Delaware

9 Prettiest Towns to Visit in Delaware

Published

1 year ago

August 18, 2024

The oldest state in America, Delaware harbors a rich tapestry of national history woven among its scenic landscapes and shores along the Delaware River and Bay. From its founding in colonial times through the era that shaped our nation’s core values, Delaware’s small towns tell an enlightening story. Spread across the diverse landscapes of the First State; these pretty hamlets have all the hallmarks of a satisfying getaway. From riverfront ports offering a window to bygone trade missions to quaint villages enjoying rebirths as art communities, they reward travelers with captivating history, iconic landmarks, and vistas around each bend.

If you are planning a tour of the East Coast, these exciting towns to visit in Delaware promise an unforgettable vacation, whether a history enthusiast, culinary connoisseur, culture vulture, or outdoor thrill seeker.

Rehoboth Beach

Sunrise on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Editorial credit: Michelangelo DeSantis / Shutterstock.com

Rehoboth Beach’s tiny population of about 1,200 permanent residents grows over tenfold in the summer as a barrage of beach-loving tourists descend upon the adorable town. Set on the scenic Atlantic Coast, it enjoys stunning beach scenery that complements its cozy, sunny weather. The mile-long Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk presents a popular visitor hub where the young and old converge to explore a blend of family-friendly attractions, from amusement parks and restaurants to beach stores and souvenir shops. The town has ample opportunities for good-natured social interactions, especially at the weekly Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market.

Year-round events and festivals help keep Rehoboth Beach on many travelers’ itineraries, and the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand serves as the town’s primary entertainment center during summer. This open-air venue hosts a string of concerts featuring enthralling live performances.

New Castle

Situated less than 15 minutes from Wilmington, this historic community on the Delaware River offers a relaxed escape from the big city. Thanks to a rich heritage spanning over three centuries, it is the perfect destination for historically inclined travelers. This manifests through the numerous historical sites across the town, housed in rustic buildings with conspicuous red-brick construction. The Amstel House Museum is an excellent example, a well-preserved colonial mansion from the 1730s. Touring the Read House & Gardens delivers a glimpse into the late 18th century inside a Federal-style mansion.

Meanwhile, the Dutch House Museum is one of the town’s oldest structures, dating back to the 1600s. Inside the venue, guests can explore a library of historical information and artifacts documenting Dutch heritage in the area. Beyond this rich past, New Castle welcomes tourists to shop for farm produce, handicrafts, and collectibles at the bustling New Castle Farmers Market.

Lewes

Rich history meets scenic outdoors in this coastal community on Delaware Bay. Lewes was the state’s first European settlement, settled by the Dutch in 1631. Its long and colorful past is preserved at the Lewes Historical Historical Society through old photographs, archives, and artifacts. Visitors can delve deeper into local history at the Zwaanendael Museum, which commemorates Delaware’s first European settlement and is modeled after the former city hall in Hoorn, Netherlands. Touring the facility reveals a selection of artifacts chronicling the region’s social, military, and maritime heritage.

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market supplies residents and visitors with fresh produce straight from the farm, from vegetables and fruits to meats. It also offers an opportunity to mingle with townsfolk and experience local culture. Finally, Pirates of Lewes are among the different outfitters that take visitors on themed boat tours for a unique experience.

Milton

This quaint village in Sussex County lies along the banks of the Broadkill River, which flows into the Delaware Bay. Its origin traces back to 1672 when English colonists settled in the area, later becoming a vital shipbuilding hub. This rich history comes alive in the Milton Historic District, which houses over 150 historical structures from the 1700s to the early 1900s. The Milton Historical Society lures those curious to uncover the town’s past with enlightening exhibits. Milton is also known for its thriving cultural scene, which newcomers can sample by catching entertaining live shows at the Milton Theatre.

Milton Memorial Park assures guests of readily available outdoor opportunities. This riverside reserve offers a chill atmosphere for those who enjoy rich natural settings. It has a nice walking path and picnic spaces, and the Broadkill River is accessible if you fancy a laid-back kayaking or canoeing excursion.

