I, Elyse Collins and Marketing Assistant for the Julie Gritton Team, enjoy going to the Cape Henlopen State Park.  With multiple beaches, scenic trails, fishing pier, kayak and bike rentals, playground, and more there is so much to do.  Cape Henlopen State Park (along with the other parks throughout the state of Delaware) also have events and programs that are offered almost daily depending on the season that are free or at low cost.  In addition to that, it is full of history for those history buffs out there.  Due to the park’s strategic location, Fort Miles was built there and served as a defensive site during World War II.  Because of this, visitors can see the towers, bunkers, overlooks, and some military equipment that were used at that time as they peruse around the park.  With endless options, I find Cape Henlopen State Park as a great recreational spot whether you want to go out with the family, go on a date, or want somewhere to go to spend some personal downtime.  

“We like to go to Redden State Forest,” says Megan Nagle, our Listing and Settlement Specialist.  “We enjoy the peacefulness and beauty it offers.  Also, there is a lot of wildlife.  We see many deer on our walks!”  Containing over 44 miles of trails on more than 12,900 acres of land located north of Georgetown, there is certainly a lot of wildlife and nature to be seen.  Not only can visitors anticipate seeing deer, but Redden Forest is a great destination for bird watching as well as hiking, biking, and horseback riding.  Guests to the park can also visit the natural resource facility that was opened in 2000 that used to be a historic carriage house or visit the historic Redden Lodge that was renovated in 1996 that is open to the public for a small fee.  If you’re looking to do camping, there are a few primitive campsites available for reservations and there is even a pond that you can do catch and release fishing.

Speaking of fishing, Ruth Sivils, REALTOR® and Associate Broker, enjoys some local fishing spots in her recreational free time in Delaware.  “We liked to take the trip from Milton down the Broadkill River to the Roosevelt Inlet for flounder fishing,” says Ruth.  For stripers? Ruth enjoys going to the inlet near the Coast Guard Station in the Fall or the Canal Bridge in Lewes.  She also enjoys going to Cedar Creek for croakers and drum fish.  “Anytime we were in the water, we were happy.  We’d even fish the Nanticoke River in the Spring,” remarks Ruth.

Sarah Russ, REALTOR®, likes going to the Plantation Lakes Golf Course.  When I asked Sarah about what sets Plantation Lakes Golf Course apart, she had told me that it was voted #1 in Delaware in 2022 and that the course is long, hard, and well maintained.  In addition to this, they have a nice golf shop and if it happens to be raining, that isn’t necessarily going to mess up your golf game.  Plantation Lakes Golf Course has a golf simulator so that patrons can enjoy going golfing without getting wet.  For golf enthusiasts, Plantation Lakes Golf Course is worth checking out, rain or shine!  

“Oh my… I would say I have a couple local recreational spots I go with the kids,” says Melissa Louge, REALTOR®.  Melissa really enjoys switching it up and trying out different things and had several great suggestions.  Some of the more frequent places she will go with her kids includes Lefty’s, Shell We Bounce, ice skating at the Centre Ice Arena at the Delaware State Fairgrounds, Lewes Beach, and Cape Henlopen State Park.  If you want to take a little trip that is not too far outside of Delaware, Melissa also enjoys going to the boardwalk and Playland in Ocean City, Maryland.  “I try to keep it different each time we do something,” Melissa remarks.

“I would have to say my favorite recreational spot would have to be the boardwalk,” says Emily Vando, REALTOR®.  The Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is one mile long and consists of not only great views of the beach where you can catch glimpses of dolphins playing in the surf, but also multiple attractions such as Funland, arcades, restaurants, souvenir shops, hotels and more.  Visitors can also look forward to special events such as 5K races, parades, and the Sea Witch Festival.  The location of the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk and the events held there are especially impactful to Emily.  “It is where I attended the event (Bark at the Boards) that I adopted my puppy, Loki, from and it is now his favorite place to visit.  We love how pet-friendly the area is and he loves to make friends there.”      

Broadkill Beach is a favorite place to go for the Julie Gritton Team’s Christina Bourdosis, Client Care Specialist and REALTOR®.  “It’s my favorite place to go to relax, walk along the beach and collect shells.  I think it’s so nice there,” says Christina.  Broadkill Beach is located outside of the town of Milton on the eastern side of Route 1 and is close to Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge.  In 2000, Broadkill Beach became the first Horseshoe Crab Sanctuary in the State of Delaware and with direct access to the Delaware Bay is a perfect location for a variety of water activities such as swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more.  Don’t have your own kayak or paddleboard?  No worries!  The Broadkill Store allows for visitors to arrange for rentals and also offers patrons sandwiches, bait and tackle, souvenirs, and more.  If you are considering looking for a place to go to view fireworks for the 4th of July, consider going to Broadkill Beach.  “I love going there for fireworks on the 4th!” exclaims Christina.

Julie Gritton, Team Leader and Broker/REALTOR®, enjoys going to the Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge.  “It is a fun time for the family.  You can be there for five minutes watching the bald eagles or three hours walking the trails.  There is always something there to enjoy,” says Julie.  Josh Gritton who is a REALTOR®, IT and other half to Julie on the Julie Gritton Team seconds Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge as his favorite local recreation spot.  “It’s kind of a hidden gem in this area.  Not too many people know about it so it’s quick to get to and gives you the feel of being far away without being far away,” comments Josh.  Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 and is made up of salt and freshwater marshlands, wetlands, forest, wooded swamps and grassland.  In consequence, hundreds of native plant and animal species thrive and call the Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge home and also serves as an important stop for migratory birds and a breeding ground for endangered species.

Delaware, in my opinion, really is a small wonder.  Centrally located so that residents and visitors can enjoy both recreational options in state and only a short drive to explore other options in neighboring states, there is a plethora of things to do.  Our team members’ favorites are only a small sampling of options!  If you are looking for something to do, give one of these locations a try or go out and explore what else Delaware has to offer!  If you would like to find out more about the places mentioned in this article or would like to view the sources used, please check out the links below.  Until next time, we on the Julie Gritton Team hope you are enjoying this Spring weather and we look forward to hearing from you soon! 

https://destateparks.com/Beaches/CapeHenlopen          

https://agriculture.delaware.gov/forest-service/state-forests/

https://www.plantationlakesclub.com/course/

https://www.iloveleftys.com/

https://www.shellwebounce.com/

https://www.delawarestatefair.com/centre-general-information

https://www.martysplayland.com/

https://delawarebayshorebyway.org/destinations/broadkill-beach/

https://www.cityofrehoboth.com/beach-and-boardwalk

https://www.cityofrehoboth.com/beach-and-boardwalk/animals-beach-and-boardwalk

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/prime-hook