Join Adam from Destination Deca for an epic tour of Dover, Delaware’s top 10 attractions plus two bonus gems you won’t find in typical travel guides. We start amid the pastel-flushed tidal marshes of Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, teeming with migrating snow geese and shorebirds, then roar onto the Monster Mile at Dover Motor Speedway to feel the concrete banking beneath 160-mph stock cars. Explore the free Air Mobility Command Museum on Dover Air Force Base, paddle Silver Lake at sunrise, and admire American masterpieces in a 19th-century mansion at the Biggs Museum of American Art.
Stroll past colonial landmarks on the First State Heritage Park loop, step into revolutionary history at John Dickinson’s Poplar Hall plantation, bargain-hunt among hundreds of vendors at Spence’s Bazaar, and experience democracy in action inside Delaware Legislative Hall. Wind up at Bally’s Dover Casino Resort for slots, shows, and gourmet dining. Bonus segments include the serene St. Jones Reserve for kayaking winding creeks and the Delaware Agricultural Museum & Village for hands-on 19th-century farm life.
Whether you’re planning a spring migration birdwatching trip, a high-octane racing weekend, or a multi-generational family vacation, this video has everything you need to make the most of Dover. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment with your favorite find or the next destination you want featured on Destination Deca. Let’s keep discovering together!
#DoverDelaware #DestinationDeca #BombayHookNWR #DoverMotorSpeedway #MonsterMile #AirMobilityCommandMuseum #SilverLakePark #BiggsMuseum #FirstStateHeritagePark #JohnDickinsonPlantation #SpencesBazaar #DelawareLegislativeHall #BallysDoverCasino #StJonesReserve #DelawareEstuarineReserve #DelawareAgriculturalMuseum #DelawareTravel #HiddenGems #RoadTripUSA
Stroll past colonial landmarks on the First State Heritage Park loop, step into revolutionary history at John Dickinson’s Poplar Hall plantation, bargain-hunt among hundreds of vendors at Spence’s Bazaar, and experience democracy in action inside Delaware Legislative Hall. Wind up at Bally’s Dover Casino Resort for slots, shows, and gourmet dining. Bonus segments include the serene St. Jones Reserve for kayaking winding creeks and the Delaware Agricultural Museum & Village for hands-on 19th-century farm life.
Whether you’re planning a spring migration birdwatching trip, a high-octane racing weekend, or a multi-generational family vacation, this video has everything you need to make the most of Dover. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment with your favorite find or the next destination you want featured on Destination Deca. Let’s keep discovering together!
#DoverDelaware #DestinationDeca #BombayHookNWR #DoverMotorSpeedway #MonsterMile #AirMobilityCommandMuseum #SilverLakePark #BiggsMuseum #FirstStateHeritagePark #JohnDickinsonPlantation #SpencesBazaar #DelawareLegislativeHall #BallysDoverCasino #StJonesReserve #DelawareEstuarineReserve #DelawareAgriculturalMuseum #DelawareTravel #HiddenGems #RoadTripUSA
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TravelTranscript
00:00Have you ever discovered a spot where bald eagles soar overhead, thunderous NASCAR engines roar just
00:05miles away, and the roots of American democracy still echo in Grand Marble Halls?
00:11Welcome to Dover, Delaware, a city so packed with wildlife, history, art, and adrenaline that you'll
00:17want to extend your stay. I'm Adam from Destination Deca, and today we're embarking on an unforgettable
00:24journey through the top 10 experiences Dover offers, plus two secret bonuses that even
00:29locals rave about. Get ready to plan your next getaway down to the last detail. In the next 20
00:37minutes, we'll navigate tidal marshes teeming with shorebirds, feel the rumble of concrete banking at
00:4324 degrees, wander through centuries-old estates where founding fathers shaped a nation, and even
00:48sneak in some retail therapy at a bygone-era flea market. Whether you're arriving by kayak, car,
00:55or combat cargo plane, Dover delivers surprises around every corner. I'll share the best times
01:02to visit, insider trip tips, must-see highlights within each attraction, and fun facts you won't
01:08find on any postcard. Buckle up, our adventure begins now. Number 10. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.
01:18Nestled 15 miles northeast of downtown Dover, Bombay Hook spans over 16,000 acres of tidal salt marsh,
01:27freshwater pools, and woodlands. Established in 1937 to protect migrating waterfowl,
01:34this refuge now hosts more than 90 species of shorebirds, from elegant sandpipers to flamboyant
01:40canvas bats. Early morning on the three-mile wildlife drive, you can spot flocks of snow geese
01:47numbering in the tens of thousands, their pinkish plumage glowing at sunrise. If you time your visit
01:54for spring or fall migration, don't miss the observation tower overlooking Shipwash Pond, where you might
02:00glimpse a peregrine falcon stooping at 200 miles per hour. Trip tip. The refuge opens at sunrise,
02:08so set your alarm, bring binoculars and a telephoto lens, and pack a thermos of coffee.
