Wanderlust much? No worries: The all-in-one guide to discovering the Delmarva Peninsula is here.
Shore Fun: The Delmarva Wanderer’s Guide to Delmarva is an idea factory of a book, written by yours truly, Jim Duffy, to connect you with hundreds of fun, intriguing events and destinations. My fifth book with Secrets of the Eastern Shore, Shore Fun serves up engaging what-you-need-to-know descriptions of more than 125 destinations and more than 150 annual events on the Eastern Shore and in Delaware.
Find out how to get the book in stores here.
You can order it by mail from the author here.
Find it on Amazon here.
WHY WRITE THIS BOOK?
The reason I put Shore Fun together is simple—it didn’t exist yet. Traditional travel guides to Maryland and Virginia mostly focus on western shore locations, while guides to Delaware don’t extend onto the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia.
That doesn’t fit my experience of the way we all wander around this region. We don’t pay much attention to state and county borders, for obvious reasons. The Delmarva peninsula isn’t just a singular place—it’s a single place, tied together through culture and history and nature. This book aims to make it much easier for you to explore the full breadth and depth of diversions Delmarva has to offer.
The book is divided into two sections. The first connects you with more than 150 annual events, organized by seasons of the year. These range from popular classics—think Ocean City Springfest, the Chincoteague Pony Swim, Chestertown’s Downrigging Weekend, and the Delaware State Fair—to idiosyncratic gems like the Apple Scrapple Festival, the Berlin Bathtub Races, and the Dead on the Vine Grateful Dead tribute night at a Virginia winery.
The second section of Shore Fun points you to 125 different destinations, organized into five geographic regions. Some of those destinations are one-stop affairs–a fabulous museum here, a breathtaking natural attraction there, and a historical gem around the next bend. Others take the form of itineraries, with multiple suggested stops in small towns like Cape Charles, St. Michaels, Milford, Chestertown, and many others. Even if you already have a destination set, Shore Fun will give you lots of ideas for side trips.
A few things you’ll learn along the way:
- Where to see the world championship of muskrat skinning.
- How to get chased down a beach by two people in a cheesy bull costume.
- Which little museum has a Cheeto that you really need to see.
- How to enlist in a zombie army hellbent on invading a small town.
Everything that makes Delmarva special is here—the beach resorts, the gorgeous backroads, the quaint small towns, the rich history, the cultural traditions, the weird surprises, and more.
WHAT MAKES “SHORE FUN” DIFFERENT?
Here is my short, Oscar-winning, Hollywood answer: Everything, everywhere, all at once!
My other books focus on select destinations and don’t pretend to be comprehensive. Those books are full of lengthy, writerly essays chock full of history and anecdotes.
This new book is comprehensive, and the chapters are super short because I wanted Shore Fun to be laser-focused on delivering the info you need to decide which destinations and festivals will be worth your time. Plus, Shore Fun differs in its focus on fun annual events. There’s very little of that in my other books.

Cali, our no-nonsenve book-signing supervisor
The target audience is two-fold.
- Shore Fun will be a boon for big-city tourists and weekend residents looking to make the most of their time on Delmarva.
- Locals will be eager to get their hands on it as well. I’ve met countless local folks who share my wanderlust for this peninsula. Some moved here in recent years and are still familiarizing themselves with a new home. Others have been here all along, but never tire of making new discoveries and taking another turn onto a Delmarva road less travelled.
Bottom line: Shore Fun was written to help all you wanderers out there make the most of your time on the Eastern Shore and in Delaware. What’s the weather look like this weekend? Are you feeling the urge to get out and go? Flip through the pages of this book and you’re sure to find a fun adventure.
Happy wandering!
Once more with the purchase details:
Find out how to get the book in stores here.
You can order it by mail from the author here.
Find it on Amazon here.
If you do decide to get the book, please do write an online review at that Amazon link!
Happy wandering!
Jim Dufy
SecretsoftheEasternShore@gmail.com
443-477-4490