Delaware

On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution – hence its nickname, "The First State." A vacation in Delaware covers a lot of ground in a small space, from the du Pont family mansions in the Brandywine Valley to the broad Atlantic beaches of Rehoboth Beach and Lewes.

Location and Landscape

After Rhode Island, Delaware is the second-smallest state in the U.S., occupying the northeastern part of the Delmarva Peninsula. In the north, around Wilmington, the land becomes hilly and is crossed by Brandywine Creek. Farther south, flat fields, chicken farms, and salt marshes along Delaware Bay dominate before the coast gives way to dunes and long sandy beaches on the Atlantic. In spring and fall, tens of thousands of migratory birds rest at Prime Hook and Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuges; in May and June, countless horseshoe crabs lay their eggs on the bayside beaches. The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal separates the densely populated north around Wilmington from the rural south, which locals tongue-in-cheek call "Slower Lower."

Sights in Delaware

The Brandywine Valley is the legacy of the du Pont family, who founded a gunpowder mill here in 1802. Today the Hagley Museum shows the old mill complex, Winterthur displays a large collection of American decorative arts, and Nemours Estate offers a French-style chateau with gardens. In Dover, the Old State House and First State Heritage Park tell stories from the colonial era; motorsports fans know the city for the Dover Motor Speedway. New Castle, south of Wilmington, preserves cobblestone streets and 18th-century brick houses. Near Lewes, Cape Henlopen State Park stretches out with dune trails, bike routes, and World War II observation towers that look out over the mouth of Delaware Bay. Since 2013, First State National Historical Park has brought together several historic sites across the state.

Cities and Beach Towns

Wilmington is the economic center, with its Riverfront promenade, museums, and corporate headquarters – many U.S. corporations are incorporated here because of the business-friendly laws. The university town of Newark lives off the University of Delaware campus, while Middletown and Milford are quiet small towns inland. In summer, everyone heads to the coast: Rehoboth Beach with its boardwalk, boutiques, and open LGBTQ scene; historic Lewes with a ferry connection to Cape May, New Jersey; and Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach. Seaford in the southwest sits on the Nanticoke River.

Food, Shopping, and Daily Life

Delaware charges no sales tax, which makes the outlet centers in Rehoboth a pilgrimage site for bargain hunters from neighboring states. Culinary staples include blue crabs, fried clams, and scrapple, a savory slice made from pork and cornmeal. In Milton, Dogfish Head has been brewing experimental beers since the 1990s, and on the boardwalk, Thrasher's fries with vinegar are a ritual. In summer, farm stands in Sussex County sell strawberries, peaches, and sweet corn, and every fall Bridgeville celebrates the Apple-Scrapple Festival.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Delaware has no major passenger airport; most travelers fly into Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Washington. Amtrak stops in Wilmington on the route between New York and Washington. The best time for a beach vacation is June through September; the most pleasant time for gardens and excursions is May and October, when the beach towns are quieter and lodging is cheaper.