Globe trotters turned day trippers get a new resource for scoping out outings

Day trippers have got a good reason for planning a visit to the First State: it has been added to A Day’s Outing, a free online search tool for short-distance day trips and weekend outings.

The First State joins Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. on the database, which focuses on family-friendly events and unique attractions in places a traveler might otherwise overlook.

“There are so many amazing things going on so close, that people forget what’s happening right outside the back door,” said founder Elizabeth Muse.

The decision to expand to Delaware was about more than simple geometry, she said. The state’s 2,500-square miles contain a stunning variety of attractions, she said, from the art and culture of Wilmington, to the farms and fields of Kent County to the ultimate summertime destination – the beach.

The Web site lets travelers search a 10 - 120-mile radius, and events are listed 14 months out, so people can plan ahead, she said.

It tries to spotlight the unique, she said, like a llama tour in Virginia or an archery range in Newark, but three things visitors won’t find are bars, nightclubs or casinos, because the focus is family-friendly outings, which are typically the impetus for a day trip.

The economy is surely a driver behind the rising popularity in shorter trips, she said, but the major appeal is with today's busy, hectic lifestyles, it's easier to carve out a few hours than a whole weekend.

And those shorter trips are becoming more popular with the state’s visitors, said Lynn Lewis, director of communications for the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The area has seen a 15 percent drop in overnight stays compared to last year, she said, but it's also seen renewed interest from travel writers in Maryland and Virginia, promoting attractions vacationers can enjoy in a day.

“We really are a treasure trove for people to explore and discover,” said Lewis.

More people have been discovering the Hagley Museum this summer on group tours, which are popular options for day trippers, said Meg Marcozzi, Hagley’s public relations coordinator.

And the museum has partnered with other attractions, like the Brandywine River Museum and Nemours, to reach out to tour operators within a day’s drive, she said.

“If you can show them the area has a wealth of things to do, you’re more likely to get people to come in,” she said.

Less than three miles away, the Delaware Museum of Natural History has also seen a growing crowd of regional visitors, said Teresa Messmore, director of communications.

The museum typically draws visitors from within a 30-mile radius, she said, and now charges $1 admission on Tuesdays.

Attendance is up 20 percent this summer, she said, and hosted more than 1,300 visitors on Aug. 11 -- a new record.

At the nearby but out-of-the-way horticultural center, the popularity of Mt. Cuba Center’s $5 public garden tours has been increasing this summer as well. 

Everyone from gardeners to family and friends looking to spend the day outside are visiting from the tri-state area, said Julia Lo Ehrhardt, education assistant, though the bulk of their advertising is through word of mouth. More people than ever are bringing family and friends along for the $5 garden tour, she said.

It makes an affordable outing, she said, and more visitors are expressing interest in visiting other nearby gardens, too.

With so much right in their backyards, locals and day trippers alike are starting to notice Delaware, she said.