SHOW NOTES: WILMINGTON BY RAIL – BIDEN’S HOMETOWN AND DELAWARE’S HIDDEN CHARMS
🚆 Episode Overview
In this episode, we journey by train from Massachusetts to Wilmington, Delaware—arriving at the Joseph R. Biden Station in the heart of the city. Wilmington may be small, but it’s packed with history, culture, and surprises. From the spotlight of the 2020 election to the legacy of the DuPont family, this city offers a fascinating blend of small‑town warmth and corporate power.
🌆 Highlights You’ll Hear About
Arriving Downtown by Rail: The ease and charm of stepping off the train right into the city center.
Wilmington in the Spotlight: How the 2020 election put this city of 70,000 on the world stage.
Riverfront Adventures: Biking the Jack Markell Trail, beer gardens, and the youthful energy along the Christina River.
The DuPont Legacy: Touring Hagley Museum’s black powder mills, gardens, and patent models.
Bucolic Delaware: Country drives past colonial bridges, farmland, and Biden’s family home.
Corporate Delaware: Why Fortune 500 companies flock here—no sales tax, low property tax, and the Court of Chancery.
Dining Delights: From Buckley’s Tavern to Bardea’s inventive small plates, plus cocktails at De‑CO.
Hotel DuPont & Le Cavalier: Grandeur, gilded ceilings, and French‑inspired cuisine.
Longwood Gardens: A breathtaking conservatory and outdoor wonderland just across the Pennsylvania line.
✨ Key Takeaway
Wilmington is a city of contrasts—corporate powerhouse and small‑town charm, Biden’s hometown and DuPont’s empire, youthful energy and colonial history. Whether you’re biking the riverfront, savoring small plates, or wandering through Longwood Gardens, Wilmington proves that Delaware, though small, has a big story to tell.
Catch this episode wherever you get your podcasts, and join us for more journeys that uncover hidden charms across the globe.
Transcripts
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Today on GoNomad, we're taking you to Wilmington, Delaware, a city that may be small in size, but big in history, culture and tax savings.
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Our journey begins by rail.
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There's something special about boarding a train in Greenfield, Mass.
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And settling in for a seven hour ride south.
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The cost was about $150 round trip, and the Amtrak destination was Joseph R. Biden Station, right in the heart of Wilmington.
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Step off the train and you're already downtown.
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ts ready to explore, November:
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The city, with a population of about 70,000, suddenly found itself in this global spotlight.
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Our hotel, the Westin, stood right beside the Chase center, where Joe Biden and Kamala Harris delivered their acceptance speeches.
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Security was everywhere, but the atmosphere was friendly.
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Locals shared stories about the Biden family.
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Taxi drivers, bartenders and shopkeepers all had anecdotes for For a city often overshadowed by nearby Philadelphia, this was Wilmington's moment to shine.
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Nearly every story about the Bidens had a common theme.
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They're good people and treat locals well.
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Despite his being president, one of the best ways to experience the city is by bike.
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The Jack Markel Trail runs 10 miles along the Christina river, and it's a favorite for joggers, families and young professionals.
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Along the way, you'll find Constitution Yards, a beer garden with axe throwing, food stalls and river views.
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Even in November, the riverfront buzzed with energy.
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It's easy to imagine summer evenings here with the music floating through the air and kayaks sliding under the bridges.
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No trip to Wilmington is complete without a visit to the Hagley Museum and Library.
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This 235 acre estate was once home to the Dupont family.
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The grounds include the family mansion, gardens and the remnants of the company's original black powder mills.
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Brandywine Creek powered the turbines that mix saltpeter, sulfur and ash into explosives.
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Touring the underground sluices and watching a live demonstration of black powder connects you to our forgotten slice of American history.
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Inside the library, patent models showcase ingenious inventions in miniature.
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The Dupont story is woven into Wilmington's identity.
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From chemicals to hotels, the family shaped the city's economy and culture.
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Walking through the Hagley Gardens, you sense the ambition that built an empire.
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Starting with a creekside mill beyond the city, Delaware quickly transitions to rolling hills, covered bridges and farmland.
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We drove country lanes past the road to Biden's family home.
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Surrounded by sweeping fields, covered bridges dot the countryside, reminders of the colonial days.
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The drive itself is part of the attraction, bright sunshine, winding roads and the feeling that history lingers in the architecture and landscape.
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Delaware is also famous as a corporate haven.
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More than 60% of the Fortune 500 are incorporated here, and 75% of the IPOs are Delaware based.
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The Court of Chancery, a specialized court with expert judges, handles corporate disputes quickly and without juries.
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Add no sales tax and a property rate that's half the national average, and you see why so many businesses and residents benefit in Delaware.
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For visitors, it means shopping without the sales tax and enjoying a city that feels prosperous yet approachable.
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Food is another highlight here.
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, a former tap room dating to:
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Later, cocktails at Deco, a food hall, introduced us to Brad Owens, the owner of the Greenbox Kitchen, a vegan spot.
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Expanding to another spot in downtown, Deco serves as an incubator for startups with offerings from sushi to hoagies, plus a game room.
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Happy hour with $4 wine felt like a tradition Massachusetts has long abandoned.
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Bring it back Dinner at Bardea in Wilmington was a revelation.
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We let our server choose everything.
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The small plates kept coming, each inventive and delicious.
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The chef confirmed that Joe and Jill Biden are regulars here, along with their doctor daughter, Ashley.
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Wilmington's dining scene is intimate, with chefs and owners woven into the city's social fabric.
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Eating here feels like joining a community, not just visiting a restaurant.
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The Dupont legacy extends to hospitality.
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The Hotel Dupont remains the city's grandest stay.
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Its restaurant, Le Cavalier, is a French neo brasserie with North African and Provencal influences.
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Cocktails arrive with spherical ice cubes, and the atmosphere oozes grandeur.
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Even if you're not staying overnight, a meal here at La Cavalier is worth the splurge.
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The lobby's gilded ceilings and the marble halls remind you that Wilmington once aspired to rival the great cities of the East Coast.
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The Just across the Pennsylvania line lies Longwood Gardens, a must see.
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Pierre S. Dupont created this vast conservatory and outdoor wonderland.
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The soaring glass house feels endless, and seasonal.
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Programs like Longwood Christmas transform the grounds with fire pits, illuminated trees and walking through the conservatory, you're enveloped in orchids, palms and fountains.
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Outside, paths wind through meadows and woodlands.
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It's easy to spend a full day here, and many people do.
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In perspective, Wilmington is a city of contrasts.
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Corporate powerhouse, small time charm, Biden's hometown and dupont's legacy youthful energy and colonial covered bridges.
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Arriving by train, you step into a place where history, politics and culture converge.
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Read more about Wilmington, Delaware on GoNomad.com.