Delaware’s Spring Must-Do’s

Each season in Delaware has its own unique feel. Spring, with all its greenery and blooming flowers, means warm weather and sunny days. And as nature reawakens from its winter slumber, with it comes endless opportunities for discovery. Get the most out of the warming season with places to eat, stay, and shop, activities to do, and events to attend throughout the state.

Spring Break at the Beaches

Must Do:  Whether it’s craft beer and backyard games at Crooked Hammock Brewery, vino slushies at Salted Vines Vineyard and Winery,  or enjoying mead around the fire pit at Brimming Horn Meadery check out Delaware on Tap to find your craft beverage destination. Or get out and enjoy the sunshine along the Junction Breakwater Trail, where you can bike, hike, or walk from Rehoboth Beach to Lewes.
Must Eat: Head to Dewey Beach for brunch with a build your own Bloody Mary Bar at The Starboard and delicious crab cakes at local hot spot Woody’s Bar and Grille.
Must Shop: With over a hundred stores to shop at, it’s easy to find cool fashion for hot prices at Rehoboth’s Tanger Outlet Centers. If you’re looking for good deals, in May you can find great deals along Rehoboth Avenue at the Rehoboth & Dewey Beach Spring Sidewalk Sale. You’ll also find books, boutiques, and beach supplies while shopping on Garfield Avenue in Bethany Beach.
Must Stay:  If you are looking to get a little bit of work done, why not work with a view at the Hyatt Place Dewey Beach where you can walk right out of your hotel and into the beach’s best bars and clubs after clocking out for the day.
Bonus Idea: Get crafty during Spring Break. Visit Dirty Hands DIY to craft your own art project and help support the local art scene.

Salted Vines Vineyard & Winery, Penny Lane Mall, & Hyatt Place Dewey Beach 

Spend time off with the kids

Must Do: It’s all aboard for a scenic ride through Brandywine Valley on the Wilmington & Western Railroad. Kids will enjoy riding on the historic steam locomotive in antique passenger coaches as it chugs along its original route. Be sure to check their event calendar for seasonally themed rides.
Must Eat: Any time of year is a good time for Delaware’s famous Grotto Pizza. No matter where you are in the state, you’re never far away from the legendary taste.
Must Shop: Enjoy a day on the farm during a stop at central Delaware’s Fifer Orchards. Or order your fresh produce from their store online and enjoy COVID compliant curbside pickup.
Must Stay: Stay in the center of it all with an overnight stay in Dover at Home2 Suites by Hilton, Fairfield Inn and Suites, or the Hilton Garden Inn Dover.
Bonus Idea: Bowling, arcade games, laser tag, axe throwing, and drive-in movies all in one location. Lefty’s Alley and Eats keeps every member of the family entertained, rain or shine.

Friends getaway

Must Do: When Spring arrives, drinks, food, and axe throwing collide at Constitution Yards Beer Garden in Riverfront Wilmington. Enjoy pop-up food vendors and rotating craft beers with your best friends while hanging out in the shipping container lined beer garden.
Must Eat: Historic meets contemporary at Makers Alley in Wilmington, a social hotspot where you can drink and dine in the indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar or order food from their converted airstream.
Must Shop: Look for smart, chic, and modern fashion? Spend some time shopping downtown Wilmington to find unique boutiques like Morgan’s of Delaware.
Must Stay: With restaurants, museums, and entertainment all along the Riverfront Wilmington, you can find something for everyone and stay close to it all at the Westin Wilmington. Grab a shuttle to downtown Wilmington for even more dining and shopping or enjoy a swim in the hotel’s indoor pool.
Bonus Idea: Create an Insta-worthy moment with your friends by stopping at one of the many pieces of artwork found along the Delaware Discoveries Trail, like the two found along in Riverfront Wilmington.

Journey off the beaten path

Must Do: Grab a craft brew, or two, at Mispillion River Brewing Co., a local favorite due to their creative beers and big flavors.
Must Eat: Tucked in downtown Milford you’ll find a small bakery run by two sisters who each focus on the sweet and savory sides of cooking. My Sister’s Fault specializes in Puerto Rican inspired bread, breakfast, and baked goods, that are ready to go and take with you on a stroll along the Milford River Walk.
Must Shop: Amongst the historic backdrop of Dover, you’ll find BLUvintage which touts vintage cool looks and an Instagram famous security cat named Larry.
Must Stay: Step back in time while staying at Causey Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Milford with its meticulously preserved and period-appropriate lighting, staircases, shutters, and widow walk.
Bonus Idea: Just south of Dover you’ll find the Air Mobility Command Museum, home to a collection of rare vintage aircraft including a retired Air Force Two, which carried Vice Presidents and First Ladies. Tour the museum and climb aboard planes that flew in World War II to modern day four-engine jet transports.

Couples weekend getaway

Must Do: Make time for a long stroll through one of the Northern Delaware estates as their acres of stately gardens come into full Spring bloom.
Must Eat: Celebrate a weekend away from it all with a decadent dinner in the city at Harry’s Savoy Grill in Wilmington. Start your evening with drinks at the bar, and then enjoy a fresh farm-to-table menu with classics like their award-winning prime rib and 6oz Main lobster tail.
Must Shop: Walk down one of Delaware’s Main Streets, from New Castle to Newark, and discover both antiques and boutiques galore.
Must Stay: Treat yourself to the storied elegance and tradition of the iconic the Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington. Come back to your luxurious suite after spending a day exploring the city and then head downstairs to Le Cavalier at the Green Room for French and North African inspired dining.
Bonus Idea: Beginning April 1, you can tour the naturalistic gardens and land in full bloom around Mt. Cuba Center, taking in the living collection of plants native to Eastern United States.

Harrys Savoy Grill, Hotel Du Pont, Nemours Estate

Work with a view

Must Do: Make the colorful flower filled backdrops of your Zoom meetings a reality by taking a trip to the Delaware Botanic Gardens in Dagsboro. Walk among the flowering plants and trees where you can take in a moment of peace and tranquility during your day.
Must Eat: Just one block from the beach in Fenwick Island you’ll find One Coastal, a family run restaurant that’s focused on coastal farm-to-table eats and drinks.
Must Shop: Bethany Beach is a favorite stop for families who’ve been traveling down to Southern Delaware for generations. And the friendly shops and restaurants you’ll find downtown add to the quaint coastal charm of this beach front destination.
Must Stay: The best way to start a virtual workday is to a sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. And at Bethany Beach Ocean Suites you can wake to that view all from the comfort of your room complete with a warm coffee in hand. When the workday is over, grab a towel for a quick dip in their saltwater pool or for some time well spent relaxing on the beach.
Bonus Idea: Log off for the day and catch a sunset over the Little Assawoman Bay across from Fenwick Island State Park.

Please remember to plan ahead and maintain social distancing. Please wear a face covering, bring hand sanitizer, and only travel with those within your immediate family unit. Make sure to review guidelines before arriving at your destination. Some locations may be operating under different capacity or require reservations. Please remember to stay home if you are sick.