Planning a Trip

Getting There

From the north, take I-95 to Wilmington and head south on Route 1 or Route 13 (also known as the DuPont Hwy.) to Dover. Route 13, which runs the length of Delaware, is also the best way to approach Dover from the south. From Washington, D.C., and west, take Route 50 across the Bay Bridge to Route 301 North. Follow 301 to 302 east, then take Route 454. From 454, take Route 8 into Dover.

Bus service to Dover is available through Greyhound (tel. 800/231-2222; www.greyhound.com), which stops at 716 S. Governors Ave. (tel. 302/736-5183).

Visitor Information

Head first to the Delaware State Visitor Center, 406 Federal St., at Duke of York Street, Dover (tel. 302/739-4266). It offers information, exhibits, restrooms, and a gift shop, and is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm, Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30pm. Reservations are a must for its 30-minute tours, offered Tuesday through Saturday. You can also stop by the Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 435 N. DuPont Hwy. (tel. 800/233-KENT or 302/734-1736; www.visitdover.com), or the Smyrna Visitor Center, 5500 DuPont Hwy., 11 miles north of Dover (tel. 302/653-8910).

Getting Around

You'll need a car. To rent one, contact Avis (tel. 302/734-5550) or Hertz (tel. 302/678-0700). For reliable 24-hour taxi service, call City Cab of Dover (tel. 302/734-5968). Note: Amish buggies are common on the area's highways and byways, usually on the shoulders. Please drive with care and pass them slowly.

Special Events

The two "Monster Mile" NASCAR weekends, in June and September at Dover International Speedway (tel. 800/711-5882; www.doverspeedway.com), are the biggest events in Dover. Make your hotel reservations up to a year in advance. In late April or early May, several privately owned historic homes and gardens open to the public for Old Dover Days (tel. 800/233-KENT; www.visitdover.com). Costumed guides, maypole dancing, and crafts demonstrations take place on the green. Cyclists come for the Amish Country Bike Tour (tel. 800/233-KENT; www.visitdover.com), held the Saturday after Labor Day. Christmas in Odessa (tel. 302/378-4900; www.christmasinodessa.com) is held the first Saturday in December, with house tours, music, and crafts.

Christmas in Odessa -- The quiet town of Odessa comes to life on the first Saturday of December, when 30 historic houses spanning 3 centuries open for Christmas in Odessa (tel. 302/378-4900; www.christmasinodessa.com). Public buildings and private homes are open for daytime and candlelight tours. Music, carriage rides, food, and a crafts and greens shop are also available. Tickets are sold that day at the Old Academy, at Fourth and Main streets, for $20.

Even if it's not Christmas, you can still visit Historic Houses of Odessa (tel. 302/378-4119), four buildings that were once the property of Winterthur; they were recently reopened by the nonprofit Historic Odessa Foundation. All but one dates to the 18th century. Start at the visitor center, in the Historic Odessa Bank, 201 Main St. The houses are open Thursday through Sunday from 10am to 4:30pm (closed Jan-Feb). Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors, students, and kids 12 and over. Families pay $18 for tours that focus on the children.

Odessa is 23 miles north of Dover and 22 miles south of Wilmington. To get here, take Route 13 and follow the signs to the historic district.