Brew HaHa!: For Coffee Fans

For a serious cup of coffee, come to Brew HaHa! Located in the Galleria right on the University of Delaware campus, Brew HaHa! serves fantastic coffee blends for students, teachers, and everybody else who cares about drinking a great cup of coffee. Come in and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere, and take your time picking out a coffee blend. Maybe you’d like the full-bodied café nirvana, espresso enlightenment, or interesting beans brought in from Columbia, Ethiopia, Mexico, or Tanzania. Brew HaHa! roasts and grinds all of their blends in small batches, for the highest quality. The baristas are highly trained, so whether you get an espresso, cappuccino, or latte, you are guaranteed a hand crafted cup of delicious coffee. Brew HaHa! also has a great selection of teas and non-coffee drinks. And stick around for breakfast or lunch – the menu has pastries, salads, and sandwiches that are sure to please.

Brew HaHa!
45 E. Main Street
Newark, DE 19725
(302) 369-2600
http://www.yelp.com/biz/brew-ha-ha-newark

Take Your Pup to Play at Iron Hill Dog Park

Iron Hill Dog Park may have a corner on the market in Newark, but it's still considered one of the top spots in the area to take your pooch for some sun and socializing. Rumor has it that the park's regulars, both canine and human, are some of the friendliest around. So even if you're a newcomer, you can expect to find someone to chat with when you visit Iron Hill Dog Park.

While you're making new friends, your pup will be, too. The fenced-in park boasts two separate areas for small dogs and large dogs, so playmates are always equally matched. Keep an eye on your four-legged friend as he romps around with pooches his own size. You can sit comfortably on one of the many benches, perhaps in a shady spot, and enjoy the fresh air and camaraderie of fellow dog owners.

Iron Hill Dog Park
Old Baltimore Pike and Whittaker Road
Newark, DE 19702
(610) 627-9000
www.bringfido.com/attraction/2709
www.yelp.com/biz/iron-hill-dog-park-newark

Dig Into Local Mining History at the Iron Hill Museum in Newark

A wealth of information about Newark's natural history awaits at Iron Hill Museum. It pays homage to the rich past of the Iron Hill region by showcasing geological artifacts innate to the area, just like it has since opening day in 1968.

Check out the Iron Mining exhibit if you're wondering how the name "Iron Hill" came about. You'll learn about every step in the iron mining process and see iron ore before it becomes the final refined form, Pig Iron. Nearby at the Please Touch Wall, experience geology in a sensory way. You're welcome to feel the ridges in a piece of petrified wood or run your fingers over the crags in a turtle shell. Ogle rocks set ablaze (figuratively) by ultraviolet light in the Glowing Rock Room, or explore a chunk of the du Pont Rock and Mineral collection gathered around the state of Delaware and around the globe. You can even learn how the Lenni Lenape tribe used the bounty of the land (including stone) to survive in early America.

Iron Hill Museum
1355 Old Baltimore Pike
Newark, DE 19702
(302) 368-5703
www.ironhill-museum.org
www.yelp.com/biz/iron-hill-museum-newark

Climb to Your Full Potential at The Delaware Rock Gym

Even if you've never so much as heard the term "belay," you're welcome to climb at The Delaware Rock Gym near Newark. Of course, you'll have to learn the basics first. Take a beginner class at this public climbing gym (the only one of its kind in the entire state) and you'll know everything you need to scale its 11,300 square feet of faux rock faces.

Since the climbing walls are constructed using steel instead of wood, they're uniquely contoured to create realistic, unusual surfaces—just like the kind you'd encounter in real life. Go for a trial climb on Saturdays or Sundays at 10 a.m. They're designed specifically for someone who's never climbed before, so one of the rock gym's highly trained staff members will stick with you every step of the way—from the ground. They'll serve as your guide, anchor, and belayer. The intro climbing classes are also held on Saturdays and Sundays if you need to learn the fundamentals first, and they kick off at 11 a.m.

The Delaware Rock Gym
520 Carson Drive
Bear, DE 19701
(302) 838-5850
www.derockgym.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-delaware-rock-gym-bear

Bring Your Four-Legged Friends to Talley Day Park

Talley Day Park brings the people of Wilmington together in the fresh air with its slew of features and amenities. Perhaps the most prominent is the Talley Day Bark Park, a beloved dog park (it was one of the first fenced dog parks in the county). Split into two separate areas for larger dogs and smaller dogs, Talley Day Bark Park has water fountains to refill your puppy's bowl, bags for waste removal, and usually plenty of other furry friends to play with. According to one Yelp reviewer, the small dog portion of the park is mostly shaded, making it an ideal spot during the summer.

Elsewhere in Talley Day Park, humans can enjoy other features, including the colorful playground and shady pavilions. The Brandywine Hundred Library is even technically right in the park, so you can go grab a good book and bring it back outside to read in the grass.