Bethany Beach

First-timers easily fall for the small-town charm and beautiful vistas synonymous with this coastal community. Walking down the Bethany Beach Boardwalk hints at why Bethany Beach is considered among the most charming towns to visit in Delaware. The area boasts a festive atmosphere with a mix of shopping spots, dining outlets, and souvenir shops to explore while taking in the fresh Atlantic breeze. Further inland, the Bethany Beach Nature Center exposes you to gorgeous greenery spread across an approximately 26-acre park with tidal wetlands and forested upland habitats.

Bethany Beach has the ideal vibe for a remarkable family getaway, a credit to attractions like the Shore Fun Family Fun Center. The fabulous facility guarantees wholesome fun for all ages with various entertaining activities, such as pinball machines, arcade games, and air hockey.

Georgetown

Tourists visiting Georgetown keep returning for the immersive historical journey it delivers. The seat of Sussex County has a rich legacy stretching back to the 18th century and harbors numerous landmarks and sites preserving its past. Prominent among these is the Marvel Carriage Museum, which exhibits a collection of restored buildings and antique carriages depicting life in the formative eras. Meanwhile, the Georgetown Train Station documents the town’s railroad heritage inside a 19th-century facility.

With multiple antique shops spread across downtown, guests can leave with a piece of the town to remind them of the experience by shopping at the Georgetown Antiques Market. Art lovers will, however, prefer to get cultured by watching a delightful live performance at Possum Point Players.

Dover

Despite being Delaware’s capital, Dover has a quintessential small-town feel with a population under 40,000 and lovely natural spaces. Most travelers praise the community for its impressive blend of attractions, which caters to all visitor preferences. History enthusiasts are spoilt for choice and can find a treasure trove of sites to explore, including the First State Heritage Park and the Johnson Victrola Museum. Elsewhere, art enthusiasts can look forward to visual and performance art experiences at the Biggs Museum of American Art and the Schwartz Center for the Arts, respectively.

Finally, ardent outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring Silver Lake Park to enjoy its recreational opportunities. This urban oasis features an easygoing and welcoming atmosphere that draws adventurers to stroll along its wooded trails, picnic on its grassy grounds, and fish for striped bass, catfish, and bluegill in Silver Lake.

Middletown

This lovely community of about 25,000 is home to the Delaware Technical Community College. Its welcoming atmosphere and friendly locals allow first-timers to feel at home. This is evident at the Dutch Country Farmers Market, where you can interact with down-to-earth local vendors while combing through diverse Amish delicacies, including fresh baked goods, dairy products, and artisanal candles. The Charles E. Price Memorial Park provides a lovely escape to the great outdoors with its quiet walking trails, peaceful picnic pavilions, and an idyllic fishing pond.

Art lovers and movie enthusiasts can converge at the Everett in downtown Middletown for a compelling cultural experience. This iconic venue hosts varying events to entertain the audience, from local art exhibitions and live stage productions to cinematic films. It was immortalized in the 1989 flick “Dead Poets Society.”

Fenwick Island

Fenwick Island is the perfect Delaware getaway for those seeking an escape from the crowds to unwind and forget all their troubles. With less than 400 people calling it home, tourists can comfortably explore miles of pristine, sandy shores without competition. This is best embodied by the 344 acres of Fenwick Island State Park, which promises a mix of secluded beaches, charming picnic areas, and designated surfing spots. The area’s maritime past comes alive at the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum, which displays a collection of treasures salvaged from numerous shipwrecks off the Atlantic Coast.

Guests can also witness and learn about one of the state’s oldest lighthouses by touring the nearby Fenwick Island Lighthouse, a rustic landmark dating back to 1858. Before leaving the island, remember to buy a precious souvenir at the Seaside Country Store to keep the fun memories.

Delaware’s Must-Visit Small Towns

The First State is an inviting destination that lets travelers delve into the landmark years that made America what it is today. However, it also harbors unmatched natural beauty and cultural heritage, which become evident when you explore the most exciting towns to visit in Delaware. From walking along picturesque riverfronts to strolling through well-preserved downtown streets, visitors gain vivid lessons in local history and character. Planning your travel itinerary around any of the above offers the perfect introduction to this enduring home of American tradition.

