A floor plan can tell you what everyday life might look like inside your home. Where you choose to build determines much of what happens once you walk out the front door.
For people considering a move to Central Delaware, understanding the things to do in Kent County, Delaware is an important part of choosing where to live. Dover anchors the area with history, museums, motorsports and entertainment, while surrounding communities offer parks, waterways, small-town destinations and a different pace of life.
At Schaeffer Homes, we build custom homes throughout Kent County. We know choosing a homesite means choosing more than a property. You are also choosing how you want to spend your weekends, where you will take visiting family and what you want life outside your home to look like.
As Delaware’s state capital, Dover is a natural starting point for exploring Kent County.
First State Heritage Park connects several significant historic and cultural destinations throughout the capital district, including Legislative Hall, the Johnson Victrola Museum and The Old State House.
Completed in 1791, The Old State House served as Delaware’s capitol until 1933. Nearby, the Biggs Museum of American Art adds another cultural stop, making downtown Dover a place where residents can combine history, architecture and art in one outing.
Having these destinations nearby matters beyond tourism. They offer places to revisit for programming, explore with family or incorporate into an afternoon downtown.
The Air Mobility Command Museum near Dover Air Force Base provides a very different museum experience.
Its collection includes historic cargo planes, air refuelers, fighters, helicopters and other aircraft connected to American military aviation. Visitors can see these aircraft up close while learning about airlift, humanitarian missions and aviation history.
That makes it worthwhile even if you are not an aviation enthusiast. It can be an educational family outing, a destination for visiting relatives or simply something different to explore close to home.
Dover Motor Speedway brings major motorsports to Central Delaware. Known as the “Monster Mile,” the one-mile track has hosted NASCAR racing since 1969.
Race weekends give Dover a completely different atmosphere from an ordinary weekend downtown. For residents who enjoy major sporting events, it means having a nationally recognized motorsports venue nearby.
It also demonstrates the variety Kent County offers. History and small-town experiences can coexist with large-scale events within the same part of Delaware.
Outdoor recreation is another important part of living in Central Delaware.
Killens Pond State Park is one of the area’s notable destinations, with opportunities to enjoy its pond, trails and wooded surroundings. Other parks, waterways and natural areas throughout Kent County create opportunities for walking, fishing, paddling, picnicking and other activities depending on the location and season.
For residents, these places do not have to be special-occasion destinations. A park can simply become somewhere you go for a few hours when you want to get outside.
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge offers another side of Central Delaware’s landscape.
The refuge protects extensive tidal salt marsh and other habitats used by migratory birds and wildlife. Visitors can explore designated trails and a wildlife drive while birding, taking photographs or simply experiencing the Delaware Bay wetland environment.
Because wildlife and scenery change throughout the year, Bombay Hook is also a place residents can experience differently from one season to the next.
Milford extends across both Kent and Sussex counties, but its downtown provides another nearby destination for Central Delaware residents.
The Mispillion Riverwalk follows the river through downtown, making it easy to combine a walk with local restaurants, shops and the city’s historic character.
Experiences like this matter when considering where to live because the places you use most often may not be major attractions. Sometimes it is downtown, where you can grab lunch, browse local businesses and spend an afternoon walking by the water.
Near Milford, Abbott’s Mill Nature Center combines trails, waterways, wildlife and environmental education with a historic working gristmill.
It is the type of destination that can work for a family outing or simply an afternoon outdoors. More importantly, it illustrates how accessible nature can become part of everyday life in Central Delaware rather than something reserved for vacations.
Harrington hosts one of the county’s best-known traditions, the Delaware State Fair.
Agriculture and livestock remain important parts of the event alongside food, rides and entertainment that varies by year. The fair reflects an agricultural heritage that remains visible throughout Central Delaware.
It also highlights Kent County’s contrasts. Delaware’s capital, rural landscapes, major motorsports and agricultural traditions all exist within the same county.
Central Delaware is not exclusively historical or rural.
Dover and Harrington also offer larger entertainment destinations, including Bally’s Dover Casino Resort and Harrington Raceway & Casino. Depending on current schedules, residents may also find live entertainment, harness racing, seasonal programming and other events.
Together with Dover Motor Speedway and community events, these options give residents different ways to spend a weekend without relying on one type of attraction.
Some of the best ways to understand a community are also the simplest.
Downtown Dover and downtown Milford give residents opportunities to combine locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, shopping and other activities. Farm markets and seasonal markets add another local dimension throughout Central Delaware.
