Places to Sample in Delaware

In Wilmington there are several museums and sites of interest to explore, as well as all the delights of the Brandywine Valley.

Riverfront Wilmington is on a bend of the Christina River, and consists of a brick walkway with views of the city as well as the countryside. It starts at the train station and ends with the wildlife refuge, and is just under a mile and a half long. Visitors may walk past shops and museums, and there are a series of signs which illustrate the city’s history. The River Taxi will give one the same tour, including the Shipyard Shops, but from the water.

The Riverfront Market is a good place to stop for sandwiches, coffee, salads, and chocolate, but it also sells other staples such as produce and fresh meats. Harry's Seafood Grill and Iron Hill Brewery are both open for lunch and dinner, and offer a fine selection of local flavor.

One might choose to catch a performance by the Delaware Theatre Company, or tour the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts and FirstUSA Riverfront Arts Center to enjoy the cultural and historical works there. And if you’re lucky, you may be in town for a concert or festival in this venue.

Dover Downs is another big place to be, especially during the harness racing that takes place from November to April. The sights and sounds of the live racetrack are not a thing to be missed if one can spare the time. While in Dover also check out Dover Air Force base. The base houses a military museum that boasts a collection of memorabilia that includes decommissioned aircraft, and spans history from the Civil War up until the First World War. The beaches are just a little ways to the city’s east, and some fine shopping and dining can be had there.

The John Dickenson House is a fine historical landmark to tour, and represents an important piece of Delaware history. Dickenson served in the Delaware and Pennsylvania legislatures and was a member of the Stamp Act Congress, the First and Second Continental Congresses and the Constitutional Convention. His political writings, which include ‘The Letters of a Pennsylvania Farmer’, earned him the title ‘Penman of the Revolution’. The site was recently restored.

The beaches of southern Sussex County make a nice final stop on the last day of the visit. One may choose to spend this day simply relaxing, or hitting the shops, especially in Rehoboth Beach, which offers various organized sports activities every evening during the summer plus special designated areas for surfing and surf fishing. Spend the day sailing, swimming or sunning, or perhaps browse the local diners and other points of interest here.

There is plenty of shopping and dining to choose from. Try Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, which stretches more than one mile along Rehoboth Beach. This famous boardwalk is lined with shops, restaurants and other amusements to suit any budget. The beaches are one of Delaware’s nicest stops at the end of a vacation.