Milton, Berlin: 'Charming Towns You've Never Heard of'

The many Delmarva residents already know the peninsula is a pretty spectacular place.

But, two towns on Delmarva, in particular, have caught the attention of “House Beautiful” writer Lauren Smith. Smith penned an article for the magazine entitled “40 Charming American Towns You’ve Never Heard of.”

Milton ranks No. 38 on the list and Berlin just a short drive down Route 113 also made the list coming in at No. 26.

Yes, Delmarva residents, you do, indeed, live in a pretty cool place.

Lisa Falzarano can understand why the magazine “House Beautiful” picked Milton as one of its “Charming American Towns You’ve Never Heard of.”

The owner of The Mercantile at Milton discovered the town of Milton with her husband when the two would travel from New Jersey to Delmarva to find antiques for a store she owned in New Jersey.

“We just fell in love with this town,” she said.

On one trip Falzarano and her husband decided to leave the stress of living in New Jersey and working in Manhattan behind. When Falzarano lost her job in 2013 the couple decided to go ahead and make the leap. Her husband questioned whether she would be able to leave behind their urban life in New Jersey. She told him that her bags were already packed.

“We went from super congested to small,” she said.

That was three years ago, and Falzarano has never looked back. Her husband breaks out in hives every time he passes the Delaware Memorial Bridge, she joked.

“It’s craziness,” she said. “I would never go back.”

It is easy to see why Falzarano loves Milton and “House Beautiful” has dubbed it charming. Many of the houses that line Federal Street and beyond are a throwback to an era when times were more simple. The town is filled with painted ladies with big porches and sets of wicker furniture inviting people to come and sit down for a while.

Behind the houses that line Federal Street is Wagamon’s Pond with its fishing pier. Closer to downtown is Milton Memorial Park with its small-scale train for kids, the Broadkill River and its bandstand. The town offers free concerts in the summer.  The park and the river draw boaters, fishers and paddleboard enthusiasts alike.

Off Chestnut Street, tucked away sits Dogfish Head Brewery. There, tourists can grab a beer, a bite from Bunyan’s Lunchbox and play a round of bocce ball.

Head down Front Street and Milton Library, Milton Theater, Irish Eyes and Bacchus Wine Bar of Milton all figure prominently into the downtown. King’s Homemade ice cream also is staple, drawing locals and their families who visit for decades.

Billy Brittingham and Lauren Dickhut were hitching their boat up at dusk at Memorial Park recently. The two were taking a sunset cruise down the river. Both have lived in Sussex County most of their lives.

Brittingham has lived in Milton for the last year.

Growing up in Sussex County, Milton did not offer a lot, but that has changed dramatically in the last 10 years, Brittingham said. He listed some of the improvements: Milton Theater and Milton Memorial Park.

“They’re doing a lot in Milton now,” he said. “This town has a lot of things going for it now.”

Brittingham has only one complaint and that is the grocery store. Milton only has one and its seafood selection could be better. Brittingham joked that at the end of the day the worst thing is he has to drive an additional 10 minutes to buy better seafood.

Less than 40 miles away from Milton is Berlin, a town known as “The Coolest Small Town in America.”

Ivy Wells, Berlin’s economic and community development director, keeps a running list of all of the accolades the town of Berlin has received over the years.

This year alone, the town has been named by “Smithsonian.com” as one of the 20 best small towns to visit in 2016 and “Southern Living” magazine list of the South’s best small towns.” In 2014, Budget Travel named Berlin “The Coolest Small Town in America,” a title Berlin has no plans of giving up.

Berlin can now add the distinction of being No. 26 on “House Beautiful’s” “40 Most Charming American Towns You Never Heard of.”

Wells, who came to Berlin from Carroll County, is not surprised by the distinction bestowed on Berlin. Berlin is not like most small towns in America. Located, just off Route 50, Berlin is a year-round town that is one of the gateway communities leading to Ocean City.

“The town is beautiful,” she said.

It is walkable with an eclectic mix of small shops, where those who make it a point to stop, can see artisans apply their craft on site and sell their wares to the public. Many of the things that are sold in Berlin are made in Berlin, Wells said.

People who stop by Nest Boutique & Gallery, for example, can actually see the quilts that are being sold at the shop made.

Berlin has benefited tremendously from all the awards the town has received over the years. Tourists tend to make it a point to set aside a day on their way to or from Ocean City to visit Berlin, Wells said.

The town has also grown slightly, according to the latest Census figures, but don’t worry. The town has not lost its appeal or small town charm.