Rehoboth Beach – Baltimore Magazine

A Beloved Rehoboth Beach House Gets a Refresh

Janelle Diamond — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:52:49 +0000

—Photography by Jenn Verrier

Project Name: Sandy Toes, Sun Kissed Nose
House Plan and Interior Design: Pascale de Fouchier Interiors
Stylist: Limonata Creative

A Family Legacy
The client, Baltimore native Amy Baum, got approval from her father and siblings to bring new life to their family’s summer headquarters in Rehoboth Beach. “They wanted a place easy to live in and easy to take care of, without giving up on the design,” says Baltimore-based interior designer Pascale de Fouchier.

The main request was to reflect the spirit of Baum’s mom, who loved the house but had passed away a few years earlier. “We didn’t keep much of Amy’s mom’s furniture…but what kept coming back to me was an idea of her genuine smile and the impression that she was light and uncluttered,” says de Fouchier. “That’s what I tried to carry into the design: lightness, brightness, clean and welcoming lines.”

Calm and Carefree
“There was really a need for calm throughout the house, so it was important that each space was in harmony with the others,” says de Fouchier. “Like the kitchen and dining room—they are facing each other with open arches, so it felt important to not disrupt the visual flow.”

She treated each room like an extension of the nearby ocean, mixing pastels and neutrals. “Imagine you are walking along the shore—waves, pebbles, fog, clouds, declination of blue and pinkish skies, umbrellas, sailboats decks and sails.”

An Oarsome Idea
“From the start I knew I wanted to have a wall display more than wall art,” says de Fouchier. “When I was visiting an antique shop in Annapolis, there was a pair of oars that just hit my eye, and I knew that was it. They were already sold, but I kept the idea and looked for vintage pieces.”

Since most of the bedrooms are close to each other, she wanted them all to feel similar but different. “Heavy cottons and linens bring a feel of richness, while remaining low-key.”

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The Little State That Could

Lauren Cohen — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 16:46:51 +0000

Poor Delaware. The “First State” has long had a rather lukewarm rap, with its intrigue for tourists perhaps most memorably captured in 1992’s Wayne’s World, where the boys sum up the excitement of various states. “Delaware!” exclaims Wayne with a puzzled look. “Hi…I’m in…Delaware…”

But Maryland’s tiny neighbor is actually a small wonder—once the state’s actual nickname—and one that’s likely to soon be discovered, thanks in part to the hometown pride of America’s 46th president, Joe Biden.

“I am proud,” said Biden, before departing for his inauguration in January. “Proud, proud, proud to be a son of Delaware.”

Less than an hour’s drive to the state line from Baltimore, Delaware is much more than just the 20 miles of I-95 you drive through on the way to Pennsylvania.

The second-smallest state—actually part of Maryland for some 50 years in the 1600s—features plenty of reasons to visit, from college-town charm to metropolitan buzz to a long, winding portion of the Delmarva peninsula that provides ample access to some of the best beaches on the Atlantic Coast.

So pack up the car, or purchase a train ticket. Of course, ice cream is encouraged along the way.

→ CITY CENTER

For many, a trip to Delaware begins and ends at the old Amtrak station on the edge of the Christina River in downtown Wilmington.

Built in 1907, the majestic brick building has become most famous for one particular passenger, “Amtrak Joe,” as he came to be known, with Biden using the railroad as his primary form of transportation to and from Washington, D.C., during his decades as a senator and eventually vice president—so much so that they named the station in his honor.

But the short ride from Baltimore’s Penn Station only takes 45 minutes, with impressive views over the Susquehanna River to boot. On our last visit, we detrained onto one of the old, un-remodeled platforms, fit with vintage tile floors, long wooden benches, and a chandeliered ceiling—a glimpse into the golden age of American travel.

Wilmington—the state’s largest city, with a population of 70,000—is also a mix of past and present, grit and gumption, with a revitalizing waterfront and bustling business district featuring renowned restaurants and striking architecture spanning the centuries.

Market Street is the main thoroughfare, where hallowed venues like the Grand Opera House and the Queen, a block over, offer post-COVID concerts in historic settings. The nearby Hotel DuPont is an iconic structure, Wilmington’s first skyscraper circa 1913, where luxury suites and a stunning Versailles-like ballroom mark the legacy of its namesake family—the Rockefellers of Delaware.

