Big Chill Beach, Philadelphia's Magic Garden and more: 5 landmarks in the Mid-Atlantic
The deep influence of nature, history and art can be felt throughout the Mid-Atlantic area of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Sprinkled among the iconic must-see stops such as the Capitol in D.C. or Independence Hall in Philly are loads of smaller, quieter places that have their own stories to tell of people, places and the past.
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Try these spots:
1. Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art
What: The world’s largest collection of decorative and antique decoys is the reason to visit the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, on Schumaker Pond in Salisbury, Maryland.
Where: About 120 miles from Baltimore. 910 S Schumaker Dr, Salisbury, MD 21804
What to know: The museum also runs the world’s largest and longest-running wildfowl carving competition each spring in nearby Ocean City, Maryland.
Expect to see about 300 decoys and another 700 artifacts at any time, with changing exhibitions highlighting various aspects of the business and craft. The museum is named for brothers Stephen and Lemuel T. Ward Jr., who made about 25,000 hunting decoys and miniature and life-sized decorative birds.
2. The Big Chill Beach Club
What: The Big Chill Beach Club is a new seasonal restaurant and event tent in Delaware Seashore State Park. Its impressive views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River bay, inlet and bridge generate much praise on TripAdvisor and Yelp.
Where: About 50 miles from Dover. 27099 Coastal Hwy, Bethany Beach, DE 19930
What to know: La Vida Hospitality Group, which runs several noted restaurants nearby, invested $1 million for seating 200 on the rooftop deck and another 160 in the tent.
The menu is heavy on boardwalk favorites, seafood and casual Southern California cuisine. There’s a family game area, too.
3. National Museum of the Marine Corps
What: More than 60,000 uniforms, weapons, vehicles, medals, flags, aircraft, works of art and other artifacts document two centuries of battlefront and home-front history in engrossing displays that put visitors into battle sites and situations.
Where: About 30 miles from Washington, D.C. 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy.
Triangle, VA 22172
Why it’s a hidden gem: Everyone who drives on Interstate 85 south of Washington, D.C., near Quantico sees the angled spire of the National Museum of the Marine Corps jutting toward the road. The spire is meant to emulate the flag raising over Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi during World War II, but few realize it or stop.
What to know: Inside, the Iwo Jima flag, which generated the iconic photo, is here. When completed in 2021, the museum will bring the Corps’ story to the present – and into the future – with things like an F/A-18 Hornet and a set of blood-crusted ribbons.
4. The National Museum of Health and Medicine
What: The National Museum of Health and Medicine offers a rare chance to see the effects of disease on the human body, enhanced with diagnostic equipment and case histories. It boasts “an estimated 24,662,515 objects,” including a 1660 microscope, one of the world’s largest collections of fluid-preserved and other human specimens, prosthetics and America’s largest collection of human and comparative developmental material. That’s quite a growth from its 1862 start by the surgeon general, with part of a soldier’s arm bone.
Where: Less than 10 miles from Washington, D.C. 2640 Linden Ln, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Why it’s a hidden gem: The building can be hard to find, even with the address.
What to know: Be warned -- although the displays are done with tact and respect, some parts might be too much for very sensitive visitors.
5. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
What: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens began in the 1960s as mosaics by urban pioneers Isaiah and Julia Zagar, and it has since matured into an art installation covering half a city block with handmade titles, mirrors, multicolored bottles, bicycle wheels, found objects and thought-provoking mottos (“forms are covers of meaning” is one).
Where: South Philadelphia. 1020 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
What to know: The vibrant work is largely outdoors, and it also runs inside and through tunnels and grottos. Its whimsy and verve show the influences of Isaiah’s art-school degree, Julia’s decades as a gallery owner and their Peace Corps service in Peru.
A nonprofit preserves it all and works to save nearby murals as well. Timed tickets: $10 adults; $8 students and seniors; $5 ages 6-12.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Big Chill Beach a top tourist destination in Delaware, Mid-Atlantic