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Delaware

Delaware lawmakers approve reassessment fix for tax errors

Published

10 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Delaware lawmakers approve reassessment fix for tax errors

One of the two Delaware Senate bills designed to fix issues that arose in the 2025 reassessment of all First State properties now heads to Gov. Matt Meyer on Jan. 29.

The passed bill would allow New Castle County to carry out “a quality control review” of select property assessments with any clerical or actual errors, as well as nonresidential properties valued at or more than $300,000 “that decreased from their previously assessed value, or whose tax value is 25% less than its most recent sale price,” among other requirements, as previously reported.

Many commercial properties received a tax break due to the recently assessed property tax values, while many with residential properties – including small-business owners – saw a spike in their tax bills.

An additional House amendment, which clarifies that the review parameters listed in the bill do not limit New Castle County “to otherwise make revisions and corrections” to county property assessments, and that the county can conduct additional review “where it appears that an error or mistake in valuation may have occurred,” was introduced. This amendment later cleared the floor by a voice vote.

The bill cleared the full House floor, with 35 lawmakers in support, 3 against and 3 not voting.

The amended bill then returned to the Senate chamber, where members suspended rules and passed the bill at the end of session. Fifteen state senators voted in favor, while six abstained from voting.

This comes with only days to spare, as Romer wanted to pass this legislation before lawmakers break for Joint Finance Committee hearings.

Doing so would allow counties enough time to adjust and get to work before the next tax bills go out, she explained.

The second of these bills would grant the financial offices of New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties the subpoena power to fix future property reassessments.

The bill would give these bodies a little more authority to press properties – particularly the nonresidential kind – for more information when modifying assessments based on the frequently used income approach. Legislators have previously insisted such power would be used sparingly.

Despite being on the full floor agenda, has not yet made an appearance.

Joint Finance Committee hearings are scheduled to begin Feb. 3. This will mean the legislative session is on hold until March 10.

It is not yet known when the second of these bills will be heard next.

Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

Delaware Gov. Meyer’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposes spending cuts, tax raises

Published

22 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

Delaware Gov. Meyer’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposes spending cuts, tax raises

Recommended budget aims to close ‘structural gap’

Meyer said there was a structural gap between expenses and revenue of more than $500 million. He’s proposing reductions to several areas of the budget to help close the divide.

“We don’t believe in going around and cutting government with chainsaws,” he said. “We believe in doing it with scalpels, going line by line, looking intelligently at the services Delawareans are receiving and making sure that we can make more efficient those that aren’t working or don’t make sense.”

Brian Maxwell, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said spending on cost drivers, which totals $524 million, has grown 8% from the current fiscal year. The administration wants to reduce cost drivers by nearly $108 million. Maxwell said Medicaid, inmate medical services, personnel cost and student population growth make up 66% of total for cost drivers.

Other reductions include a $131 million reduction in state investments and a $168 million cut in one-time spending.

The governor’s recommended capital projects legislation, known as the Bond Bill, is $43 million less than the $934 million total in fiscal 26. The recommended budget also slashes $12.5 million from last year’s grants-in-aid bill, giving about $85.5 million in state funding to nonprofits, local fire companies and senior centers.

Meyer also wants to use $10 million to create a film tax credit.

Adding revenue from fees and taxes

The administration wants to balance the budget by raising approximately $160 million in new revenue.

Meyer did not include a proposal to revamp the state’s regressive personal income tax system so wealthier residents would pay more taxes, one of his signature priorities he outlined last year.

About $81 million of that would come from revamping business formation fees, such as when companies form limited liability companies, or LLCs, and the annual franchise tax. Another $18.9 million would come from hiking tobacco taxes, including taxes on cigarettes and vaping products. The tax on cigarettes would go from $2.10 to $3.60 per pack.

House Speaker Melissa “Mimi” Minor-Brown introduced legislation to raise tobacco taxes last year, but it stalled in committee.

Meyer said the proposed tobacco tax increase reflects changes in how people consume nicotine and how outdated the current tax structure has become.

“The tobacco tax also has to do with the changing nature of that industry and tobacco products,” Meyer said. “When you look at the tax system we have in place now for tobacco, I don’t think it makes sense for the current industry — and I wouldn’t say that about alcohol.”