Talley Day Park
1300 Foulk Road
Wilmington, DE 19803
(302) 571-4006
www.nccde.org/945/Talley-Day-Park
www.yelp.com/biz/talley-day-bark-park-wilmington

White Clay Creek State Park: An Oasis

Whether you’re looking for a fun place with the family or a respite from your busy day, come to White Clay Creek State Park. As part of the Delaware State Park System, White Clay Creek State Park calls itself a “relaxing oasis,” and that’s the truth! You can relax and enjoy the lush greenery and have a picnic with friends or your family. Or you can take a hike or mountain bike ride on the many trails. The Pomeroy Trail takes you over the footbridge, where you get a nice view of the creek. The park also hosts a number of events year round. Bring the kids to the Nature Center, where there’s usually something fun and educational happening. There’s sledding and cross country skiing in the winter, and don’t miss the summer concert series!

White Clay Creek State Park
425 Wedgewood Road
Newark, DE 19711
(302) 368-6900
http://www.yelp.com/biz/white-clay-creek-state-park-newark

Picnic, Bird-Watch or Fish at Brandywine Creek State Park

At an impressive 933 acres, it's no wonder that Brandywine Creek State Park plays host to such a huge spectrum of activities. Some of the activities are simple, like enjoying the sights and aromas in the Tulip Tree Woods. One of Delaware's first nature preserves, this grove of tulip poplar dates back nearly 200 years. So does the Freshwater Marsh, where bluebirds flit to and fro and wildflowers thrive.

You can also go bird-watching at the park, which is home to more than bluebirds. Many types of hawks soar overhead, so keep an eye out. If you're interested in fishing, Brandywine Creek teems with bluegill, crappie, and small mouth bass, while Wilsons Run has trout. Near the lakes there are 14 miles' worth of trails. They're an ideal spot to go for a run or a hike, or to capture a special photograph. Once you're done, spread out a blanket on one of the lawns and read a book, fly a kite, or have a picnic.

Brandywine Creek State Park
41 Adams Dam Road
Wilmington, DE 19807
(302) 577-3534
www.destateparks.com/park/brandywine-creek/
www.yelp.com/biz/brandywine-creek-state-park-greenville

Grassroots: Where Style Meets Whimsy in Newark

Regulars say you can always find something fun and unique at Grassroots, one of Newark's favorite local boutiques. Interested in a set of shot glasses shaped like miniature mason jars? You'll find 'em at Grassroots. How about a corkscrew shaped like a trout? Got that, too. Have a friend who'd get a kick out of molds that'll turn your soft boiled eggs into spooky, yolk-oozing skulls? Grassroots can deliver on that quirky desire.

You'll also find more sophisticated items: sterling silver bangle bracelets, turquoise pendants, and hand-crafted opal earrings are all for sale at Grassroots' jewelry counter. Head over to the accessories wall for a beaded leather shoulder bag and a cashmere infinity scarf to complete your outfit.

Whether you're looking for a gift for that friend who has it all, or want to find something special for yourself, Grassroots has plenty of stylish, whimsical items on offer.

Grassroots
93 East Main Street
Newark, DE 19711
(302) 453-9751
www.grassrootsonlineshopping.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grassroots-newark

Browse the Stacks at the Newark Free Library

The Newark Free Library offers thousands of classic books and current bestsellers (as well as more rare and obscure titles) to entertain and enliven. Spend an afternoon reading on one of the library's cozy couches, or check out your books to relax at home. There's something satisfying about the heft and feel of a physical book, but if you want the space-saving convenience of digital books, you'll be glad to know that Newark Free Library also offers electronic check-outs for your e-reader or tablet, as well as traditional audio books and DVDs.

This library also has a robust community programming schedule, including events like weekly children's storytime hours, homework help for kids and teens, popular film screenings, and a genealogy research center for anyone who is interested in tracing their family heritage. You can also brush up on your basic software skills by signing up for one of the library's computer literacy classes.

Newark Free Library
750 Library Avenue
Newark, DE 19711
(302) 731-7550
nccde.org/333/Newark-Free-Library

Downtown Newark: Lots To See & Do

There is always something happening in Downtown Newark. It’s a college town, a colonial treasure and a bustling business sector, all rolled into one! Bring the family and you’ll always find something special on Main Street. If you’re looking to shop, you’ll find an eclectic mix of stores as varied as they are interesting. Where else can you find a jewelry store down the street from a classic comic book shop?

Or just walk around and discover the varied history of this area as part of the Nation’s “First State.” On a nice day, you can’t beat the scenery, even if you just want to people watch! And dining can be a difficult choice because there are over 60 restaurants on Main Street and adjoining streets. No matter what you want, it's just a short walk away — and just minutes from Christina Mill!

Visit enjoydowntownnewark.com to learn more!

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