Lewes was Delaware's first European settlement, founded by the Dutch in 1631. It sits where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, and that location has shaped everything about it — from the colonial-era maritime heritage to the beaches that draw visitors today.
Cape Henlopen State Park, just outside town, has some of the best public beaches on the Delaware coast along with nature trails, bird sanctuaries, and the Seaside Nature Center. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry connects to Cape May, New Jersey, making it easy to explore both sides of the bay. The town itself is walkable and well-preserved, with a handful of good restaurants and a low-key coastal atmosphere that hasn't been overrun by resort development.