Wilmington DE

An infrequently used facility in an industrial area.

Wilmington has been revitalised in recent years. Although business may still be its main attraction, worthwhile pockets lie in and around downtown, starting with the Riverfront on the Christina River. A waterfront path lets visitors stroll to the Shipyard Shops, rowing center, and a range of restaurants and museums.

The city has many distinct neighborhoods. For a less touristy experience, Trolley Square is an excellent choice, filled with shady sidewalk cafés, cosy bistros and lively pubs. These include Kelly's Logan House, a local institution since 1864 and the only place to be on St Patrick's Day. Stately old homes and restored town houses surround the area. Nearby Little Italy is home to Mrs Robino's, among the city’s oldest and most popular places for authentic Italian food. In summer, cool off with a treat from one of the historic community’s countless Italian water ice stands.

For many visitors, the beautiful Brandywine Valley just beyond the city limits holds the greatest appeal. This horticultural delight has endless gardens and arboretums, together with the du Pont family’s 'American castles', including magnificently preserved Winterthur and Nemours, both packed with antiques and artwork.

The United States dollar is the official U.S. currency (symbol: $). ATM's are everywhere.

Visa and MasterCard, among other major credit cards, are widely used and accepted, even for transactions of just a few dollars. In some cases, they may be the only way to make a transaction. Overseas visitors should note that goods and services often appear cheaper than they are because taxes and gratuities are seldom included.

Most states levy a sales tax of 2.9% to nearly 10% of the retail price, with 4-6% typical. It is almost never included in posted prices, except for gasoline and, in most states, alcoholic beverages consumed on-premises; instead, it is calculated and added to the total when you pay.

Tipping is both widespread and expected in America. Americans themselves often debate the correct level and exactly who should receive a tip, but generally accepted standard rates are:

• Full-service restaurants: 15-20%. This is often the wait(ress)’s only income. Leave tips in cash or add them to the credit card slip. Note: Few restaurants automatically add a service charge; where they do, the extra tip is up to you. Check your bill!
• Taxi drivers, hairdressers and other personal services: 10-15%
• Bartenders: tip 15% of the total, or $1 with an inexpensive drink.
• Bellhops: $1-2 per bag, with a $3-5 minimum regardless
• Hotel doorman: $1 per bag if they assist, and $1 for calling a cab
• Tour guides: base this on the overall quality, size and length of guided tours; for half day tours or less, $5-10 per person, and for longer tours, $10-20 per person.
• Private car & limousine drivers should receive 15-20%
• Housekeeping in hotels: for long stays, $1-2 per day, or $5 minimum for very short stays (optional)
• Food delivery (pizza, etc.): $2-5, with possibly more for very large orders

At the federal level, the U.S. has no official language, although English is by far the everyday standard. Several states have declared English their official state language. New Mexico has Spanish as an official language, where it is widely spoken; Louisiana has French, and Hawaii has the Hawaiian language. Neither French nor Hawaiian comes close to English in use, and both are official primarily for historical reasons.

For emergencies, call 911.

In major metropolitan areas such as New York and Los Angeles, many supermarkets and drugstores routinely operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Department stores, shopping centers and most other large retailers usually open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, often with shorter Sunday hours, generally 11 a.m. or noon to 5 or 6 p.m. The tendency on holidays is to remain open, except for the most important holidays, including Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, when stores are generally closed.