Eight landmarks across the First State — from the du Pont estates of the north to the colonial capital, and the wild beaches of the Atlantic coast.
Henry Francis du Pont's grand country estate, home to a premier American decorative-arts collection and naturalistic gardens.
The former country estate of Henry Francis du Pont, Winterthur is a sprawling 175-room mansion housing one of the finest collections of American decorative arts in the world — furniture, ceramics, and textiles spanning the early colonial period to the mid-nineteenth century. The house tour offers a glimpse into both the artistry and the lifestyle of one of America's most prominent families.
Surrounding the house are nearly 1,000 acres of rolling meadows, woodlands, and a celebrated naturalistic garden. A free tram helps visitors cover the grounds, and the estate is especially magical during its elaborate seasonal displays.
A sprawling coastal park where the Atlantic meets Delaware Bay, with wide beaches, dunes, trails, and WWII-era bunkers.
At the point where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic, Cape Henlopen offers wide, uncrowded beaches, shifting dunes, and a unique coastal ecosystem of pine forest and cranberry-dotted vernal pools. A roughly 16-mile network of paved trails — including the scenic Gordon's Pond loop — makes it a favorite for cyclists and birders alike.
The park is steeped in military history, having served as Fort Miles during World War II; you can climb the observation tower and explore the preserved coastal-defense bunkers. A free bike-loan barn and excellent camping round out the appeal.
Delaware's quintessential seaside boardwalk, lined with arcades, eateries, and shops along a clean Atlantic beach.
The heart of Delaware's most popular beach town, the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is a classic mile-long stretch of arcades, amusement rides, ice-cream stands, and oceanfront benches — backed by a clean, family-friendly Atlantic beach. Just off the boards, Rehoboth Avenue brims with shops, tax-free outlet shopping nearby, and a renowned dining scene.
Lively in summer and pleasantly nostalgic in the off-season, it manages a relaxed but festive coastal vibe. It's an easy, walkable destination that has drawn returning visitors for generations.
The birthplace of the DuPont company, set along the Brandywine — original powder mills, an ancestral home, and gardens.
Hagley occupies the very site where E. I. du Pont founded his gunpowder works in 1802, the seed of what became the DuPont industrial empire. Spread along the rushing Brandywine River, the open-air museum preserves the original powder mills, a workers' community, and live demonstrations of water-powered machinery that bring early American industry to life.
The grounds also include the du Pont family's ancestral home and gardens, plus an exhibition of patent models celebrating American invention. The riverside setting, with its rapids and falls, makes for a scenic and unexpectedly engaging visit.
A 300-acre Gilded Age estate with a French-style mansion and the largest formal French gardens in North America.
Built by Alfred I. du Pont and named for his family's ancestral French village, Nemours is a breathtaking Louis XVI–style château set on 300 acres. The 77-room mansion is filled with fine art, antiques, and furnishings — most original to the family — evoking the opulence of early-twentieth-century high society on a surprisingly intimate scale.
The estate's formal French gardens are the largest of their kind in North America, stretching in grand symmetry from the mansion. Allow a couple of hours to explore the house and grounds, which are particularly resplendent during seasonal displays.
Delaware's first urban "park without boundaries," linking historic sites around Dover's colonial Green in the state capital.
Set in the heart of the state capital, First State Heritage Park is a "park without boundaries" that ties together a cluster of historic sites around Dover's colonial Green — the very ground where Delaware ratified the U.S. Constitution to become the first state. Red-brick streets, museums, and the old State House anchor the experience.
Costumed interpreters, guided walking tours, and lively annual events like the eighteenth-century Market Fair let visitors step back in time. It's a compact, history-rich way to experience the founding of the "First State."
A free aviation museum at Dover AFB showcasing historic military cargo and refueling aircraft, including a C-5 Galaxy.
Located at Dover Air Force Base, the Air Mobility Command Museum celebrates the history of military airlift and aerial refueling with an impressive, beautifully preserved fleet — headlined by the colossal C-5 Galaxy, one of the largest aircraft in the world. Visitors can explore cockpits, climb a control tower, and try a flight simulator.
Admission and parking are free, and the museum is staffed largely by knowledgeable veteran volunteers, many of whom flew the very aircraft on display. Their firsthand stories make this a standout for families and aviation enthusiasts alike.