The Grand Opera House in Wilmington. —Photography by Kevin Francis (@Local_Boy_Photography/ Instagram)

While you’re downtown, consider dinner at James Beard Award semi-finalist (and Biden favorite) Bardea, which offers innovative Italian fare, followed by craft cocktails at Merchant Bar. For breakfast, find a locally roasted coffee at one of Brew Haha!’s beloved quirky cafes, then try lunch at El Diablo Burritos for tortillas stuffed with braised short-rib or citrus-seared mahi, before burning it all off at the riverfront.

The Christina River, a tributary of the larger Delaware River, runs along the southern edge of the city, and has served as the lifeblood of its recent renaissance. A 1.3-mile promenade follows the water, with access to several picturesque detours, like the Jack A. Markell Trail or the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge, that cut through verdant marshland, as well as attractions like the Delaware Children’s Museum, an interactive learn-and-play space for kids, or Frawley Stadium, the home field of the minor league Blue Rocks baseball team.

Perhaps the neighborhood’s best-kept secret, though, is the Delaware Contemporary, a leading visual arts museum, which recently exhibited large-scale works by Baltimore’s own Theresa Chromati.

Before you move on, take a short drive north into the Brandywine Valley to walk the magnificent gardens of the Nemours Estate or Winterthur Museum, home to late du Ponts, or sleep stylishly at the Inn at Montchanin Village, with its luxe countryside spa and accompanying eatery, Krazy Kat’s, which serves up brunch among oil paintings of noble felines.

But don’t overlook the no-frills fare at Charcoal Pit on Concord Pike, a classic 1950s burger joint known for its homemade milkshakes, where pictures of Joe and Barack Obama hang on the walls. Even still, there’s always a sub at Capriotti’s, launched in Wilmington in 1976, and dubbed by Biden “the best sandwich in America.”

→ SCHOOL SPIRIT

Biden might be the University of Delaware’s most famous alum, but he’s followed closely by Joe Flacco, who played college football there before joining the Ravens in 2008. Football games are still a big lure for sports-lovers across the state, who flock to the Newark campus, where boisterous tailgate parties take place in the stadium’s parking lot. The team’s Colonial Athletic Association affiliation also faces them off against the likes of our own Towson University.

About 20 minutes south of Wilmington, not far from the Maryland line, the school’s home base is a quaint and classic college town. The campus’ lush, central green is surrounded by Georgian classroom buildings, and its leafy downtown is studded with local boutiques and bistros, typically bustling with students and professors in a non-COVID year.

Amble down Main Street for a vinyl treasure trove at Rainbow Records, cute home goods and gifts at Grassroots, and all the Delaware swag you could possibly dream of at the National 5 & 10.

For locally made brews, try Iron Hill Brewery for regional classics, or the small-batch, experimental suds of the more recently opened Autumn Archer Beer Project. Follow them with creative vegetarian fare at Home Grown Café or homemade pastas at Caffe Gelato. Just save room for dessert at the on-campus UD Creamery, which sells ice cream made with the milk of cows cared for by the schools’ College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Main Street in Newark. —Wikimedia Commons

For more scenic recreation, head 10 minutes north of town to White Clay Creek State Park, a sprawling greenspace for freshwater fishing, hiking, biking, and birding in a woodland setting, best accompanied by a copy of The Delaware Naturalist Handbook, written by UD professor and Baltimore resident McKay Jenkins.

While you’re up there, we recommend a quick hop into Pennsylvania for two of our top regional attractions: Longwood Gardens, featuring more than a thousand acres of botanical wonders, and the Brandywine River Museum of Art, home to an impressive collection of works by N.C. and Andrew Wyeth.

An egret at White Clay Creek State Park. —Shutterstock

→ DOWNY OCEAN

Of course, many Marylanders have already spent a fair amount of time in Delaware, drawn to the several sandy beach towns that are located an hour and a half south of Newark and Wilmington down Route 1, or two hours from Baltimore across the Bay Bridge.

There’s Bethany, Fenwick, and Dewey, but Rehoboth is undoubtedly the most popular destination, with its nostalgic boardwalk and family-friendly shops without the hubub of nearby Ocean City. It was nicknamed “the Nation’s Summer Capital” in the 1920s, when newly paved roads opened the community to D.C. residents, and, today, Biden owns a beach house there, making it likely the next presidential Hyannis Port or Mar-a-Lago.

