Exactly halfway between New York City and Washington, D.C., lies Wilmington, Delaware, a city seldom in the news but nevertheless endowed with some of the most picturesque scenery in the Mid-Atlantic.

Wilmington certainly is worth a stop if you're a traveling through the Mid-Atlantic states. Its fall foliage is among the most stunning in the country, and it's a mere two-hour drive to the renowned beaches of Delaware along the Atlantic. Perhaps one reason why this city of 750,000 residents is so underrated is its proximity to louder, more boisterous cities that grab headlines on a regular basis. Its geographic location has placed Wilmington at the crossroads of the Mid-Atlantic, positioning travelers at a convenient distance from nearly every major metropolitan center in the region. Wilmington is conveniently situated about 100 miles from New York City and 100 miles from Washington, D.C. Baltimore is approximately 90 minutes away, and Philadelphia is a half-hour drive away. And the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, Lancaster, is about an hour's drive from Wilmington.

An increasing number of Americans apparently have taken note of Wilmington's scenery. Tourism has grown to represent one of the major contributors to Wilmington's regional economy. Agriculture, banking, imports/exports, chemicals and transportation also make substantial contributions to the economy. When railroads first began transporting passengers and goods during the 1830s, Wilmington began producing passenger cars. That history is still evident today; the National Operations Center for Amtrak is based in Wilmington, serving in part as a maintenance facility for passenger cars. (Visitors may still ride restored passenger cards today, courtesy of Queen Anne's Railroad, the Wilmington and Western Railroad and other local carriers, many of whom offer dinner service to guests during their journeys.) Banking took off in Wilmington during the 1970s, when a series of credit-card banks relocated here. Wilmington is known for being a business-friendly city, and the absence of a sales tax makes the city a very attractive prospect for prospective residents and businesses alike. The University of Delaware, located in Wilmington, provides a steady stream of highly skilled graduates to all of the corporations based here.

A vital economy and a scenic landscape aren't the only draws to Wilmington. Its growth throughout the years has brought an increasing number of cultural offerings, including the Delaware Symphony, Delaware Theatre Company, the Grand Opera House and a diverse array of museums, including the Brandywine River Museum, a restored 19th century gristmill containing the works of artist Andrew Wyeth and his family. Other unique sights in Wilmington worth adding to your agenda are the Delware Toy and Miniature Museum, containing vases from 600 B.C. and a variety of toys dating from the late 1700s; the Delaware Art Museum and Museum of Natural History; the Barns-Brinton House, a tour of a restored 18th century tavern led by guides in period costume; Rockwood House, a Gothic manor with adjacent gardens; and the Nemours Mansion and Gardens, a breathtaking chateau filled with fine antiques, artwork, tapestries and rugs. And perhaps the most offbeat museum of all is the Phillips Mushroom Place Museum, a tribute to -- yes, you guessed it -- the mushroom.

All of the above-mentioned sites will keep you indoors for lengthy periods, but you won't want to remain there during your entire stay here. Wilmington is a haven for nature-lovers. In contrast to the harsher weather patterns characteristic of many areas situated within the Mid-Atlantic, Wilmington's weather is fairly friendly to its residents. Average summertime temperatures rarely exceed the mid-70s, and winter temperatures average in the low- to mid-30s. Snow is quite common -- particularly from January through March -- but remains at liveable depths. Residents rarely have to contend with city-wide closings, blocked roads or cabin fever. Several state parks, sculptured gardens and wildlife refuges encourage residents and visitors to spend their time outdoors. Wilmington places a premium on the preservation of nature. Birding is a popular pasttime here, as is photography. In addition to photographing natural scenery, amateur photographers won't want to miss one of Wilmington's manmade but nevertheless unique structures, the Ashland Covered Bridge, one of only two covered bridges in the state of Delaware.

Bolstered by the continued growth of the region, single-family home prices in Wilmington keep climbing and can be expensive. A search of local real estate Web sites reveals few asking prices below $200,000, and many reaching into the upper $600,000s, $700,000s and higher. Individuals and families relocating to Wilmington from within the Mid-Atlantic states may not raise an eyebrow at the city's asking prices, but if you hail from anywhere east of the West Coast and South of the Mason-Dixon line, you're likely to experience some sticker shock.

Wilmington serves as the perfect antidote to its noisier metropolitan neighbor cities in the Mid-Atlantic. Marching to its own beat, slower but steady as ever, Wilmington offers all of the amenities of larger cities but without compromising its abundance of scenic beauty. Wilmington's geographic location may be what brings tourists here initially, but its landscape, economy and rich history are what keep them here.

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Published: January 31, 2000

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