The new year is here, and it’s already overflowing with options for new things to do in Delaware. So make a resolution to get moving again, and check out some of Delaware’s new restaurants to enjoy, new exhibitions to see, and new experiences to savor.
Some of 2022’s newest attractions will seem new to us all as they debut in the coming months. Other temptations on this list may be “new to you”: Experiences that you’ve always meant to try (or possibly hadn’t heard about), but which need to be on any Delaware “Bucket List.”
So seize the moment, expand your experiences, and make some fresh memories in Delaware.
Catch a sunrise over the ocean, then watch it set over the bay.
It’s a Delaware thing: Thanks to the way the beaches snuggle up against the Inland Bays, you’re mere steps from experiencing a unique way to start (and end) a perfect seaside day.
Discover a hidden gem.
Bop on over to Wilmington’s fun Trolley Square neighborhood, where you’ll discover a little shop that’s creating a bit of buzz. Trolley Square Market is the kind of place where you uncover the kind of treasures you never knew you needed (until you see them) – local artwork, apothecary goods, vintage goodies, even plants and minerals.
Check out the "new" Museum of Natural History
This family-favorite destination is being renamed and reimagined as the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science, and has a lineup of new galleries and public spaces: Head there after its debut in May to see new exhibits that take travelers on a journey through local ecosystems, global wonders, and the only permanent dinosaur exhibit in the state.
See the “Jackie O” exhibit.
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library’s new show is going to be one of the year’s hottest tickets. “Jacqueline Kennedy and Henry Francis du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House” tells the story of how the former First Lady turned toward Delaware when planning the renovation of the president’s home (opens May 7).
See a young bald eagle try their wings for the first time.
Head for Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in June, and experience an unforgettable moment of nature at its most sublime.
Roam free at an award-winning state park.
Speaking of nature, 2022 is a great year to get outside and visit one of Delaware’s state parks, winners of the 2021 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence. Check out the fan-favorite Passport Program, which offers prizes for completing challenges. Get started here.
Take a “pic stop” on the Delaware Discoveries Trail
Fill your Insta-feed with photos of Delaware-exclusive interactive creations from local artists located throughout the state on the Delaware Discoveries Trail. You can find amazing art all throughout the state, from the bright rays at Big Chill Beach Club to the kaleidoscope of color in Delaware Art Museum’s peacock feathers.
Check out the “new” Playhouse on Rodney Square.
Wilmington’s historic “off-Broadway” theatre has just gotten a big facelift, and is once again staging big shows. Catch one here.
Rock out at the year’s top concerts.
It’s time to get moving: Bally's Casino Dover Resort will be hosting Aaron Lewis (April 22) and Jeffrey Osborne (March 11). Tickets available here. At the Delaware State Fair in Harrington, this year’s Summer Concert Series (July 21-30) features Sam Hunt, Nelly, TobyMac and ZZ Top. Get tickets here. And Firefly, one of the East Coast’s biggest outdoor festivals, will rock Dover’s Woodlands in summer.
Stay at a spiffy new Wilmington hotel.
Stay and play luxuriously in Wilmington at the two new state-of-the-art hotels opening in 2022. One is planned at 519 N. Market St. as the city’s first luxury boutique hotel, with 25 rooms, a rooftop lounge and event venue, a restaurant and a cocktail lounge. The other, a Staybridge Suites, will revive a former office building at 1220 N. Market St.
Dine out at one of Wilmington’s best restaurants.
The scene is simmering once again in the city of Wilmington, where a bevy of newcomers are serving up lively tastes: French-accented fare is exciting the crowds at the plush Le Cavalier (the former Green Room) inside the Hotel DuPont. Lively sandwich creations brighten the menu at Park Café (try the Shrimp Po’ Boy). Enjoy American fare with a twist at Dorcea (Korean Salmon, anyone?). And check out the mini-but-mighty burgers at DE Slider Co.
Indulge yourself deliciously on the “Eating Rehoboth” food tour.
Yes, the popular group trips nibbling their way through Rehoboth Beach’s most beloved food destinations will be back in mid-May. Get tickets here.
Ready, set, SHOP TAX-FREE!
New stores have been popping up over at Christiana Mall, including Levi’s; jeweler Lovisa; high-tech mattress shop Purple; and Miniso, a household goods store. Next door at Christiana Fashion Center, Trader Joe's is now open, and at nearby Prices Corner, a new Target is drawing fans.
Immerse yourself in Buttery goodness.
One of the year’s most anticipated restaurant openings is here: Bramble & Brine at The Buttery in downtown Lewes is now open, bringing the next chapter to the blazing career of owner Megan Kee, who also operates La Fable, Houston White Co. and Dalmata Italiano at the beach. On the menu: ribeye asiago, tea-brined scallops, stuffed pork praline, and chicken and dumplings.
Head out for a fun art project with the kids.
Indulge your inner artist with an expedition to the popular online DIY kit seller Out of the Box, which now has a brick-and-mortar location in Rehoboth Beach, featuring art projects, artist-made treasures and even complimentary cocktails.
Be healthier and happier with a meal and a show.
Head for the ever-popular Good Earth Market in Ocean View this year and you’ll be able to also catch a performance, thanks to the relocation of the Dickens Parlour Theatre to a site near the existing market and restaurant.
Catch one of the exciting exhibitions heading our way.
In summer, Hagley Museum aims to put on its first new permanent exhibit in 50 years: “Nation of Inventors” features 120 rare patent models from Hagley’s collection, including a document signed by George Washington. Over at the Delaware Art Museum, a Tiffany glass exhibit is open from March 12-June 5, 2022 (Free with admission). And from Feb. 4-May 21, the Biggs Museum of American Art presents “Visions & Voices: A juried exhibition of Mid-Atlantic African American Artists.”
Tackle some big beef at Bardea’s new steakhouse.
Foodies are already salivating over the news that one of the state’s best Italian restaurants plans to open a steakhouse nearby in 2022. Bardea Food and Drink owners say they will feature dry-aged beef and an American-accented wine list.
Smash some duckpins, have some Cajun shrimp.
Wilmington’s most-buzzworthy new leisure spot is up and rolling (literally). Wilma’s not only has a full bar and a sit-down, New Orleans-accented eatery, there’s a “duckpin” bowling alley as well, where the balls (and pins) are pint-sized.
Taco Reho: The next chapter will be rockin’.
Fans say there’s only one thing better than the Delaware beaches’ beloved Taco Reho food truck: The new Taco Reho restaurant, just outside of Rehoboth Beach, and decked out with rocking décor.
Set sail on a ferry ride across the Bay.
If you’ve never had the experience of taking a breezy, beautiful crossing Delaware Bay via the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, this should be your year. There’s plenty of fresh air to keep folks safe, and cooped-up travelers have been climbing aboard in numbers not seen since the pandemic began.
Pick a day, pour some beer and pick some crabs.
It’s time to check off the most delicious item on everyone’s Delaware Bucket List: Head to a true Delaware crab house (try Sambo's Tavern in Leipsic, or Woody's in Dewey Beach). Equip yourself with paper towels and a pitcher. Now get picking!