When you’re in Delaware, you’re right in the middle of everywhere you want to be.

Our Atlantic beaches are simply among the best. Our historic attractions tell an exciting tale of the nation’s early days. And our “tax-free” status means visitors can count on a bargain.

Conveniently located in the central mid-Atlantic states with miles of oceanfront coastline and easy access to interstate highways and major airports, Delaware gives the international traveler a “home base” for further exploration of many nearby East Coast attractions, including New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

Whether travelers’ attention is focused inside the state, or on the many top destinations outside its borders, Delaware gives visitors a unique opportunity to do so much, at such a low cost, and in remarkably little time.

Within a few hours’ drive from anywhere in the state, visitors can stroll through magnificent DuPont family mansions and well-preserved Colonial-era towns; do some outlet shopping before a splash in the surf; cheer at one of several major NASCAR races or the fast-growing Firefly Music Festival; or shoot for the big jackpot at one of three full-featured casinos. 

For the outdoor enthusiast, miles of Atlantic Ocean seashore have been preserved in their pristine state, creating a breezy paradise of gentle dunes, singing shorebirds and rumbling surf. For nature lovers, Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge offers a rare East Coast glimpse of the world’s migratory birds. And for sportsmen and sportswomen, our inland bays and ocean expanses mean fishing and boating at their best.

Travelers with a keener focus on cultural pursuits can immerse themselves in the nation’s foremost collection of American antiques (at Winterthur Museum and Gardens); indulge in the splendor of old-world wealth (at the DuPont family mansion-museums); or dress up for a day of champagne-and-caviar tailgating (at the Point-to-Point Steeplechase Races).

In the arts, Delaware is a state that embraces both old and new, whether it’s the off-Broadway productions of the DuPont Theatre; the steady stream of shows running at Opera Delaware or Delaware Theatre Company; or the constantly changing slate of live appearances by contemporary national musical acts at the Queen Theater, the Grand Opera House or our annual Firefly Music Festival.

In Delaware, this contemporary culture comes with an enlightening dose of historical charm. The cobblestone streets of Old New Castle whisk visitors back to a Colonia-era port town, just miles from Revolutionary War battlefields. The walls of Fort Delaware echo a time when Confederate prisoners awaited the outcome of the nation’s Civil War. And the well- preserved 19th century mills of Hagley Museum along the Brandywine River tell of the DuPont Co.’s origins making the gunpowder that helped blaze trails for our settlers and armed our earliest soldiers.

Delaware's Culinary and Wine and Ale trails deliver some of the best in East Coast dining and tasting, whether it’s Rehoboth’s four-star restaurants or the nationally renowned Dogfish Head Brewery.

In Delaware, visitors get all the upside of metropolitan East Coast life, without the traffic, the costs, and the crowds. Delaware’s main attractions can be easily reached via Philadelphia or Baltimore airports, and our strategic location in the middle of the Mid-Atlantic states also gives visitors a “gateway” for exploring some of the region’s most iconic experiences. From Interstate 95 as it passes through the state, visitors can shoot north for day trips to New York City or Philadelphia, or head south for a quick trip to Washington, D.C. or Baltimore.

So much is within reach. But we bet you’ll want to stay.