Island A Whole Lot Of Side-Eye
Maybe it’s because of the amount of tourists that infiltrate the small state of Delaware in the summer, crowding the beaches and eating all of the salt water taffy. Or maybe it’s the amount of New Jerseans and New Yorkers (particularly Long Islanders) who have claimed University of Delaware as their own (even so much as to call people actually from Delaware “townies”!) Regardless. most Delawareans have come to resent.
If you ask a Delawarean to describe someone from New Jersey or New York, don’t be surprised if they describe Snooki or Pauly D.
14. People In Delaware Know That Newark Deli and Bagels Are On A “Hole” Other Level
Newark Deli and Bagels has the best bagels in Delaware. There’s nothing to like kicking off a morning with a bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel from NDB.
15. UDairy Creamery’s Ice Cream Is Wheelie Good
UDairy Creamery at the University of Delaware was awarded the “Best Sundae on Sunday” by the Food Network. It’s well known for its rich, high-quality milk that makes it super creamy and delicious! There’s also the UDairy Moo Mobile truck that travels around the city of Newark, bringing this delicious treat to the masses!
16. Delaware’s Annual Punkin Chunkin Contest Is A Really Gourd Time
Maybe you TP-ed a few houses back in your day and thought your Mischief Night was crazy, but I’m here to tell you that Delawareans take the Mischief Night tradition of smashing pumpkins to a new level of awesome with their extreme(ly strange) sport of Punkin Chunkin.
This is a Delawarean sport where over 100 competing teams construct—and actually fire—pumpkins using various pumpkin-launching devices, including catapults, trebuchets, centrifugal machines, and pneumatic air cannons. Yeah, this is serious stuff. But that’s just because Delawareans are super serious about hurling punkins.
17. Delawareans Don’t Just Climb Trees—They Zip-Line Through Them
The zip-lines and ropes courses at Lums Pond State Park are definitely thrilling. The Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course allows visitors the chance to go through obstacle courses at extreme heights and zip-line through the forest canopy. While definitely a challenge, it’s nothing a true Delawarean can’t handle!
18. Wine Down The Wine And Ale Trail
No one can say Delaware doesn’t know its booze. The Wine And Ale Trail stretches from Wilmington all the way to the coastline—there are maps that actually lead you through all of the best Delaware drinking spots, like breweries, wine tastings, bars, etc. Delaware has its priorities straight!
19. When People In Delaware Say It Tastes Like A Dog Fish It’s A Good Thing
You can’t talk Delaware without talking Dogfish. Dogfish Head craft beer is some of the best on the east coast. Head to their brewery for beer tastings, festivals, and other awesome beer-related events.
Plus, Dogfish Head just opened their own B&B which brings a whole new level of awesome to the idea of bed and breakfast. This beer-themed B&B is one for the books, so even if you’re a local you might want to consider heading here for a weekend!
20. This Firefly Highlights The Best In Indie Music
While not many people would guess this, the people of Delaware are super into the indie/alternative/rock scene. They proved their love and devotion to this genre of music with the birth of the Firefly Music Festival, a festival that has quickly become the premier music festival on the East Coast.
This musical experience takes place in Dover, in a wooded oasis of awesome, and has brought in big name bands, like Modest Mouse, Band of Horses, Iron and Wine, Bass Nectar, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Avett Brothers, and MGMT.
21. When It Comes To Pizza Nicola’s Is ’Za Best
Nicola Pizza is by far the best pizza the state has to offer. Most outsiders associate Delaware with Grottos—but that’s just because they haven’t tried Nicola. This is where the real pizza magic happens.
22. The Donuts At The State Fair Are Like A Carnival For Your Mouth
While the Delaware State Fair is awesome for so many reasons (carnival games, amusement park rides, tons of delicious food, live music, etc.), the really amazing part about this fair is the donuts. Holy. Cow. These are amazing donuts. You’ll spend the entire year counting the days until next year’s State Fair, just so you can stuff your face with these Delaware treats.
23. There’s No Impastas Allowed At The St. Anthony’s Italian Festival
A significant proportion of Delawareans are Italian and thus have made sure they get to experience Italy without having to leave home. St. Anthony's Italian Festival in Wilmington, is one of the largest ethnic festivals on the east coast. You can try Italian food, participate in Italian music and dance, and gather together with your fellow Italians.
And…there’s a Ferris wheel lit up with the colors of Italy’s flag. What more could you want?
24. You Can Go At Your Own Pace In The Slower-Lower
Delawareans like to refer to the southern half of Delaware as the “slower lower”—where life is slow down low. Despite it’s tiny size there are some cultural differences within the state, for instance lower you go in Delaware, the more Southern things become. So once you’re below the C&D Canal get ready for some good ole Southern conservatism and three times as many farms.
25. Thrash Your Diet With Bucket Of Fries
Thrashers French Fries is an incredibly popular boardwalk destination in Rehoboth—especially since it’s definitely the only place you can get a bucket (yes, bucket) of fries. Instead of ketchup, try putting vinegar on these babies. It’s delicious. Don’t knock it until you try it!
26. The Stars Come Out On Monday Nights At Dewey Beach
Every summer, on Monday nights, Dewey Beach holds free outdoor movie nights on the beach under the stars.
27. Have A Whale Of A Time Spotting Dolphins At Fisherman’s Wharf
Perhaps one of the most amazing parts about having so much coastline, is getting to enjoy the marine life. Take a boat from Lewes and explore the Delaware Bay—if you’re lucky you’ll see some whales and dolphins!
28. Snap Up Some Fresh Seafood At The Blue Crab In Bethany
If you haven’t tried blue crabs before, there’s no better place to have your first bite than at The Blue Crab on Bethany Beach. It’s deliciously buttery and awesome!
29. Delawareans Throw In With The Disc Golf Crowd
Delawareans love disc golf. It’s part of the culture of being a true Delawarean. Six of Delaware’s state parks have disc golf courses—try Brandywine Creek State Park or Lums Pond State Park if you want to get in the game and fit in with the cool kids.
30. This Festival Jazzes Up The Folks Of Delaware’s Whole Year
Every summer, Wilmington holds the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, the largest free jazz festival on the East Coast. Incredible jazz musicians gather together to play for the thousands of people who flock to this festival. It’s the soul of Delaware.
Delaware may be small, but it’s fierce. Fierce enough to chunk punkins.
What do you love about living in Delaware? Leave a comment and let us know! 