Unsurprisingly, the beachside boutiques are now filled with Biden swag, from candles to coffee mugs, and a scramble down Rehoboth Avenue toward the mile-long boardwalk to snag your own is a requisite. Along the way, swing into Browseabout Books, an independent stalwart with more than 35,000 titles, and Ryan’s Surf Shop, a circa-1961 spot for beach gear and boogie boards (not to mention a round of mini golf on the roof upstairs).

But we all know the reason we come to the beach: the junk food—from pizza slices, via Grotto’s, a go-to local chain born in Rehoboth, or Nicola, a seminal pie palace since 1971, to ice cream cones, be it frozen custard at Kohr Brothers or hand-dipped scoops at the Royal Treat. Road snacks abound for the ride home, too, at Dolles (saltwater taffy), Fisher’s (Old Bay caramel popcorn), and Thrasher’s (with vinegar, duh).

For a sit-down meal, a seat at the bar at Henlopen City Oyster House is our go-to for craft beers, fresh-shucked shellfish, and the best fried clams we’ve had. But don’t roll out of town without a spin in the teacups at Funland (preferably before you eat).

Frozen custard from Kohr Bros. —Alessandra Barone (@TasteoftheUnion/Instagram)

Cans of SeaQuench. —Courtesy of Dogfish Head Brewing

If we had our druthers, we’d spend most of the time in lesser-known Lewes, a cozy hamlet near the Tangier Outlets (tax-free shopping!) where the Delaware River meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Somehow, thus far, the little historic downtown has remained largely untouched by the kitschy commercialization of its touristy neighbors, and is mostly frequented by local residents and weekenders passing through on their way to or from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Visit the Station on Kings as you head into town for farm chic home goods and decadent desserts, as well as the Historic Lewes Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, considered one of the best on the peninsula.

In town, make a dinner reservation at the adorably decorated James Beard semifinalist Heirloom before dropping your bags at the hip Dogfish Head Inn. (Or your tent at the Cape Henlopen State Park, one the Mid-Atlantic’s best-kept-secret campgrounds, with plenty of nature—particularly along the Junction & Breakwater Trail—for non-campers to also enjoy.)

But back to Dogfish Head, because no trip would be complete without a final pit stop at this king of craft beer, with the Wonka-like brewery and tasting room just 15 minutes from Lewes, founded by local beer wizard Sam Calagione in 1995. Order one of their dozens of exclusive pints, lean back on their outdoor patio, and raise a glass to Delaware. Small Wonder, indeed.

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Shore Pours

Jess Mayhugh — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 08:30:00 +0000

At least in the mid-Atlantic, beer and the beach go together like vinegar and Boardwalk fries. We can’t think of many more enjoyable summertime activities than cracking a crisp cold one in the sunny, salty air. So why not go straight to the source? These beach-area breweries are proving that Ocean City, Rehoboth, and the surrounding areas are hoppin’ with tasty beer.

Before you even hit the coast, make a pit stop off of Route 50 at Evolution Craft Brewing (201 E. Vine St., Salisbury, 443-260-2337) in the college town of Salisbury. With humble roots that started in a small shack in Delmar in 2012, Evolution recently moved to its massive, 30,000-square-foot facility——complete with a tasting room, a full restaurant, and daily tours. Amber ale fans will appreciate the popular Exile Red Ale, which has notes of caramel and citrus that would pair well with the restaurant’s brisket sandwich.

Just a 30-minute drive east is Burley Oak Brewing (10016 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, 443-513-4647), one of the best breweries in the state and a place where people line the streets for new can releases and weekend events. With bold graphic designs and clever nods to music and pop culture, Burley Oak has been taking creativity to a new level, even getting in the local farming game to produce their own barley and malt. The brewery has perfected the art of the sour ale, as evidenced by Sorry Chicky or their latest J.R.E.A.M. series, using flavors such as piña colada and açai berry.

A blackberry cobbler beer at Burley Oak and sunset at Backshore Brewing.

Once you make your way to Ocean City, head straight to the Boardwalk to visit Backshore Brewing (913 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-0008). With a skateboard motif and punny-named beers like Down By The Peach—a strong and juicy peach saison—this is the ideal spot to grab a seat with an ocean view and watch the waves as the sun sets.

No beer lover’s trip to the beach would be complete without a visit to Dogfish Head (6 Cannery Village Center, Milton, DE, 302-684-1000), the granddaddy of mid-Atlantic craft beer. With a brewery operation, its own distillery, and even a bed and breakfast on site, it feels more like a full-blown campus. Be sure to take a tour (offered on the hour, seven days a week) and stay for samples in the taproom.

Pawed patron at evolution and a beer flight at Dogfish Head.

