If you might be planning a household trip to Southern Delaware, listed below are the most effective issues to do in Rehoboth Beach and surrounding cities in Delaware.
Our journey to Southern Delaware was stuffed with joyful surprises. If you reside in Maryland or Washington D.C., then the huge, flat sand Delaware seashores that stretch for miles are doubtless no shock. Similarly, you gained’t be shocked by the lovable boutiques, good eating places, and beautiful summer season houses that line the streets of Rehoboth Beach. But, those who reside exterior of that 200 mile radius could have missed this little gem in favor of a few of its extra well-known neighbors to the North or South.
Well I hope they don’t thoughts an excessive amount of if I allow you to in on that little secret, as a result of that is one stretch of seaside that shouldn’t be missed and there are such a lot of issues to do in Rehoboth Beach and the encircling space.
Southern Delaware seashores
First, let me provide the lay of the land. Southern Delaware has 5 main seaside cities: Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island. Each has its personal distinct character so first you need to decide the one which finest matches your model.
Lewes
Lewes (pronounced Lewis, as I used to be corrected), holds the consideration of being the primary city within the first state. This historical past is obvious from its quaint downtown streets lined with leafy timber and historic houses with their colourful flower bins overflowing with blooms. Connected by ferry to Cape May, New Jersey, there’s additionally lots to do for households from kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing and extra.
Rehoboth Beach
South of Lewes is the upscale seaside city of Rehoboth Beach. While it nonetheless sports activities a family-friendly boardwalk with arcades, rides, and loads of junk meals, it’s fairly completely different from Ocean City, Maryland, its bigger southern neighbor.
The fundamental road gives a wide variety of fashionable eateries and cute boutiques. There are a couple of motels however that is primarily a seaside rental group, with some monumental houses alongside the seaside highway which can be clearly government summer season houses.
Dewey Beach
The subsequent city down is Dewey Beach, which has a completely completely different vibe from the opposite seaside cities in Southern Delaware. This is clearly the occasion city, with primary surf outlets, motels, and seaside bars. But it additionally has the attractive Delaware Seashore State Park, with entry to each Rehoboth Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Bethany Beach / Fenwick Island
Known because the “Quiet Resorts,” Bethany and Fenwick are the final cease earlier than crossing into Ocean City, Maryland. Bethany is just like Rehoboth, simply smaller and with a much less business boardwalk. Also extra of a trip rental city, there’s now one nice-looking resort, the Bethany Beach Ocean Suites.
We visited Southern Delaware in early June and, apart from some windy days, the climate was good and, because the native children had been nonetheless at school, there have been no crowds! It actually made it the best time to be there and discover all of the issues to do in Rehoboth Beach.
Where to Stay in Rehoboth Beach
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If you might be staying for every week, a trip rental might be the way in which to go. Since we had been on the town for less than 4 days, and it was simply the 2 of us, it made extra sense for us to get a resort room. We stayed on the Crosswinds Motel proper on Rehoboth Avenue, the principle strip in Rehoboth Beach. Our double room on the second ground was surprisingly quiet.
I’m often not a fan of motels for security and luxury causes, however the Crosswinds’ rooms face the inside parking zone, versus the road, and so they had been surprisingly snug. Clearly the property has been lately renovated in a contemporary model with all of your primary comforts together with a flat display screen TV and enormous self-importance space. The air-conditioning unit blocked out any exterior noise and the wooden laminate flooring had been good for a seaside motel. The smartest thing concerning the Crosswinds was the placement. It was a 5 to 10 minute stroll to the seaside and boardwalk and simply steps to some nice eating places.
Find lodging in Rehoboth Beach:
We liked our time in Rehoboth Beach and, similar to our different mother-daughter journeys, we discovered spending high quality time collectively and engaged in actions side-by-side an exquisite bonding expertise, can’t you inform?
Things to do in Rehoboth Beach Delaware
Note: Our go to was hosted by Southern Delaware Tourism. Our lodging and plenty of of our meals and actions had been complimentary for functions of evaluation. All opinions are my very own.
Since we had been there to see what the area has to supply households, we packed in additional than your common household would possibly, nevertheless it was additionally too windy for us to spend lengthy, lazy days on the seaside. Even so, it ended up being a type of completely balanced journeys the place we moved from one exercise to the following with out feeling rushed or overtired. Here is a pattern of a few of our favourite issues to do in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware:
Biking in Cape Henlopen State Park
We rented bikes from Atlantic Cycles proper in downtown Rehoboth after which biked over to close by Cape Henlopen State Park. There are a few completely different loops that you could take by the park and we took the shorter Gordon’s Pond Trail to keep away from as many busy roads as potential.
