Delaware's 6 Most Laid-Back Towns For 2025
If you think Delaware is all fast beach traffic and big boardwalks, think again. The First State is also home to some of the East Coast’s most peaceful small towns, where time slows down and the living is easy. From the historic charm of Lewes and Odessa to the riverside calm of Milton and Laurel, and the seaside serenity of Bowers Beach and Bethany Beach, each offers its own kind of quiet escape. Whether you’re cycling past 17th-century landmarks, paddling through cypress swamps, or savoring oysters with a bay view, Delaware's six laid-back towns remind us that sometimes, slowing down is the best way to get where you’re going.
Lewes
The historic town of Lewes is so laid-back that cycling is one of the best ways to get around. Lewes is steeped in history, so why not combine a day of touring around on two wheels with excursions to landmarks and discover why Lewes is referred to as “The First Town in First State.” Seagreen Bicycle is your go-to destination for bike rentals, where you can rent a lazy e-bike that will take you up to 65 miles on one charge. Don’t worry about bringing your own gear either—helmets, locks, lights, and maps are complimentary with your rental.
Start at the free Zwaanendael Museum, which commemorates Delaware’s first European colony, Swanendael, founded by the Dutch in 1631. Then head over to the Lewes Historic District, where you can wander past more landmark buildings than you’ll have time to see. Visit the Cannonball House Maritime Museum, the only surviving structure in Lewes that was damaged during the War of 1812. Inside, explore exhibits on the bombardment of Lewes, see a working telegraph, and learn about the town’s deep maritime history with displays on lighthouses, life-savers, and pilots. Outside, be sure to snap a photo of the cannonball still wedged in the stone wall.
Milton
Milton is a peaceful riverside town at the head of the Broadkill River, full of charming and well-preserved Victoria and Colonial buildings. Stroll through the historic downtown, admiring the architecture with a cappuccino and a New York-style bagel from Zava Café. Stop in at the Milton Historical Society, housed inside the former Grace Methodist Church, built in 1857. Learn about the town’s rich history of commercial activities like shipbuilding, button making, printing, canning, and, more recently, brewing. Spend some time relaxing in nature at the nearby 10,000-acre Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, home to thousands of shorebirds, songbirds, plants, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and a diverse array of habitats. Enjoy year-round hiking, photography, and nature observations at the refuge.
Wind up your visit to Milton at one of the town’s most well-known attractions, Dogfish Head Brewery. Book a 30-minute Quick Sip Tour, or enjoy a 90-minute Off-Centered Tour, or simply hang out in the Tasting Room, where you can choose from over 40+ beers and cocktails on tap to enjoy with a charcuterie board.
Bowers Beach
The small fishing village of Bowers Beach epitomizes laid-back coastal living where even the ocean seems to move at a slower pace. Go beachcombing along the sandy beach, watch boats drifting by, fly a kite, or rent a kayak from Bowers Bayside Bait and Kayak Rentals to paddle along the Murderkill River, exploring the tidal creeks and salt marshes. Visit the Bowers Beach Maritime Museum, where you’ll find artifacts, photographs, and stories from the Delaware Bay, the town’s early days, and the seafarers and shipbuilders who once called Bowers home.
End the day over a plate of fresh Delaware Bay oysters and cold beer with family and friends at the Bayview Tavern, where every Thursday is “Buck a Shuck” night. Enjoy live music most nights. Follow up dinner with a scoop of Coffee Fudge Truffle from Barnacles Ice Cream.
Bethany Beach
More laid-back than its rambunctious neighbor, Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach is the perfect destination for families with young children who want a hassle-free day at the beach. After enjoying the sun and surf, head up to the 0.5-mile-long, 12-foot-wide Bethany Beach Boardwalk, where you can lose track of time watching the vast blue ocean and engaging in the many activities it has to offer. Beyond the boardwalk, you’ll find beachy gift shops, art galleries, and candy shops.
Rain or shine, there’s always something to discover at the Bethany Beach Nature Center, housed in one of the town’s historic homes, built in 1903 by one of the Pittsburgh Six, who were six members of the Disciples of Christ Church and the Christian Missionary Society from the Pittsburgh area, who founded Bethany Beach as a religious summer retreat. Today, the center is home to over 100 species of wild birds, diamondback terrapins, minnows, reptiles, and amphibians.
Odessa
Odessa, Delaware, is another preserved historic town that feels like stepping into another century. Known in the 18th century as Cantwell’s Bridge, Odessa played a vital role in commercial life along the Delaware River as a busy grain shipping port. Today, you can explore Historic Odessa, starting with the National Historic Landmark, the Corbit-Sharp House, circa 1774. Next door, the circa 1769 Wilson-Warner House is filled with period furnishings that tell the story of early American life along the Appoquinimink River.
A long-standing institution in the small town is Cantwell’s Tavern, originally built in 1822, and one of six taverns in Odessa at the time, catering to merchants, ship captains, and visitors to the port town. Today, the tavern is still a welcome stop after a day of touring, offering seasonal oysters, house-made soft pretzels, and Cantwell’s famous crab cakes.
Laurel
Laurel is a peaceful riverside town, surrounded by one of Delaware’s most scenic natural areas, Trap Pond State Park. The park is home to the northernmost naturally occurring stand of baldcypress in the U.S., known as the baldcypress swamp. BYOB (bring-your-own-boat) or rent a canoe, kayak, or pedalboat onsite, and follow along more than nine miles of water trails. If hiking or biking is more your speed, the 4.6-mile Bob Trail loops around the park and is ideal for birdwatchers or photographers. Be sure to visit the Baldcypress Nature Center to see exhibits including an 18-foot replica of a baldcypress tree, a 500-gallon aquarium, and a waterfall featuring the fish species found in the pond.
Enjoy a post-pond fuel-up at the Dutch Country Market, which features traditional Amish and Mennonite foods, Pennsylvania Dutch favorites, and a selection of artwork, country decor, and crafts by artists based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. For more Dutch-inspired shopping, visit Dutch Country Heirloom Furniture across the street from the market, and take advantage of Delaware’s tax-free shopping.
Go With The Flow In Delaware
In a world that’s always rushing somewhere, Delaware’s small towns invite you to linger a little longer. Leave the car behind and rent a bike in Lewes, glide in a kayak along the Murderkill River in Bowers Beach, and leisurely hike through cypress swamps in Laurel. It’s about taking the time to sip craft brews in Milton, stroll past colonial homes in Odessa, and watch the waves roll in at Bethany Beach. Life unfolds gently in these six laid-back towns, reminding us that slowing down isn’t about doing less, it’s about noticing more.
