2024's 8 Most Scenic Delaware Towns
Delaware, oftentimes overlooked by vacationers for its beauteous vicinal neighbors like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland, is a spectacular state in the US’ Mid-Atlantic region. Admiringly designated the ‘First State’ for being the foremost colony among the Thirteen Colonies to validate the US Constitution, Delaware has, over the years, metamorphosed into one of the most sought-after tourist spots on the East Coast. At the same time, Delaware boasts a variegated terrain ranging from the sandy shores of the Atlantic to the Piedmont region’s rolling hills and boggy marshes of Delaware Bay. Dotting ‘The Diamond State’ are innumerable scenic towns captivating holidayers with their intriguing histories, squeaky clean golden-sand beaches, marvelous state parks & wildlife refuges, and thriving community life.
Lewes
Lewes, admiringly dubbed “The First Town In The First State,” is set at the Delaware Bay’s mouth in southeastern Delaware’s Sussex County within the Salisbury, MD-DE Metropolitan Statistical Area. Snuggled betwixt the unsullied beaches of Cape Henlopen State Park and the wetlands of Great Marsh Preserve, the picturesqueness of Lewes, defined by its alluring sandy beaches, scenic trails, and vast open spaces, draws thousands of vacationers to this coastal settlement. Further adding to the town’s appeal is a superb historic district featuring well-preserved buildings dating back to the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Outdoorsy types must tour the nearby Cape Henlopen State Park and camp in the pine-covered dunes, angle from the beach or the 24-hour year-round fishing pier, bike the myriad nature and hiking trails, walk along the tranquil shores, and watch amazing sunsets over the bay.
Smyrna
Initially christened ‘Duck Creek Cross Roads’ and later renamed after an ancient Greek seaport in modern-day Turkey, Smyrna, spread across south-central Delaware’s Kent and New Castle counties, forms a portion of the Dover Metropolitan Statistical Area. Flawlessly amalgamating natural beauty and small-town charisma, Smyrna welcomes visitors to take note of its gentle watercourses and pretty parks like Green Meadows Park. The flowing 3.86-mile-long Duck Creek provides ample opportunities for birding and strolls. Head straightaway to the adjacent 6,000-acre Blackbird State Forest, Lake Como - one of Delaware’s sole swimmable lakes, and the 15,978-acre Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge for partaking in various outdoor activities.
Millsboro
A sublime Sussex County town, Millsboro, located about half an hour’s drive from Bethany Beach, forms a part of the Salisbury, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area. Boasting a beguiling downtown area and a moderate pace of life, this 6,863-inhabitant town is an idyllic place to dwell in Southern Delaware. Making the best use of the town’s location alongside the headwaters of the Indian River, adrenaline junkies can engage in water-based recreational activities such as swimming, fishing, boating, crabbing, etc. Waterfront parks like the Millsboro Cupola Park (featuring Delaware’s largest bald cypress tree besides other amenities), and nature preserves like the Bullseye-Ferry Landing Preserve, make Millsboro an ideal place for nature enthusiasts.
New Castle
This teeny New Castle County community overlooking the Delaware River is located precisely 10 minutes south of Downtown Wilmington. Aside from walking down the lovely cobblestone streets of the New Castle Historic District, stop by the town’s verdant green spaces, such as Battery Park, where travelers get to engage in strolling, running, and biking activities on the 3.7-mile-long paved Battery Park Trail, and observe amazing views of the Delaware River, ships, waterfowls, and Delaware Memorial Bridge. Furthermore, the Amstel House Museum & Gardens, Dutch House Museum & Gardens, and Read House Gardens are perfect spots for unwinding amidst the greens.
Milton
Milton, a bewitching town in Southern Delaware’s Sussex County, is located at the mouth of the estuarial Broadkill River within the Salisbury, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town’s most distinctive feature is the 13.3-mile-long Broadkill River, which, past Milton, flows eastwards via lush wetlands and salt marshes of the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and finally empties into Delaware Bay. Thanks to its riverside setting and closeness to Delaware Bay, the town proudly upholds its shipbuilding heritage as well as its protective small-town ambiance. For those who are in search of beautiful settings for a number of outdoor recreational activities (kayaking, walking, fishing, picnicking), the Milton Memorial Park, located right behind Milton Library, should be at the top of your list. From the Milton Memorial Park boat launch, access the Milton-McCabe Preserve Greenway Trail, which connects Milton with the Edward H. McCabe Preserve.
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach, dubbed “The Nation’s Summer Capital,” is a widely known prosperous holiday retreat along Delaware Beaches in the eastern portion of Sussex County. Being one of the leading communities in the proliferating Cape Region, holidaymakers get to experience a fantastic beach holiday here, packed with unspoiled beaches, walking trails, amusement parks, and the mile-long wooden Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. Other than the beaches by the Atlantic, the town has ample wide-open spaces, including Grove Park (having a playground, benches, restrooms, shuffleboard courts, and a pavilion), the 15-acre Lake Gerar Park located by the side of Lake Gerar, Stockley Street Park set beside Silver Lake, Teardrop Park having a dock along Silver Lake, the Central Park and Deer Park’s wooded areas which provide closeup views of native wildlife, the Lee Street Park’s shady trees suitable for picnicking or relaxing on a hot summer day, and the small grassy area and crape myrtle trees of Martin’s Lawn located close to the Senior Center and the Anna Hazzard Museum.
Odessa
Originally baptized Cantwell’s Bridge, this serene New Castle County settlement along the Appoquinimink River has been relabeled after its eponymous Ukrainian port city. Travelers visiting this only 366-inhabitant town must tour its National Register-listed Odessa Historic District, which comprises numerous carefully maintained 18th and 19th-century structures, adding greatly to the town’s rustic elegance. Simmer down at any of Odessa’s two public parks: Odessa Memorial Park and Old Academy Park complete with playgrounds, picnic spaces, basketball/tennis courts, and walking/biking paths.
Bethany Beach
An adorable Sussex County town situated between Indian River Bay and Miller Creek, Bethany Beach is bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the north by Salt Pond and Delaware Seashore State Park, and the towns of South Bethany and Ocean View on the south and west respectively. Bynamed “The Quiet Resorts” alongside the proximal seashore hamlets of South Bethany and Fenwick Island, the town, with its undisturbed beach access, serves as a holiday haven for residents of other nearby bustling urban centers. Excursionists must not miss the miles of ocean and bay shorelines, guarded beaches, marinas, campgrounds, restroom facilities, pavilion for picnics, interactive centers, and boat ramps of the adjoining Delaware Seashore State Park, Fenwick Island State Park, Holts Landing State Park, and Bethany Beach Nature Center. Drive out to the James Farm Ecological Preserve, located 5 miles northwest of Bethany Beach, and survey the observation towers and the marked trails along Indian River Bay in addition to partaking in guided tours through the woods to gain knowledge about the local avian species, trees, shrubs, and wildflowers.
From Rehoboth Beach’s exquisite beaches to Lewes - ‘The First Town In The First State,’ each scenic town in the nation’s 6th least populous and 2nd smallest state hypnotizes tourists with its discernible style and unmistakable charisma. So, if you are looking for a tranquil getaway having speckless beaches, incredible wilderness areas, and infinite outdoor pursuits, join us as we set out to discover some of the Blue Hen State’s most picturesque locales in the last few months of 2024.
