Delaware, the second-smallest state in the United States, makes up for its diminutive size with its beautiful beaches, magnificent state parks, and quaint historical villages. Located in the center of the United States, it boasts a beautifully varied landscape that includes both urban centers and wilderness preserves.
Dover and Lewes, both in the state, have a number of fantastic museums that complement the state’s already stunning seaside beauty. These towns, which were colonized and populated by Europeans centuries ago, include beautiful architecture and stately historic homes.
To be sure, the stunning Atlantic Ocean shoreline is a big draw for tourists. Delaware is known for its gorgeous beaches, especially those at Bethany, Dewey, and Rehoboth. It’s no surprise that Delaware is known as “The Small Wonder,” given the state offers a wide variety of water activities and charming coastal communities.
10. The State Park of Fenwick Island
Located in the southeastern part of the state, Fenwick Island State Park provides easy access to the nearby Maryland resort town of Ocean City. The area is home to stunning beaches and pristine, undeveloped landscapes. It has a beautiful coastline perfect for sunning, swimming, and surfing.
The park’s charming dunes and sun-kissed sands may be found on a picturesque island that has been preserved as a park since 1966. The island is located between Little Assawoman Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. In stark contrast to the crowded beach towns that flank either side, this area is wild and undeveloped, and as a result, it has absolutely breathtaking landscape and beautiful views.
The state park is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful scenery and close proximity to Bethany Beach and Ocean City. Along with taking in its attractive scenery, visitors can also try their hand at sailing or other watersports.
9. Cape Henlopen State Park
Cape Henlopen State Park is a beautiful place to visit because of its location at the mouth of Delaware Bay and its abundance of pine trees, wetlands, and dunal bluffs. Located on Lewes’s eastern fringes, it’s a great spot for a variety of outdoor pursuits like hiking, camping, and birdwatching.
The cape’s stunning beaches and rugged shoreline were, remarkably, some of the earliest public areas designated in the United States. Since it was designated a protected area in 1682, its beautiful environment has been preserved, and numerous species of shorebirds now call its undeveloped areas home.
Visitors can enjoy activities like as sunbathing, swimming, and surf fishing, as well as peruse interesting and informative displays on the park’s fauna at the Seaside Nature Center. If you get the chance, you should go to Cape Henlopen State Park and see the sun rise or set over the Atlantic Ocean from the reconstructed WWII observation tower.
8. Wilmington
Wilmington, the state capital and largest city, may be found in the northeastern part of the state. It’s a cultural hub at the confluence of the Christina and Brandywine rivers, and it’s home to a wide variety of fascinating and spectacular historic sites.
In spite of its little size, the city has been dubbed the “Corporate Capital of the World” thanks to the state’s pro-business policies and the resulting concentration of numerous multinational corporations with headquarters there. This thriving industry has contributed to the proliferation of new businesses in the central business district. The winding riverbank is beautiful and perfect for a stroll and a bite to dine.
Wilmington is home to fantastic museums and gardens, in addition to excellent dining options. One of its many highlights is the charming Delaware Art Museum. In 1638, Swedes established a settlement there, and many of the city’s historic landmarks reflect their influence.
Wilmington has a little something for everyone, from the adjacent Brandywine Valley to the magnificent wineries and attractive countryside.
7. Lewes
Lewes, a charming seaside town, is situated on a beautiful section of Delaware Bay. The state’s first European settlement, it features excellent examples of English and Dutch architecture. Stunning Cape Henlopen State Park and its beautiful beaches are conveniently close by.
Once a whaling and trade post established by the Dutch in 1631, the area has subsequently evolved into a fashionable resort with several high-end restaurants and hotels. Zwaanendael Museum has exhibits detailing the area’s history. Beautiful old waterfront mansions, piers, and waterways are all open for sightseeing.
Art galleries of different calibers line its charming streets, as do boutiques selling one-of-a-kind goods. Tours of the bay, either by boat or on a fishing expedition, include breathtaking scenery from every vantage point.
6. The Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Dover is not far from the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, which is located on the coast of Delaware Bay.
The refuge is a great place to go on a nature walk because it has some of the region’s largest remaining wetlands, mudflats, and tidal salt marshes. Because to the high quality of its ecosystem’s preservation, millions of migratory birds stop there every year to mate and rest.
