5 Must-Visit Islands in Delaware (From Popular Spots to Hidden Gems)

Delaware was colonized by Dutch traders in 1631. This state was one of the original 13 colonies that participated in the American Revolution and became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States on December 7, 1787. Therefore, it became known as The First State. This state’s most important natural resource is its mineral-rich soil. The soil is perfect for farming, and the state produces corn, soybeans, potatoes, and peas and mines sand, gravel, and magnesium. But tourism also plays a huge part in the state’s economy, and many people from Washington D.C. flock to Rehoboth Beach each year. As a result, the beach is nicknamed “The Nation’s Summer Capital.” But there are also several must-visit islands in Delaware that many people don’t know about.

1. Fenwick Island

The coastal town of Fenwick Island can be found in Sussex County, Delaware, in the United States. It is one of the must-visit islands in Delaware. As of 2010, the town has a population of 379. Bethany Beach and South Bethany are neighbors to the north of Fenwick Island and are known as “The Quiet Resorts.”  This is quite a contrast to the cosmopolitan bustle of Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach. However, compared to “the Bethanies,” Fenwick Island is less quiet because it is across the state line from Ocean City, which is a lively vacation resort in Maryland. Fenwick Island was named after Thomas Fenwick, a planter from Britain who settled in Maryland. Also, this island is situated in an area of Delaware claimed during the Penn-Baltimore border dispute by Lord Baltimore.

Unlike popular belief, this town does not sit on a barrier island. However, it sits on a narrow peninsula resembling a barrier island. Unless one considers a slim manufactured boat canal well inland that connects Little Assawoman Bay to White Creek, an island. This narrow strip of land separates Little Assawoman Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.

Additionally, there is a legend that pirates used to bury their treasure on Cedar Island in Little Assawoman Bay. Even though there is a legend regarding buried treasure, it is well-known that the Delaware coastal area was a place for pirates to hide from the law. Cedar Island, unfortunately, has almost washed under the bay. In around 2010, the same thing happened to Seal Island.

2. Prickly Pear Island

In Sussex County, Delaware, there is an island called Prickly Pear Island. This island is located close to Galestown and Sharptown. Nearby points of interest include Hawks Nest Shoals, Beaver Dam Branch, and Cod Creek. On this island, you can enjoy many activities, including nature trails, cycling, horse trails, camping, picnicking, tennis courts, hunting, boating, and snorkeling. Furthermore, this island is less than a mile off the north shore coast of Hodges Bay. This small island is uninhabited but houses the Prickly Pear Beach Club at Hodges Bay. This island is a favorite among the elite for a daytime escape. Also, it is surrounded by beautiful blue waters and gets its name from the copious amounts of prickly pear that grow on the island.

3. Artificial Island

Artificial Island lies on the eastern shore of the Delaware River in the United States. However, the majority of the island is mostly in southwestern New Jersey. But a tiny section resides within Delaware’s boundaries. It also forms part of:

• New Castle County, Delaware
• Salem County, New Jersey
• Lower Alloways Creek Township

Artificial Island is separated from New Jersey’s mainland by Alloway Creek and Hope Creek. This island is called artificial because sections of the island are made up of reclaimed land from Delaware Bay.

4. Pea Patch Island

In the state of Delaware in the United States, you will find Pea Patch Island, which is about 1 mile long. It is located in the Delaware River’s mid-channel near the Delaware Bay entrance. Being one of the must-visit islands in Delaware, it is a marshy island in New Castle County that looks over Delaware City on the shore and onto the New Jersey shore at Finn’s Point. Once a site of strategic military defenses, Pea Patch Island is now a state park. This island began as a mud bank in the river in the 18^th century. According to legend, Pea Patch Island got its name from a ship full of peas that ran aground on the island and spilled its cargo, leading to an overgrowth of pea plants on the island.

Furthermore, in the 1790s, it was suggested that Pierre L’Enfant use it as part of the defenses of Delaware, Philadelphia, and New Castle. During the War of 1812, a dykes and a sea wall were built on the island. In 1814, construction of the first Fort Delaware began as Pea Patch Island was sufficiently developed. Between 1815 and 1824, a 5-pointed star fort was built, but this fort was destroyed by a fire in 1831. Therefore, construction began on a much bigger polygonal fort in 1836. However, this project was halted by a decade-long legal battle over which state owned this island, which Delaware later won. Later, in 1884, construction began on the current fort. This fort has an irregular pentagon design that is about the same size as the previous star fort. The present fort was completed in 1860.

Fort Delaware

Fort Delaware was used during the American Civil War as a camp for Confederate prisoners by the Union, especially prisoners captured at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Therefore, some of the guards and many of the inmates who died there are buried in New Jersey, at the nearby Finns Point National Cemetery. The defenses around this island were disarmed during World War II because Fort Mile at the mouth of the Delaware Estuary superseded them. Pea Patch Island is accessible to the public by ferry from both New Jersey and Delaware. It boasts many historic features and significant wetland stops for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway. It is also the location of the biggest heron colony in the United States, north of Florida. 

5. Reedy Island

This small island is situated in the middle of the channel of the Delaware River. It can be found near the river mouth on the Delaware Bay. Also, it is approximately 1 mile east of Port Penn in Delaware and 5 miles southwest of Salem in New Jersey. Reedy Island was the location of the Reedy Island Quarantine Station and Reedy Island Range Front Lighthouse. The Reedy Island Range Rear Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse situated in Taylors Bridge and established in 1910. This lighthouse is controlled and operated by the United States Coast Guard. Sadly, the nearby lighthouse keeper’s house was destroyed in 2002 by arson.

Summary of 5 Must-Visit Islands in Delaware

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Patrick Nouhailler / CC BY-SA 2.0, Flickr – License / Original