Nearby Attractions in Dover, DE

Historic Houses of 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 shop are also available. Tickets are sold that day at the Old Academy, at Fourth and Main streets, for $20.

But you don't have to wait for December to visit. The town, which dates back to the 17th century when it was called Cantwell's Bridge, was once a thriving crossroads. When trains and highways bypassed the town, Odessa became a sleepy place. The charming Georgian homes built just before the American Revolution by William Corbit and David Wilson are the centerpieces of the Historic Houses of Odessa (tel. 302/378-4119; www.historicodessa.org). These two houses -- along with a wood-sided working family's home and a 19th-century bank and hotel -- are open to the public March through December. Original furnishings, a great Underground Railroad story, and the opportunity to walk through the old town, itself a historic district, make this a worthwhile stop. Tours are offered Thursday through Saturday 10am to 4:30pm, Sunday 1 to 4:30pm. Tickets are $10 adults, $8 seniors and students.

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.