This is the fourth segment of our 19 Places you’ll want to visit in Delaware. Links to the previous suggestions (1 through 12) occur below.
Dover, DE
13) First State Heritage Park Delaware’s first urban “park without boundaries” is where cultural and historic sites come together for a delightful, walkable days’ worth of activities. The buildings are all beautiful to look at from outside, but your first stop should be the Visitor Center (121 Martin Luther King Blvd. North (a.k.a. 121 Duke of York Street) ; Dover, DE 19901 (302) 739-9194) where you can pick up a map that explains not only what each building contains, but also various programs offered at each. There are also walking tours of The Green, great for a quick overview of all that’s here.
We got to sit in on a presentation in Legislative Hall by period dressed actors who retold what life would have been like here in 1787. Extremely well done, the powerful presentation gave one an understanding of just how different things have become since this nation’s founding.
Download the latest schedule of events at destateparks.com/heritagepark. For even more information about Kent County, delve into all the resources on VisitDover.com.
14) The Brunch n Lunch All that walking around The Green is bound to work up a hunger. A great place to relax and rejuvenate yourself is The Brunch and Lunch (25 W. Lockerman Street; Dover, DE 19904 (302) 678-8999.) Just off the square, this funky little restaurant is great for a leisurely meal. The food is fresh and made to order, but give yourself plenty of time – they don’t have a reputation for speed here.
The BnL Mac n Cheese burger will please those who love both and their massive milkshakes are a specialty.
15) Air Mobility Command Museum That’s a long title for an Air Force Museum housed inside and outside an old WWII hangar alongside Dover AFB (1301 Heritage Road; Dover AFB, DE 19902 (302) 677-5938). A true bargain, with free admission, the museum has a phenomenal collection of aircraft, from the simplest, smallest, single seater to the monstrous C-5A Galaxy. Many can be boarded, so you can see them from inside and out.
Ever flown a fighter? Now you can try the next best thing with their free simulators. Call ahead to check hours of operation. (They are always closed on Mondays.) Be sure to climb the control tower to get a great aerial view of all the planes outside.
This is the only museum in the country that is dedicated to Airlift and Air Refueling history. Surprisingly, many of the 180 volunteers that work here, were the same mechanics who originally worked on these planes while they were in service.
Walking into the hole of the C5-A Galaxy gives new meaning to the word “huge.” The one here holds the honor of being the only one that ever launched an inter-continental ballistic missile in-flight. Almost 250 feet long, the C5-A is notable in that both nose and tail hinge upwards for speedy loading and unloading.
Looking for the perfect selfie opportunity, why not in the Vice-President’s Air Force Two. The DC-9 was also used as a make-shift Air Force One for presidents Reagan, Clinton and both Bush presidents when they flew into smaller airports that couldn’t handle Air Force One.
16) Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company Fordham Brewery started in Annapolis, MD and Dominion started in Ashburn, VA. Joining forces in 2007, they opened this consolidated operation in 2009.
Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company (1284 Mc D Drive; Dover, DE 19901 (302) 678-4810) offers something for the entire family. In addition to the hand-crafted beers and ales by both Fordham and Dominion, the kids (over and under 21) are going to love the four Dominion sodas. Sample a root beer, ginger ale, creamy orange or black cherry, and you are sure to be taking a pack home. They are just that good. Why not? A six-pack of the black cherry packs more than a pound of sugar. Mmmmm.
Factory tours are available on Fridays and Saturdays. The tasting room is open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Check the website for hours.
In case you missed any previous suggestions, start here for our initial post.