Dover, Delaware — Beaches, No Sales Tax & Mid-Atlantic Proximity

"Dover's most reliable bar and kitchen. The Dover AFB crowd's spot."

Finnegan's Wake is the go-to for Dover AFB permanent party — standard pub fare done well, good draft selection, and an atmosphere that works for both unit dinners and casual weeknight food.

"The reason to make the beach drive. Outstanding Mid-Atlantic seafood."

Rehoboth Beach has a genuinely good restaurant scene for a small beach town — Chesapeake & Maine is one of the best, focused on Maine lobster and Chesapeake Bay blue crab. The food quality justifies the 45-minute drive.

"The original Dogfish Head brewpub. Delaware's most famous beer."

Dogfish Head is one of America's most influential craft breweries and their original Rehoboth Beach brewpub is the place to experience it properly — rotating experimental beers alongside the flagship lineup, excellent food, and a lively atmosphere.

"Delaware Bay shorebird and waterfowl migration. World-class birding."

Bombay Hook NWR is 16,000 acres of Delaware Bay tidal marshes — one of the most important shorebird and waterfowl staging areas on the Atlantic Flyway. Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) migrations are extraordinary. Tens of thousands of shorebirds at peak.

"Delaware's first settlement. Better than Rehoboth for history and local food."

Lewes (the First Town in the First State) is a historic Delaware town with 1600s Dutch and colonial architecture, excellent independent restaurants, and a Cape Henlopen State Park adjacent to town. Less crowded and more authentic than Rehoboth.

"Delaware's best beach. WWII towers, dune hiking, Atlantic beach."

Cape Henlopen State Park encompasses the tip of the Delaware peninsula — Atlantic Ocean beach, Delaware Bay beach, the Great Dune (80 feet high), WWII observation towers, and one of the best birding spots in the state. Camping available.

"The Mid-Atlantic's best beach corridor. 45 minutes from the base."

The Delaware beach towns — Rehoboth Beach (family-friendly, good restaurants), Dewey Beach (younger crowd, bars), and Bethany Beach (quieter, families) — form the best beach corridor in the Mid-Atlantic for the money. No sales tax even at the beach.

"Henry du Pont's decorative arts collection. Stunning naturalistic garden."

Winterthur Museum near Wilmington has one of the finest collections of American decorative arts in the country — housed in a 175-room country estate. The 60-acre naturalistic garden is extraordinary in spring (azaleas and wildflowers). About 1 hour from Dover.

"Birthplace of American democracy. 1.5 hours north. Surprisingly accessible."

Philadelphia is 1.5 hours north — Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Reading Terminal Market (one of the great American markets), the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Rocky steps), Eastern State Penitentiary, and a Phillies or Eagles game. The cheesesteak debate (Pat's vs. Geno's vs. everyone else) requires firsthand research.

"The Monster Mile. NASCAR on a one-mile concrete oval."

Dover International Speedway hosts two NASCAR Cup Series race weekends per year — one in May and one in October. The one-mile concrete oval produces close racing and the sightlines from every seat are good. Military appreciation is a consistent part of Dover Speedway events.

"Free. On base. Full-size strategic airlift aircraft on display."

The Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover AFB is free and open to the public on weekdays — a collection of strategic airlift aircraft from the C-47 Skytrain through the C-5 Galaxy. The outdoor static display includes aircraft you can walk around.