Sussex County is one of the largest counties east of the Mississippi River so there's lots of room for vacationers, recreational attractions and great special events. Here are the Top 10 Best in 2010.

1. Soaking up the sun and fun on 30 miles of Sussex County's world-class ocean beaches in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island.

2. The World Championship of Punkin' Chunkin' near Bridgeville in November. The cold doesn't deter the 20,000+ well-fortified fans who turn out year after year to enjoy the nationally-recognized three-day competition.

3. Cruising on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. The 17-mile, 85-minute cruise between New Jersey and Delaware is a trip the whole family will love, but be sure to make advance reservation. Although they can handle 1,000 people, the ferries can only accommodate 100 cars on each voyage so plan ahead.

4. Lewes Historical Society and it's wonderful historic sites and rich collections ranging from fine Chippendale and Rittenhouse furnishings to Delaware silver and works of art.

5. Bridgeville's Apple Scrapple Festival is truly unique - complete with band concerts, food vendors, tattoo contests, wildlife carving, model railroad layout, their signature "Scrapple Chunkin" contest and the crowning of Miss and Little Miss Apple Scrapple!

6. Deep Sea Fishing Excursions from Fisherman's Warf in Lewes, including head boats, deep sea charter boats, cruising and sightseeing vessels.

7. Rehoboth Beach Film Festival - a five-day event showcasing a hundred or more of the best American and international features, documentaries, and shorts, as well as a Children's Cinema Corner for elementary school-aged children.

8. The Boast the Coast Maritime Festival in Lewes includes music, a craft show, seafood tastings, sidewalk sales, tours of historic ships, and more. But my favorite part is the lighted boat parade at dusk on the Lewes Canal.

9. The towers at Fort Miles in Cape Henlopen State Park were a key piece in the nation's coastal defense during the World War II. The park also has a picnic pavilion and an 18-hole disc golf course in addition to a world-class beach.

10. Historic Abbott's Mill Nature Center south of Milford features workshops, exhibits, walking trails, other great programs people of all ages. The Mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is operated by the Delaware Nature Society.

There are many more reasons to visit Sussex County that we couldn't include in this short list, such as the historic Georgetown railroad station, the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, the annual "Oyster Eat" in Georgetown and Oktoberfest in Rehoboth Beach, just to mention a few. For more information about all of the great attractions events in Sussex County, Delaware, check out the Southern Delaware Visitors Bureau.