These 9 Towns Are Delaware's Best-Kept Secrets

Tucked between Delaware's better-known cities are nine small towns that feel like hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. Far from the crowds of the beaches and bustle of the cities, these communities offer charm, history, and a slower pace that captures the essence of the First State. From quaint main streets lined with local shops to scenic waterfronts and historic landmarks, each of these towns reveals the best-kept secrets of Delaware that many visitors, and even some residents, have yet to explore.

Arden

The tiny New Castle County hamlet of Arden, near the border with Pennsylvania, is home to about 400 people. It was founded in 1900 by sculptor Frank Stephens and architect Will Price, as a single-tax community based on the ideas of Henry George and the Arts and Crafts movement. Their goal was to create a utopian, arts-focused community where residents would own their own homes but pay land rent, and the revenue would be used to fund goods for the public. Initially, Arden was a summer community, with residents having second homes there. Today, it is a year-round community that still attracts artists, artisans, and craftspeople.

In 1973, Arden was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its three districts, Arden, Ardentown, and Ardencroft, were recognized as the Ardens Historic District in 2003. The arts influence in Arden can still be seen through many businesses, such as the Arden Craft Shop Museum, which collects artifacts and the history of the town. The Buzz Ware Village Center is a community center that hosts Tai Chi classes and other recreational and educational events in the village. The Candlelight Theater is a professional dinner theater in Arden that also hosts children's plays and lunch during the school year. The Arden Club is dedicated to the enjoyment of and participation in the arts, learning, and cultural pursuits, furthering the goals of the founders of the town.

Bridgeville

Bridgeville is one of Sussex County's oldest towns, founded in the 1680s as Bridge Branch and renamed Bridgeville in 1871. It lies just 30 miles south of Dover, the state capital, about 30 miles west of Rehoboth Beach, and 30 miles north of Salisbury, Maryland. About 2,500 folks call Bridgeville home. Bridgeville is known for its agricultural roots and close-knit community, with the motto, "If you lived here, you'd be home now."

The Bridgeville Public Library hosts events and activities for all ages and is a popular meeting site in town. Downtown shops include Lindenmere Market, which sells home decor and gifts; the Antique Alley of Bridgeville, which has over 200 vendors; and the Downtown Alley, which features 6,000 square feet of antiques, home decor, and boutique items.

Magnolia

Kent County's small town of Magnolia is home to under 300 people, but a sign in the town boasts that Magnolia is "the center of the universe around which the earth revolves." Seeing this sign in front of the historic John B. Lindale House is one attraction that draws travelers, or even those who are just passing through, to stop in this town of just 0.2 square miles and take a photo. Magnolia is just 15 minutes from Dover and 30 minutes from the beaches in Lewes.

Magnolia Restaurant in town serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and even has delivery available through GrubHub. If you are a golfer, check out Jonathan's Landing Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course located in Magnolia, with the front nine holes offering a waterfront setting and the back nine winding through residential areas. JB's Pub within the golf course serves light fare and beverages.

Milton

The town of Milton in Sussex County is home to about 3,300 people, and is named after poet John Milton in 1807. One of the things that stands out about Milton is the variety of architectural styles found in its streets, reflecting the town's long, rich history, which includes shipbuilding, shipping, button-making, and canning. The Milton Historical Society is a great place to learn all about what makes Milton such a unique town.

Beer connoisseurs might recognize Milton as the home of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, which opened in 1995 and is available to tour and taste today. Other businesses that attract visitors in Milton include The Mercantile at Milton and A Walk Thru Time, both of which carry eccentricities and goods not found elsewhere.

New Castle

New Castle, in the appropriately named New Castle County, is home to about 5,500 people along the Delaware River. This historical town is the oldest continuously occupied town in the Delaware River Valley, founded in 1651 by Peter Stuyvesant. It is conveniently located about 10 miles south of downtown Wilmington and 40 miles south of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Historic New Castle consists of over 600 historic structures, including the New Castle Court House Museum, where Delaware separated from Pennsylvania in 1776. New Castle's Battery Park along the Delaware River is the site of many events, including the annual Separation Day celebration each June, celebrating Delaware's separation from Pennsylvania. If you are more interested in shopping than history, New Castle can help with shops such as 121 West Boutique and the New Castle Farmers Market, with over 70 individual owner-operated shops, including items from the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Odessa

Another historical Delaware town, Odessa in New Castle County, is home to 350 people. It was originally known as Cantwell's Bridge in the 1600s, but was renamed Odessa in 1855 after the Ukrainian grain port. This renaming was in response to the construction of the Delaware Railroad, which bypassed the town. Odessa is just three miles from the larger town of Middletown and 26 miles from the state capital of Dover.

If you want to know more about Odessa's history, check out the Historic Odessa Foundation Museum on Main Street. Here, you can learn more about other historic homes to tour in town, like the Corbit-Sharp House. Stop by Cantwell's Tavern after your tour for a bite to eat or something to drink. Visit Odessa during Christmas in Odessa for a self-guided tour of decorated private homes and public buildings, taking place in December.

Pike Creek

Although addresses in Pike Creek carry a Wilmington zip code, of the 7,800 who live in Pike Creek, most identify strongly with the area. It is convenient to Newark (five miles), the city of Wilmington (15 miles) and Philadelphia (46 miles).

The body of water named Pike Creek is a second-order tributary of White Clay Creek, part of the Christina River system. The adjacent White Clay Creek State Park provides 37 miles of trails and features an outdoor stage, playground, and disc golf course. Shops such as Heart & Home Boutique Gifts allow visitors to browse and buy. Eateries in the Pike Creek area include Chuck Lager America's Tavern and Kyoto Japanese Cuisine.

Selbyville

The Sussex County town of Selbyville is home to almost 2,900 people. It is known as the "Gateway to the Beaches" as it is just eight miles from Fenwick Island, Delaware. Selbyville was founded in 1778 as Sandy Beach and was renamed Selbyville in 1842. Today, agriculture, including chickens and their processing, remains a big industry in Selbyville.

Eateries that locals and visitors frequent in Selbyville include Doyle's, which is known for its chicken and dumplings, and Selbyville Pit & Pub. Shoppers can spend hours perusing the wares at downtown shops like Old Town Thrift and Gift and Church Street Quilt Shop.

Wyoming

In Kent County, the small town of Wyoming has a population of just 1,600. It was named in the late 1860s for a reverend in town who had moved there from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. Wyoming, which developed alongside the arrival of the Delaware Railroad, has more than 300 structures on the National Register of Historic Places. It is less than four miles to the state capital of Dover.

Wyoming Park on the banks of Wyoming Lake is open year-round and has pavilions and playground equipment. Many independent shops exist in downtown Wyoming, such as Simply Charming, which includes antiques and vintage finds, on Railroad Avenue. Eateries like Mike & Mel's Family Restaurant are popular with both locals and visitors. The Wyoming Station Farmers Market on Railroad Avenue runs on the second and fourth Saturdays from May through September and features 30 vendors.

Visit These Fun First State Finds

Check out these nine small Delaware towns that are truly hidden gems. From the historic significance of New Castle, to artsy Arden, to the "gateway to the beaches," Selbyville, each of these nine villages offers something unique to find and treasure. Each town provides enough to do if you stop by them on your way to another destination. Or, perhaps, you will decide to take a day trip to visit one or more of these towns, as they truly have enough to keep you busy on their own.