Have you ever ever been sitting at house bored (as a result of, you understand, you’re in Delaware), scrolling by Instagram, when a publish catches your eye and you would like you had been there? And then you definitely take a look at the deal with — and it’s @firststatedestinations posting about issues to do in Delaware?
First State Locations (FSD for brief) is Alexis Harris, a transplant from Raleigh, North Carolina and digital advertising phenom who turned the influencer she was searching for in Delaware. Somebody who knew all the coolest issues to do regionally, whether or not it’s nightlife, brunch or exploring the outside. Somebody who made you wish to be in Delaware with dynamic content material that exhibits off sides of the state that few actually know.
Harris moved right here contemporary out of faculty to be along with her then-partner. The connection would finish, however her attachment to Delaware didn’t, so she stayed.
“Even earlier than I moved right here, I began to be fed the narrative that Delaware is boring,” mentioned Harris, who runs her personal boutique digital advertising enterprise along with FSD. “It’s simply not true.”
FSD began in October 2020 on TikTok. As an alternative of searching for suggestions for issues to do, she began by pondering of an expertise or a spot that exists in locations like LA or New York, then she’d analysis to seek out the closest factor to it in Delaware.
As soon as an expertise is chosen, she makes use of her digital advertising abilities to create eye-catching content material. There’s yoga on the Riverfront, sunsets at Rehoboth Seashore, climbing in Brandywine Creek State Park and plenty of meals. These amazing-looking tacos would possibly simply be from a truck you’ve handed 100 instances on Kirkwood Freeway, as an illustration.
@firststatedestinations Episode 1 | Trails in Delaware that it’s best to hike #fyp #thingstodo #delaware #climbing #fallvibes #placestovisit
♬ unique sound – 1st Phorm
Whereas FSD busts the “boring Delaware” stereotype — Harris mentioned she’s obtained messages from folks as far-off as California excited by visiting the state — at its core, it’s all about neighborhood and connections.
“As you get into your grownup years, particularly whenever you’re shifting to a brand new state, it’s onerous to satisfy new folks organically,” she mentioned.
With increasingly folks working from house, she isn’t alone find it difficult. After receiving a whole bunch of DMs and feedback from folks wanting to hitch to hang around along with her, she began a Fb group for adults in Delaware trying to join with others excited by becoming a member of up for some native adventures of their very own.
“It’s a reasonably even divide of ‘natives’ born and raised in Delaware, transplants which have moved right here long run and other people which might be right here briefly for work faculty,” she mentioned. “After which additionally there’s a variety of folks that don’t particularly stay in Delaware, however they’re 20 minutes out in Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, that need to have the ability to take part and go to right here and all of the experiences that I’m sharing.”
FSD has even been identified to save lots of relationships, per Harris: “I’ve seen a variety of messages the place somebody will probably be thanking me as a result of their spouse was not a contented camper about shifting to Delaware for his job, however discovering my web page made them really feel higher and slightly extra enthusiastic about it.”
Does Delaware nonetheless have some work to do to be a top-tier vacation spot? Harris says sure — however not as a result of there aren’t sufficient good ideas and institutions.
“I believe the concepts are there, however there’s undoubtedly alternative to raise the expertise slightly bit extra, versus simply opening an institution,” she mentioned. “You’ll discover these institutions that do open could not final lengthy. Not as a result of the idea wasn’t there, however as a result of the general expertise and advertising of that wasn’t adopted by all the best way.”
Discover FSD on Instagram, TikTok and Fb.
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