Summer in Delaware doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are ten free ways to enjoy the season.

1. Cape Henlopen State Park — Bike or walk in from Rehoboth to skip the $5 parking fee.

2. First Friday Art Loop in Wilmington — Free gallery walks, live music, and refreshments.

3. Summer Concerts at Rockwood Park — Free outdoor concerts every Thursday evening.

4. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge — 16,000 acres with bald eagles and stunning sunsets.

5. Delaware Art Museum — Free admission on Sundays 10 AM-4 PM.

6. Kayak the Brandywine Creek — Free put-ins at Thompson’s Bridge and Brandywine Creek State Park.

7. Historic New Castle Walking Tours — Cobblestone streets and colonial architecture. Self-guided maps at Visitor Center.

8. Newark Reservoir Loop Trail — Peaceful 2-mile loop for running, walking, or birdwatching.

9. Rehoboth Boardwalk — People-watching, window shopping, and ocean breezes.

10. Bellevue State Park — Free movies and concerts on the grand lawn of this former du Pont estate.

Thinking about starting or relocating a business? Delaware’s tax structure deserves a close look. Here’s a plain-English breakdown.

No sales tax — Zero. This applies to retail goods, online sales, services, and food. No collection burden and competitive pricing.

No tax on out-of-state income — If your Delaware-incorporated business earns revenue outside the state, Delaware doesn’t tax it.

No personal property tax — No taxes on equipment, machinery, or business vehicles.

Favorable corporate franchise tax — LLCs pay a flat $300/year. Corporation minimum is $175 using the Authorized Shares method.

What to watch out for — Delaware’s gross receipts tax (0.096% to 1.92% depending on industry) applies to total revenue, not profit. It’s small but can add up for high-revenue, low-margin businesses. Corporate income tax rate is 8.7% for businesses physically in Delaware.

The bottom line: for most small businesses, Delaware’s combined tax burden is significantly lower than NJ, PA, and MD. Consult a Delaware-based CPA — several firms offer free initial consultations.

What started as a backyard experiment has become one of Delaware’s most beloved food brands. Nothing Better LLC, founded by Marcus Taylor in his Middletown kitchen, now produces five varieties of small-batch hot sauce sold in over 100 stores across Delmarva.

The origin: ‘I was making hot sauce for friends at cookouts,’ Marcus recalls. ‘One buddy said, There’s nothing better than this sauce. The name stuck.’ He launched in 2023 with a single habanero-mango recipe at the Middletown Farmers Market.

The lineup today: Original Habanero Mango, Smoky Chipotle Bourbon, Carolina Reaper ‘Dare Ya,’ Sweet Pepper Everyday (mild enough for kids), and Delaware Bay Garlic.

What makes it different: every batch uses fresh peppers from three Delaware farms — never dried or powdered — cooked in small kettles in a licensed commercial kitchen in New Castle.

Find it at ACME, ShopRite, and Janssen’s Market locations across Delaware, at farmers markets, and online at nothingbetterllc.com. Use code THRIVE15 for 15% off your first online order.

Delaware may not be in the direct path of most hurricanes, but tropical storms regularly bring heavy rainfall, flooding, and power outages. Here’s how to protect your business.

Create a business continuity plan — Document critical processes, key contacts, and recovery steps. Who can work remotely? What equipment is irreplaceable? Start with FEMA’s free toolkit.

Back up everything to the cloud — One flood can destroy on-site data. Use cloud-based backups for financial records, customer data, and inventory. Test backups monthly.

Review your insurance — Standard commercial policies often exclude flood damage. Check FEMA’s flood maps and consider separate flood insurance. Note the 30-day waiting period for new policies.

Prepare your physical space — Clear gutters and drains, secure outdoor signage, elevate critical equipment off the floor, install surge protectors, and consider a generator.

Communicate with customers — Let them know your storm plan via social media and Google Business Profile. Customers appreciate transparency.

