Secret Summer Getaways

Follow the lead of the locals to hidden gems like Kathy’s Crab House, Sambo’s Tavern, or Fenwick Crab House, where you can savor the flavors of just-steamed blue crabs. That fresh-caught taste is in season now at favorites such as Banks' Seafood Kitchen and Raw Bar, Cool Springs Fish Bar and Bluecoast Seafood Grill & Raw Bar. If you’d rather be the chef, explore Delaware’s summer-fresh Farmer’s Markets. Top off the day with a cold one at Constitution Yards Beer Garden before taking a stroll along the Wilmington Riverfront.

A relaxing ride through the Red Clay Valley aboard the Wilmington and Western Railroad delivers the charm of an authentic steam train, while Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park will let you take an adrenaline-filled ride over Lums Pond. For those with a need for more speed, put the pedal-to-the-metal driving go-karts around Midway Speedway Park.

Long, lazy afternoons are perfectly suited for a tax-free spree at some of Delaware’s Top Shopping Streets, outlet centers and shopping malls. Browse the unique shops of Newark’s Main Street and explore the charming stores on Milford’s Walnut Street. While visiting the DuPont Estates, be sure to visit the museum gift shops for exclusive souvenirs!

Animals win our hearts every time, whether we’re riding the ponies at Carousel Park & Equestrian Center, petting little critters at Brandywine Zoo or giving a belly rub to a baby stingray at Cape Henlopen State Park. Bring your binoculars to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge to see foxes, deer, and thousands of migratory birds enjoying the protected ecosystem.

Feel the breeze through your hair while riding a boat or a bike or exploring a new trail. Slice through the water on a kayak at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area, or float through the baldcypress trees of Trap Pond State Park. Lums Pond State Park has great options for either paddling or pedaling through the water. Many riders head for the C&D Canal's Mike Castle Trail near quaint and historic Delaware City or along the urban oasis that is the Jack A. Markell Trail in Wilmington. To soak in the sea breeze, try out the Junction & Breakwater Trail, which runs between Rehoboth and Lewes. On foot, try a walk through the lush trails at Killens Pond State Park or along Gordon's Pond in Lewes.