I’d advocate going within the early morning, not simply to beat the warmth, but in addition to beat the visitors on the town. It solely took us a couple of minutes to get out of city and onto the crushed stone and boardwalk trails by the park. If you’ll be able to carry alongside a backpack, you can even spend a while on the seaside. Also be aware that there are loos at a number of factors in addition to air refill stations.
Visit Cape Henlopen State Park
Even in the event you don’t bike by Cape Henlopen, I’d undoubtedly advocate spending a while there. In addition to the seaside there are forest trails and acres of rolling dunes.
You can climb a World War II commentary tower and go to a WWII museum at Fort Miles. Fort Miles was initially in-built 1941 to defend the Delaware Bay and River from German U-boats throughout World War II, however the fort was later decommissioned and have become a state park in 1964.
Today, you’ll be able to discover the fort’s historical past by guided excursions, displays, and artifacts on show all through the location. Some highlights embrace the Battery 519 Museum, which showcases the fort’s function within the struggle effort, and the Observation Tower, which gives beautiful views of the park and surrounding space. Definitely take the time to go as much as the cape and check out the lighthouse that sits on the tip.
Swimming at Delaware Seashore State Park
Located close to Dewey Beach, the Delaware Seashore State Park is a gem price paying the out-of-state day go for. Even although there are attractive seashores in Rehoboth Beach, this park is a pleasant change of scene. This park stretches for six miles and covers each the bay and ocean aspect, with two full-service bathhouses on the ocean aspect. It was chilly and windy the day we visited, so we didn’t go swimming, however even then the surf didn’t look too tough and and the seaside was so flat and huge.
While you might be there, you can even cease by the Indian River Lifesaving Station, which dates again to 1876 and was constructed by the United States Life-saving Service, a pre-cursor to right now’s Coast Guard. We realized concerning the heroic efforts made by the lads stationed right here to avoid wasting these shipwrecked offshore and the bodily effort it might take to carry out these rescues.
If you go, remember to look into any applications they may be working as they’ve a full praise of free (with park admission), family-friendly choices all summer season lengthy reminiscent of seaside bonfires, sandcastle constructing demonstrations, summer season concert events, sea creature talks, and different naturalist applications.
Paddle boarding in Dewey Beach
If you might be staying in Rehoboth Beach, you’re going to need to spend a little bit time exploring the neighboring cities. Dewey Beach is a superb spot to strive paddle boarding within the Bay.
When we visited Delaware Seashore State Park in Dewey Beach, we additionally arrange a get up paddle boarding lesson on the way in which. I’ve been desirous to strive paddle boarding for a couple of years now and eventually received the prospect on our journey to Delaware.
We needed to postpone our paddle because of tough seas and the day we lastly went, it was nonetheless a bit uneven however we each managed to rise up and study the fundamentals. DelMarVa Board Sport Adventures is positioned on the bay aspect of Dewey Beach, in a small inlet superb for paddle boarding. Of course, watching these doing SUP yoga subsequent to us, I felt pretty incompetent however no less than I didn’t fall off!
DelMarVa Board Sport Adventures gives each kayak and paddle board leases, in addition to windsurfing and get up paddle boarding yoga lessons.
Kayaking in Lewes
If you’re a long-term reader, you’ll know that we do a whole lot of kayaking on our journeys and Southern Delaware was no exception. This time we headed as much as Lewes for some kayaking with Quest Kayak & SUP Shack. The proprietor Matt is an area who is aware of everybody and every thing within the space, making for an ideal tour information for our paddle and an excellent useful resource for exploring the realm.
The climate was too windy for us to enter the bay, however these guys have some actually enjoyable choices together with their Dolphin Quest paddle, sundown periods, and so they even arrange seaside events.
They have floating occasion mats that they’ll anchor for your loved ones and group, after which arrange seaside chairs, video games, kayaks, and paddle boards and even a hearth pit! If you might be vacationing with prolonged household within the Rehoboth Beach space, this feels like the proper capstone occasion in your trip.
Sunset Cruise in Lewes
I wasn’t certain whether or not to anticipate an eco tour or a booze cruise for our night Delaware Bay Discovery Cruise with Cape Water Taxi & Tours, however what we received was a really nice shock. The open air, but lined vessel was arrange with cubicles and tables, and friends had been welcome to carry their very own meals and drinks (and sure, there’s a small restroom on board.)
This 90-minute cruise on the 54-foot Discovery pontoon boat is just not narrated, however you get to see a number of the hottest points of interest, together with the East End Lighthouse, Cape Henlopen Point, the Cape May Lewes Ferry terminal, Lewes Beach, and Cape Henlopen State Park.