Dogfish Head is cranking out some amazing partnerships, including a dragonfruit pale ale they made with the Flaming Lips and a limey and sour SeaQuench Ale, with proceeds benefiting the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

Also making a name for itself in Delaware is Revelation Craft Brewing (19841 Central St., Rehoboth Beach, DE, 302-212-5674), which opened in July of 2016. The cozy taproom is just 1,500 square feet, extremely bike-friendly (even offering growlers that can fit into bike water-bottle holders), and often features food from DaNizza Wood Fired Pizza.

Nothing like a classic margherita pie paired with a Sussex County blonde ale to round out your beach weekend.

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Review: Henlopen City Oyster House

Jess Mayhugh — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 10:30:00 +0000

It’s a proven fact: The closer you are to the ocean, the stronger your craving for seafood will kick in. Fortunately, Rehoboth’s Henlopen City Oyster House is there for you with a tempting array of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean’s finest bounties.

Since opening eight years ago, this sophisticated seafood spot has become beloved by locals and sought out by tourists. With shell-colored walls, rustic wood, and weathered brick, the restaurant, just two blocks west of the beach, is reminiscent of the kind of upscale space you might find in a place like Portland, Maine, but with distinctly Delmarva touches. Tables are topped with Old Bay and Tabasco sauce, while mollusk memorabilia finds its way into every corner, from framed antique oyster plates to a hand-painted mural depicting the namesake bivalve’s anatomy.

To get the juices flowing, a small chalkboard behind the bar lists the daily craft beers on draft, including Maryland brews like a special cask version of the Country Ride pale ale out of RAR in Cambridge. The curated wine and cocktail list is also worth perusing, with the horseradish-heavy house Bloody Marys being a liquid highlight (and hangover cure-all).

For the main feast, begin with the raw bar’s titular oysters. Prettily presented on a silver platter, the rotating selection ranges from local picks, like the restaurant’s own Virginia Salts, to North Atlantic specialties, like Katama Bays and Wellfleets, sourced from Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod.

While the shellfish plays a starring role in a number of offerings—classic Eastern Shore stew, bread-crumbed Rockefeller, Creole-style po’boys, or just flawlessly fried—give some love to the rest of the classic menu, too. One mouth-watering must is the plate of flash-fried clam strips, which taste nothing like the mundane morsels from the seafood shacks of our youth. Crispy, tender, and accompanied by a tangy remoulade, these addictive appetizers are (yes, we’ll say it) the best we’ve ever had.

If you like variety, we can’t say enough good things about the massive bowl of bouillabaisse. This fragrant fishermen’s stew is a cornucopia of the sea’s bounty, chock full of fish, scallops, mussels, clams, and shrimp and served with a grilled baguette for bathing in saffron-tomato broth. The New England lobster roll, piled high with Maine lobster meat and mixed with just enough mayo (along with a side of Old Bay fries), is another fine excuse for forsaking that bikini bod. For some turf to balance your surf, try the decadent pulled-pork sandwich—smothered in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce and piled high with crunchy coleslaw.

By the end of the meal, you won’t have room for dessert, but if you want to linger a little longer, head down the street for a Frosé night cap at The Blue Hen, Henlopen’s James Beard-semifinalist sister restaurant. There’s nothing like a boozy slushy to make it feel like endless summer.

HENLOPEN CITY OYSTER HOUSE: 50 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE, 302-260-9193. Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 12-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 12-9:30 p.m. Cuisine: Elevated seafood classics. Prices: appetizers: $9-13; entrees: $10-99.

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Stop Into These Sandwich Spots When You Head Down The Ocean

Jess Mayhugh — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 13:48:58 +0000

The Sal's Italian at Frank & Louie's. - Justin Tsucalas

When it comes to vacation, it’s not all about dining out. In fact, some of our favorite food memories are the picnics we packed with our friends and family to eat down by the beach. Luckily, Route One offers oodles of carryout options, and nothing rewards us after a long day in the sun quite like a quintessential sandwich. With a bag of chips and an ice-cold drink, a sandwich or sub is the ideal beach meal, featuring nearly all your important food groups tucked into one tidy, portable package.

