Welcome to the Bigroads ultimate travel guide to Delaware! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Delaware.
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Most travelers to Delaware are headed straight to the southern half of the state, where you'll find several great coastal towns and their lively beaches. Family-friendly attractions abound there, making southern Delaware a great alternative to the beaches of Southern New Jersey or Ocean City in Maryland. The northern half of the state is noteworthy for its museums and green spaces.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN DELAWARE
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Delaware? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Delaware, in no particular order:
✮ Enjoy one of Delaware's seaside resort towns and their great beaches
✮ Go kayaking on Fenwick Island
✮ Take the kids to Funland, an family amusement center found on the beach boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach
✮ Explore the coastal views and bike paths of Cape Henlopen State Park, arguably the best state park in the state
✮ Go bird-watching at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Catch a NASCAR race at Dover International Speedway
✮ Hop on the Wilmington & Western Railroad for a scenic railroad journey
✮ Visit the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Winterthur
✮ Drink up at the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton
✮ Explore the Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington
If I could select only one place to visit in Delaware, I would choose one of the Delaware beaches.
Interested in discovering great attractions in other U.S. states? My 10 Great Attractions in Each U.S. State guide covers the best attractions from coast-to-coast. And here is a guide to the best One-Week Vacations in the U.S..
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN DELAWARE
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Delaware. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Delaware bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northern Delaware (including Dover, New Castle, and Wilmington)
✮ Air Mobility Command Museum, Dover - features more than 30 military aircraft on display (most of which are outdoors)
✮ Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Smyrna - one of the best bird-watching locations in the mid-Atlantic
✮ Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington - a good art museum with an outdoor sculpture garden
✮ Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Dover - the best casino in Delaware
✮ Dover International Speedway, Dover - a famous NASCAR speedway
✮ Fort Delaware State Park, Delaware City - tour an 1859 Union fort; a 1/2 mile boat ferry trip is required
✮ Go Ape Zip Line & Treetop Adventure, Bear - an excellent aerial adventure / zip-line park
✮ Grand Opera House, Wilmington - the best performing arts theatre in Delaware
✮ Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington - tour a 235-acre estate with historic buildings and gardens; holds many events throughout the year
✮ John Dickinson Plantation, Dover - see costumed re-enactors of colonial residents
✮ Miles The Monster, Dover - a giant roadside attraction of a monster mascot at Dover International Speedway
✮ Nemours Estate / Nemours Mansion, Wilmington - tour a 300-acre estate with French-style gardens
✮ Stainless Steel Mary, New Castle - a shiny and impressive 34-foot tall Virgin Mary statue
✮ White Clay Creek State Park, Newark - features 37 miles of hiking and biking trails to historic sites and scenic views
✮ Wilmington & Western Railroad, Wilmington - one of the best railroad journeys you can take on the East Coast
✮ Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Winterthur - a spectacular 175-room mansion famous for its furniture; small guided tours are offered
Southern Delaware (including Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Fenwick Island, Lewes Beach, and Rehoboth Beach)
✮ Bethany Beach, Bethany Beach - arguably the best family-friendly beach in Delaware
✮ Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes - features beaches, sand dunes, hiking & biking trails, historic military sites, and a campground w/cabins
✮ Cape Water Tours & Taxi, Lewes - offers a variety of great boat tours
✮ Dewey Beach, Dewey Beach - one of Delaware's best beaches; just south of Rehoboth Beach; "a lively beach town with good nightlife"
✮ DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum, Fenwick Island - includes 10,000-plus shipwreck and recovered maritime artifacts
✮ Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton - a famous and large brewery with tours and a tasting room
✮ Fenwick Island State Park, Fenwick Island - features 3 miles of ocean beaches near the southern end of Delaware
✮ Funland, Rehoboth Beach - a lively boardwalk amusement park and arcade
✮ Jungle Jim's & River Safari Water Park, Rehoboth Beach - this is Delaware's best amusement park
✮ Lewes Beach - one of Delaware's best beaches; very close to Rehoboth Beach; you can take a nearby ferry to visit Cape May, NJ as well
✮ Rehoboth Beach, Rehoboth Beach - the most lively and famous summer resort in Delaware
✮ Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach - a very popular boardwalk with lots of restaurants, shops, and amusements
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Delaware? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
Discover 5-star attractions in neighboring states using these state guides:
MD |
NJ |
PA
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN DELAWARE
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These towns and cities in Delaware are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Bethany Beach - a small beach town with a family-friendly beach boardwalk
✮ Lewes - a small town with beaches and a historic district; gateway to Cape Henlopen State Park; popular for surfing, cycling, and fishing
✮ Rehoboth Beach - a small beach town with a lively beach boardwalk and many other tourist attractions and amusement parks nearby
✮ Wilmington - a medium-sized city with several excellent museums and green spaces
My favorite city in Delaware is Wilmington - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 1-2 nights there
My favorite small town in Delaware is Bethany Beach - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there
Read my Favorite Places in the U.S. Guide to find new and interesting towns and cities across the country.