02:15Wear waterproof boots if you plan to explore the Huckins Pond Trail. It can get soggy after a heavy
02:21tide. Number 9. Dover Motor Speedway. Just a 10-minute drive south, you'll find Dover Motor
02:29Speedway, affectionately called the Monster Mile. Since its 1969 debut, this one-mile, concrete-surfaced
02:38oval has challenged legends from Richard Petty to Jimmy Johnson. With turns banked at 24 degrees,
02:45cars hit speeds over 160 miles per hour, carving clouds of concrete dust into the air.
02:52Beyond race day thrills, the Speedway offers behind-the-scenes pit tours, where you can handle
02:58a NASCAR tire and hear the roar of engines being tuned. Special fun fact. The track originally had
03:05asphalt pavement before switching to concrete in 1995 to reduce maintenance. Trip tip. Buy tickets
03:13directly through Dover's website to bypass resale markups, arrive early to claim best parking near
03:19Turn 4 for tailgating, and bring noise-canceling headphones, though stock cars are loud.
03:25Number 8. Air Mobility Command Museum. A short drive down Route 13 leads us to Dover Air Force Base's
03:33crown jewel, the Air Mobility Command Museum. Home to more than 50 historic military aircraft,
03:41this free museum charts the evolution of U.S. global airlift capacity.
03:47Stroll through hangars to see the massive C-5A Galaxy, nicknamed The Beast, and hop into the cockpit of
03:54the C-47 SkyTrain that dropped paratroopers on D-Day. Volunteers in vintage uniforms host daily tours,
04:02recounting stories like the Berlin airlift of 1948-49, when C-54 Skymasters sustained 2 million West
04:09Berliners by delivering coal, food, and medicine. Trip tip. Check the museum's calendar for cockpit climb-ins or flight simulator events.
04:19Arrive between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and allow at least two hours to wander every hangar.
04:29Number 7. Silver Lake Park. Back in the heart of downtown Dover lies a peaceful 64-acre retreat, Silver Lake Park.
04:39Originally a millpond in the 1700s, today it's a hub for paddle boating, fishing, kayaking, and picnics.
04:46Rent a single or tandem kayak at the boathouse, then glide past water lilies and listening posts perched atop floating observation decks.
04:57The paved 1.8-mile loop trail is perfect for a morning jog or an easy stroll with your dog.
05:04Local photographers swear by the sunset panorama from the west dock, where the golden light shimmers across oak and maple reflections.
05:12Trip tip. Weekdays before noon are the quietest, bring a picnic basket and settle onto the grassy knoll near the playground for views of the clock tower and the Delaware State Capitol looming in the distance.
05:26Number 6. Biggs Museum of American Art.
05:30Just a five-minute walk from Silver Lake stands the historic 1879 Alfred I. DuPont Mansion, now home to the Biggs Museum of American Art.
05:41With over 1,400 works spanning folk art to modern abstraction, this museum highlights artists like Mary Cassatt, Winslow Homer, and local Delmarva artisans.
05:51Period rooms transport you to Victorian parlors, complete with original wallpaper patterns and hand-carved mahogany furniture.
06:02The museum also hosts rotating exhibitions. On our last visit, a special show on American Impressionism featured paintings loaned from the Smithsonian.
06:09Trip tip. Admission is just $5, and guided tours run Thursday through Saturday at 11 a.m.
06:20Bring a sketchbook to capture details in the Decorative Arts Gallery, and linger in the Sculpture Garden on the South Lawn where contemporary installations frame the colonial town skyline.
06:31Number 5. First State Heritage Park.
06:35Dubbed America's only urban park without boundaries, First State Heritage Park is a self-guided walking experience linking eight historic sites across downtown Dover.
06:47Map in hand, or simply download the free smartphone app, then wander from the old statehouse, site of Delaware's first state constitution in 1776, to the jail, Hanging Yard, where highwaymen once awaited trial.
07:00Each site features interpretive panels and costumed storytellers.
07:07Fun fact. Delaware was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the constitution on December 7, 1787, earning its motto as, The First State.
07:19Trip tip. Plan two to three hours to complete the loop, and pop into the visitor center on U.S. Route 13 for a complimentary cup of locally roasted coffee and historic photographs you can't find.
