10 Fun things to do during off-season visits in Southern Delaware
Southern Delaware is such a popular destination that a true “off season” barely exists anymore, but there are lots of ways to have fun if you visit when it’s too cold to take a dip! Here are a few suggestions:
- Tax Free Holiday Shopping – Turn your holiday shopping into a delightful getaway and enjoy seaside sparkle, savings, and savory delights in our festive downtowns and at the outlets!
- Holiday Festivities/Winter WonderFest – Southern Delaware sparkles throughout the holidays. Visitors enjoy old fashioned Christmas parades in charming small towns, festive entertainment, events, and holiday house tours. They dine in renowned Culinary Coast™ restaurants and shop TAX FREE in small town boutiques and outlet centers. Also, Winter WonderFest, held from Thanksgiving Weekend through New Year’s Eve, features a drive-through light display in Cape Henlopen State Park and an ice rink, rides, and much more at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal, and don't forget in January to visit Bethany Beach’s Fire & Ice Festival!
- Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival – Celebrating its 22nd anniversary in 2019, this festival has developed into a mid-Atlantic fall destination event for film enthusiasts from more than fifteen states.
- Museums - Are you fascinated by Native American history? Is Americana your thing? Military history? Shipbuilding? Railroads? Maritime history? Shipwrecks? Aviation? Dolls? You’ll find all of that and lots more waiting for you in Southern Delaware’s 26 incredible museums. Sussex County has an exciting and varied history dating from well before European colonization that has been carefully preserved throughout the county.
- Antiquing – With all that history, Southern Delaware is home to lots of antiques and collectibles shops full of treasures just waiting to be discovered. In fact, Southern Delaware Tourism created a set of itineraries that can be enjoyed over two days, any time of year.
- Culinary Coast Dining - Southern has become a foodie haven. Culinary travelers will love the adventure of discovering Southern Delaware's Culinary Coast™. They’ll find an array of exceptional restaurants with world-class award winning chefs (including James Beard nominees and winners!) and an array of gourmet food experiences.
- Bicycling/Hiking/Paddling - Did you know that Delaware has been named the 3rd Most Bike Friendly State in the U. S. of A and came in #1 East of the Mississippi? Southern Delaware's popular trails, flat landscape, excellent roadways and scenic routes ensure an enjoyable cycling experience.
- Amusements – With a new indoor trampoline park for all ages, an awesome bowling alley/laser tag/arcade with phenomenal food, an escape room, a virtual reality arcade just steps from the boardwalk, and more, there’s plenty of indoor fun to be had in the off season, too!
- Beachcombing – With fewer people on the beach and tides stirred up by more extreme weather patterns common from fall through early spring, beachcombing is often at its best during the winter months. Just bundle up!
- Kick back and relax – Take a leisurely walk on the boardwalk, through beautiful Cape Henlopen State Park, or through any of our historic downtowns - or visit to one of our many breweries, distilleries, or wineries.