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WHAT IS DELAWARE FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that Delaware is famous or well-known for:
✮ beaches
✮ beach boardwalks
✮ chemical manufacturing
✮ first state in the U.S.
✮ incorporating a business
✮ seaside amusements
✮ tax-free shopping
Visit my What is Each U.S. State Famous For? guide to explore the unique characteristics of other states.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN DELAWARE
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Delaware does not currently have any national parks, national monuments, or national forests. It does have a few other federally-managed parks and properties though, including:
National Wildlife Refuges
✮ Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks
✮ Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
✮ First State National Historic Park
✮ Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
For more information on Delaware's national parks, visit the Delaware page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all of America's national parks, explore my U.S. National Parks Guide.
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Delaware has more than 15 state parks. Here is a list of Delaware's finest state parks:
Flagship / Premier State Parks:
✮ Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes - beaches & sand dunes; hiking & biking trails; historic military sites; campground and cabin rentals
✮ Fenwick Island State Park, Fenwick Island - beaches; surfing; hiking trails
✮ Fort Delaware State Park, Delaware City - tour an 1859 Union fort; a 1/2 mile boat ferry is required
Other Notable State Parks:
✮ Delaware Seashore State Park, Rehoboth Beach - great surfing and fishing
✮ Trap Pond State Park, Laurel - extensive wetlands; great hiking, biking, and kayaking
✮ White Clay Creek State Park, Newark - more than 37 miles of hiking and biking trails; 18-house disc golf course; good fly-fishing
My favorite state park in Delaware is Cape Henlopen State Park.
Find the best state parks across the country using my Top 100 State Parks in the U.S. guide.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN DELAWARE
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Delaware has only one known natural waterfall, and it's only a small cascade (Rockland Falls).
Take note that the Delaware Water Gap has several waterfalls, but that park is located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, not Delaware.
Chase more waterfalls across the country with my Best Waterfalls in the U.S. guide.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN DELAWARE
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Delaware:
✮ DE-1 - a 17-mile paved route from Dewey Beach heading south to the Maryland border; this route passes several of DE's best beaches
Discover great scenic drives across the country with my Best Scenic Drives in the U.S. guide.
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN DELAWARE
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Delaware has several great rail trails (or paths that are similar to rail trails) for cycling and walking, including:
✮ Georgetown-Lewes Trail - 10 miles one-way; 100% paved
✮ Jack A. Markell Trail - 6 miles one-way; mostly paved, but some is on a boardwalk
✮ Junction & Breakwater Trail - 7 miles one-way; mix of paved and unpaved
✮ Michael N. Castle C&D Canal Trail - 12 miles one-way; 100% paved
For more information on rail trails in Delaware, visit the website of the Rails to Trails Conservancy.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN DELAWARE
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There are only a few amusement parks in Delaware:
✮ Funland, Rehoboth Beach
✮ Jungle Jim's, Rehoboth Beach
✮ Midway Speedway Park & White Water Mountain Water Park, Rehoboth Beach
✮ Viking Amusements and Thunder Lagoon Waterpark, Fenwick Island
None of these amusement parks is really nationally significant, although having them so close to Delaware's beaches makes them fun and very popular tourist attractions. Many of them offer old-fashioned, relatively cheap fun.