The cruise can match as much as 65 folks, however once we went there have been solely a few dozen, leaving us loads of area to maneuver round. Cape Water Taxi and Tours gives all kinds of excursions, together with eco-tours, reside music cruises, and a water taxi service. While a lot of these choices sound attractive, it’s laborious to think about beating the sundown cruise.
I can’t advocate the night sundown sail extremely sufficient. Captain Dave had it timed so completely that we pulled up in entrance of the lighthouse simply because the solar was setting behind it, making for good footage. If you get fortunate, you could simply spy a couple of dolphins alongside the way in which too. We did however they had been too quick for my digicam.
Bethany Beach Nature Center
If you might be staying in Bethany Beach, you could need to plan a cease at their small however candy nature middle. Inside there are some enjoyable palms on actions for youthful children, however everybody would possibly get pleasure from watching the reside Osprey Cam in nesting season.
Out again is a small nature path and boardwalk overlooking a serene pond and salt marsh. You could spy ospreys, heron, eagles, and, sadly, snakes (one slithered throughout our path on the boardwalk.)
Go Beer Tasting
With an up and coming beer, wine and spirits area, it appeared solely becoming to take a look at some native brews on our journey to Delaware, beginning with most likely probably the most well-known, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. I want my husband may have come alongside as that is one among his favourite beers, however we nonetheless loved our one-hour tour by the brewery and bottling facility.
It can be a little bit lengthy for youthful children and so they make it clear that the tour is rated PG-13, however our tour information Tom made it very entertaining. Dogfish is such a enjoyable place to go to even in the event you simply cease by for a tasting and a chew to eat.
A number of different breweries within the space embrace:
- Revelation Craft Brewing Company: This brewery is positioned in Rehoboth Beach itself and gives quite a lot of beers on faucet, in addition to a meals menu. They even have reside music and different occasions all year long.
- Big Oyster Brewery: This brewery is positioned in Lewes, Delaware, only a few miles north of Rehoboth Beach. They provide quite a lot of beers, together with a number of award-winning brews, and have a tasting room and restaurant on web site.
- Crooked Hammock Brewery: This brewery is positioned in Lewes, Delaware, only a few miles north of Rehoboth Beach. They provide quite a lot of beers, in addition to a full meals menu and outside seating.
Visit the Marvel Carriage Museum
If your loved ones is into quirky roadside points of interest, you then would possibly love the Marvel Carriage Museum. Maintained by the Georgetown Historical Society, this museum is residence to a really giant assortment of horse-drawn carriages.
But that’s not all. They even have a one-room schoolhouse, a church (which remains to be used right now), a blacksmith store, a telecommunication museum and extra. What I discovered most fascinating was the carriage that’s used yearly for the Returns Day Parade.
Don’t know what Returns Day is? I didn’t both. Apparently in olden days, townspeople would collect within the city sq. on the day after Election Day to listen to the returns and who gained the election. Georgetown has saved this custom going with a parade annually that even President Biden has participated in.
Play at Funland
Of course, you’ll be able to’t spend time in Rehoboth Beach with out having fun with a stroll alongside the mile lengthy boardwalk and enjoying some video games in the Funland arcade. Funland is a family-owned and operated arcade and amusement park that has been a family-fun vacation spot since 1962, providing points of interest for all ages, together with arcade video games, carnival-style rides, and traditional boardwalk video games like skee-ball and whack-a-mole. There are additionally a number of iconic rides, together with the Haunted Mansion, the Freefall, and the Superflip 360.
Eat Boardwalk Food
You can’t go to a boardwalk city with out having fun with a number of the scrumptious (if unhealthy) boardwalk meals like Thrasher Fries and, my favourite, Kohr’s Frozen Custard. I grew up having fun with Kohr’s as a particular deal with once we visited the New Jersey Shore and I used to be excited to share it with my daughter throughout our go to to Delaware. You may also bask in traditional boardwalk fare like funnel truffles, saltwater taffy, and fresh-made popcorn.
Attend the Sea Witch Festival
Held yearly, the Sea Witch Festival is without doubt one of the largest occasions of the 12 months and attracts guests from all around the area. The pageant is called after a personality from a guide by the identical identify, “Sea Witch,” by native creator Dorothy J. Hall.
It options quite a lot of actions, together with a fancy dress parade, reside music and leisure, meals distributors, and craft distributors. There are additionally a number of contests and competitions held throughout the pageant, reminiscent of the most effective dressed canine contest, pumpkin carving, and sandcastle constructing. The Sea Witch Festival is often held in late October.
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