Senate budget chief Trey Paradee, D-Dover, said he’s unsure there’s the political will to rework the tax brackets.

“Coming out of this property reassessment debacle, for lack of a better word, I don’t think that there is much of an appetite to touch people’s personal income taxes at this time,” he said.

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Delaware

Wegmans confirms it’s collecting biometric data. What Delaware law says

Published

1 day ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

Wegmans confirms it’s collecting biometric data. What Delaware law says

Wegmans acknowledged using facial recognition technology for security in a limited number of stores.
The company states the technology is only used to identify individuals previously flagged for misconduct.
Delaware’s Personal Data Privacy Act requires businesses to get consent before collecting sensitive data like biometrics.

In January, reports of signs notifying shoppers that their biometric data was being collected at a Wegmans store in New York City prompted the grocery chain to acknowledge that it uses facial recognition technology in a limited number of locations. The company says the cameras are part of its security strategy, but the disclosures have raised questions about whether similar surveillance are being used in other states, including Delaware.

In a statement issued after the signage drew public attention, Wegmans said facial recognition technology is used only in “a small fraction of our stores located in communities that exhibit an elevated risk.” According to the Rochester, New York-based retailer, the system collects facial recognition data only to identify individuals who have previously been flagged for misconduct.

Wegmans said it does not collect other forms of biometric data such as retinal scans or voice prints, and that images and video are retained only as long as needed for security purposes before being discarded.

When asked by Delaware Online/The News Journal whether facial recognition is used at its lone Delaware location, Wegmans did not provide a direct answer. Marcie Rivera, a spokesperson for the chain, said the company follows a single privacy policy for all shoppers nationwide. She noted the policy incorporates the privacy requirements of every state where the company operates, including Delaware.

How Delaware law protects personal data collection

All businesses operating in the First State are required to comply with Delaware’s Personal Data Privacy Act, which took effect in January 2025. Whether online or in person, the statute allows residents to opt-out of the collection of covered personal information and requires businesses to obtain consent before collecting sensitive personal data.

Personal data is defined as any information that can be linked to an identifiable individual, excluding publicly available information. This includes a name, address, phone number, email, mobile or computer device identifier.

Businesses must obtain a consumer’s expressed consent before collecting or sharing sensitive personal information, including data related to race or ethnic origin, health conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or biometric data.

The law does not automatically classify photographs, audio recordings or video recordings as protected personal data. These materials are covered only when used to identify a specific individual. Facial recognition technology, which analyzes images to match or identify a person, may therefore fall under the law depending on how it is used.

Your rights as a consumer

Even when a regulated business does not post signs about data collection, Delaware residents have the right to investigate whether a company is collecting their personal information.

Under the Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act, consumers are allowed to ask a business to:

Confirm whether it is processing their personal data.
Access that personal data (unless doing so would reveal a trade secret).
Correct inaccuracies.
Request deletion of personal data collected or obtained about them.
Obtain a list of third parties that have received their data.

Delawareans can also opt out of targeted advertising and limit the sale of their personal information. Parents or legal guardians may exercise these rights on behalf of their children.

Requests can be made through the contact methods provided in a company’s privacy notice. Under the act, businesses may deny a consumer’s request if complying would interfere with efforts to respond to or prevent security incidents, identity theft or fraud.

Consumers have the right to appeal any decision that denies a request. If the appeal is rejected, the business must provide information that allows the consumer to contact the Attorney General’s Office to file a complaint.

Enforcement and resources

The Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act applies to companies that conduct business in Delaware or offer products or services targeted to Delaware residents and that, during the previous year, either controlled or processed the personal data of:

at least 35,000 consumers; or
10,000 or more consumers and earned more than 20% of gross revenue from the sale of personal data.

Service providers that manage or process data on behalf of those companies are also included.

Enforcement of the law is handled by the Delaware Department of Justice through its Fraud and Consumer Protection Division. Residents can learn more about their privacy rights at privacy.delaware.gov. Concerns about business data practices or unresolved complaints can be directed to the department’s privacy team through the contact information listed on the site.

To share your community news and activities with our audience, join Delaware Voices Uplifted on Facebook. Nonprofits, community groups and service providers are welcome to submit their information to be added to our Community Resources Map. Contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.

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