Discovering the First State

Just 95 miles long and less than 35 miles wide, Delaware is much more than its tax-free shopping and proliferation of chicken coops lead you to believe. Whether it’s exploring a stretch of white, sandy beach or a quaint colonial village, there are surprises at every turn — including when it comes to the state’s public lands.

First State National Historic Park

The first state to ratify the Constitution, Delaware’s First State National Historical Park highlights how it was the product of conflict between three world powers seeking to dominate the Delaware Valley.

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Scenic Trail

The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Scenic Trail retraces the steps of the Englishman, who documented Native American communities when he explored the bay in 1608. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed proper is the largest estuary in North America, giving way to major league cities and colonial towns, as well as farmland, fishing villages and other quintessential landscapes. There are countless opportunities to kayak, go crabbing, explore lighthouses and slurp fresh-shucked oysters.

Cape Henlopen

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Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

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