Travel writers enjoy a frighteningly good time in Southern Delaware

With several haunted attractions, larger-than-life historical characters and some of the best stories of urban legends and ghost sightings in the mid-Atlantic, southern Delaware is a popular stop for those in search of the supernatural - or those just wanting to have the socks scared off them in true haunted fashion.

During an exciting and fun-filled three days in mid-April, a group of travel writers from throughout the mid-Atlantic region had a chance to witness many of these sights up close and personal, during a press trip organized by the Southern Delaware Tourism office.

Beginning with a paranormal investigation of the Lewes Ferry Terminal April 21, more than a dozen sites were featured during the trip, which concluded April 24 with a Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce presentation on the annual Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddler’s Festival.

Writers were also surprised with a flash mob on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk on the morning of April 23, presented by members of Clear Space Productions, in conjunction with the tourism office.

“I was very impressed by the area and by how well the tour was organized. In fact, I've already recommended family vacations to Rehoboth for four or five friends, and three have already started planning trips,” said John Harrington, a travel writer from Kansas City, Mo. “I was expecting more of an Atlantic City-type experience, but was very pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness, beauty and funky diversity of the area.”

Harrington was joined by writers from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York during the three-day trip, which included stops ranging from the Seaford Museum, Prince George’s Chapel and the Great Cypress Swamp to award-winning attractions like the Haunted Mansion at Funland and the spooky Screams at the Beach near Georgetown, as well as a haunted tour of downtown Lewes.

The trip was one of the periodic media familiarization tours held each year by Southern Delaware Tourism, aimed at introducing journalists from several different states to all that there is to see and do in Delaware’s southernmost county. Past trips included themes ranging from History and Heritage to Maritime and Made in Southern Delaware.

“We feel this is a great opportunity for us to welcome into town several of our friends in the regional media, some of whom never have been to southern Delaware before,” says Scott Thomas, executive director of Southern Delaware Tourism. “From the comments I overheard during the trip, I think everyone was impressed with what they saw and did. We appreciate everyone taking a few days to spend with us here, and we look forward to the next tour in the fall.”

Southern Delaware Tourism aims to promote tourism in Sussex County, in part, by hosting regional writers who focus on travel- and tourism-related topics. Upcoming excursions for the office include itineraries focused on the area’s culinary options, as well as an arts and entertainment tour and one featuring the area’s eco tourism attractions.

For more information, call Southern Delaware Tourism at 302-856-1818 or go to www.visitsoutherndelaware.com.