Those intimately familiar with the Nanticoke Heritage Byway can talk for days about the important sites found on both sides of the former Kuskarawaok River, now the namesake of our historic byway. 

And they certainly aren’t wrong – the 40-mile byway is filled with historic and important cultural sites pretty much everywhere you look. But you also won’t want to glaze past Delaware’s first-ever state park at Trap Pond, some great locally owned restaurants and plenty of entertainment and recreational options.

A day on the Nanticoke Heritage Byway is a day very well spent, even if we are admittedly just a tad biased. 

But if you want a spot where you can relax, have a picnic lunch and just enjoy the natural surroundings so prevalent in southern Delaware, there’s no better spot for our money than at the peaceful and picturesque Phillips Landing just outside historic Bethel.

If you’re on the Seaford side of the river, enjoy a quick ride on the Woodland Ferry and then follow the byway sides on the southern side of the Nanticoke. If you’re in Laurel, you can find the way to Phillips Landing by either going through Bethel or by heading west through Portsville. 

Phillips Landing can be a bit hard to find if it’s your first time, so just let GPS be your friend and help you out along the way. 

It’s well worth the extra effort, particularly once you’ve arrived and laid out your picnic, perhaps played a little Frisbee or done some fishing, and are watching the boats glide by on Broad Creek. 

That’s not to say this peaceful location doesn’t have its own bit of history. Gaze out to where the creek and the river meet and you’ll find the spot where famed explorer John Smith is rumored to have first met with the Kuskarawaoks, later renamed the Nanticoke Indian Tribe. 

There are plenty of places in Delaware’s southernmost county to mix with the crowds and enjoy the more popular tourist destinations. But if you prefer a spot that’s a little more off the beaten path and is really nothing short of a hidden gem in Sussex County, we think you’ll have a great time at Phillips Landing. 

Just be sure to bring your own food and drinks and don’t forget your fishing pole. There are portable restrooms available, so you’re covered in that respect. 

Bring the family and stay awhile. Phillips Landing and the local wildlife awaits. 

Enjoy the day!