If you're traveling in a group with diverse interests, Cape Henlopen State Park is one of the best places to visit in Delaware. Cape Henlopen State Park, located on Cape Henlopen where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, is a place of natural and historic significance as well as a waterfront recreation area.

Take a tour of the Fort Miles Museum and Historical Area to learn about Cape Henlopen's role as a World War II defense site. Visitors can climb an observation tower, observe an artillery demonstration, ride in a troop transport truck, and take a guided tour of Battery 519, a 1941 gun bunker. If you're more interested in nature and wildlife, go to the park's Seaside and Nature Center. Educational programs for all ages, a live osprey cam, and a 495-gallon two-level touch tank are among the center's attractions.

Cape Henlopen has everything you'd expect from a coastal park in terms of recreation, including ocean swimming, windsurfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, boating, fishing, and clamming. There are also popular hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, a playground, cabins, campgrounds, pet areas, and a disc golf course at the park.

Google rating: 4.8/5.0

Address: 15099 Cape Henlopen Dr, Lewes, DE 19958

Phone: (302) 645-8983

Website: https://destateparks.com/Beaches/CapeHenlopen

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, located on the shores of Delaware Bay, is one of the best places in Delaware for birdwatching. The refuge's documented history dates back to 1679, when the Kahansink Chief sold the marshland to a man from New York. Bompies Hoeck, which translates to "little-tree point," was the name given by Dutch settlers, and it was later changed to Bombay Hook.

The refuge was established in 1937 as part of a network of refuges that stretches from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Bombay Hook's 16,251 acres are mostly made up of tidal salt marsh with mudflats, cordgrass meadows, and various waterways. There are also forests, timbered swamps, and freshwater impoundments on the refuge. Shorebirds and waterfowl, including Canada geese, American black ducks, semipalmated sandpipers, herons, egrets, and many others, use Bombay Hook as a migration stop and breeding ground.

The refuge provides numerous opportunities for visitors to observe wildlife. The 12-mile wildlife drive is popular, and five short walking trails provide an up-close look at the habitats along the way. Three of the walking trails have 30-foot observation towers for those who want a bird's-eye view. Other activities include hunting and interpretive programs led by staff.

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

Address: 2591 Whitehall Neck Rd, Smyrna, DE 19977

Phone: (302) 653-9345
Website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bombay-hook

Brandywine Creek State Park, like many of Delaware's best vacation spots, has an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities. The park is located in northern Delaware, just south of the Pennsylvania border, along Brandywine Creek. Brandywine Creek State Park is known for its distinctive stone walls, which were built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when the area was farmland owned by the Du Pont family.

Tulip Tree Woods, a 933-acre park with old-growth tulip poplar trees, is one of four separate nature preserves in the park. This preserve is most beautiful in the spring, when bloodroot and nodding trillium carpet the forest floor. The pollinator garden and rolling meadows of Brandywine Creek State Park are home to ground nesting birds and rare native flora. Bluebirds, American kestrels, and eastern meadowlarks, as well as several species of migratory hawks, can be seen.

The park's varied terrains enable a wide range of activities. In the winter, the vast meadows are open for disc golf, picnics, kite flying, and even cross-country skiing and sledding. Hiking enthusiasts can enjoy 14 miles of trails, including one that follows the park's namesake creek. Anglers can catch crappie, bluegill, and smallmouth bass in the creek, which can be enjoyed by canoe or kayak. Wilson's Run is stocked with trout every year.

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

Address: 41 Adams Dam Rd, Wilmington, DE 19807

Phone: (302) 577-3534

Website: https://destateparks.com/brandywinecreek

If you're wondering what to do in Delaware during your vacation, Wilmington should be at the top of your list. Wilmington is Delaware's largest and most populous city, so there are attractions to suit every taste. Wilmington, located on the west bank of the Delaware River, near the state border with Pennsylvania, is the state's urban hub, where beautiful historic architecture meets the hustle and bustle of modern life.

The 300-acre Nemours Estate, which includes an early 20th-century mansion and gardens commissioned by Alfred I. Du Pont of the influential Du Pont family, is one of Wilmington's most visited attractions. This estate, designed in the style of a French chateau, is a must-see for architecture enthusiasts. Do you want to learn more about the Du Ponts? The Hagley Museum and Library, located just north of town, is the family's first US estate and the site of restored gunpowder mills.

