Kent: Marshlands, history and museums

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge offers a close-up look at Kent’s natural side. It stretches for eight miles along Delaware Bay and covers 16,251 acres. At the same time, it protects one of the largest remaining areas of tidal salt marsh in the Mid-Atlantic region. The refuge offers a 12-mile wildlife drive, five walking trails and three observation towers. The two distances refer to different scales: eight miles describes the stretch along Delaware Bay, while 12 miles is the length of the wildlife drive.

Enjoy nature: drive, trails and bike path

Killens Pond State Park also offers different ways to get outdoors. An easy-to-ride bike path follows the main access road. Pondside Trail is an easy-to-moderate hike, with connecting paths to viewpoints by the pond. For the bike path, its route and ease of riding are the key points; for Pondside Trail, the focus is on the hiking difficulty and views of the pond.

Dover: constitutional history and events

At The Dover Green, on December 7, 1787, 30 delegates—10 from each county—met at the Golden Fleece Tavern and ratified the United States Constitution. The Green was laid out in 1717 based on a plan William Penn had drawn up in 1683. These two dates give the site a longer history than the Constitution’s ratification alone.

Partners of First State Heritage Park offer limited 45-minute guided walking tours of historic downtown Dover at The Dover Green. Tours take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Since schedules and fees can change, it is a good idea to check them before your visit. Dover Days takes place on the first weekend in May. The program includes historical reenactments, with volunteers dressed as well-known historical figures. Check the dates for the relevant year when planning your trip.

John Dickinson Plantation: multiple perspectives on history

John Dickinson Plantation is designated a National Historic Landmark and is a site on the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The Visitor Center has two exhibits with text panels about tenants, indentured servants, and free and enslaved Black men, women and children who lived, worked and died on the plantation. John Dickinson grew up on his father’s plantation at St. Jones Neck, southeast of Dover. The exhibits and this biographical connection offer different starting points for learning about the site.

Museums of sound, art and agriculture

The Johnson Victrola Museum explores the history of the Victor Talking Machine Company and the development of the sound recording industry. Exhibits include phonographs, recordings, memorabilia, trademarks, objects and paintings. The Old State House was the first permanent capitol building in Dover, Delaware. At the Biggs Museum of American Art, exhibitions on historical and contemporary art themes change throughout the year. The Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village connects exhibits and related programs with Delaware’s agricultural history and future.

Aviation and practical information

The Air Mobility Command Museum displays more than 30 aircraft, from an open-cockpit biplane to modern four-engine jet transports, and offers free flight simulators. One access requirement is important when planning your visit: the main entrance is on Rt. 9; access via Dover AFB is not possible. This museum can be considered a distinct highlight alongside the historic sites, art and agricultural exhibits, or nature experiences.

Discover more destinations: Harrington, Dover, Sussex County, New Castle County.

For the broader travel overview: Delaware.