Since it was established in 1937, waterfowl travelling through the Atlantic Flyway have been able to spend the winter in its wild and isolated areas. Within its beautiful borders, you can observe a wide variety of species, from ducks and geese to shorebirds, raptors, and bald eagles. Visitors interested in watching birds flock to the area.
The refuge is home to a wide variety of birds, as well as beautiful hiking routes and lookout towers. The refuge’s history, ecosystem, and flora and fauna are all explained at the visitor center.
5. Bethany Beach
Bethany Beach, a quaint beach village in the state’s southeastern corner, is a beautiful and serene destination. Beautiful beaches may be found here, and the atmosphere is much more relaxed than at other coastal resorts. Not far away is the beautiful Delaware Seashore State Park.
The picturesque coastal town got its name from the expansive beach that stretches out into the ocean and offers great swimming, surfing, and lounging in the sun. Excellent restaurants, stores, and ice cream stands may be found along a fantastic boardwalk. Vacation rental homes and beach cottages abound in the area.
Excellent seafood restaurants and gift shops can be found all over the downtown area. Bethany Beach is perfect for a relaxing weekend escape or a fun-filled summer vacation, and it’s not far from both Dover and Ocean City.
4. Dewey Beach
Dewey Beach, a famous spot for watersports, is located on a narrow peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay. Summertime brings a thriving nightlife and music scene to the tiny sandbar town.
The small town is known for its excellent skimboarding and wakeboarding, as well as its beautiful, expansive, sandy beaches where visitors may relax while swimming and surfing are available offshore. The area is popular for jet skiing, and tourists who set sail in a catamaran might see dolphins.
Dewey Beach may be little, but it certainly doesn’t sleep during the summer. Then all the restaurants and pubs are full, and all the major musicians are performing all around town. Partygoers drawn by the live music and families eager to take advantage of the wide beach and exciting watersports tend to fill the quaint cottages and condos at this time of year.
3. Dover
Dover is the state capital and the state’s largest city, and it’s also home to a wide variety of exciting tourist attractions. It’s located in the middle of the state, on the banks of the St. Jones River, not far inland from Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
The city’s cultural and historical heritage dates back to its foundation in 1683, and the town’s many grand monuments and museums are testament to this. For example, the Delaware Agricultural Museum features a reconstruction of a community as it was in the 1890s for visitors to explore. Amazing works of art in the form of paintings, ceramics, and sculptures may be seen in the Biggs Museum of American Arts.
There are numerous fine dining establishments, a casino, and exciting nightlife options in the central business district. Dover is home to the thrilling NASCAR races at the Dover International Speedway and the fantastic Firefly Music Festival every June. Dover has a wide variety of entertainment options, so there is something for everyone to enjoy here.
2. The State Park along the Delaware Coast
Delaware Seashore State Park is one of the best places to enjoy the outdoors and a stunning natural landscape. The Atlantic Ocean, the calm waters of Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay, and the wild seas of the Delaware Bay create a picturesque setting for this narrow stretch of beach.
The park was established in 1965, and its lovely dunes and windswept shoreline beaches are a pleasure to behold. Outstanding vistas of the ocean and bays are available. Visitors can swim, surf, and sunbathe on its gorgeous sands. Sailing and windsurfing are particularly well suited to the bays due to their calm, protected seas.
There are two nice campgrounds nearby where you can stay while clamming or crabbing. The beautiful state park is conveniently located between Rehoboth and Bethany Beach, making day trips to either beach a breeze.
1. Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach, on the Atlantic coast of Delaware, bills itself as “The Nation’s Summer Capital.” Since this beach is the closest one to the nation’s capital, it receives tens of thousands of people annually. Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, all close by, also send many visitors.
The town’s expansive sandy beach is perfect for sunbathing, and the waters offshore are perfect for swimming and surfing, making this a top draw for visitors to this sunny seaside community. Funland, a world-class amusement park, and other great eateries can be found along a stretch of wooden boardwalk.
Since Europeans established permanent settlements in the region in the 1660s, the tourist town offers a wealth of history and legacy to learn about. In terms of a wonderful summer vacation spot, it’s hard to top Rehoboth Beach, which welcomes people of all orientations and ages.
Guide to Tourist Attractions in Delaware
What is the number one attraction in Delaware?
Rehoboth and Delaware Beaches. Stretching much of the length of Delaware’s 28 miles of Atlantic coastline are white-sand beaches, and they are extremely popular with residents of the three major cities within weekend reach.