Slaughter Beach
The United States is home to several great sites, like Slaughter Beach in Delaware, ranging from magnificent natural wonders to quirky roadside sights and large metropolises to seaside communities. However, not all of these breathtaking locations are well-known. Many of America's most extraordinary sites, in fact, slip beneath the radar. Even in this tiny state, you'll uncover hidden jewels that the rest of the country misses, such as this thriving seaside hamlet you're sure to like. According to Reader's Digest, Slaughter Beach in Delaware, not Rehoboth, Dewey, or Bethany, is America's best-kept secret.
You’ll find fine, white sand and sparkling water, but it’s the tiny critters that invade this stretch of shoreline each year that makes Slaughter Beach unique. Each year in May and June, hundreds of thousands of these prehistoric creatures that date back more than 450 million years ago come to Slaughter Beach to spawn, traveling from the depths of the ocean to the tiny state of Delaware. In fact, these bizarre little crabs are quite important to humans. Their unique blood contains a substance that can detect small amounts of toxins. Their copper-based blue blood, then, is used to test the sterility of IV drugs and medical equipment. How cool!
At its peak, you can witness a quarter-of-a-million horseshoe crabs preparing to lay their eggs, but the rest of the year, this seemingly ordinary beach is quite picturesque. If you're wondering, "Where is Slaughter Beach?" It is located in Sussex County, Delaware, and one route to get there is through the boardwalk at Marvel Saltmarsh Preserve. Wildlife events take place throughout the spring and summer, beginning in April with infant diamondback terrapin hatchlings moving to the marsh and shore birds returning, and continuing through July with female diamondback terrapin nesting activities and, of course, the return of the horseshoe crabs.
Tripadvisor rating: 4.0/5
Delaware 36, DE-36, Slaughter Beach, DE, USA
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hampton Inn Milford