07:30Number 4. John Dickinson Plantation Travel eight miles north of the city to Poplar Hall, the plantation home of John Dickinson, known as, The Penman of the Revolution.
07:46Born in 1732, Dickinson authored the influential letters from a farmer in Pennsylvania, arguing for colonial rights.
07:54His Georgian-style farmhouse still stands with original timber beams and period furnishings.
08:01Costumed interpreters demonstrate 18th-century crafts like candle-dipping, blacksmithing, and open-hearth cooking.
08:10During harvest season, staff harvest heirloom crops, field peas, corn, and wheat. Exactly as his family did in the 1760s.
08:18Trip tip. Attend the pancake breakfast fundraiser each spring, where volunteers flip 500 pancakes over a wood-fired heart.
08:29It's a delicious way to taste living history.
08:33Number 3. Spence's Bazaar heads south for a change of pace to Spence's Bazaar, Delaware's largest flea market since 1957.
08:421757. Stretching over a mile of aisles and more than 200 vendors, you'll find antique furniture, vintage vinyl, handcrafted jewelry, and fresh produce.
08:54Local lore has it that a hidden pocket watch from the 1800s once sold for $4.
08:59By noon on Saturdays, the best finds vanish, so aim to arrive at opening, 6 a.m. on Saturdays, 7 a.m. on Sundays, from April through September.
09:12Trip tip. Bring folding chairs, bottled water, and small bills for easier haggling.
09:19Set aside an hour for the central food court where food trucks serve crab pretzels and chicken bar.
09:24Delaware's answer to jambalaya.
09:26Number 2. Delaware Legislative Hall
09:31Back in downtown Dover, step into the grandeur of Legislative Hall, completed in 1933 in a refined Neo-Georgian style.
09:41Tour the Senate chamber with its dark walnut-paneled walls, the House chamber lit by skylights, and the elegant rotunda featuring murals depicting Delaware's first 300 years.
09:52Docent-led tours run Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
09:57Check online to reserve your spot.
10:01Fun fact. The building's copper-clad dome was modeled after Philadelphia's Independence Hall.
10:08Trip tip. If you time your visit with a legislative session, you can observe live debate from the public gallery, an inspiring glimpse of democracy in action.
10:17Number 1. Bally's Dover Casino Resort
10:22Our grand finale is Bally's Dover Casino Resort, where slots, table games, live entertainment, and a full-service hotel merge under one roof.
10:31Originally Dover Downs when it opened alongside the racetrack in 1969, the property rebranded Dover Bally's in 2021 after a $50 million renovation.
10:44Inside, you'll find 808 slot machines, 25 poker tables, and exclusive high-limit salons.
10:51Dining highlights include the yellow Parrot Bar and Amp, grill for casual American fare and open flame steaks at Dover Prime.
11:01After dark, catch national touring acts in the 1,000-seat concert venue.
11:07Trip tip. Sign up for the Bally Rewards Club for complimentary valet parking, free play credits, and discounted room rates.
11:15Bonus spot 1. Street Jones Reserve at Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve
11:22Only 5 miles north of Dover, the St. Jones Reserve safeguards 2,600 acres of tidal marsh and upland forests.
11:32It's an outdoor classroom for ecology programs, kayak excursions, and bird banding demonstrations.
11:38During winter months, keep an eye out for snowy owls and bald eagles feeding on waterfowl.
11:46Trip tip. Rent a single kayak from the St. Jones Marina and paddle at mid-tide for easy access to the twisting tidal creeks.
11:55Bring polarized sunglasses for clearer water views.
11:58Bonus spot 2. Delaware Agricultural Museum in Amp Village Venture 10 miles west to Middletown and transport yourself back to rural Delaware circa 1890.
12:10The Delaware Agricultural Museum in Amp Village showcases living history buildings, a one-room schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, and a dairy barn, and antique machinery like a 1926 Fordson tractor.
12:23Docents demonstrate buttered churning and wool carting on weekends.
12:30Trip tip. Align your visit with the annual Harvest Festival in October, where children can, milk, amadal Holstein and families compete in sack races.
12:39If Dover's blend of wildlife, history, art and high-octane thrills has you itching to book your next getaway, hit that like button right now.
12:50Subscribe to Destination Decca and tap the bell icon so you never miss one of our deep-dive travel guides.
12:57Drop a comment below telling me which Dover attraction you're adding to your itinerary first, or share your own local secret we should feature next.
13:05Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for behind-the-scenes shots, real-time tips, and exclusive giveaways.
13:14Ready for more adventures?
13:16Check out our playlist of East Coast Road Trips and start planning your ultimate U.S. vacation today.
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