Newark Is Home To Delaware’s Best Hidden Gem… Literally

It might seem like a bad pun but Newark's gems have been named the best hidden gem in Delaware.

Vacation season is here and maybe you haven't planned anything.

You can always plan a pretty decent staycation in the first state.

TheCrazyTourist released it's list of "22 Amazing Hidden Gems in Delaware" and number 1 is located at UD.

"Staycate" inside of Penny Hall at the University of Delaware and you'll be dazzled. Delaware's hidden gem is quite literally full of gems.

Penny Hall is home to the University of Delaware's Mineralogical Museum with over 350 precious and semi-precious stones and minerals from its 3,000+ collection.

"Many of the museum’s pieces are rare or unique, with each dazzling item vying for attention. In addition to raw stones you can also see gems that have been exquisitely carved and crafted. See a piece of outer space with the collection of meteorites, discover more about the area’s mineralogy, and learn interesting facts about crystallography" TheCrazyTourist says.

According to the University of Delaware's website "minerals on display come from exotic locations around world, with crystals from Mexico, Brazil and Morocco, as well as from sites closer to home, such as calcite crystals from York, Pa., and tourmaline from Elkton, Md."

For information about the Mineralogical Museum, please contact Curator Sharon Fitzgerald at slfitz[at]udel.edu or 302-831-6557. The hours on the website for the museum say it is currently closed, but it seems like its normal hours match up with the school year.

The Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge in Wilmington and The Inn at Montchanin also made the Top 3 on "22 Amazing Hidden Gems in Delaware" list.

Additionally, you can see the full list and rankings here.

So, Let the staycation begin!

Pennsylvania has 3 of the country's best kids museums and chances are they are only a short drive away!

USA Today has once again released their Top 10 Children's Museums in the Country.

"It can be a challenge to keep kids entertained, especially on days when the weather doesn't cooperate. Luckily these museums, voted as the 10 best in the U.S. for families, offer interactive and engaging experiences for kids and adults alike" their report says.

The list ranked the top 10 children's museums in the US and their top choice was in Indianapolis.

USA Today said "A favorite Indy attraction, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the largest museum of its kind in the world, encompassing 29 acres of fun-filled exhibits. Kids can snap a selfie with a T-rex, explore outer space through the lens of NASA’s Project Mercury, travel overseas without a passport in "Take Me There: Greece," and play one of 12 sports outdoors in a fabulous interactive sports park with health in mind."

Pennsylvania has 3 of the country's best kids museums and chances are they are only a short drive away!

Here are the three ranked on the list this year:

The Crayola Experience is ranked 10th overall on the list. USA Today says Be immersed in color at Crayola Experience, located two hours away from Philadelphia and New York City in Easton, Pennsylvania. There’s no limitation to creativity at this one-of-a-kind attraction, where children can explore art and technology. Let your imagination run free, color outside the lines and watch the magic of Crayola come to life! 10Best contributor Kyle McCarthy adds, “Hands-on, creative space with a playground, art displays, teacher-led arts workshops and live science show about how crayons are made.”

This place was a birthday party STAPLE when I was a kid and is ranked 7th overall. USA Today says Philadelphia's Please Touch Museum offers two floors of exhibits that kids are actively encouraged to touch. Little ones can build at the Imagination Playground or go down the rabbit hole to a Wonderland-inspired play station. A historic and recently refurbished carousel is a great way to end a visit on a high note. The museum also hosts a variety of family-friendly programs, so there's always something new to explore.

A little bit further of a drive but this place seems worth it! USA Today says Inside the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, visitors can explore numerous hands-on, interactive exhibit areas meant to spark curiosity. The Garage is the place to explore things that bounce, race and roll; the Studio allows kids to express their creativity through various art forms and the Kindness Gallery lets kids try different forms of communication to send messages of empathy and kindness. This was ranked 2nd overall.