Looking for the perfect date night spot in the First State? Here are ten Delaware restaurants that deliver ambiance, incredible food, and memorable experiences.

1. The House of William & Merry — Hockessin. Farm-to-table fine dining in a converted farmhouse. Reserve weeks ahead.

2. Le Cavalier at the Green Room — Wilmington. French brasserie elegance inside the Hotel du Pont.

3. La Fia — Wilmington. Intimate BYOB with a constantly evolving menu. Only 40 seats.

4. Back Porch Cafe — Rehoboth Beach. Coastal fine dining with an award-winning wine list.

5. Bardea Food & Drink — Wilmington. Italian-inspired with housemade pasta and craft cocktails.

6. Domaine Hudson — Wilmington. Wine bar meets bistro with over 500 labels.

7. Two Stones Pub — Newark/Wilmington. Elevated pub fare with impressive craft beer.

8. Bluecoast Seafood Grill — Rehoboth Beach. Fresh seafood with stunning sunset views.

9. Eclipse Bistro — Wilmington. New American in a converted trolley car barn.

10. Harvest at Dewey Beach — Seasonal dishes with gorgeous bayside views.

Tucked into a beautifully restored building in downtown Wilmington, Alunia Wellness has quickly become Delaware’s go-to destination for holistic health. We sat down with founder Elena Vasquez to learn what makes Alunia different.

After 15 years in corporate healthcare, Elena realized traditional medicine often overlooks the mind-body connection. She opened Alunia in 2024, combining evidence-based wellness with a warm, accessible atmosphere offering therapeutic massage, acupuncture, guided meditation, nutritional counseling, and yoga under one roof.

What sets Alunia apart: every new client begins with a free 30-minute wellness consultation to understand their goals, health history, and lifestyle. The team creates a personalized care plan.

The community connection: Alunia hosts free weekly meditation sessions, partners with local businesses for corporate wellness programs, and offers sliding-scale pricing for clients facing financial hardship. ‘Wellness shouldn’t be a luxury,’ Elena says. ‘It should be accessible to everyone.’

Visit Alunia Wellness in Wilmington or book online at aluniawellness.com.

In 2026, Google Reviews are essential. For local Delaware businesses, your review profile can be the difference between a customer choosing you or your competitor.

The numbers: 93% of consumers read reviews before visiting a local business, businesses with 4.0+ stars earn 28% more revenue, and the top 3 local search results are heavily influenced by review quantity and quality.

How to get more reviews without being pushy:

Ask at the right moment — immediately after a positive experience when the customer is happy.

Make it easy — create a direct Google review link and share via text, email, or QR code at your counter.

Respond to every review — even negative ones. Professional, thankful, solution-oriented responses show you care.

Don’t offer incentives — Google prohibits discounts for reviews. Focus on delivering remarkable service people naturally want to talk about.

Use follow-up emails — send a thank-you 24-48 hours after their visit with a friendly review request and direct link.

From Kent County farmlands to the streets of Wilmington, Delaware’s farmers markets offer incredible produce and artisan goods. Here’s your 2026 season guide.

Wilmington Riverfront — Wednesdays 3-7 PM, June through October. 30+ vendors focused on organic and sustainable produce.

Newark — Saturdays 9 AM-1 PM on The Green. Live music, cooking demos, and the state’s best heirloom tomatoes.

Dover — Fridays 2-6 PM at Legislative Mall. Amish and Mennonite vendors with incredible pies, jams, and handmade quilts.

Rehoboth Beach — Tuesdays 12-4 PM at Grove Park. Local seafood, cut flowers, and artisan cheeses.

Middletown — Saturdays 9 AM-12 PM at the town square. Excellent honey, grass-fed beef, and popular breakfast burritos.

Pro tips: bring your own bags, arrive early for berries and stone fruit, and check if the market accepts SNAP/EBT — many participate in the Double Dollars program matching benefits up to $20.