Delmarva Peninsula is a place in itself. Caught between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, it is made up of parts of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (VA), hence its name, Del Mar Va. There is a distinct lifestyle here that is unique to the peninsula and decades away from the uniformed, homogenized continent to the west.

Along Delmarva’s shores, quaint towns of 300 to 400 people beckon the tourist to come and explore the Delmarva Peninsula. Reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting, the tree-lined streets and wood-frame houses are home to sailors who make a living like their ancestors: on the ocean. For centuries, Delmarva’s shorelines have been the livelihood, playground and oasis for residents and visitors alike.

The pristine white sand beaches of the Delmarva Peninsula are home to charming beach towns such as Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Tangier Island, and Chesapeake Bay, to name a few. These picturesque communities offer the visitor a range of activities. On the ocean side, the more adventurous can partake in body surfing, clamming, crabbing, and/or deep-sea fishing for blue marlin, tuna, and wahoo. The traveler can also dodge the incoming breaking waves in some of the best oceans on a hot summer afternoon or relax on the soft sand and watch the ocean waves ebb and flow. The bay side lends itself to good windsurfing and jet-skiing. A leisurely walk on the beach is always a must, especially in the evening as the sun begins to set – a sunset on the Delmarva Peninsula is spectacular.

For inland activities, the traveler can explore the nooks and crannies of small towns and their charming antique shops and restaurants or take a historic lighthouse tour in the town of Lewes, Delaware, where breathtaking views of the Cape Henlopen seascape. For bird watchers, the region around Salisbury, Maryland is rich in both local and migratory bird species; For mountain bikers, Maryland offers some of the best trails in Delmarva: Great Falls Park; Iron Hill Park; North Central Railroad.

For the less sporty, the Blueberry Festival on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, is a taste of American culture. There is entertainment, contests, food, and lots of sweet blueberries. It is held every year on the last weekend of July.

Of course, several of the coastal cities—Onancock, Cape Charles, and Belle Haven, Virginia, Chesapeake City, Maryland, South Bethany, and Fenwick Island, Delaware—have farmers’ markets that start in mid-May and run through September. This is a great way to savor local produce and Delmarva dishes.

For those longing for a bigger city life, Ocean City, Maryland is one of the largest cities on the Delmarva Peninsula. Even though Ocean City has lost some of its charm thanks to the wall-to-wall condominiums and hotels that make up much of the shoreline, there’s still a bit of nostalgic charm left in this town. There’s the old boardwalk lined with shops and restaurants, and of course, there’s always plenty of saltwater taffy. A reminder of a bygone era is the 1802 spree that sparkles in the sunlight and comes to electrifying life at night. And… there are still miles of beautiful white beaches.

Whether you want solitude or excitement, Delmarva has something for everyone. From the delmarva shores to inland towns, the Delmarva Peninsula welcomes the traveler. The beaches, the trails, the shopping, the fishing, the culture, all offer the visitor an abundance of experiences and memories like nowhere else. The Delmarva Peninsula is definitely a golden thread in the fabric of America’s regions.