Delaware, the United State’s second-smallest state, is overshadowed by its neighbors – and often neglected by travelers to the region. And that’s too bad because Delaware has a lot more on offer than just chicken farms and tax-free shopping.
Let’s explore Delaware in today’s travel guide.
How to reach Delaware?
Passenger airline service into the Delaware state is limited. Still, areas of the state are relatively close to important international airports in either New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, or the Columbia District.
Traveling by high-speed train to Delaware is a better venture. Wilmington is a primary stop for Amtrak trains speeding along the Northeast Corridor. There are numerous high-speed connections with Acela Express trains throughout the day from Boston via Philadelphia and New York City and Washington, D.C. via Baltimore.
Top Delaware Attractions
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Thousands of waterfowl use this well-protected wetland as a stopping point along their long migration routes. A 12-mile driving trail, running through 16,000 acres of cordgrass, saltwater marsh, and tidal mudflats, manages to capture all of the quiet beauty of the DelMarVa peninsula in one supremely preserved ecosystem. There are also observation towers and short yet exciting walking trails. On the picturesque drive, keep an eye on clumsy red foxes.
Hagley Museum and Library
The famous Du Pont family got its start here in 1802 CE making gunpowder. In this beautiful museum, check out the display about the family’s early history, then join a tour to traverse the grounds, the garden, and many buildings beside the Brandywine River, including the ancestral home.
Cape Henlopen State Park
One mile east of Lewes, more than 4500 acres of dune bluffs, wetlands, and pine forests are preserved at this attractive state park that’s popular with beachgoers, bird-watchers, and campers. There’s also a 3-mile paved loop cycling trail. Campsites and cabins are also available.
Trap Pond State Park
Around seven miles east of Laurel, Trap Pond State Park houses the northernmost bald cypress habitat – a flooded park that looks like it staggered out of the Louisiana bayou. There are numerous trails alongside the 100-acre pond, with one looping around it. The park is a relaxing place to roam if you’re trying to escape the loudness of the beaches. Children will enjoy the playgrounds and the nature center.
Things to do in Delaware
Delaware has gorgeous beaches. The more attractive ones are
- Lewes (known for its historic district)
- Rehoboth Beach
- Dewey Beach (popular with college students)
- Bethany Beach (popular with families)
There is numerous small-town charm, like:
- St. Anthony’s Italian Festival in Wilmington DE
- Delaware’s State Fair
- Greenbank Mills and Philips Farm
- City of New Castle Historical Society
- Delaware Art Museum.
Where to eat in Delaware?
Delaware has world-class restaurants and a shocking number of brewpubs for a tiny state, including Iron Hill (in Newark and along the Riverfront in Wilmington) and Dogfish Head in Rehoboth Beach.
As the University of Delaware location, Newark is the home of several restaurants and bar incredibly popular with locals and college students. One such establishment is Klondike Kate’s (located on Main Street). Don’t forget to ask for a trip of the jail cells in the basement, recording from the late 1700s CE. The Deer Park (also located on Main Street) is a long-standing Newark institution with a vibrant history. Although the current building dates from 1847 CE, there has been a bar on the site since colonial times. Edgar Allan Poe once lived at the St. Patrick’s Inn, which once stood on the same site.
Legend has it that he put a curse on the city and the building after falling in the mud outside the hotel. Due to the location’s mystical association with Poe, the symbol of the famed Deer Park is a raven, and there is a sharp wooden raven famously on display in the main dining room.
