The Best Small Towns In Delaware For A Weekend Retreat
Delaware, the nation’s 2nd smallest and 6th least populous state in the Mid-Atlantic region, is affectionately dubbed the “First State” for being the earliest state among the Thirteen Colonies to approve the US Constitution formally. Fast forward to the present day, Delaware has become one of the East Coast’s favored vacation destinations. Even though holidayers flock in large numbers to the state capital, Dover, and the biggest and most populous city, Wilmington, the uncountable, pretty small towns in the state are excellent locales to spend weekends and make long-lasting memories.
Odessa
Originally established in the 18th century as Cantwell’s Bridge, this tranquil New Castle County town along the 15.3-mile-long Appoquinimink River, has been renamed after its namesake Ukrainian port city. Home to only 366 inhabitants as per the latest US Census, a major portion of the town, including the central business district and surrounding residential areas, is a part of the Odessa Historic District.
The National Register-listed District also comprises many conscientiously maintained landmark properties such as the Corbit-Sharp House, Academy Building, Appoquinimink Friends Meetinghouse, Old St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church, Wilson-Warner House, Collins-Sharp House, etc. Holidayers can enjoy their stay at the Miller-Dunham House Bed & Breakfast, savor mouthwatering farm-to-table cuisines, craft beers, and cocktails at the Cantwell’s Tavern restaurant, and attend yearly celebrations like the Christmas in Odessa festivities and the Historic Odessa Brewfest.
Bethany Beach
Bethany Beach, located betwixt Miller Creek and Indian River Bay, is bounded by the mighty Atlantic Ocean to the east; the Delaware Seashore State Park and Salt Pond to the north; the town of South Bethany to the south; and Ocean View to the west. Dubbed “The Quiet Resorts” alongside the adjacent coastal towns of South Bethany and Fenwick Island, this Sussex County town, with its unhindered beach access, is an idyllic haven for residents of other nearby buzzing towns.
Apart from participating in numerous activities on the town’s public beaches, holidayers must peruse the antique shops, seafood restaurants, souvenir stores, and home-like hotels like Hotel Bethany Beach and Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence Inn by Marriott. Travelers can also enjoy mind-boggling sunrise and sunset views from the Bethany Beach Boardwalk or take a trip to the neighboring Bethany Beach Nature Center and Fenwick Island Lighthouse.
Millsboro
Millsboro, a Sussex County town situated only a 30-minute drive from Bethany Beach, forms a part of the Salisbury, MD-DE Metropolitan Statistical Area. Having a pleasant downtown area and a relaxed pace of life, Millsboro is an ideal place to reside in Southern Delaware. This 6,868-resident waterfront community houses countless significant sites such as the Issac Harmon Farmhouse, Indian Mission Church, Nanticoke Indian Museum, Harmony Church, Millsboro Arts League, and Indian River Archeological Complex.
Visitors can partake in ample water-based recreational activities like fishing, crabbing, swimming, boating, etc., taking full advantage of the town’s location along the headwaters of the Indian River. Rest for the night at the Atlantic Inn-Millsboro and head to the Washington and Main Streets for a myriad of the finest sit-down eateries serving delectable dishes.
New Castle
This teeny New Castle County town situated about 6 miles south of Wilmington along the Delaware River forms a portion of the Delaware Valley/Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. Initially settled in 1651 by the Dutch West India Company as ‘Fort Casimir’ under the headship of the Dutch administrator Peter Stuyvesant, New Castle is Delaware’s oldest continually inhabited settlement. Walk down the cobblestone streets of the New Castle Historic District and survey the scores of well-preserved structures dating from the 17th to early 19th centuries.
The New Castle Court House Museum (part of the First State National Historical Park), Old Dutch House, Amstel House Museum & Gardens, Immanuel on the Green (Episcopal Church), and Read House & Gardens are some noteworthy sites of interest. After a hectic day of explorations, visitors must taste the lip-smacking dishes at Jessop’s Tavern or Nora Lee’s French Quarter Bistro and relax at Fairfield Inn & Suites Wilmington-New Castle or Red Roof Inn & Suites Wilmington-New Castle.
