Delaware ranks 49th in the nation with a total area of 1,982 square miles. Delaware’s 2000 population estimate was 783,600, 45th among the states.

But while it may be small, its proximity to major metropolitan areas (including Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.) make it an ideal mid-Atlantic getaway. Many travelers are only familiar with Delaware’s inland with views from the road on the way to the beaches. Bethany, Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey, and Fenwick beaches are all popular destinations for out of state visitors.

But Delaware–the first state and a “Small Wonder”–offers many things to do in addition to visit the beach.

We’ll start at the top of Delaware (just south of Philadelphia) and work our way south to the bottom of the state, where it meets Maryland’s Eastern counties.

Northern Delaware

1. Visit the Plumpton Park Zoo, a small zoo (just west of Newark in Rising Sun, MD) that saves unwanted, abandoned, and injured animals. Among the zoo’s residents are wallabies, snakes, deer, lynxes, monkeys, alligators, and giraffes. Families can adopt an animal they see to help this not-for-profit park. Pack a picnic and stay to play on the zoo’s playground.

Location: 1416 Telegraph Road, Rising Sun, MD 21911

Admission: $11.95 13 and older, ages 2-12 $7.95.

Hours: Open every day through September 30, 2009 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. Check website for off-season hours. Call ahead to confirm hours. Admission closes 1 hour prior to closing.

For more information: www.plumptonparkzoo.org

2. Take a ride on the Wilmington & Western Railroad. Ride through Red Clay Valley on an historic steam or diesel-powered train. The antique coaches provide a scenic and guided educational trip back in time. Check the website for special events such as a Civil War Skirmish, a Full Moon Hayride, and the Wild West Robbery Train.

Location: 2201 Newport-Gap Pike (Route 41 North), Wilmington, DE 19808

Admission: Fares vary based on length of ride and distance, but start at $6 for children 2-12 and $8 for adults.

For more information: www.wwrr.com.

3. Check out the rotating art exhibits at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art. This non-collecting museum, part of the Wilmington Riverfront, boasts seven galleries and 26 on-site artist studios. After visiting the galleries and museum shop, take a walk (or a bike ride!) on Riverwalk, which starts at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park between Market Street and Walnut Street.

Location: 200 South Madison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Admission: $5; children under 12 free. Also free Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesday, no admission, but visitors are asked to donate whatever they’d like.

Hours: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wed & Sun: 12 p.m.-5 p.m.; Closed Monday.

For more information:www.thedcca.org

Dover/Central DE

4. Kids 10 and older can try their hand at flying in the Air Mobility Command Museum flight simulator, which is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thirty aircraft are on display at the Dover Air Force Base museum, including the B-17G Flying Fortress, C-133 Cargomaster, P-51D Mustang and UH-1 Huey helicopter. Kids love the chance to get up close to huge planes that look so small in the sky.

Location: 1301 Heritage Road, Dover Air Force Base, Dover

Admission: Free

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Federal Holidays.

For more information: www.amcmuseum.org

5. Pick your own produce or flowers at Fifer Orchards in Wyoming. Learn about fruits and vegetables, how they grow, and visit the country store stocked with jams, jellies, and preserves (call 302-697-2141 to schedule a formal tour for a group). Don’t miss the fresh baked goods and creamy ice cream!

Location: 1919 Allabands Mill Rd. Wyoming, Delaware 19934

Admission: Free

Hours: Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

For more information: www.fiferorchards.com

6. Just because school isn’t in session doesn’t mean there isn’t a civics lesson to be had! Learn about the Delaware state government with a visit to Legislative Hall in Dover. See the chamber where Delaware laws are debated and made, as well as paintings and portraits of former governors and Delaware’s heroes of World War II.

Reserve a date and time for a guided tour (302-739-9194). Don’t forget a picnic to eat on the Capitol grounds, or dine at the Hall’s cafeteria.

Location: Court St. and Legislative Ave., Dover, DE 19901

Admission: Free

Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on non-session days, Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on session days. First Saturday of the month and holidays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Southern Delaware

7. Buy fresh local produce, specialty eggs (even meet the birds!), organic cookies, and raw honey at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market (HLFM). There are also workshops by local chefs (using food from the market), master gardeners, and sustainable agriculture experts. Kids will see firsthand where their food comes from, and talk to the vendors who made it.

Location: Lewes Historical Society Complex, 110 Shipcarpenter Street, Lewes, DE

Admission: Free

Hours: Saturday 8-Noon all summer.

For more information: www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org

8. After visiting the Market, walk over to the canal to tour Lightship Overfalls. A steel lightship built in 1938 that served with the Coast Guard until 1971, the Overfalls has been lovingly restored by volunteers. It’s one of only 17 remaining lightships.

Location: Lewes Canal, Lewes, DE

Admission: Children 12 and under $1, adults $2

Hours: Usually open Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Call ahead to confirm 302-644-8050.

For more information: www.overfalls.org

9. Visit the Treasures of the Sea exhibit at Delaware Technical and Community College to see over $4 million in artifacts, including silver ingots and coins, bronze cannons, gold coins and chains, silver artifacts, deep green emeralds from South America, and religious articles. The riches were recovered from the wreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha, which sank off the Florida Keys during a hurricane in 1622. You can watch a short video about the search for the shipwreck, which was lost for 360 years.

Location: Delaware Technical & Community College, Jack F. Owens Campus, Stephen J. Betze Library Building. Route 18/404 (1/4 mile west of the intersection of Route 18/404 and Route 113)

Admission: Adults $3, $1 for students, Children 4 and younger are free

Hours: Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Friday 12-4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday Closed.

For more information: www.treasuresofthesea.org

Tagged as: beach, Delaware, east coast, Family Travel