Rather than choosing where to live based only on major attractions, spend time in the places you could see yourself returning to regularly. Find a restaurant you like, walk through downtown or explore a local market. Those experiences often say more about everyday life than a tourism checklist.
Kent County’s calendar adds another layer to living here.
Festivals, farmers markets, holiday celebrations, arts programming, historic events, race weekends and the Delaware State Fair can change the feel of different communities throughout the year.
Schedules vary, so current local tourism, municipal and attraction sources are the best places to check before making plans. For prospective residents, visiting during different seasons can also provide a more complete sense of the community.
One of Central Delaware’s strengths is variety.
A history-focused Saturday might begin around First State Heritage Park. An outdoor day could center on Killens Pond, Bombay Hook or Abbott’s Mill. Families might combine a museum with time outside. A quieter weekend could mean lunch in Milford followed by a walk along the Mispillion River.
Other weekends might revolve around a major race or community event.
For residents, that means recreation is not dependent on one major attraction. You can choose a weekend that fits your interests and pace.
Kent County’s Central Delaware location also makes destinations elsewhere in the state part of the broader lifestyle.
Depending on where you live, trips toward the Delaware Bay, Southern Delaware, Northern Delaware or the beach communities can add even more options.
Your exact location within Kent County affects that access, which is why choosing where to build deserves as much thought as choosing what to build.
There is no single part of Kent County that fits every homeowner.
Consider where you work, the commute you are comfortable making and whether you prefer being closer to Dover or in a quieter setting. Think about how much land you want, whether you prefer an established neighborhood or a more rural property and which activities you expect to use regularly.
Someone who prioritizes access to downtown Dover may choose differently from someone who wants more acreage and outdoor recreation nearby.
Spend time exploring different areas before deciding. Choosing a homesite means choosing what you want life outside your home to look like too.
Once you understand where you want to live, you can start thinking about the home that belongs there.
We build custom homes in Kent County and throughout the areas where we build. Through our Build on your land approach, homeowners can build on qualifying property they already own or begin exploring where they want to put down roots.
Our available floor plans offer a starting point, with opportunities for personalization and semi-customization. Our building process then helps guide homeowners from the early planning stages through design, construction and move-in.
With three generations of homebuilding experience, we understand that Build On Your Lot is about more than creating a custom house. It gives you greater control over the combination of home and location.
Our Middletown, DE design center also gives Delaware homeowners a place to explore selections and personalize their home as the project comes together.
Kent County offers historic sites, museums, parks, outdoor recreation, motorsports, entertainment, restaurants and community events. Dover contains many major attractions while surrounding areas provide additional outdoor and small-town experiences.
Kent County is home to Delaware’s capital, Dover, and is known for state history, museums, motorsports, agricultural heritage and outdoor recreation.
Popular attractions include First State Heritage Park, The Old State House, Biggs Museum of American Art, Air Mobility Command Museum and Dover Motor Speedway.
Yes. Parks, wildlife areas and nature centers provide opportunities for activities such as walking, hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing depending on the destination and season.
Dover attractions include the Biggs Museum of American Art, Johnson Victrola Museum, Air Mobility Command Museum and The Old State House.
Kent County offers parks, museums, nature centers, community events and family-oriented attractions. Whether it fits a household depends on priorities such as commute, preferred setting and activities.
Residents can explore historic Dover, visit museums, walk trails, attend events, explore downtown areas, enjoy restaurants or spend time outdoors.
Options include parks, trails, wildlife areas, nature centers and waterways. Specific activities vary by destination and season.
Kent County includes Dover, Camden, Wyoming, Harrington, Felton, Frederica, Magnolia and other communities. Portions of Milford and Smyrna also extend into Kent County.
Yes. We build custom homes in Kent County and can work with homeowners interested in building on qualifying land within our service area.
Yes. Our Build On Your Lot approach allows homeowners to build a Schaeffer home on qualifying property in Kent County and guides the project from planning through construction.
Kent County offers more than a list of attractions. Living here can mean exploring Delaware history, getting outdoors, attending a major event, spending an afternoon downtown or simply enjoying the setting around your own home.
If you are considering putting down roots here, spend time experiencing different parts of the county. Pay attention to the places you would actually return to and the setting you want to come home to.
For three generations, we have helped homeowners turn that decision into a home built around the way they want to live. Once you find the part of Kent County that feels right, schedule a free consultation with one of our New Home Specialists. We can start exploring the home, land and possibilities that could make Central Delaware feel like home.
Sep 28, 2026
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