Lewes
Lewes, often called “The First Town In The First State,” is located in southeastern Delaware’s Sussex County, at the head of Delaware Bay within the Salisbury, MD-DE Metropolitan Statistical Area. Snuggled between Cape Henlopen State Park’s pristine beaches and the Great Marsh Preserve’s wetlands, this slow-paced coastal community is chock-a-full of painstakingly maintained buildings, including the Lewes Presbyterian Church, Ryves Holt House, William Russell House, etc.
Additionally, learn more about the area’s bygone days at the Fort Miles Museum & Historic Area, and the Zwaanendael Museum. Stroll Lewes’s walkable downtown and have a look at the wealth of antique shops, breweries, museums, confectioneries, souvenir stores, award-winning eateries, and accommodations like the Blue Water House Bed & Breakfast and Dogfish Inn. Outdoorsy types must head straight to the Cape Henlopen State Park for amazing sunsets, plenty of recreation, and biking the Gordons Pond Trail that winds through the diverse ecosystems of the state park.
Milton
An enchanting town situated at the mouth of the estuarial Broadkill River, Milton, named after the eminent English poet John Milton, forms a part of the prosperous Cape Region. Thanks to Milton’s riverside setting and nearness to Delaware Bay, the town spiritedly upholds its rich shipbuilding heritage aside from its small-town charm. The Milton Historic District, which covers a significant portion of the town’s business district, features some of Delaware’s exquisite Victorian and Colonial architecture.
The Lydia Black Cannon Museum, Governor David Hazzard Mansion, Safe Deposit Company Building, Gov. James Ponder House, Draper-Adkins House, Milton Theater, and Governor James Carey Home & Former Sussex Trust are Milton’s interesting attractions. Enjoy your stay at the Mansion Farm Inn Bed & Breakfast, grab popular craft beers at the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, and spend time amidst the greens at the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and the Milton Memorial Park.
Delaware City
Delaware City is a tiny port town on the eastern extremity of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal in New Castle County. Heritage lovers visiting the town must take a ferry to Pea Patch Island and check out the pentagon-shaped Fort Delaware in Fort Delaware State Park that overlooks the Delaware River. The Delaware City Historic District contains more than 204 buildings constructed in Greek Revival and Italianate architectural styles, besides multiple shops, diners, and stay-ins like Miss Helen’s Guesthouse.
Those who wish to discover the vintage Diamond State Base Ball Club’s home field must tour the Fort DuPont State Park, while different parks like Battery Park, Dragon Run Park, Bubby Sadler ballfields, Seventh Street Park, and the Community Center grounds provide recreational activities for outdoor enthusiasts.
Rehoboth Beach
Nicknamed “The Nation’s Summer Capital,” Rehoboth Beach is an acclaimed wealthy vacation retreat along the Delaware Beaches in Sussex County’s eastern portion. One of the Cape Region’s leading towns, travelers can enjoy a first-class beach holiday here, complete with dirtless beaches, entertainment venues, boutique shops, restaurants, walking trails, amusement parks, art galleries, the mile-long wooden Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, and hotels like Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Henlopen Oceanfront Hotel.
Drop by the Rehoboth Beach Museum and the Anna Hazard Museum to check out the variety of period exhibits that tell tales about the area’s local history. Other than beaches, the town has a handful of open spaces, such as Grove Park, Martin’s Lawn, Stockley Street Park, Lee Street Park, Teardrop Park, Deer Park, and Lake Gerar Park. Annually, Rehoboth Beach hosts the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival, and the Sea Witch Festival.
Smyrna
Spread across Central Delaware’s Kent and New Castle Counties, Smyrna forms a part of the Dover Metropolitan Statistical Area. Primarily called “Duck Creek Cross Roads,” the town was rechristened in 1806 after its namesake Greek seaport city in modern Turkey. When in town, The Belmont Hall, Smyrna Museum, Cummins-Stockly House, Alexander Griswold Cummins, Sr. House, Smyrna Opera House, and Asbury United Methodist Church are not to be missed. Head straightaway to the beautiful Lake Como or the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge for outdoor activities, and de-stress after an eventful day at Quality Inn and Bally’s Dover Casino Resort.
From Lewes - “The First Town In The First State” to Rehoboth Beach - “The Nation’s Summer Capital,” each Delaware small town captivates tourists with its distinct style and appeal. If you are on the lookout for locales having miles of spotless golden-sand beaches, fascinating colonial homes, incredible state parks & wildlife refuges, and unlimited recreational opportunities, look no further than these communities in the Diamond State for an unforgettable weekend getaway.
