Category: Blog

While it might seem you’re stuck to the activities on campus when you attend the University of Delaware, there are countless places around your off campus housing to explore. If you have a car, this gives you even more fun locations and scenic attractions to explore. Before you leave your Delaware rental, check out these three Delaware-only locations to snap a selfie or two.

1. The Roselle Center for the Arts
This location is the closest to campus. It highlights the wonderfully eclectic arts community in the University of Delaware. Located nearby the equally famous Wright House and the President’s House, the Roselle is an adventure all its own. This beautiful building bears witness to countless lectures and performances, often featuring the Resident ensemble Players. Not only is this a great way to support your fellow students, exploring the beautiful interior is worth the hike; snap some pictures of the gorgeous chandeliers and art displays before sitting in on a performance.

2. The Steampunk Treehouse
You’re not allowed inside, but bearing witness to this giant tree is worth the hour drive from your student housing. Local brewery, Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton snagged this giant, metal-welded tree in 2009. Not only was this tree built for Burning Man — you might have heard of this giant musical festival once or twice — but it also made an appearance at Coachella in 2008 after a slight rebuild.

The size of the room at the top of tree might even rival the size of your housing, at least if you’re on campus. Resting in the branches of the 40-foot tree the wooden accents blended with steel clockwork gives it a, well, steampunk vibe. Enjoy the view while you sip local brews (as long as you’re over 21).

3. The Gibraltar Gardens
Finally, something free and accessible. Beautiful gardens surround an abandoned mansion built in the 1840s. Now. it’s slowly being encompassed by climbing ivy, making it a focal point the beautiful gardens that surround it. The mansion is fun to explore if you’re interested in derelict buildings and it’ll make you feel much better about your on campus student housing options.

The gardens are the real highlight in this adventure however. While the mansion might be falling apart, the gardens are maintained to perfection by preservation organizations. The beautiful koi ponds, trees, flowers, and pathways make you feel like you feel like you’ve entered a fairytale: enter through a large wrought-iron gate and explore the gardens, greenhouse, and fountains that dot the estate before retiring to your cozy off campus rental.

Living in Delaware is an adventure all its own. If you don’t have access to these locations by car, there are always plenty of parks and museums situated by the housing options for students. When 33% of renters choose to move each year, finding perks around your new home is a necessity. No matter where your rental resides, Delaware is a location bursting with life.

As a college student, you will have to make a massive number of decisions, often for the first time: what classes to take, which internships to apply for, where to live. Consider these housing options when you’re trying to decide where you want to live.

Dormitories
Your college or university will likely have a number of housing options for students. If you’re a freshman, you’re likely going to live in dormitory-style housing with one roommate, or in a suite-style dorm with multiple roommates. The expenses of living there are all-included, consisting of rent, a meal plan, and laundry facilities.

This is often the most expensive form of housing and your college may require you to live on campus for the first couple of years as you adjust to the difficulties associated with the college transition. You may also be able to live in a more independent style of living if your college supplies townhouses on campus.

Townhouses
Off-campus housing options are often more affordable than the housing supplied by the campus. Nearly 87% of college students choose off-campus living options. Your rent will go directly to your landlord or property manager, and you have the freedom to buy your own food instead of relying solely on a meal plan.

Townhouse rentals are a popular form of real estate for students on a budget. These small houses or apartments have shared walls, but many amenities are often included. It’s likely you’ll get regular lawn maintenance, parking, and laundry, though these are not always offered. Regardless, your landlord should take care of any problems you have while living there, like plumbing or heating issues. This housing option is preferred among students because they usually have a lawn and offer more space than an apartment. Look for a real estate company that can help guide you in the right direction before you make any final decisions.

Apartment
Apartments for students are another popular option: not only do many apartment building nearby campuses offer discounted rates for students, they’re often populated by the same people you have classes with. This type of living space is similar to a townhouse in that you have shared walls with multiple units, but apartments are usually a bit smaller in comparison.

Though they don’t often come with a lawn or recreational space, apartments are usually more affordable than townhouses and still come with the perks of relying on a landlord to fix any issues you might have with your rental.

House
If you don’t like the idea of walking up stairs or sharing walls with your neighbor, a house might be a great option for you. Whether you’re renting or buying a house, the number-one perk is that you don’t have to share your walls. Instead, you usually get a couple floors of living space and will likely have a lawn to play on. However, buying a house is likely not a realistic option for the student on a budget, and renting a home is often the most expensive form of off-campus housing. Try to limit the cost by living with roommates or cutting down on the costs of your amenities.

While there are many housing options for students, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. Keep in mind that figuring out the best housing options for students is a difficult area to navigate and relying on professional help might be the way to go when you want to discuss your student housing options.