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Top Ten Romantic Getaways

Romantic Getaways

1. New Candlelight Theatre
2. Hotel DuPont
3. DuPont Theatre
4. Grand Opera House
5. Milton
6. Dover Downs Hotel
7. Rehoboth Beach
8. Lewes
9. Packard Reath Gallery
10. Nassau Valley Vineyards

A message from Delaware Governor, Ruth Ann Minner

There is no place quite like Delaware.  Escape to “Chateau Country” for riveting landscapes made famous by Andrew Wyeth’s paintings. Watch the sun rise over the ocean at the Great Dune near Lewes and a great blue heron as it takes flight from the marshlands of Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge. This year, retrace history along the Nanticoke and Broad Creek rivers with the Captain John Smith Reenactment Voyage.

Our state capital, Dover, is home to one of the most beautifully preserved capitol complexes in the nation, captured by the First State Heritage Park. Old New Castle is a charming town to visit with its original cobblestone streets, colonial homes and guided historical tours. And don’t forget the coastal town of Lewes, which tells the story of Delaware’s seafaring past that dates back to the 1600s.

Enjoy the best opera, dance, drama and music or get inspired by a showcase of galleries featuring our state’s finest artists. Shop tax-free at Delaware’s brand name outlet stores, boutiques and antique shops.

We invite you to experience the wonder and diversity the First State has to offer. Delaware, it’s good being first.

Delaware International Speedway
Stock car racing heats up with modifieds, late models, street modifieds and modified light cars.

Overfalls Maritime Museum Foundation, The
A steel lightship built in 1938. In service with the Coast Guard until 1971. Docked in the city of Lewes Harbor since 1972. Restoration began in 2000. All volunteer labor. Come and see our work in progress on one of only 17 remaining lightships.

The Schwartz Center for the Arts
The Schwartz Center for the Arts was originally constructed in 1904 and known as The Dover Opera House. George M. Schwartz expanded it into a movie theater in 1923 and tabbed it The Capital Theater. For years the Theater flourished but in the 1970s fell into a state of disrepair and in 1982 the doors were closed. After an extensive statewide fundraising campaign spearheaded by Board Chair Frank Fantini (then Vice President of Independent Newspapers) led to extensive modernization and expansion, the beautiful $8.3 million facility reopened in October, 2001 as the Schwartz Center for the Arts. In 2004, under the leadership of Board Chair Dr. Scott D. Miller (President of Wesley College), a strategic alliance was formed to partner the resources of Wesley College, Delaware State University, The Grand Opera House and The Friends of the Capital Theater, to maximize usage and position the historic treasure as the premiere performing arts center south of Wilmington

Trap Pond State Park
Freshwater wetlands once covered a large portion of southwestern Sussex County. Trap Pond State Park retains a part of the swamp's original beauty and mystery, and features the northernmost natural stand of baldcypress trees in the United States. The pond was created in the late 1700's to power a sawmill during the harvest of large baldcypress from the area. The Federal Government later purchased the pond and surrounding farmland during the 1930's and the Civilian Conservation Corps began to develop the area for recreation. Trap Pond became one of Delaware's first state parks in 1951. Visitors have many opportunities to explore the natural beauty of the wetland forest. Hiking trails surround the pond, providing opportunities to glimpse native animal species and many flowering plants. Birdwatching is a popular activity and the observant hiker may spot a Great Blue Heron, owl, hummingbird, warbler, Bald Eagle or the elusive Pileated Woodpecker.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 primarily to preserve coastal wetlands as wintering and breeding habitat for migratory waterfowl. It is located on the west shore of Delaware Bay, approximately 22 miles southeast of Dover, the State capital, and 64 miles southeast of Wilmington, Delaware. Prime Hook NWR is managed primarily to provide nesting, resting, and feeding habitat for migratory waterfowl, with maintenance of optimum black duck wintering habitat being an important objective. Waterfowl production, especially for black ducks and wood ducks is becoming increasingly important. Water levels in the marsh are manipulated at different times of the year via water control structures to stimulate the growth of emergent aquatic plant species which serve as a food source. Refuge habitat types are varied and are managed to maintain a diversity of wildlife species. Prime Hook consists of over 9,700 acres, approximately 7,400 acres of which are fresh marsh, tidal marsh, and open water. Other habitats include approximately 1,000 acres of timber and brush and 1,300 acres of grasslands and croplands. Public use objectives at Prime Hook are to provide wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities compatible with habitat and wildlife objectives. Since the signing of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, appropriate public uses of the Refuge System include six major wildlife-dependent recreational uses and are: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and environmental interpretation.