If you’re in search of the Holy Grail of hoagies, look no further than Frank & Louie’s Italian Specialties (58 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth, 302-227-5777) at Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach. At this small Boot Country grocer, check in with brothers Frank and Louie Bascio—the two bald guys behind the bar—to craft you a killer combo. Always order the Sal’s Italian, stuffed with a medley of mortadella, genoa salami, capocollo, prosciutto, ham, and sharp provolone on ciabatta. To avoid the meat sweats, try the vegetarian Maddie’s Caddy, packed with paper-thin slices of seasoned eggplant, fresh mozzarella, and roasted red peppers. Just be sure to take a madre-made dessert for the road, with Italian wedding cookies and ricotta pastries made by the Bascios’ own mother, Diane.

For all the fixings, also swing by the original Arena’s Deli (149 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth, 302-227-1272), located just up the street. A beloved staple since 1990, this small sports bar hawks more than 30 sandwiches, ranging from Philly cheesesteaks to veggie-heavy powerhouses and the truly terrific California Club Dude, with oven-roasted turkey, thick slices of avocado, Monterey Jack, and alfalfa sprouts on whole wheat. Act like a local by adding bacon and getting it griddled.

Staying closer to Ocean City? Now in its 41st year, DeVito’s Italian Deli (14302 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 410-250-1122) is somewhat of a local institution. During peak months, lines wrap outside and around the 143rd Street sub shop. (Insider tip: Call ahead.) The paper menu boasts a dozen-plus subs, including turkey, Italian cold-cuts, meatballs, and tuna melts. Consider the Roman Prince, which comes loaded with prosciutto, soppressata, and capocollo on rolls made in-house daily.

Also keep an eye out for Rosenfeld’s (6301 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 410-520-0283), a year-round Jewish deli with a sign that boasts, “We are a big dill”—and the half-sour pickles to prove it. While a sky-high Reuben might not sound like a fitting lunch on a fiery day, we beg to differ. The Papa Joe pairs house-made corned beef and pastrami with melted Swiss, crunchy slaw, and Russian dressing on toasted marble rye. Eat it with a chilled can of Dr. Brown’s black cherry soda and you’ll forget you’re schvitzing in no time.

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Water, Water, Everywhere

Aaron Hope — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 09:00:00 +0000

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By Marty LeGrand
Opening photo by Jon Bilous

Travel & Outdoors

Water, Water, Everywhere

We've rounded up 12 destinations—from seashores to spas—where H2O is the way to go.

By Marty LeGrand | Opening photo by Jon Bilous

Wherever you’re headed this summer, chances are you know the formula for a relaxing getaway: Just add water. Salty or fresh, briny or chlorinated, water revives our spirits and refreshes our bodies. It eases the summer sun’s intensity. It’s why swimming, boating, surfing, and waterparks were invented. We’ve rounded up 12 destinations—from seashores to spas—where H2O is the way to go.

All beach towns boast sun, sand, and surf, but within those parameters, there’s plenty of diversity. So whether you’re looking for quaintness and quietude (Cape May) or vibrancy and variety (Virginia Beach), we’ve got an oceanside oasis to recommend. Oh, and if you think we forgot about Ocean City, then you must not know us, hon.

On the beach and an Orange Crush in Ocean City.

Ocean City

Go: Baltimore’s go-to getaway is better than ever, the pulsing beat of its neon nightlife matched only by the lulling rhythm of the rolling Atlantic surf.

Stay: Watch the sunrise from your balcony at stately Dunes Manor Hotel & Suites (2800 Baltimore Ave., 800-623-8188).

Enjoy family-friendly benefits (full kitchens, kids’ activity pool) at Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites (3200 Baltimore Ave., 410-289-6444).

New oceanfront suites at Hotel Monte Carlo & Suites (11th St., 410-289-7101) will open this summer, as will two bayside Marriott hotels, Residence Inn (300 Seabay Lane, 410-723-2222) and Fairfield Inn & Suites (2501 Philadelphia Ave., 410-289-5000).

Driving Distance: 147 miles, 3 hours (via Route 50); 179 miles, 3.5 hours (via I-95 and Route 1)

Best Beach: North Division Street (more elbow room)

Eat/Drink: Try the crab bisque at foodie fave Hooked (8003 Coastal Hwy., 410-723-4665) or duck tacos at Shotti’s Point (3505 Coastal Hwy., 410-390-3951), the Federal Hill sports bar’s new O.C. location.

NFL fans will cheer Northside Pit & Pub (12701 Coastal Hwy., 443-664-7482), an offshoot of the original barbecue emporium/Ravens bar, and expansion of Steelers haven Buxy’s Salty Dog Saloon (2707 Philadelphia Ave., 410-289-0973) to include Dry Dock 28, a craft pizza restaurant.

