The state of Delaware stands in the Northeast side of the United States and it’s one of the smallest but most affluent states. Sometimes called ‘The First State’ because of its history, its largest city is Wilmington in the north and the state capital is Dover, which stands central. If you hire a car in Delaware, you’ll find that it’s less than 100 miles across the state and most of it is covered by flat, low-lying farmland. There is a long coastline to explore along the Delaware River, Delaware Bay and into the Atlantic. The highlights include some fabulous sandy beaches and grand historic mansions.
One of the prime attractions is the new First State National Historical Park, a widespread collection of old buildings and landmarks around the state dating back to American Independence. They include New Castle Court House dating back to 1730 and Dover Green, where the new US Constitution was ratified for the first time in 1787. If you have a hire car it’s easy to tour these Delaware historic sites. It’s also easy to take a break and head for the beach: the best are in Sussex County to the south of the state. Elsewhere look out for grand mansions like Nemours or Winterthur, both former homes of the Du Pont family.
Delaware’s roads are usually quiet and safe and the rules are similar to the rest of the USA, such as you drive on the right, but there are a few important differences. You mustn’t have any stickers on your car windows other than those required by law. All passengers aged eight or over must wear seatbelts, unless they are riding in the load bay of a pick-up truck. You must stop between 15 and 50 feet of a railroad crossing and only proceed if it’s safe. And if you are using your windscreen wipers, you must turn on your headlamps.
