Introduction
Despite being the second smallest state in the USA, Delaware is full of fun things to see and do. Aside from all its beautiful beaches and scenic state parks, it has sleepy seaside villages and charming colonial towns to explore with countless huge malls, bustling brewpubs and quiet wildlife refuges also on offer.
Named after the nearby Delaware River, the ‘Small Wonder’ occupies the northeastern portion of the Delmarva Peninsula with Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey lying all around it. Bordered to the east by the enormous Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean, its long coastline is lined by pristine beaches, rugged islands and lonely lighthouses. Cutting the state in two is the C&D Canal, with the north, near Philadelphia, largely urban and industrial and the south more rural and untouched.
Due to their inviting swathes of sand, lively boardwalks and wonderful watersports, most visitors to the state head straight to Reheboth and Dewey Beaches, with the much calmer yet equally picturesque Bethany Beach also attracting lots of people. Besides superb seafood restaurants and souvenir shops, they all have cozy cottages for guests to stay at with fun arcades and ice cream stands dotted about.
As they are home to stunning scenery and not far from all of the above attractions, the state parks of Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore and Fenwick Island are very popular and peaceful spots to swim, sunbathe or enjoy some outdoor activities.
Aside from its attractive Atlantic Ocean coast, visitors to Delaware either check out its centuries-old capital Dover, which boasts a wealth of striking monuments and museums, or lovely little Lewes for its atmospheric wharves, waterways and historic homes. In addition, its largest city Wilmington is well worth stopping by for its thriving arts and culture scene and pretty gardens, with some divine wineries and countryside also nearby.