Image
Leftys Bowling

Feeling the winter blahs? Ready to get out and play? Delaware’s top attractions are open year-round and eagerly awaiting your arrival, making this the perfect season for a weekend winter getaway. It’s good to know that even when the weather is frightful, there are some destinations that are always delightful.

Image
Dogfish Head Brewing
Image
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Sunrise
Image
Harvest Ridge Winery outdoor shot of property with sunset
Image
Hagley Museum and Library

NORTHERN DELAWARE
Grab a room at Wilmington’s newest boutique hotel, The Quoin, and get ready to be amazed by how close you are to all the fun. Just up the street, you can indulge in top-notch beef at Bardea Steak, grab a pre-show cocktail at Le Cavalier, then head off for a performance at The Queen, the Grand Opera House, or the Playhouse on Rodney Square.

Feeling the urge for more action? Head for Wilma’s, where you can bowl the day away, then dive in to a plate of New Orleans-inspired cuisine. Any excess calories can be shed with an indoor rock-climbing session at Delaware Rock Gym, some target practice at Stumpy's Hatchet House, or a few high-speed go-cart laps at Xtreme Zone. Sports fans can head for a Delaware Blue Coats basketball game and cheer the night away.

In quieter moments, culture will help keep you cozy: See the new exhibit of fascinating historic patent models at Hagley Museum, or check out the new and expanded exhibits at the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science. The Delaware Art Museum has three major exhibits under way, and younger travelers will be captivated by the shows at Delaware Children’s Theatre and the hands-on fun of the Delaware Children's Museum.

CENTRAL DELAWARE

Bally's Dover Casino Resort has the right combination of table games, slots, dining and entertainment to make anyone’s winter weekend getaway memorable. Check in to your room, then stop by Toppers Spa for a reinvigorating session with a South Seas flair. Enjoy some “Italian Soul Food” at Jerry Longo’s Meatballs & Martinis, or a ginormous steak at Bally’s Royal Prime Steakhouse.

Next, explore the historic charms of the capital city and Dover’s First State Heritage Park, where daily walking tours take you on a trip back in time to the nation's colonial roots. Culture and history are also part of the appeal at the nearby Biggs Museum of American Art, and at the delightfully offbeat Johnson Victrola Museum.

Just west of the city, in a scenic and tranquil rural setting, Harvest Ridge Winery and Rebel Seed Cidery keeps the events going through the winter, giving travelers a chance to start their exploration of the DE on Tap lineup of wineries and breweries. There are even more natural wonders to behold at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, where your first glimpse of a bald eagle in flight will last forever in your memories.

SOUTHERN DELAWARE

Any time of year is the right time to head to the Delaware beaches, especially when the experience is elevated with a stay at The Avenue Inn & Spa. Book a massage or a revitalizing body treatment, then explore Rehoboth’s boutiques and art galleries. Stop for dinner at such renowned local restaurants as Eden or Henlopen City Oyster House, then head to Clear Space Theatre for a live performance.

No beach trip would be complete without a stop at the ocean or a view of the sunset over the bay, on display nightly at Delaware Seashore State Park. Tiny travelers with youthful energy to spare will jump for joy at Shell We Bounce Trampoline Park and Family Entertainment Center, and Lefty’s Alley & Eats will keep them going with axe-throwing and duckpin bowling.

Don’t miss this chance to score some tax-free goodies with a shopping spree to the Tanger Outlets. Afterwards, consider taking a tour at one of the nation’s most off-centered craft breweries, Dogfish Head, or stop by some of the other DE on Tap hotspots in the area, including Iron Hill, Revelation Craft, Crooked Hammock, and Nassau Valley Vineyards.