Top Things to do in Delaware
Top Hotels in Delaware
- 1. Avenue Inn & Spa
- 2. Hotel Du Pont
- 3. Hyatt Place Wilmington Riverfront
- 4. Fenwick Shores, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
- 5. Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence Inn by Marriott
- 6. Hilton Wilmington / Christiana
- 7. Comfort Inn and Suites
- 8. Hampton Inn Rehoboth Beach
- 9. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Rehoboth Beach
- 10. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Downtown Wilmington - Legal District
What to do and see in Delaware, United States: The Best Museums
Delaware offers vacationers miles of discoveries, like cleanest-in-the-nation beaches, opulent du Pont family mansions and the opportunity to shop sales-tax-free. Size and location also work to Delaware’s advantage. Within a few hours’ drive, visitors can stroll through quaint Colonial-era towns, savor full-flavored culinary adventures without the big-city prices, or cheer their favorite band at the annual Firefly Music Festival.
Restaurants in Delaware
1. Johnson Victrola Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 130 reviews
Named in honor of local inventor E.R. Johnson, this museum explores the sound recording industry from its beginnings and includes displays of early talking machines, records and other relics from the 1890s to 1929.
Reviewed By 804thelmag - Felton, United States
Having purchased a Victor Talking Machine at an auction, I wanted to visit the mueseum to learn about the company and the machines. Entered a 1920s-era store inside the museum and was greeted by a very knowledgeable lady who explained how the company got started. She demonstrated numerous talking devices using 78-rpm records; fun to listen to the old records. Also learned prices of the machines back in the day. Many of the recording artists were black, to include Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Duk Ellington, Enrico Caruso, John McCormack, Nellie Melba, Rosa Panselle and Marian Anderson. Also learned the color of the label determine the type of music that was recorded. For example, Red was Classical, Black was Popular, Green was Educational, etc. In Europe the color of the label determined the price of the record. Heard the story of Nipper, the dog who heard his master's voice, becoming one of the most famous canines in history. The museum highlights the life and achievements of Delaware's native son, Eldridge R. Johnson, founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company. The tour lasted about an hour but you were welcome to stay longer to read the information presented.
2. Rehoboth Art League
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 38 reviews
Art league that is comprised of three galleries and a teaching studio, exhibiting local and national artists.
Reviewed By 441anthonyr - Wilmington, United States
The Joni Mitchell song “Big Yellow Taxi” has a line that goes: “They took all the trees, they put them in a tree museum They charged the people a dollar and a half just to see them.” Anyone who has been coming to Rehoboth since the before-time (pre-outlets) must be as horrified as I am about the rampant development and destruction of natural resources that has occurred here. What used to be a peaceful little town on the ocean is forever a booming mini-metropolis surrounded by the blight of commercialism and developers’ greed. Mercifully, an oasis remains. Henlopen Acres, a heavily deed-restricted community, is home to a property that has stood nearly unchanged since the mid-1700’s. We are fortunate that the Corkran family in 1938 left behind the legacy of the Rehoboth Art League. The ancient home and barn, while maintaining their historic integrity, have been repurposed into gallery and studio space, respectively. Just down the hill is a more recently constructed gallery that blends organically into the bucolic pine forest. All around, it is a refreshingly stark contrast to the madness only minutes away. Open year round, visitors can gaze at a continually changing exhibit of local artwork, much of it well-curated, and of high quality. Nearly every piece is for sale, and at surprisingly reasonable prices. There are also special events here like the RAL Outdoor show in August, and the Cottage Tour, one of the town’s best happenings. Visitors should take a break from the beach, boardwalk, and shops, and come visit the tranquil surroundings of the Rehoboth Art League. It will remind you why this area has been a getaway from hectic life for over 300 years.
3. Air Mobility Command Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 818 reviews
Located on the Dover Air Force Base, this museum showcases the history of military aviation through exhibits and a sizeable collection of planes that have been used throughout history. Coronavirus Operations: Our outside aircraft ramp will be available for you to see 25 historical military aviation aircraft. The below guidelines apply: Museum Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No tours will be provided Inside museum will be closed Mobile Museum Store will be available (red trailer) Portable restrooms will be available Social distancing is required Masks are required when social distancing cannot be maintained
Reviewed By BarryBagels
Very informative and wonderful exhibits featuring military aerial transport and aerial refueling operations. Staff and volunteers take great pride and are a wonderful source of information that brings the exhibits to life. Michael, the operations manager, took us on a tour in his 8 seat golf cart of the 30 or so aircraft on the museums grounds. Seeing the giant C5A transport engineering marvel from the inside out was an outstanding experience. The museum is open 7 days a week, is free, has plenty of parking and has a wonderful gift shop that the kids, little and adult, would love. You can easily spend two to four hours there.
4. Marvel Carriage Museum
5. Anita Peghini-Raber Gallery
6. Belmont Hall
7. Ocean Gallery Fine Art Center
8. Hagley Museum And Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 773 reviews
Hagley is the former industrial site of the original black powder works of the DuPont Company founded in Delaware in 1802 and powered by the natural resources that surrounded it. Today, it is 235 acres of wooded rolling hills along the rushing Brandywine River dotted with hundreds of stone ruins of the black powder industry, dozens of restored buildings associated with the business, and the first du Pont family home built in America. Here, for more than 200 years, the DuPont Company and family experimented, innovated, and pursued the American Dream. Hagley has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1972. The site is a National Historic Landmark, National Recreation Trail, and a Historic Engineering Landmark.
Reviewed By JPGPhilly - Worcester, United States
Hagley is a gem and definitely worth a visit, even during the abbreviated winter tour schedule. our tour was memorable in large part due to the wit and wisdom of our tour guide / interpreter - Rodney. the tour encompasses two parts - the beginnings of the DuPont fame and fortune as black powder makers and their first manor house on site. honestly Winterthur and Nemours are more impressive, but it all began here at Hagley and the black powder making process is unique. there is a restored and working 19th century water powered machining building on site that is fascinating
9. Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 998 reviews
Once a Du Pont family country retreat, this estate's spectacular gardens surround a 175-room mansion housing the world's finest collection of American decorative arts from 1640-1860.
Reviewed By orioles833 - West Chester, United States
We visited to see the wonderful exhibit for The Crown series and also walked the peaceful grounds and enjoyed an excellent, informative, and interesting house tour. The DuPont family had superb taste and sense enough to preserve history, and so much of it is on display here. It's very beautiful and ornate here, much like a smaller scale version of something like the Biltmore estate in Asheville North Carolina.
10. Delaware Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 220 reviews
A collection of American art from 1840 to the present.
Reviewed By suesaut - Delaware, United States
This art museum does a great job of both blending in (it's situated in an amazingly beautiful residential neighborhood) and standing out (largest collection of pre-raphaelite art outside of europe, as well as revolving, thoughtful exhibits). There's also a lovely outside sculpture garden. Lot's of parking behind the museum as well as a lovely cafe and gift shop. Thursday nights in summer there's a happy hour from 5-7PM and admission is free; it's also free on Sundays. Great way to spend a few hours relaxing.
