Places to Go
DELAWARE STATE PARKS
Cape Henlopen State Park
302-645-8983
15099 Cape Henlopen Drive
Lewes, DE 19958
Situated at the mouth of the Delaware Bay sits Cape Henlopen State Park and its 6+ miles of coastline. The “Point” of Cape Henlopen, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, shaped the history of this landscape. For millennia, native people lived off the land’s abundant and rich resources and in the late 1600s, William Penn’s family granted the land and allowed citizens to harvest many of the same resources. The area’s strategic position led to the construction of Fort Miles during World War II with its iconic fire control towers along the Atlantic coast and, which served as a federal defensive site, training area and testing location both during and after the war. A diverse collection of habitats makes up the coastal ecosystem of Cape Henlopen State Park. Barrier dune, coastal beaches, and maritime forest are home to many species of plants and animals. Visitors can visit the Seaside Nature Center to participate in an interpretive program or learn about the park’s native plants and animals.
Delaware Seashore State Park
302-227-2800
39415 Inlet Road
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Delaware Seashore State Park, boasting six miles of ocean and 20 miles of bay shoreline, serves as an important part of the southern Delaware coastline. The dynamic Indian River Inlet connects the Indian River and Rehoboth Bays with the Atlantic Ocean and is the epicenter of the park’s many activities. A beach lies on either side of the inlet, welcoming anglers and beachgoers who stay for the day or overnight at the park’s waterfront campground and cottages. The Indian River Life-Saving Station, built in 1876 for use by the United States Lifesaving Service to respond to shipwrecks, now pays homage to its maritime heritage while doubling as a coastal event space and educational center. The barrier beach and inland bays provide the perfect salt marsh habitat and nesting grounds for birds and terrapins. More than seven miles of trails welcome hikers, bikers and birders.
Fenwick Island State Park
Summer: 302-539-1055
Year-round: 302-227-2800
Route 1
Fenwick Island, DE
Delaware’s southernmost beach, Fenwick Island State Park offers three miles of ocean beaches along with access to the Little Assawoman Bay. The park once was home to the late 1800s Fenwick Island Life-Saving Station, lost in the storm of 1962, which provided aid to maritime travelers in distress off Delaware’s Atlantic coast. Fenwick Island State Park is home to a World War II-era fire control tower that helped protect the coastline. Ghost crabs are a popular site along the water, and programs are offered to learn about these and other natural resources at the park. Kayaking is a favorite pastime at this tranquil downstate park.
Assateague National Park
443-614-3547
7206 National Seashore Ln, Berlin, MD 21811
Assateague Island National Seashore is a protected area on a long barrier island off the coast of Maryland and Virginia. It’s known for its Atlantic beaches and for trails that wind through marshland, dunes and pine forest. In the south, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is home to wild Chincoteague ponies, bald eagles and migratory seabirds. Near Toms Cove is the working, 19th-century Assateague Lighthouse
MUSEUMS
Indian River Life Saving Station
302-227-6991
25039 Coastal Highway
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Be swept back to a time when night-time beach patrols and perilous high seas rescues were the only way to save shipwreck victims along the coasts of the United States. The original Indian River Life-Saving Station was built in 1876 for use by the United States Lifesaving Service, a government organization created to respond to the alarming number of shipwrecks along the coastlines of the United States and the precursor to today’s U. S. Coast Guard.
The building was first located 400 feet closer to the shore, but a sand dune began to form around it almost as soon as it was finished. It was moved to its present location in 1877, and today has been meticulously restored to its 1905 appearance, complete with diamond-shaped trim. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Bethany Nature Center
302-537-7680
807 Garfield Parkway,
Bethany Beach, DE 19930
Inside the nature center, visitors can explore interactive exhibits, including “Our Inland Bays…A Delicate Balance,” which allows visitors to ‘virtually’ explore the Inland Bays watershed from the headwater streams, through the maritime forests, across the salt marshes to the bays using a state-of-the-art presentation called an I-Wall. Outside, visitors can make a similar exploration through forest and marsh along a handicap-accessible boardwalk with has been built to lead you through each habitat with educational signage to keep you informed along the way. The 26-acre conservation area includes three acres of forested uplands, nine acres of freshwater wetlands, and fourteen acres of tidal wetlands.
OTHER FUN PLACES TO VISIT
Beach Towns
All of the surrounding beach towns have their own character and are worth a visit: be sure to check out Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Ocean City.
Berlin, MD: Coolest Little Town
Downtown Berlin is a thriving and diverse community designated both as a Maryland Main Street Community and an Arts and Entertainment District located just 8 miles from Ocean City and Assateague National Seashore. Named the BEST Town for Shopping by USA Today in both 2018 and 2020. Berlin was also a Top 10 Great American Main Street, twice!
Berlin’s Main Street boasts over 60 retail shops, galleries, antiques 15+ dining establishments, live music venues, coffee shops, bakeries, butcher and local seafood market, sweets, antiques and more.
The Arts are alive in Berlin with galleries featuring local art and handcrafts. During the warmer months, 2nd Fridays in Berlin feature live music and many shops are open late.
History is everywhere with 47 structures on the National Historic Register. The Taylor House Museum is the local archive for all things historic in Berlin.