Tidal salt marshes give Delaware a distinctive natural character: Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the largest remaining areas of this landscape in the Mid-Atlantic region. At Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, the scale becomes clear: the refuge preserves more than 10,000 acres of wildlife habitat. About 80 percent of its area consists of a mix of freshwater and saltwater wetlands. The landscape is therefore not only an expansive refuge, but also a diverse habitat.
Wetlands, Coast and Trails
Prime Hook has 7.5 miles of hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels. If you’d like to pair your visit with an event, the refuge also hosts the Horseshoe Crab Festival, held every year in May. Check the dates for the year in question if the festival is a key part of your plans. Cape Henlopen State Park adds coastal hiking opportunities—a different perspective on the landscape from the inland wetlands.
White Clay Creek State Park also brings together several nature-related features: White Clay Creek is protected as a National Wild and Scenic River and is stocked with fish for anglers. The park’s forest is important habitat for migrating and nesting birds, including the rare Cerulean Warbler. The park also has a historic heritage, including the Judge Morris Estate, which dates to the 1790s. For a comparison of hiking trails, two specific figures offer a useful reference: Prime Hook has 7.5 miles of trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels, while Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library has 25 miles of well-marked trails and footpaths. This makes it possible to compare the total trail mileage and the features described for each set of trails.
History from Different Perspectives
The Old State House in Dover was built in 1791 and was the city’s first permanent capitol building. It continued to serve as Delaware’s capitol until 1933. The Zwaanendael Museum offers a different way to explore the history of the Lewes area: it commemorates Swanendael, Delaware’s first European colony, and presents maritime, military and social history.
The Indian River Life-Saving Station was built in 1876. Its crew responded to more than 60 shipwrecks and saved the lives of 419 people. The station’s museum is designed to reflect its appearance in 1905. The John Dickinson Plantation, in turn, tells the life stories of the tenants, indentured servants, and free and enslaved Black men, women and children who lived, worked and died on the plantation. These diverse subjects illustrate the range of historical stories Delaware has to tell.
Delaware’s five state museums present the state’s contributions to the history and culture of the United States. At the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, hands-on, interactive experiences invite visitors to explore nature and science; the Regional Journey Gallery focuses on the state’s diverse ecosystems. The permanent exhibition Whittlin' History interprets works by folk artist Jehu Camper, who lived from 1897 to 1989. Loockerman Landing illustrates life in a rural Delaware village.
More to Explore
The Hagley Museum and Library is located on the former industrial site of the DuPont Company’s original gunpowder works. At Nemours Estate, visitors can explore the mansion, Chauffeur’s Garage and gardens independently; specific visitor offerings may vary by season. The garage also houses a historic automobile collection that belonged to the duPonts. Check in advance which seasonal offerings are available for your visit.
The Brandywine Zoo is home to animals ranging from common to highly endangered species. Keeper-led Animal Encounters may include feeding or training sessions; availability may vary. The Visit the Lemurs program lets visitors watch lemurs forage in their habitat every day at 10:30 a.m. As schedules can change, check the current time before your visit.
Getting Here
Delaware is centrally located along the Interstate 95 corridor and within driving distance of New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The First State Heritage Park Welcome Center is easy to reach from the highway and has plenty of parking. This practical information complements the state’s variety of attractions: nature reserves, coastal hikes and historic sites offer different ways to discover Delaware based on your own interests.
Discover more destinations: Kent, New Castle County, Sussex County, Alaska, Michigan, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Florida.
Return to the main travel overview: USA.