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Delaware has several excellent beaches. The best beaches in Delaware include:
✮ Bethany Beach
✮ Cape Henlopen State Park
✮ Delaware Seashore State Park
✮ Dewey Beach
✮ Fenwick Island State Park
✮ Lewes Beach
✮ Rehoboth Beach
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Delaware has several highly-rated museums. The best museums in Delaware include:
Northern Delaware
✮ Air Mobility Command Museum, Dover - has more than 30 aircraft on display (most are outdoors)
✮ Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover
✮ Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington
✮ Delaware Children's Museum, Wilmington
✮ Delaware Museum of Nature & Science, Wilmington
✮ Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington - tour a 235-acre estate with historic buildings and gardens; holds many events throughout the year
✮ Nemours Estate / Nemours Mansion, Wilmington - tour a 300-acre estate with French-style gardens
✮ Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Winterthur - spectacular 175-room mansion famous for its furniture; small guided tours are offered
Southern Delaware
✮ DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum, Fenwick Island - 10,000+ maritime artifacts
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BEST DAY HIKES IN DELAWARE
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Delaware offers a few good areas for hiking. Here are some of the best hiking areas in Delaware:
✮ Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge trails - excellent bird-watching on pristine salt marshes
✮ Cape Henlopen State Park trails - e.g. Gordons Pond
✮ Delaware Seashore State Park trails
✮ Trap Pond State Park trails - e.g. Boundary Trail
✮ White Clay Creek State Park trails - there are over 37 miles of trails in this park
The highpoint of Delaware is Ebright Azimuth (448'). The highpoint is beside a paved road, and so no hiking is required to reach it. A sign marks the spot.
I am not aware of any backpacking opportunities in Delaware. Please email me if you know of any!
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN DELAWARE
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Delaware offers several fun adventure opportunities, including these classic activities:
✮ Bouldering in Rockford Park
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Broadkill River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Mispillion River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking in Trap Pond State Park -visit a bald cypress swamp on the Terrapin Branch Water Trail
✮ Cycling the Junction & Breakwater Trail
✮ Cycling the Michael Castle Trail
✮ Fly-fishing in White Clay Creek State Park
✮ Kayaking on Fenwick Island and Little Assawoman Bay
✮ Jet skiing on Dewey Beach
✮ Mountain biking in Brandywine Creek State Park
✮ Mountain biking in White Clay Creek State Park
✮ Parasailing on Dewey Beach
✮ Rock climbing in Alapocas Run State Park
✮ Surfing on Dewey Beach
✮ Surfing in Fenwick Island State Park
There are also some cycling opportunities near some of Delaware's famous beaches (including Bethany Beach, Lewes Beach, and Rehoboth Beach). Each of those beaches currently has at least one company that offers bike rentals.
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For offbeat and unique Delaware attractions, visit one or both of these amazing websites: Atlas Obscura and Roadside America
The beaches and fun seaside amusements continue if you keep driving south from Delaware into Maryland along highway DE-1. For example, Ocean City, Maryland is only 15-20 minutes south of the Delaware border.
You can take a ferry from Lewes, Delaware to visit Cape May in New Jersey. Cape May is absolutely worth a day trip - it has lots of great shops, restaurants, and tons of interesting Victorian architecture.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN DELAWARE
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Delaware:
✮ broiled chicken and sour-milk biscuits
✮ creamed-corn pudding
✮ dilly crab dip
✮ muddle fish stew
✮ peach pie
✮ scrapple
✮ vinegar french fries
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Delaware (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each U.S. state, explore my Road Trip Food guide.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Delaware (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY DELAWARE INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Delaware:
State Capital:
Dover
Major Airports:
None; people will typically fly into Philadelphia and then drive into Delaware
Largest Cities:
Wilmington (70,908), Dover (40,075), Newark (30,431), Middletown (24,056), Bear (23,798), Glasgow (15,484)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-95
State Highpoint:
Ebright Azimuth (448'); you can drive to the highpoint on a paved road and a sign marks the spot
Professional Sports Teams:
None
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Hardscrabble
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Rehoboth Beach boardwalk, Delaware
Futuro House in Milton, Delaware
MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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