Chihuly Glass Archives

How about Delaware

Does Delaware get missed because it’s such a tiny state? It hardly shows up as white space on my map. It feels like it should be a quick stop to somewhere else. Sorry Delaware! Don’t mean to be insulting. There’s only 1 resort and it’s on Fenwick Island.

Mallard Lakes at Fenwick Island

Photo from the resort website

Mallard Lakes at Fenwick Island, 297 Cardinal Lane, Fenwick Island, Delaware, 19944, United States

Relax in the peaceful, serene environment of Mallard Lakes on Fenwick Island in Delaware. Shops and restaurants surround the area, or travel to nearby Ocean City and traverse the boardwalk. Golf courses, boating excursions, horseback riding, seashore parks and beaches are just a short drive away. Whether you want to participate in fishing or just some relaxation at one of the four stocked lakes, Mallard Lakes will provide you entertainment with a touch of solitude.

What to do in Delaware

Like most states I research there is a list of things to do on the internet. The list for Delaware has a lot of mansions and museums. One that caught my eye is the Delaware Art Museum located in Wilmington. “As you approach the building, you can’t help seeing the Dale Chihuly arrangement of brilliant glass flowers, each several feet across.” I am a huge Chihuly fan. Love his glassworks. I’ve been to exhibits and the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) Boston and Chihuly Garden & Glass in Seattle. Plus those brilliant , twisty glass chandeliers in many casinos are Chihuly too!

2017 MFA Exhibit Boston – Photo by Deb Neumann

Other Attractions on the list

The #1 attraction according to trip advisor is FUNLAND. “This park as been a family owned and operated attraction for decades. Wonderful place to spend the day and get out of the sun. Very reasonable pricing.” Not something I would be interested in but maybe if I had children with me?

#2 is more to my liking. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Sanctuary. Bombay Hook is 14000 acres of Wetlands preserve and home to many migratory birds.

#3 Cape May-Lewes Ferry. “Whether you’re crossing the Delaware Bay for a fun day trip or as part of a long-distance trip, on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, your journey is sure to be a memorable one. Enjoy historic lighthouses, picturesque harbors, oceangoing vessels, unique seabirds and, just maybe, your very own dolphin escort! The 17-mile, 85-minute cruise between New Jersey and Delaware can cut miles off a trip along the Atlantic Coast, connecting points like Wildwood, Stone Harbor, Avalon, Ocean City and the rest of the Jersey Shore with Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Sussex Shores, Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Ocean City, MD, and destinations throughout Virginia. Our welcoming, modern terminals are a destination in and of themselves, with enjoyable restaurants and lounges, and well-stocked gift shops!”

That sounds interesting!

So more to see and do than I expected from such a tiny state.

First Cruise and Reminiscing

Reminiscing, remembering, a walk down memory lane. What’s the point of making memories if we don’t pull them out and dust them off now and then? Sometimes things look different after some time has passed. For example let’s talk about cruises. If you ask me now if I like to go on cruises I’ll tell you no. It’s not my cup of tea. I’ve been on 3 cruises in my life, The Bahamas , Cozumel and Alaska. Now I’ll share my feelings about each cruise, the good and the bad as I remember it. I wonder if I’ll still feel the same way after I’ve brushed off the memories.

The 40th Birthday Cruise

The first cruise was a “destination” cruise. My BFF was turning 40. It was a traumatic milestone for him so 3 of us got together and decided we’d take him on a cruise to the Bahamas. It was a short cruise. If I recall it was just 4 days. We spent one day on a private island. That was the best part of the trip for me. I got to spend the day snorkeling. My 3 friends hung out on the beach.

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Formal Night

Like most cruises at that time, one night was formal night. We were cruising with the Royal Caribbean. We all got dressed to the 9’s and had our picture taken with the captain. Then we retired to one of the lounges. The entertainment was big band music. Everyone was dancing. We didn’t stay long. My 3 companions didn’t want to dance at least not ballroom dancing. Instead we went to one of the shows. I’m a team player so I went along. Most entertainment on cruise ships is top notch and these shows were no exception. It was a good 2nd choice to the dancing.

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Bahamas

When we arrived in the Bahamas my 3 friends wanted to go shopping. I suggested we explore the ocean activities, like swimming with dolphins, as I was not interested in shopping. I can go shopping anytime. Once again it was 3 to 1 so we went shopping. After shopping was over we took a shuttle boat to Paradise Island to visit the famous Atlantis Resort. I saw my first Chihuly, a glass masterpiece and became an instant fan. The aquarium under the resort was very cool too. It was like walking through a submerged ancient city.