And don’t forget the classics: an Orange Crush at Harborside Bar & Grill (12841 S. Harbor Road, 410-213-1846) and Thrasher’s French Fries on the boardwalk (401 S. Atlantic Ave. #1, 410-289-7232).

Do: Jolly Roger at the Pier’s latest diabolical ride, the Kraken (401 S. Atlantic Ave., 410-289-3031), is a tentacled contraption that whips riders over the water. The new (and free) 100 Nights of Lights is a nightly music-and-searchlight show that illuminates the boardwalk’s southern skyline.

Cape May architecture and the Cape May Lighthouse.

Cape May, New Jersey

Go: This Atlantic-cooled island off the southern tip of New Jersey is America’s oldest seaside resort and a well-preserved Victorian magic kingdom of grand hotels, gaslights, and gingerbread houses.

Stay: Vacation in Gilded Age grandeur at the 200-year-old oceanfront hotel Congress Hall (200 Congress Place, 609-884-8421), or the Queen Victoria Bed & Breakfast (102 Ocean St., 609-884-8702).

Foodies will enjoy Carroll Villa Hotel (19 Jackson St., 609-884-9619), a boutique inn that’s home to Cape May’s trailblazing restaurant, The Mad Batter (609-884-5970).

Driving Distance: 154 miles, 3 hours

Best Beach: The Cove (good surfing, great views)

Eat/Drink: A buttermilk short stack at The Mad Batter (as in pancake) is a no-brainer.

Check the chalkboard for locally sourced lunch specials at cozy Louisa’s Café (104 Jackson St., 609-884-5882).

Afternoon tea is an actual thing in Cape May, so swing by Carriage House Café & Tearoom (1048 Washington St., 609-884-5404) for a cuppa and a scone.

Or go hang with surfers and lifeguards at The Rusty Nail (205 Beach Ave., 609-884-0017), a pooch-welcoming beach bar.

Line up at Enfin Farms’ roadside stand for fabulous artisanal breads baked by a 2017 James Beard Award nominee (609 Sunset Blvd., 609-884-1277).

Do: Savor some suds on a free tour of Cape May Brewery (1288 Hornet Road at Cape May Airport, 609-849-9933).

Don’t miss the mansion-turned-museum Emlen Physick Estate (1048 Washington St., 609-884-5404), the circa-1850s Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Point State Park (609-224-6066), or the guided trolley tours that explain town history (609-884-5404).

Fresh brew at Three Ships Coffee in Virginia Beach, Bald Cypress Trail in First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, The Cavalier in Virginia Beach.

Fresh brew at Three Ships Coffee in Virginia Beach, The Cavalier in Virginia Beach, Bald Cypress Trail in First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Go: In addition to being Virginia’s largest city, Virginia Beach is situated on the horn of Virginia, allowing it to offer shores on both the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. These sandy stretches include three miles of resort beach and boardwalk known as “the strip.”

Stay: Enjoy seaside rooms and dining at Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront (3315 Atlantic Ave., 757-305-9000). Beach Spa B&B (2420 Arctic Ave., 757-578-1008) offers hearty breakfasts and an array of spa services just blocks from the beach.

The much-anticipated reopening of The Cavalier (4200 Atlantic Ave., 757-425-8555) is slated for early fall, following a $75-million restoration of the Y-shaped oceanfront hotel.

Driving Distance: 254 miles, 5 hours

Best Beach: Oceanfront (wide and clean, with a separate boardwalk and bike lane)

Eat/Drink: For fresh seafood and local charm, try Tautog’s Restaurant (205 23rd St., 757-422-0081), housed in a renovated cottage near the boardwalk.

Locals treasure Three Ships Coffee (607 19th St., 757-321-9371), a coffee bar/roastery in the city’s arts district.

On the strip, The Bee & The Biscuit (1785 Princess Anne Road, 757-689-6243) serves delicious brunch fare in a cozy setting.

Do: Take a dolphin-watching boat tour from Rudee Tours (Rudee Inlet, 200 Winston Salem Ave., 757-425-3400) or head to the nearby Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (717 General Booth Blvd., 757-385-3474) to see aquatic life in a more controlled environment.

Save time to visit Sandbridge, an isolated barrier peninsula adjoined by Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (4005 Sandpiper Road, 757-301-7329).

And be sure to squeeze in a wade at First Landing State Park (2500 Shore Dr., 757-412-2300), a historic stretch of Chesapeake Bay shoreline where English colonists first set foot in 1607.