Wilmington has an abundance of entertainment options. The 1.3-mile Wilmington Riverfront promenade along the Christina River allows you to take in the sights and sounds of the city. Popular family-friendly attractions include the Delaware Children's Museum and the Delaware Art Museum. Check the city's calendar for a baseball game at Frawley Stadium or a concert or comedy show at the Grand, a stunning theater built in 1871.

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

Location: Coastal southeastern North Carolina, United States

Phone: 910.341.7800

Website: https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/

A trip to Delaware wouldn't be complete without some time spent outdoors, and White Clay Creek State Park is a great place to do just that. The park, which is located directly east of Pennsylvania's southeast border, gets its name from the white clay that was once mined in the area. White Clay Creek State Park is one of Delaware's largest state parks, covering over 3,600 acres. Its year-round activities also make it one of the most popular.

Water is central to many of the park's attractions. The namesake White Clay Creek is a National Wild and Scenic River and the state's most heavily stocked body of water. Anglers can cast from the creek's edge for rainbow and brown trout, or they can try their hand at fly-fishing. Bluegill and crappie can be found all year in Millstone and Cattail ponds, which also have a catch-and-release program for largemouth bass.

The park has over 37 miles of hiking and biking trails ranging from easy to moderately difficult. Hiking at a slower pace rewards hikers with potential views of wildlife, wildflowers, and historical monuments. Other activities include disc golf, picnics, a summer concert series, geocaching, and Chambers House Nature Center programs.

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

Address: Park Office, 750 Thompson Station Rd, Newark, DE 19711

Phone: (302) 368-6560

Website: https://destateparks.com/whiteclaycreek

If you enjoy being on the water, Delaware Seashore State Park is a must-see in Delaware. Not only does the park have six miles of Atlantic Ocean shoreline, but it also has 20 miles of bay shoreline thanks to Rehoboth Bay to the north and Indian River Bay to the south. Travel on this barrier island was historically difficult due to the volatility of the Indian River Inlet, but the federal government built two steel and stone jetties in 1939 to stabilize the inlet.

During the summer, the park's ocean shoreline includes two swimming areas with lifeguard patrol. Surfing is also permitted north of the inlet in a designated area. Anglers have many options for fishing locations, including the beach, the inlet's stone jetties, and charter boats from the Indian River Marina. Clamming and crabbing are permitted in certain areas of the beaches. Windsurfing, sailing, and kayaking are also popular activities in the bays.

Back on land, the park has six hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. Stop by the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum for a dose of history. The restored station, which was built in 1876 for the United States Life-Saving Service, features exhibits about maritime history and reenactments of historic ship rescue techniques.

Google rating: 4.6/5.0

Address: 25039 Coastal Hwy, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

Phone: (302) 227-2800
Website: https://destateparks.com/Beaches/DelawareSeashore

Rehoboth Beach has long been one of the most popular weekend getaways in Delaware for residents of Washington, D.C., earning it the title of the Nation's Summer Capital. Rehoboth Beach's origins as a resort town can be traced back to the 1870s, when it was envisioned as a Christian summer resort destination. Today, the town attracts vacationers from all over the world due to its public beach, lively boardwalk, and emphasis on family-friendly leisure activities, making it one of Delaware's top attractions.

Rehoboth Beach's public beach is, unsurprisingly, one of the town's most popular spots. This free Atlantic beach is ideal for ocean swimming and sunbathing on the sandy beach. The town's famous mile-long boardwalk runs parallel to the beach. With its traditional wooden surface and retailers specializing in products such as saltwater taffy, the boardwalk harkens back to a bygone era. The charming array of restaurants and shops on the boardwalk has something for everyone.

Funland, which has been run by the same family since 1962, is possibly the most well-known attraction on the boardwalk. This small amusement park has an arcade, 11 midway games, and 17 rides that will keep guests of all ages entertained. For even more excitement, travel a few miles west to Jungle Jim's, a water park with multiple pools, slides, and a lazy river.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

Location: Atlantic Ocean, Delaware

Phone: 302-227-6181

Website: https://www.cityofrehoboth.com/

If you're looking for Delaware attractions for history buffs, Fort Delaware State Park should be on your list. This state park is only accessible by ferry and is located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River. Attempts to defend the island began during the War of 1812, after which the land was purchased by the federal government and Fort Delaware was built in the 1850s. During the Civil War, the fort served as a Union prison camp, and it was briefly garrisoned during World Wars I and II before being designated surplus property in 1944.

