12 Things to Do in Lewes, Delaware — The First Town in the First State

Lewes, Delaware

Skip the standard beach town shuffle and head to Lewes, where Delaware’s oldest settlement meets the coast. This town’s got stories – from Dutch shipwrecks to British bombardments – plus the kind of laid-back beaches and fresh seafood that make you want to stay awhile.

A Real Cannonball Is Still Stuck in This House

A house built in 1765 got hit when the British attacked on April 6-7, 1813. Most people think the cannonball out front is real, but the actual one is kept inside. This building has been many things over its 260 years—from a pilot’s home to a taxi stand in the 1940s.

The Lewes Historical Society bought it in 1963 for $28,000 and turned it into a Maritime Museum. Now you can see the giant lighthouse lens from Fourteen Foot Bank inside too.

Go Biking at Cape Henlopen

You can borrow bikes for free at Cape Henlopen State Park through their Borrow-a-Bike program. It’s run by park volunteers and helped almost 15,000 visitors in 2023. Just show your driver’s license at the Seaside Nature Center to get a simple cruiser bike.

They even have free helmets and kid trailers. You can’t take the bikes out of the park, but that’s fine because there’s a great 3.8-mile paved trail that passes by historic WWII towers.

Enjoy Thousands of Blooming Tulips

From April 1-20, 2025, you’ll see 31,000 tulips and 5,000 spring bulbs blooming in over 20 spots around town. This annual event celebrates Lewes’ Dutch roots, going back to the first European settlement in 1631.

Pick up a “Tiptoe to the Tulips” map at the Chamber of Commerce in late March to find all the best spots. Don’t miss the History in Bloom walking tours on April 12 or the chance to buy tulips at Bank Street Plaza on April 18-19.

You Can Walk Through a Real WWII Fort

Fort Miles at Cape Henlopen has one of the biggest collections of World War II coastal defense items on the East Coast. Built in 1941 to protect Philadelphia from German ships, it includes Battery 519, which had huge 12-inch guns that could fire 25 miles.

You can climb the 75-foot observation tower, explore the old barracks that once housed 2,248 soldiers, and see the 8-inch gun brought from the USS Missouri. The fort welcomes visitors Wednesday through Sunday.

Watch Dolphins Swimming Close By

When you take the 85-minute Cape May-Lewes Ferry ride, you’ll likely spot dolphins from May through October. This ferry started running in 1964 and carries about 275 cars and 1,000 people on each trip across the 17-mile Delaware Bay.

Staff on board help you spot groups of 5-12 dolphins that often swim within 50 feet of the boat. For the best view, stand at the port-side rails when leaving Lewes or the starboard side when coming back.

Try Ghost Hunting at the Burton Ingram House

The Burton Ingram House, built in 1785, opens for actual ghost hunting with First State Paranormal Investigations. These two-hour sessions happen monthly, with a special event on April 12, 2025.

You’ll use real ghost hunting tools like EMF meters, heat cameras, and voice recorders in this house where three people died. The building, moved to its current spot in 1962, often shows strange electromagnetic activity upstairs. Tickets include snacks served in the original 18th-century kitchen.

This Inn Lends You Everything for Beach Days

When you stay at Dogfish Inn, you don’t need to pack beach gear. Their gear shed has free stuff for overnight guests to use. Just three blocks from downtown at 105 Savannah Road, the inn lends out nice beach chairs, hiking backpacks, and binoculars for watching wildlife at Cape Henlopen.

They have 12 cornhole sets, frisbees, and beach games too. The shed is open from 7am to 10pm daily, and the “Beer Concierge” helps plan your day trips based on the weather.

Have the Perfect Beach Day

Cape Henlopen was set aside for everyone to use way back in 1682—182 years before Yellowstone became our first National Park. William Penn gave these 5,000 acres to the public, saying they were “for the common usage of the citizens of Lewes and Sussex County.”

This early conservation move still benefits you today, with 7 miles of protected shoreline and forests. Over 1.2 million people visit each year, but the beach still feels natural and unspoiled.

Kids Can Be Pirates on a Real Ship

Kids love sailing on the Sea Gypsy V for 70 minutes of adventure on the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. Each child gets a sword, eye patch, and fake tattoo to use in water fights against “Bad Pirate Pete.”

The ship goes out three times every day from April to October, but you’ll need to book ahead. It leaves from Anglers Marina next to Irish Eyes restaurant. Your little ones will enjoy face painting and hunting for treasure during the trip.

Watch Historical Reenactments at Chautauqua Festival

Every June, actors dress up as famous people from history during the Chautauqua Festival. This tradition started at Lake Chautauqua, New York in 1874 as a way to teach adults. Now it happens under big tents at the Zwaanendael Museum.

Each actor performs for 45 minutes, then answers your questions for 30 minutes while staying in character. Last year, performers became Ben Franklin, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass talking about freedom in early America.

You Can Kayak Right From Downtown

There’s a handy kayak launch at Lewes Canalfront Park that puts you right on the 10-mile Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. It’s at the end of Shipcarpenter Street and has floating docks for eight boats that adjust with the tide.

The canal is only about 5 feet deep, making it perfect if you’re new to kayaking. You can rent a single kayak nearby, and the calm water lets you paddle straight to restaurants that have their own docks.

Boats Parade Through Town Every October

Each October, more than 25 decorated boats parade through Lewes harbor celebrating the town’s sea history. This event honors the fishing industry that once employed 35% of locals in the early 1900s.

During the celebration, museums display items from 18th-century pilot boats that helped ships avoid dangerous shallow areas. You can watch demonstrations of rope making using the same hemp twisting methods that colonial shipbuilders used right here in Lewes harbor.

Visiting Lewes, Delaware

Cape Henlopen State Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Downtown shops on Second Street operate during regular business hours with longer hours in summer.

• Lewes Historical Society (110 Shipcarpenter St): Tuesday-Saturday, during regular daytime hours.
• Cannonball House Maritime Museum (118 Front St): Wednesday-Saturday during spring and summer seasons.

There’s free parking at Lewes Public Library with shuttle service to downtown during busy summer weekends.