8 Overlooked Towns In Delaware Worth Visiting

Delaware might be small, but its towns are packed with things to see without the frenzy. In Lewes, you can walk through a real lightship. In Smyrna, history lives inside a stylish mansion. In Odessa, you step through 18th-century homes, such as the Corbit Sharp House. These towns have it all: history, outdoor escapes, great food, and unique activities that go beyond the usual. Here are eight Delaware towns, each with fewer than 50,000 residents, that sound a lot more interesting than you might expect, and yes, there are great photos online to prove it.

Lewes

Lewes does history in a way that stays with you long after you've left the town. Duck into the Zwaanendael Museum—the building's tulip-trimmed Dutch-style architecture is fascinating and makes for an excellent visit for history lovers. You can also leap onto the Lightship Overfalls, which once guided ships out to sea and is a staple in the town. Stepping on deck feels like stepping into the shoes of a 20th-century seafarer, surrounded by brass fittings and lanterns once used to guide ships safely to shore. Soar the seas like captains of history's past. Hungry? Go for a shrimp roll or crab cakes at Agave Mexican Restaurant just off the square. And then on to Cape Henlopen State Park, where you can climb the historic World War II observation tower—it's a killer view of the dunes and surf.

Smyrna

In Smyrna, start with a coffee at Elizabeth Esther Cafe near the center of downtown, and walk up to Belmont Hall, the 18th-century Georgian house that currently opens its gardens during spring and summer. It's the perfect place to stop for a great photo opportunity. Look through the windows or just allow that history to roll over you. Get absorbed in local legend at the Smyrna Museum, a building once known as The Barracks, where old photographs chart how this crossroad town came together. Got a couple of hours? Drive for five minutes out to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge—if you get your timing right, you'll see migrating snow geese. During migration season, thousands of snow geese rise in unison over the marshlands—a sight so vast and thunderous it feels like nature’s own festival.

Milford

Milford is easy to adore. Walk along the Mispillion Riverwalk, stopping at Mispillion River Brewing to sip a house-brewed ale by the water. The Milford Museum offers a glimpse of Native tools and shipbuilding remnants, bridging the town to the river it grew up alongside. You can spot remnants of old wharves and interpretive signs that explain how the town’s livelihood once depended on the waterway. For peace and trees, when you're done, drive on over to Abbott's Mill Nature Center to watch the waterwheels turn and walk serene, woodsy trails. The hum of the turning wheel and rustle of leaves make it one of the most peaceful spots in Sussex County.

Laurel

Laurel unrolls with big trees and trails for locals and visitors to get lost in. This is a hiker's paradise, and if you don't believe it, just give it a try. Paddle or hike beneath centuries-old cypress trees at Trap Pond State Park, where you can paddle or hike beneath centuries-old bald cypress trees. Early morning light filters through the trunks like stained glass, and the still water reflects the forest in mirror-like calm. In the downtown area, visit the Cook House Museum, which is among many buildings and artifacts that bring history to life. Costumed interpreters often lead tours, describing how early settlers lived and worked in Delaware’s farming country. Each autumn, the town hosts the Broad Creek Bike and Brew Fest, drawing cyclists, craft beer lovers, and families to downtown Laurel for live music, food trucks, and local vendors along the Broad Creek waterfront.

Seaford

Seaford's history is deeply rooted in the Nanticoke River, which the Nanticoke Indians inhabited thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. Start with the Governor Ross Mansion—restored to splendor and surrounded by formal gardens. Inside, the rooms are furnished in Victorian-era splendor, complete with portraits of the Ross family and the state’s political elite. In town, the Seaford Museum, an old post office, illustrates how canning and shipbuilding fueled local growth. Hop onto a paddleboat on the Nanticoke or simply stroll past Riverview Park for bench observations of river traffic. It’s the kind of riverside park that invites you to stay longer than you meant to. Get an after-strolling energy kick at Sweet Sisters Fault for coffee and tarts.

Georgetown

Georgetown's town circle is really a traffic roundabout with a courthouse in the middle—the Georgetown Circle gives gravity to all that is around it. Each building around it carries a story—from 19th-century law offices to family-run diners that have served locals for decades. Take a stroll and stop in at the Marvel Carriage Museum and see horse-drawn carriages from a century ago. If your trip is in November, don't miss Return Day, when competitors walk arm-in-arm, bury a hatchet, and the whole town sits in witness. The townspeople are friendly and the atmosphere is welcoming. Need a hike? Redden State Forest is mere minutes away, with trails under the pitch pines. Lunch at Georgetown Family Restaurant is a perfect way to end your day. They have great sandwiches and a historic atmosphere.

New Castle

New Castle is historic from the time you arrive to the time you leave. Walk cobblestone streets alongside the Immanuel Episcopal Church, constructed in 1708, or visit the New Castle Court House Museum to see where colonial law was written. Guided tours explain how Delaware declared independence from both Pennsylvania and England right inside its chambers. Then walk down toward Battery Park, where riverfront scenery and benches cause you to linger. Visit New Castle at the right time and you'll catch the Separation Day Festival, which features reenactments from history's past, as well as food, drinks, and festivities for all of the family to enjoy.

Odessa

Odessa is your best chance if you want colonial Delaware without the crowds. The Historic Odessa Foundation provides tours of homes like the Corbit-Sharp House, where antique furniture and gardens still show early Delaware life. Seek candlelit winter tours—seeing 18th-century kitchens in the glow of fire changes your understanding of the past. It’s one of the most atmospheric seasonal tours on the East Coast, with docents dressed in period clothing. Have lunch at Cantwell's Tavern, where food is like chamber music: spare, rich, with setting. During the summer, the town hosts outdoor productions in the middle of restored gardens. Few places capture the blend of art, history, and tranquility quite like Odessa.

Hidden Gems In Delaware

These eight Delaware towns are not billboard-advertised, but they are overflowing with authentic culture—museums you can just walk into, hometown diners where history runs into the fries, festivals smelling like porch parties, and trails tracing roots, not recitals. They're under 50,000, and easy to find photos of online, from colonial homes to paddle trail shots. Take a holiday, pick a day, and drive on out there and see a side of Delaware that's lived-in, not scripted.