9 Of The Friendliest Towns In Delaware
In Lewes, the Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass and Coastal Arts Festival brings neighbors and visitors together each June. In Middletown, the historic Everett Theatre still hosts local plays and concerts in a building dating to 1922. Moments like these reflect the welcoming spirit that runs through many of Delaware's towns. Across the state, life centers on walkable downtowns and long-running festivals. These nine towns stand out as some of the friendliest places to visit or call home in Delaware.
Middletown
Just next to the Maryland state line is Middletown, which served as a filming location for the 1989 movie 'Dead Poets Society' and is known as a family-friendly community full of charm and local events. In the heart of downtown is the 1922 Everett Theatre, an event venue and local theater featured in 'Dead Poets Society.' The theater hosts local plays, concerts, and musicals from the likes of You've Been Magished. Just east of the theater is Pithari, a Mediterranean restaurant serving patrons Truffle Burrata, Burgundy beef, and Pithari Burgers. Pithari also hosts private events, with guests enjoying a spacious interior.
The Middletown Memorial Hall is a warm, welcoming ballroom ready to host weddings, fundraisers, and other family gatherings in its well-decorated interior. A nearby event that brings the community together is the Annual Spring Expo held every March. The expo showcases the town's local businesses, has food and drink vendors, and admission is free for everyone to enjoy.
Bethany Beach
On the shoreline is the coastal town of Bethany Beach, a family-friendly and peaceful resort town full of sandy, wide beaches. The Bethany Beach Boardwalk is the place to access the beach, where people can enjoy tax-free shops, restaurants, and hotels, while the beach itself is a great place to walk, surf, and take in the sun and waves. Right near the center of the boardwalk is Lili's Place, an upbeat pizza restaurant serving unique flavors like White Sand Pizza and Del Jardin Pizza, with freshly made slices available inside or on benches outside.
From the start of Memorial Day Weekend until Labor Day Weekend, visitors and residents can enjoy live local musical performances at the Bethany Beach Bandstand. The bands generally begin performing at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Seating is free of charge, and people can bring their own chairs. At the northern end of town is the Addy Sea Historic Oceanfront Inn, a relaxing hotel built in 1904 and the place to recharge during an extended weekend. The rooms are comfortable, the hotel is an easy walk from the beach, and it is a wonderful place to host a family reunion, wedding, or friends' reunion.
Fenwick Island
Just minutes from Ocean City, MD, is the coastal resort town of Fenwick Island, a great place to explore during a summer getaway. On the northern end of town is Fenwick Island State Park, where people can enjoy another peaceful beach, along with a natural area for hiking, walking, boating, and kayaking. Dogs are also allowed in the park to accompany their companions. The park is home to ghost crabs, with programs to learn about them alongside the locals.
A fun place to enjoy no matter the season is Nick's Mini Golf, a miniature golf course with an Australian theme in the heart of downtown. The course hosts birthday parties, serves free ice cream with All-Day play, and is very family-friendly. Up the street is the Fenwick Pub, a local restaurant and bar that is one of the best hangout spots in town. People can host public and private events like happy hours and gatherings that bring people together in a warm, welcoming setting.
Georgetown
Further west from the beaches is Georgetown, a town full of Colonial-era architecture, museums, and community events that bring the town together. The Delaware Aviation Museum Foundation calls the town home, as it sits on the Delaware Coastal Airport, and provides visitors with the history of flight and aviation in the state. The museum has numerous classic, vintage, and military planes on display and offers tours to help people learn more about the aircraft. Near downtown is the Georgetown Train Station Museum, built in the 1860s and expanded in the 1910s, which served as the main hub for the southern part of the state. The museum features displays on the local railroad, like an old railroad crossing sign outside, and architecture, artifacts, model trains, and photographs displayed inside.
On the southern end of town is the Possum Point Players, a performing arts theater where people can enjoy local plays, musicals, and concerts, ranging from Shakespeare plays to radio theater. The theater hosts plays like Ripcord, Mary Poppins, and Angels in America. A unique tradition in town is Return Day, where people celebrate the election results with speeches, parades, music, art, and an ox roast every two years, whether it is a presidential or mid-term election.
New Castle
On the banks of the Delaware River is the city of New Castle, one of the oldest and best-preserved Colonial communities in the state. Battery Park offers river views, easygoing trails for walking and hiking, and local community events that bring people together. One of those events is the Separation Day Festival, held every June, celebrating the day the state separated from Great Britain and Pennsylvania on June 15, 1776. The day consists of live entertainment, food vendors, games, parades, and pageants to ring in the local tradition.