GO WITH THE FLOW

Not sure which destination is right for you? Follow the flow chart to find your vacation paradise.
Tap to Expand

The natural setting for summer camps, lakes summon childhood memories of sailboats, swimming, and s’mores by the campfire. Our picks feature resort-based adventure (Deep Creek Lake) and elegant lodging and dining (Lake Wallenpaupack). Or, for a bit of both, take the waters at medicinal springs that have a presidential pedigree (Hot Springs).

Deep Creek Lake, ice cream from Lakeside Creamery at Deep Creek Lake.

Deep Creek Lake

Go: Maryland’s largest lake buzzes with powerboats and Jet Skis, while numerous coves provide quiet water for swimming, kayaking, dock fishing, or lake-watching from a porch rocker. Mountain breezes keep things cool, and come July 4, DCL celebrates with a boat parade and Fire on the Mountain, a pyrotechnic display from atop Wisp’s summit. Doesn’t get much more Appalachian all-American than that.

Stay: Under new management, Lake Pointe Inn (174 Lake Pointe Dr., McHenry, 301-387-0111) provides luxury B&B accommodations on the lakefront. Lake cruises are a popular guest perk.

Rooms at LakeStar Lodge (2001 Deep Creek Dr., McHenry, 301-387-5596) offer lake and mountain views and décor by local artisans.

The sustainably built hillside cabins at Blue Moon Rising (89 Blue Moon Rising Way, McHenry, 240-442-5287) feature cozy kitchens and quirky architecture.

Driving Distance: 179 miles, 3 hours

Public Beach: Deep Creek Lake State Park (with picnic area, boat launch)

Eat/Drink: Wood-fired flatbread pizzas, microbrews, and mountain views make Mountain State Brewing Co. (6690 Sang Run Road, McHenry, 301-387-3360) a popular hangout.

Tackle the titanic Marsh Mountain Burger (with fried pickles, candied bacon, a fried egg, and more) at Ace’s Run (20160 Garrett Hwy., Oakland, 301-387-6688).

Chocoholics will dig Lakeside Creamery’s Muddy Creek sundae (20282 Garrett Hwy., Oakland, 301-387-2580).

And remember, it’s not a Deep Creek Lake vacation until you’ve quaffed a blended frozen drink at Honi-Honi Bar (19745 Garrett Hwy., Oakland, 301-387-9100).

Do: Wisp Resort Mountain Coaster is a thrilling, 28-mph ride down 3,500 feet of mountain slope (296 Marsh Hill Road, McHenry, 301-859-3159).

The Ledges Hotel near Lake Wallenpaupack, horseback riding, and blueberries at Paupack Blueberry Farm.

Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania

Go: Nestled in the lake-studded Poconos, the 13-mile-long Big Lake features swimming, fishing, Jet Skiing, parasailing, paddleboarding, and just about any other water sport you can think of. Six recreation areas also beckon campers, hikers, and friends of the forest. Protip: Stop first at Pocono Mountains Visitors Center (2512 Route 6, Hawley, 570-226-2141) for maps, info, and even free loaner fishing gear.

Stay: The posh adults’ spa The Lodge at Woodloch (109 River Birch Lane, Hawley, 800-WOODLOCH) offers nature-based stress relief with botanical treatments, aqua garden soaking pools, and a new float therapy cabin.

Its sister lodgings, Woodloch Resort (731 Welcome Lake Road, Hawley, 800-966-3562), accommodate families beside a private lake.

In town, the boutique Ledges Hotel (119 Falls Ave., Hawley, 570-226-1337) occupies an 1890 glass factory overlooking a stunning waterfall.

Driving Distance: 232 miles, 3.5 hours (via I-83 and I-81); 226 miles, 4 hours (via I-95 and I-476)

Public Beach: Palmyra Township Beach (lifeguards, plus 1.8-mile lakeside trail)

Eat/Drink: Sample locally sourced entrees like lamb with blackberry-red wine sauce at Pocono Restaurant in the English Arts & Crafts-style Settlers Inn (4 Main Ave., Hawley, 570-226-2993).

Casual, nautically themed The Dock on Wallenpaupack (205 Route 507, Hawley, 570-226-2124) serves fresh seafood and classic comfort foods. Enjoy river gorge-ous views and savory small plates at Glass, the Ledges Hotel’s wine/tapas bar.

