Delaware vacationing advice - where to go?

[ElizabethT]

We are working through visits to all 50 USA states, and Delaware is now on our radar for visiting at the end of this coming June. We will be coming into Delaware by way of Maryland, and have five nights/six days in total to spend there. We enjoy nicer areas, historical sights, museums, good restaurants, and nice walking trails. Does anyone have thoughts on what one or two cities we should base ourselves in?

 

[MBAustin]

Dover (the capital) is centrally located if you want to take in both the southern and northern parts of the state. It's a small city and both the beach (Rehoboth Beach is the big beach town) and the more historical sites in the northern part of the state are accessible within 90 minutes. Wilmington (north) is the largest city in the state. New Castle is a charming colonial town with good restaurants, and the "Route 52" area between Wilmington and the PA border has nice restaurants and shopping.. If you enjoy American history and furniture, Winterthur is a must-see. Longwood Gardens just over the border in PA is also a must-see. The Hagley Museum gives the history of the DuPont company. Ashland Nature Center northwest of Wilmington has nice walking trails.

I lived in the northern area twice for a total of more than 15 years, but haven't spent much time there since we moved away in 1995 so you'll need specific restaurant recommendations from others.

Hope this is useful and have a wonderful trip!

 

[Dash man]

I lived in Delaware for four years. Wilmington is the largest city and is just south of Philadelphia in the northern part of Delaware. The waterfront has a few attractions you can check into, but they're newer than when I last visited the area. Dover is the state capital in the central part of the state and host to Dover Downs Raceway/casino and Dover Air Force Base. The beaches are further south, including Rehoboth Beach and a few other nice areas. There are some state parks and wildlife areas in the state you might enjoy.

 

[ElizabethT]

Dover (the capital) is centrally located if you want to take in both the southern and northern parts of the state. It's a small city and both the beach (Rehoboth Beach is the big beach town) and the more historical sites in the northern part of the state are accessible within 90 minutes. Wilmington (north) is the largest city in the state. New Castle is a charming colonial town with good restaurants, and the "Route 52" area between Wilmington and the PA border has nice restaurants and shopping.. If you enjoy American history and furniture, Winterthur is a must-see. Longwood Gardens just over the border in PA is also a must-see. The Hagley Museum gives the history of the DuPont company. Ashland Nature Center northwest of Wilmington has nice walking trails.

I lived in the northern area twice for a total of more than 15 years, but haven't spent much time there since we moved away in 1995 so you'll need specific restaurant recommendations from others.

Hope this is useful and have a wonderful trip!

So useful, thank you MBAustin!

We've recently finished up a trip through Virginia, and while we loved visiting DC and Annapolis, we found ourselves a wee bit unnerved by Richmond's high crime rate, which put a bit of a damper on our ability to walk to as many places as we'd hoped. We're hoping to avoid accidentally putting ourselves in the same position again when we visit Delaware.

 

[Dash man]

Newcastle does have a higher than average crime rate. I'd be careful there.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

I lived in Dover for about 6 years (99-05'ish) and would recommend Fenwick Island for a less-crowded beach. Rehoboth Beach isn't bad, it can just be very busy. Also, I know that it isn't in Delaware, but Assateague Island in S. Maryland is a fun little jaunt, they have lots of wild ponies running around. It is about 80 miles south of Dover or 20 miles south of Fenwick Island.

Crime is really not an issue in the lower 1/3 of the state. The farther north you go, the worst it gets. Also, folks that I know that still live in Dover have mentioned that crime in the Dover area has increased as well.

Edit: If you like airplanes, there is a decent museum at Dover AFB. Not sure about the hours, but it's usually not busy and you can get a great tour one on one with the volunteers.

 

[DrRoy]

Try Hagley and Winterthur museums near Wilmington, or Rehoboth Beach in the south.

 

[Just_Steve]

You could visit Lewes DE then you could take the ferry to Cape May NJ and knock NJ off your list since that is the only interesting place in the whole state of NJ.

 

[LiveBelowMeans]

I would second Lewes, DE. Great beaches and nice quaint historical town. Close to Cape Henelopen State Park also.

 

[nun]

Dewey Beach!

 

[grasshopper]

Rehoboth Beach is a quiet family shore community we will get there in Sept along with a visit to Mom in MD. The Lewes-Cape May ferry is great, we took it all the time when we lived on the New Jersey shore and visited family in Baltimore. Cape May is a beach town from the early 1900's very quaint. A day trip on the ferry and back would be well worth the time an overnighter may suit your needs.

 

[hollowelm]

Cape Henlopen is an excellent state park and worth a visit.