Fort Delaware State Park offers an immersive experience thanks to costumed interpreters who transport visitors back to the summer of 1864. The guided tour includes stops at the barracks, the kitchen, the officers' quarters, the blacksmith shop, and the parade ground. Visit Fort Delaware in the fall when ghost tours are available for a more eerie experience.

The bird population at Fort Delaware State Park is an unexpected draw. During the summer, Pea Patch Island is home to nine different species of ibis, egrets, and herons. A hiking trail and observation platform provide birdwatchers with numerous opportunities to see these magnificent wading birds.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

Location: New Castle, Delaware, United States

Phone: (302) 834-7941

Website: https://destateparks.com/History/FortDelaware

Dover ranks 9th on the list of the best places to visit in Delaware. Dover, the state capital and one of Delaware's largest cities, is an obvious choice for a vacation destination. Dover and the surrounding Kent County were named after their English counterparts and are located on the St. Jones River in the Delaware River coastal plain. Dover's abundance of Colonial architecture makes it a haven for history buffs, and its status as the state's second largest city encourages a plethora of entertainment and cultural activities.

Dover's history spans over 300 years, so you won't have to look far for historically significant architecture. The John Dickinson Plantation, one of the six sites that comprise the First State National Historical Park, is a popular tourist attraction. John Dickinson, known as the Penman of the Revolution, grew up on the plantation. The Green, where Delaware voted to ratify the United States Constitution, is also included in the national historical park.

Dover's history spans over 300 years, so you won't have to look far for historically significant architecture. The John Dickinson Plantation, one of the six sites that comprise the First State National Historical Park, is a popular tourist attraction. John Dickinson, known as the Penman of the Revolution, grew up on the plantation. The Green, where Delaware voted to ratify the United States Constitution, is also included in the national historical park.

Google rating: 4.3/5.0

Location: Kent, South East England

Phone: N/a

Website: https://www.visitdelaware.com/plan-your-visit/dover

New Castle, located on the west bank of the Delaware River about six miles south of downtown Wilmington, is one of the coolest places in Delaware for history buffs. Dutch settlers arrived in the area in the 1650s, and the town has kept much of its original Colonial architecture. If strolling down cobblestone streets, taking in charming shops, green spaces, and historic sites sounds appealing, New Castle is the place to be.

Visit historical sites such as the Dutch House to step back in time. This house, which is now a museum, was built in the mid- to late 1600s and is one of the state's oldest structures. The Amstel House Museum is another must-see historical attraction. This Georgian mansion was built in the 1730s and boasts stunning details such as original woodwork.

Battery Park is a popular and beautiful location in New Castle. When William Penn first arrived in America in 1682, he landed here. The park overlooks the Delaware River and features a walking and biking trail with scenic river views. Throughout the year, the park hosts a variety of events, including Separation Day celebrations, which commemorate the day Delaware declared independence from British and Pennsylvanian authority.

Google rating: N/a

Location: New Castle County, Delaware

Phone: (302) 322-9801

Website: https://newcastlecity.delaware.gov/

Milford, about 20 miles south of the bustling state capital, is one of the best Delaware towns for visitors looking for a charming, quaint atmosphere with an emphasis on community beautification and the local art scene. Milford was incorporated as a city in 1807, but its roots date back more than a century earlier. Milford, like many other Delaware towns, has many well-preserved buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Mispillion River divides Milford's downtown, a body of water that has shaped the town in the past and continues to do so today. For approximately 150 years, the river was home to a thriving shipbuilding industry; however, the Mispillion is now a recreational venue. The Mispillion Riverwalk takes visitors past a variety of eateries, shops, and historic sites. The riverwalk's greenway also serves as a venue for the town's farmers market and other events.

Milford will appeal to art enthusiasts. Local artists' handmade jewelry, crafts, and artwork are displayed in galleries in the historic downtown. More art can be found throughout town, including murals, mosaics, and even painted miniature boats along the Riverwalk.

Google rating: N/a

Location: Coastal city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States

Phone: 302-422-6616

Website: https://www.cityofmilford.com/