GRISWOLDDAD
Parenting, Entertainment, and Travel Tips
Things to Do in Delaware
*For a list of Delaware's best yearly events, click here.
Does anyone remember that scene from Wayne's World where they were promoting different areas of the country...but when they go to Delaware, they could only say, "Hi...I'm in Delaware."
Well, there's a reason. I don't want to knock any state, but we went to Dover thinking we would be whisked away to a land of history. Unfortunately, all the history has basically been torn down and relegated to plaques telling you what once was there. Aside for historical places, or lack thereof, there are still some fun places to visit throughout Delaware including beautiful beaches.
Bethany and Rehoboth Beaches
Delaware does have some good beaches though. Bethany Beach is one of the best ones. Another is Rehoboth, which has a really fun, yearly Sand Castle tournament.
Delaware City
You CAN still see history in this town! Fort Delaware, dating back to 1859, was a fort used by the Union soldiers in the Civil War that held Confederate prisoners of war.
Dover
We went to Dover, the capital, in hopes of seeing some history at least. (If you look in the 1000 Places to See Before You Die book, Delaware is really only listed for the DuPont museum of antiques...wasn't really pulling me in.) Well, as the capital of the very first state, Dover is full of history. Revolutionary War. Civil War. Forefathers planning the Constitution!
Unfortunately, all that is seen in markers only. One patch of grass was the site of Revolutionary War soldiers meeting and being debriefed. Another patch of grass was the site of a Civil War skirmish. Then, the big finale! The Golden Fleece Tavern, where the forefathers would meet and drink and discuss and SIGN the Constitution...is no longer there. But, there's a plaque on the side of the building that would've been adjacent to the tavern saying "here once stood that tavern"... Unfortunately that tavern was demolished in 1830.
Winterthur
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library is located in the gorgeous Brandywine area and was once the home of Henry Francis Dupont. It has since been turned into a museum to showcase Dupont's enormous collection of American art and antiques. This is the largest single collection of American art and antiques in the world.