In the heart of downtown is the Mo'zArt Gallery, a local gallery showcasing paintings for the town to enjoy the artistic side of the community. The gallery also hosts the 4th Friday Art Loop every month, where people are welcome to themed parties, food and drinks are provided, and entry is free. Just across the street is the Mercury Cafe and Teahouse, a local cocktail bar that welcomes patrons with drinks and bar snacks in a modern interior set in a historic building. Mercury Cafe hosts Karaoke Nights, Trivia Nights, private events, and public events like St. Patrick's Day celebrations, making for some exciting nights out on the town.
Odessa
Just east of Middletown is Odessa, a historic riverside town full of scenery, Colonial-era architecture, and a host of local community events. Odessa Memorial Park is a relaxing place to unwind for the day or weekend and a welcoming place to gather for community events, family reunions, and basketball, as it features courts. A lively community event held in town every September is the Odessa Brewfest. During the brewfest, people can enjoy locally crafted beer, food vendors, plenty of games, and live local music. However, people must be 21 or older to participate in the brewfest.
Further in town is the Wilson-Warner House, a historic Colonial-era home built in 1769 for David Wilson, a prosperous merchant. When visitors enter the house, they are treated to well-preserved furniture, unique artifacts, peaceful gardens, and a glimpse into life in the Colonial era. Just across the street is Cantwell's Tavern, where people can enjoy baby back ribs, wings, and hangar steak, along with draft beers and happy hours, and can host banquets and other private events, including weddings.
Laurel
In the southwestern corner of the state is the town of Laurel, renowned for its 19th-century architecture and access to outdoor recreation. The Laurel Heritage Museum is located in the old Laurel Train Station. It gives visitors a place to learn about the town's past through documents, artifacts, and unique photographs, such as the Waller Photographs, which document the Waller family and their life in the town. Janosik Park is the perfect place to gather for hiking, walking, picnics, boating, and fishing on Broad Creek and Records Pond.
Across the creek is Abbott's On Broad Creek, a local restaurant serving American cuisine and drinks, with elegant views of the creek and pond. Abbott's On Broad Creek also hosts live music every Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., parties, and other private events. A fun place to enjoy time with friends and family is Bryan's Bowling Center, a local bowling alley that can host parties, has an arcade, and is an exciting spot to knock down some pins and earn some strikes on the bowling floor.
Lewes
In the ever-growing Cape Region is the city of Lewes, a community full of history, nicknamed "The First Town in The First State." On the northern end of town, near the ferry, is Savannah Beach, where people can enjoy a sandy retreat in style, go swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, and play beach volleyball with friends and family. Further east from the beach is Cape Henlopen State Park, a 5,000-acre park with numerous trails, basketball courts, camping sites, a disc-golf course, and World War II observation towers, plus plenty of sites for campers to unwind for the night under the stars.
Sitting on the Lewes and Rehoboth Beach Canal, Wheelhouse is a local bar and grill serving American-style cuisine and seafood, including Wheelhouse Wings, Gulf Shrimp Tacos, and Jerk Chicken Skewers. Wheelhouse also offers happy hour and can host parties, banquets, and reunions. A fun community event to enjoy with friends and family during the start of June is the Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass and Coastal Arts Festival. During the festival, people can view and purchase handmade sculptures, one-of-a-kind paintings, attractive sea glass, and freshly made food from food vendors, with live music throughout the day. Tickets cost $10 per person, and it is a relaxing and wonderful way to kick off the summer.
Rehoboth Beach
Just east of Lewes is the coastal city of Rehoboth Beach, a lively beach community with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a very walkable downtown. The Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is the avenue that welcomes everyone ready for summer, with shops, hotels like the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, restaurants, and access to the sandy beach. It also has a gazebo on the northern end of the boardwalk and gives everyone glorious views of the Atlantic Ocean. The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel itself offers guests luxurious rooms, fine dining at Victoria's Restaurant in the lobby, and is a wonderful place to host weddings, conferences, meetings, receptions, and banquets.
Right on Rehoboth Avenue is Nalu Surf Bar & Grill, a local restaurant and bar serving Pacific Island cuisine like Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, Sushi Tacos, and Nalu Nachos, along with drinks like Coconut Water Mojitos to keep the night young. During the fall, the city hosts the annual Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival. This four-day community event in October showcases the city's music scene, featuring local artists performing soothing, rhythmic jazz for everyone to enjoy.
Incredibly Friendly Towns In "The First State" Await
No matter where people travel in Delaware, they will always find incredibly friendly towns. Beach communities like Lewes and Rehoboth Beach welcome visitors with their inviting beaches, amenities, and local events. At the same time, historical towns like Laurel, Odessa, and New Castle boast unique museums, galleries, and historical sites. These towns are timeless, tight-knit, and offer a calm suburban atmosphere, and they are must-visit destinations for anyone planning a trip through the area or who has never been to the state.
