The southernmost county of Delaware, Sussex County, includes rural farmland and the beautiful and popular beaches that tourists enjoy every summer.
Northern and Inland Attractions
The town of Milford straddles Kent and Sussex County and is a fun stop along route one to take a walk along the Milford River walk, enjoy a bite to eat or take in some art. There’s also a Can-Do Playground located in Milford that is very nice where the kids can expend some energy.
Further South you will find the town of Millsboro, where you can find retail and restaurant options surrounded by farmland, and within a quick drive of the beaches. Massey’s Landing is a popular boat launch and fishing spot in millsboro.
Nearby you’ll find Paradise Grill, which features live music most Thursday through Sunday evenings, as well as playgrounds and ice cream stands for the kids to enjoy. The atmosphere is lots of fun, with palm trees, open seating, and gorgeous beach views.
The Nanticoke Indian Museum is also located in Millsboro, and is a fine source of information if you are interested in the indigenous people who lived in Sussex county before Europeans arrived. It is small, affordable, and worth checking out. You’ll also find information here on the Powwow which occurs in Sussex county every year, typically in the fall. The gathering includes dance, song, family celebration, traditional spiritual elements, crafts and artwork, native foods, kids activities, and a car show. It’s one of the largest indigenous/native gatherings on the East Coast.
Delaware Botanic Garden along Pepper Creek is a wonderful place for a walk, full of beautiful seasonal blooms, unique and fanciful nature sculptures, and wildlife (including a pair of nesting bald eagles whose nest can be seen from the path). Kids get in for free, and tours are offered for $10 a person if you have an interest in botany and native plants.
Trap Pond State Park is about the farthest north you can find a bald cypress swamp. It has a nice network of walking and biking trails, bike rentals, a nature center, restrooms and playgrounds. Not to mention, the pond itself is a popular spot for kayaking and boating.
A fun place to get ice cream is at Hopkins Farm, but it does get crowded during peak season. But, there is a little playground where the kids can play while you wait in line, and they can also visit the cows!
The charming small town of Milton is another stop along route one where you can find lovely historic homes, unique shops and eateries, and a lovely little pond and playground where the kids can expend some energy.
Beaches
Cape Henlopen State Park is both beach and park, and includes about 6 miles of coastline at the mouth of the Delaware Bay. The park includes “The Point,” where the Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, barrier dunes, coastal beaches, and maritime forests, which are all highlighted in the Seaside Nature Center that also offers interactive educational programs. Fort Miles was built in the park during World War II, and the towers can be viewed along the drive. Or you can just enjoy a day at the beach at this lovely section of Delaware’s coast.
Other Delaware Beaches include Lewes Beach. Lewes is a charming little town filled with boutiques and waterfront cafes and restaurants. It has a classy but friendly feel, and the Bay is great for little ones or others who want to swim without a lot of surf. It is known for its tulip festival in spring, and for the Lewes-Cape May Ferry, if you’re looking for the most pleasant way to get to New Jersey.
Rehoboth Beach is also charming. Many come for the tax-free shopping at the outlets, but the beach itself at Rehoboth is clean, lovely, and worth the crowds. Or, you can go in the off-season when there are hardly any crowds! May and September are lovely there. You can also park a little ways out from the main boardwalk area. There is a nice playground near Lake Gerard with street parking, and it is only a block or two to the sea.
The Rehoboth Boardwalk is about a mile long, and has many fun stores (our favorite is the Rehoboth Toy and Kite Company at the very end.) Make sure to get some Thrasher fries, Grottos Pizza, fudge from the Candy Kitchen, or funnel cake from just about anywhere. “Funland” is the small amusement park at the other end of the boardwalk – it has dozens of small rides, mostly geared toward younger children. It is quite affordable and also includes various games and arcades.
Delaware Seashore State Park takes up a long span of beach and bay (about 20 miles of bay shoreline, in fact), and has lots of amenities including campgrounds, cottages, playgrounds, areas for fishing, angling, hiking, and even a museum – the Indian River Life-Saving Station. We like to go to the beach at Towers Beach in the park, where you can visit one of the eleven observation towers that were used for observation and defense during World War II. There is a bathhouse, concession stand, and lifeguards.
