Delaware State Parks: More Than a Stroll through Nature

I recently visited Delaware for the first time, and I learned that there’s more to this tiny state than corporations, Rehoboth Beach and Dover Motor Speedway. In fact, this small state threw me a big surprise with everything there is to do in Delaware State Parks.

Whiskey Beach at Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware. — At Delaware State Parks learn about places like Whiskey Beach.

For such a small state, I learned that Delaware has 18 state parks, including a zoo! I got to visit four of the state parks in Delaware. I was impressed by the quality of the offerings at each park and the care taken to preserve and promote unique aspects of the state.

So, as you consider a visit to the First State, I hope you’ll visit at least a few of these Delaware State Parks. They offer so much more than a walk in the woods!

First State Heritage Park

First State Heritage Park is a unique urban “park without boundaries” located in downtown Dover on the Green. The park is anchored by the historic Dover Green and includes historic buildings and nearby partner sites that tell the stories of famous Delawarians and the everyday people whose lives are woven into the tapestry of history in the First State.

The site includes the historic sites of Dover Green, the John Bell House Interpretive Center and Legislative Hall. It also includes the nearby Biggs Museum of Art, Woodburn Hall House and the Johnson Victrola Museum.

Costumed interpreters sharing history at Delaware State Parks. — Costumed Interpreters sharing stories of Delaware’s colonial history.

Costumed interpreters, dressed in 18th century clothes, help visitors step back in time to colonial Delaware.

PRO TIP: When visiting, take a short walk to nearby Constitution Park, a Dover City Park at the corner of North and State Streets. The sculpture at this park, a 13 foot bronze quill feather laid across a stainless steel cube, honors the ratification of the US Constitution. As the first state to ratify the Constitution, it’s fitting that Delaware honors this moment in history.

Cape Henlopen State Park

Head to Cape Henlopen State Park for an entirely different Delaware State Parks experience. Cape Henlopen State Park spans 5,000 acres between the beach towns of Lewes (pronounced Lew-ess) and Rehoboth Beach.

Marsh and wildlife viewing area in Delaware State Parks.

Where the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet sits Cape Henlopen State Park, a 5,000-acre natural wonder. Pristine beaches, mature maritime forests, prime nesting habitat and a haven for recreation, Cape Henlopen is beloved by outdoor enthusiasts around the world.

People in beach chairs with ocean in background and dunes in foreground.

Visitors can enjoy diverse habitats, abundant wildlife, the Seaside Nature Center and Fort Miles Historical Area, as well as extensive bike paths and both ocean and bay beaches.

The wide, easy trails, picnic areas, expansive beaches and abundant wildlife mean a day at Cape Henlopen can be as busy or relaxed as you’d like.

Delaware Seashore State Park

Stretching along six-and-a-half miles of ocean and 20 miles of bay shoreline,

Delaware Seashore State Park is an outdoor adventurer’s gem along Delaware’s southern coast. It’s a perfect beach destination for fishing, relaxing on the beach, paddling or exploring history.

The Indian River Life-Saving Station, built in 1876, shares the important coastal history of Indian River and Rehoboth Bay.

Indian River Life Saving Station history museum in Delaware.

The beautiful building, now history museum, was once home to the US Life-Saving Service (USLSS) surfmen who patrolled the coast and responded to shipwrecks in the late 1800s, a precursor to the US Coast Guard.

Museum tours share the dangers these surfmen endured to save ships and goods after they wrecked, as well as more general maritime heritage. The park’s Visitor Center is also located on site, with exhibits, park information, pass sales and a retail store.

Lums Pond State Park

The history of of Lums Pond State Park goes back centuries. Native Americans first called this area home, building communities along St. Georges Creek. In the 1700s, Lums Pond was developed to support the local mills that brought early prosperity to the area. Later, the region became part of the important Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, again helping industry grow.

In 1963, it became Lums Pond State Park, preserving the area for outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking and kayaking. There’s also a nature center, picnic facilities and a campground.

In a tree at Go Ape in Delaware State Parks.

And, my personal favorite, Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park has a zipline and ropes course within Lums Pond State Park, giving families, friends and groups a fun way to see this beautiful park from above!

We had a blast soaring through the trees over the river. Allow four hours to do the whole course. And, register in advance — especiallly on weekends or for evening zips and special events.

Delaware State Parks certainly offer ways to enjoy nature, wildlife and the beaches. But, they also preserve and promote Delaware history, from Native American lore to colonial Delaware and the first signers of the US Constitution to shipwrecks, historical heroes and science. When visiting our First State, add a few Delaware State Park visits to your itinerary. You won’t regret it.