8 Prettiest Downtown Strips In Delaware

Tourists looking for trips filled with historic museums and landmarks, strolls along sun-kissed coasts, and downtown districts worth traversing over and over again will find all of that and more in these Delaware towns. A maritime museum and a decommissioned US Coast Guard vessel sit right in the heart of Lewes. Smyrna offers walking tours to view the many 18th-century structures of its historic district. When visiting these Delaware towns, a national historic landmark or natural wonder is never more than a short walk away through some of the prettiest downtown strips in the state.

Lewes

When visiting other towns, tourists usually need to drive to other destinations to experience natural wonders, to stroll along beautiful sandy coasts, or look out over Delaware Bay. In Lewes, all that beautiful sand and sun stretches right through its center. The Lewes-Rehoboth Canal runs through Downtown Lewes, opening destinations like the LV-118 Lightship Overfalls to tourists just a short walk from everything else Lewes has to offer.

Launched in 1938 as one of the last US lightships built, the LV-118 was decommissioned by the US Coast Guard in 1972 and has sat in Lewes ever since, now credited as a National Historic Landmark. The Cannonball House Maritime Museum is another historic building that offers a glimpse into the past, thanks to exhibits on the War of 1812 Bombardment and Lewes' connection to electronic technology in the early 1900s. From the Lewes waterfront, visitors can find more attractions such as the Fountain of Youth and Pirates of Lewes, adding to the town's historic and family-friendly appeal.

Laurel

With many structures dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, Laurel is a great stop for history buffs, with hundreds of buildings in the Laurel Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places, more than any other community in Delaware. Laurel is also a close-knit community with plenty of local favorite establishments. As one of the highest-rated restaurants in Laurel, Abbott's on Broad Creek offers fine American cuisine and is a strong stop for newcomers passing through Laurel's downtown core for the first time.

Laurel Heritage Museum, located in the old Laurel Train Station, has been reconstructed and repaired to house the one-of-a-kind Waller Photographic Collection and offer special tours. The Hitchens Homestead, built in 1878, is slated to become a museum celebrating Laurel's agricultural heritage, and was owned and occupied by six generations of the Edmund Hitchens family. Thanks to their efforts, Laurel's history lives, breathes, and carries on to this day for newcomers to enjoy.

Newark

Newark is home to the University of Delaware, which in turn houses museums and exhibits detailing Delaware's rich history of geological discoveries and artistic talents. The Mineralogical Museum collection includes thousands of mineral specimens with rotating displays, while the Mechanical Hall Gallery and Old College Gallery each feature art exhibits with works by artists such as Abraham Walkowitz and George Gray Barnard among others.

Newark encourages newcomers to pick up the brochure for the Newark Historic Trail, which stretches for about 9 miles. It is one of the best ways to experience Newark, sending visitors straight through the downtown core as they explore the historic district and pass old churches and chapels from the previous century, the Penny Hall building, and much more.

Smyrna

Thanks to the Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association, Smyrna's historic downtown district has been preserved and reconstructed to stand the test of time, now standing as a living, breathing, walkable museum. Walking tours are perfect for newcomers to Smyrna, taking travelers past dozens of historic homes such as the Smyrna Museum and the Belmont Hall Georgian mansion, both built in the 18th century.

The Smyrna Opera House, built in 1870, is now a cultural arts center listed on the National Register of Historic Places and hosts nearly 30 annual performances and activities, so visitors should plan their trips accordingly to catch their desired shows at the historic venue. After a day of sightseeing and history lessons, the Cobalt Manor and Elizabeth Esther Cafe, both located in the former Wright Mansion, present strong venues for fine dining events and celebrations.

Milford

Milford is one of the most walkable towns in Delaware, and the famous Mispillion Riverwalk is front and center as one of the biggest attractors for tourists. The mile-long Mispillion Riverwalk takes guests through the heart of Downtown Milford, across parks and over bridges. Milford carries an artsy and historic feel thanks to a plethora of galleries, small shops, and museums.

Milford newcomers should plan their trips accordingly to experience some of the best community events the town has to offer, such as Eat in the Street on an empty stomach and the Annual St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl to try tasty beverages across town. Milford is also home to three historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places, and those districts include the Milford Museum, which features exhibits on the rise of technology in America, the famous artistic "Ladybug Room," and "Milford Shipyards," honoring the town's roots in the shipbuilding industry.

Middletown

Middletown is a highly explorable town in Delaware, and organizations like Middletown Main Street are dedicated to preserving Middletown's heritage while supporting the small businesses that make up the modern downtown core. Thanks to these organizations, newcomers can experience community events year-round, such as the Just Peachy summer scavenger hunt, which sends participants across the full length of the downtown district, and the Great Middletown Cookie Crawl, celebrating local bakeries and vendors during the holidays.

Families should plan their trips to Middletown around the annual Family Fun Fest to enjoy interactive games, creative crafts, music performances, and much more. Adult visitors can visit two local favorites, Sully's Irish Pub and Volunteer Brewing Co, for tasty beverages to start and conclude their trips to Middletown on a high note.

New Castle

The New Castle Historical Society is a dedicated group that preserves Delaware history through museums and collections. Newcomers have the society to thank for many of the greatest attractions in New Castle, including the Amstel House Museum. Guests can enter this old home and learn about its occupants between 1790 and 1929, and when the house became a museum. Group tours can explore Read House & Gardens, a historic mansion in New Castle, though its gardens are temporarily closed for construction.

The New Castle Court House Museum, built in 1732, served as Delaware's first courthouse and now offers tours of the building with an added gift shop for a chance to go home with a souvenir. After a day of traveling through a plethora of museums, visitors can stretch their legs by using New Castle as the starting point for the Jack A. Markell Trail, which links the Wilmington Riverfront with New Castle Battery Park.

Georgetown

Georgetown's downtown district is packed with activities for newcomers. The Historic Georgetown Association restored the Georgetown Train Station, built in the late 1860s, and uses it for open house tours and community events. Another fantastic spot for history buffs is the Georgetown Historical Society, which also hosts open houses once a month. The property holds relics of the past, including some smaller structures and carriages on display. The Historical Society is a great property that allows guests to host events such as birthdays and weddings.

Strolling through Georgetown's downtown, visitors have a plethora of local favorite dining options, including Revelation Craft Brewing Company, which always has a great rotation of beers on tap and unique craft beers to taste, and the Georgetown Family Restaurant, a fixture in Georgetown for over a decade, offering great dining options for every meal of the day.

The Past Comes Alive In These Delaware Downtowns

These towns in Delaware feature lively downtown strips with must-try local-favorite dining options and a variety of historic structures, including museums housed in old train stations and homes from the 18th and 19th centuries, preserved for generations to come. Georgetown's past endures thanks to its Historical Society. Newark's Mineralogical Museum maintains an extensive collection of mineral specimens. These downtown strips in Delaware are truly the centerpieces of their respective towns, drawing newcomers in with entertaining and informative activities.