Family Vacation Places in the State of Delaware
The joke about Delaware has always been "Dela-where?" While the state is the second smallest in the country, it is anything but nondescript, particularly in southern Sussex County, home to Delaware's beaches, which have been growing as a visitor destination due to their low cost, easy access and unpretentious atmosphere. While central and northern Delaware are a bit more urban, the state's largest city, Wilmington, offers many attractions at its downtown riverfront.
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Rehoboth Beach
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Nicknamed "The Nation's Summer Capital," Rehoboth Beach is Delaware's most well-known and well-attended beach. Unlike its counterpart of Ocean City, Maryland, Rehoboth eschews high rises and strip malls for a quaint, small-town feel. The city is only one square mile but contains a great deal of activities for families. Funland, located on the southern end of the city's Boardwalk, offers rides and games, while ice cream shops and the famous Thrasher's French Fries are within a short walk of the beach. Outside of town is the Jungle Jim's water park, which offers slides and its popular "Lazy River." The city also offers plenty of chances for biking, walking and fishing.
Bethany Beach/South Bethany/Fenwick Island
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Known as the "Quiet Resorts," these three beaches are the last three resort towns before crossing the border into Maryland. These three beaches emphasize a low-key, family-oriented vacation experience. Bethany is the largest of the three towns and offers the most city-like atmosphere of the three. It has the high-rise condominiums familiar to folks who visit Ocean City, but it also has the little shops and unpretentious nature of Rehoboth. While there are no amusement parks here, kids will love the pirate-themed miniature golf course.
South Bethany is an extension of Bethany Beach and offers an even more low-key beach experience. It's a beach perfectly suited to the family that wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Fenwick Island, right on the border to Maryland, has a little bit of everything in a small package. The beaches are quiet and not overcrowded, but there are also plenty of activities kids will love, including miniature golf, go-karts and a water park. Explore the little alleys leading in and out of the beach entrances, which are dotted with beach cottages.
Riverfront Wilmington
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While most visitors to Delaware head to the beaches downstate, Wilmington, the state's largest city located in northern New Castle County, offers its own unique family attraction with Riverfront Wilmington. The riverfront offers a host of activities, including the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts and the Delaware Theatre Company. There are also several high-quality seafood restaurants. The biggest attraction of the riverfront area, however, is Daniel Frawley Stadium, home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks, a class-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Tickets are very affordable, and the team offers a variety of family-friendly promotions, particularly the Friday night fireworks.
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