The Historic Town In Delaware That Comes Alive During The Winter Season
By Meghan Byers|Published February 06, 2023
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Meghan Byers
Author
A New Jersey native, Meghan is passionate about travel and enjoys finding off-the-beaten path destinations. You're most likely to find her at a coffee shop, or hitting the trails with her dogs. She graduated with a creative writing degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and has been writing professionally for over a decade.
With cobblestone streets and architecture dating back to the 1700s, it’s easy to feel like you’re stepping back in time when you visit New Castle, Delaware. Nestled on the banks of the Delaware River and just six miles south of Wilmington, this small but historic town has a highly walkable downtown and plenty of charm, making it a great destination any time of the year. But it’s when the chill of winter arrives in the air that New Castle really comes alive.
This town's history goes back centuries, with multiple buildings dating back to the 1700s. And New Castle's historic buildings look even more beautiful all dressed up in white snow.
And most exciting of all, New Castle puts on an annual immersive Christmas experience called The Spirit of Christmas. It even includes a street theater performance of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol.
If you want to get out of the cold for a bit and learn more about New Castle's history, visit the New Castle Court House Museum. This historic building served as Delaware's first state capitol and its first court. In fact, this was the place where New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties first declared their independence from both Pennsylvania and England in 1776 - thus creating the Delaware State.
No visit to New Castle is complete without a stop at Jessop's Tavern, a colonial style restaurant where the fare and decor are modeled on that of the 1700s. The waitstaff even dress up in 1700s attire!
The building Jessop's is housed in is over 300 years old. The menu reflects the cultures present in the region during colonial times, so you'll find Dutch cheeses, English pub fare, and Belgian dishes among others.
After your meal, take a walk in beautiful Battery Park. The out-and-back Battery Park Trail is 3.7 miles long and fully paved. It meanders right along the Delaware River, with plenty of places to stop and rest on a bench so you can take in the view. It's the perfect way to end a wonderful winter's day in New Castle.
