Does anyone have an input on travel to these towns? There seems to be a bus from Wilmington to Dover that meets some Amtrak trains. Has anyone ever taken it? Is the place it comes in to in Dover OK for a single female traveler? What is Dover itself like? Would coming to the bus dropoff point and taking a taxi be OK, do you think?
Also, does Wilmington have a left luggage or luggage storage capability?
Does anyone have any hotel recs for Dover or Wilmington reasonably convenient to the Wilmington train station or Dover bus dropoff of capitol? Hotel should be reasonably priced but comfortable and safe for a single female traveler.
Thanks so much!
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
In addition to being the State Capitol with a Colonial style State office park, Dover is also a military town. I was stationed Dover AFB 1965-67.
Be sure to note the Public Library nowadays along Lockerman Street as that was the PRR train station "back in my day". Passenger service survived until 1966, but it was always the "I'll ride it next break" - and suddenly it was gone.
Also, since my day, Dover has also become a NASCAR town, and the Harness Racing track to the North of town opposite Delaware State University has apparently "morphed" into a Casino with the Harness Racing maintained as an ancilliary activity to comply with local law that permitted the intended ancilliary activity - the casino.
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
Oh, so this is the same Dover that is the location of the famous Dover Air Force base? For some reason (creeping senility, no doubt), I was not connecting the two! Anyway, sounds like it would be fine. You don't by any chance know where the bus gets in/out?
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Bus station was downtown "back in my day"; highly unlikely it is still there today.
Posted by stlboomer (Member # 2028) on :
DART bus route 301 runs weekdays from the Wilmington Amtrak station to downtown Dover. Maps and schedules are available on the DART website.
And thanks for your wonderful trip reports!
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
As always, I respect your "gumption'; I'm not sure which you avoid the most - airplanes or rented autos, but if it were me, I'd be making my way over to Hertz upon arrival at Wilmington and be on my way down Toll highway SR1.
Possibly, but absent any personal or religious convictions precluding such, you may consider the hotel at Dover Downs. Even if you don't "game', you could be interested in staying there as I have found, and Mr. Smith will surely concur, that hotel rooms at such a venue are "loss leaders' to entice you to "drop a little at the tables or in the slots'. Also, regarding your well founded concerns over personal security applicable anywhere, I doubt if a casino takes too kindly having their patrons "roughed up".
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
Thanks for all the info. The bus you listed is a public DART bus that seems to run only during rush hour in one direction, inexpensive but likely difficult with luggage; however, the bus I meant were those other buses (Greyhound or Carolina Trailways, I think) that run between Wilmington Amtrak and Dover, which in fact can be part of the Amtrak ticket price--costlier, of course, but likely easier with luggage and definitely more accommodating to my arrival schedule into Wilmington. These latter seem to come in some place called the City Cab Co, 716 S Governors Av. Is that an OK location downtown?
The only hotel I can find that seems to be right downtown is called the Inn at Meeting House Square. I cannot find out much about it; it doesn't seem to be rated at tripadvisor.com and just a few ratings at yahoo. The hotel at the Downs is not against my religion other than that my "religion" precludes car rentals! I don't know if I could get downtown from there easily, but I'll check; maybe they have a little shuttle.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :