Known as "the first state," Delaware and Wilmington have been a center for business and commerce. Just 30 minutes south of Philadelphia, the city strikes a compromise between small town charm and city life.

The city sits on the former site of Fort Christina, which was the first Swedish settlement in America. The Old Swedes Church was built in 1698 and is still in use today. Many of the old buildings from the colonial and antebellum days are still around, serving now as key places to visit. The most noteworthy is Old New Castle. It remains one of the best-preserved colonial towns, with most houses and buildings dating back to 1700. The Old Court House is set on the town green and was where the colony's assembly members decided to break from England.

Another must-see building, Nemours Estate, is a 77-room mansion with the largest formal French gardens in the nation. Once home to the du Pont family, it showcases more than 200 acres of beautiful gardens and meadows.

The city is packed with cycling and hiking trails, and more than 552 acres of parks and open space. The city hosts the Wilmington Grand Prix every year, considered to be one of the most important closed-circuit races in the country.

For casual activities, Wilmington State Park is the place to go. You'll find dozens of trails in the park along Brandywine Creek. The Wilmington Riverwalk features more than a mile of shops and restaurants in addition to the beautiful view of the river.

Wilmington also boasts a thriving art scene. The Grand Opera House was built in 1871 and sits in the middle of downtown. Used as both a performance and a movie theater in its long life, it is now a venue for community events.

The city hosts many music festivals in a variety of genres, including the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Riverfront Blues Festival, and the Peoples' Festival that celebrates reggae. The best-known event is just under an hour away in Dover where the Firefly Music Festival is held. It is one of the largest music festivals in the country with up to 80,000 attendees.

Wilmington has a diverse geography, including 1,400 acres of trees. Without proper care, those trees can become unruly and even hazardous. LawnStarter makes finding professional tree services simple. Just log onto our website or download the free app, put in your ZIP Code, and get the full list of tree care experts in your area. It takes less than five minutes from start to finish, with a quality guarantee on every service. So now you can have the peace of mind to explore and experience Wilmington, while LawnStarter takes care of the rest.