For simple sweetness, visit Paupack Blueberry Farm (184 Gumbletown Road, Paupack, 570-226-9702), which offers pick-your-own fruit, baked goods, and ice cream.

Do: A local history-and-scenery cruise with Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tours (2487 Route 6, Hawley, 570-226-3293) provides a great introduction to the area.

Jefferson Pools in Warm Springs, Lake Wallenpaupack sunset.

Jefferson Pools in Warm Springs, Lake Wallenpaupack sunset.

Hot Springs, Virginia

Go: There’s a reason 23 U.S. presidents (and lots of regular Joes) have journeyed to this Allegheny Highlands hamlet since 1766. Its mineral-rich, naturally warmed springs are the stuff of naturopathic legend.

Stay: The Omni Homestead Resort (7696 Sam Snead Hwy., 800-838-1766) operates two springs: its luxurious on-site spa garden and the historic Jefferson Pools in nearby Warm Springs, named for VIP soaker Thomas Jefferson. A destination resort, the 2,000-acre Omni Homestead offers 483 rooms and suites, indoor and outdoor spas, two championship golf courses, and a host of activities that includes a new zipline tour.

The spas are the main attraction, especially the Serenity Garden, an adults-only retreat featuring the famous geothermal pools and a soothing river-stone reflexology walk. Indoors, the Aqua Thermal Suite offers multi-sensory showers and ah-inducing treatments like the Herbal Cocoon (spa appointments: 877-479-8517).

Driving Distance: 249 miles, 4.5 hours (via I-70 and I-81); 256 miles, 5 hours (via I-95 and I-64)

Classic Spa Treatment: The Homestead’s 50-minute Mineral Springs Mud Wrap

Eat/Drink: Choose from Homestead’s numerous venues. The jackets-for-gentlemen Main Dining Room (540-839-7563) serves classical fare (Châteaubriand, trout almondine) and the Gold Brick Sundae, an irresistible mountain of vanilla ice cream mud-wrapped in a decadent, hard-chocolate shell.

Sample Southern-influenced farm-to-table cuisine at Jefferson’s Restaurant & Bar (540-839-7552). Other options include a popular pizzeria housed in an 1893 casino, a coffee shop with house-made doughnuts, a links-side eatery offering “golf-inspired comfort food,” and small plates at the lobby bar.

Do: A time-honored, POTUS-approved Jefferson Soak at Jefferson Pools bathhouses (11 Bath St., Warm Springs, 800-838-1766) is a must.

For a night out, check the calendar at the Garth Newel Music Center (403 Garth Newel Lane, 540-839-5018), a year-round chamber music venue with a house piano quartet and frequent guest performers.

Take Flight: 8 Great Getaways

We get it. Your wanderlust pushes you beyond local boundaries. Leave your car behind and expand your vacation horizons with a nonstop flight from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport to one of these watery destinations. You’ll be in new waters before you can say “Marco Polo.”
Tap to Expand

Boston

Flight time: 1 ½ hours. Airlines: JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit. Why: Eat creamy clam chowder; visit nearby Cape Cod.

Cancun, Mexico

Flight time: 3 ½ hours. Airline: Southwest. Why: Burnish your tan on a sandy playa; explore Mayan ruins.

Charleston, South Carolina

Flight time: 1 hour, 40 minutes. Airline: Southwest. Why: See antebellum houses from a horse-drawn carriage; stroll The Battery, Charleston’s scenic waterfront promenade.

Fort Myers, Florida

Flight time: 2 ½ hours. Airlines: Southwest, Spirit. Why: Collect colorful seashells on Sanibel Island; visit the waterpark in Cape Coral.

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Flight time: 3 ½ hours. Airline: Southwest. Why: Snorkel stunning coral reefs; tour a centuries-old rum distillery.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Flight time: 1 hour, 15 minutes. Airline: Spirit. Why: See the sea from 200 feet up on SkyWheel; walk the mile-long boardwalk.

New Orleans

Flight time: 2 ½ hours. Airlines: Southwest, Spirit. Why: Restaurant hop in the French Quarter; ride an airboat through the bayous.

Portland, Maine

Flight time: 1 ½ hours. Airline: Southwest. Why: Eat “lobstah” in Old Port; tour Casco Bay on the mail boat.

When the nation’s largest estuary is your next-door neighbor, why wouldn’t you indulge in its briny waters, blue crabs, and boating lifestyle? Whether it’s a fashionable Eastern Shore retreat (St. Michaels), a Western Shore boaters’ mecca (Solomons Island), or a historic hamlet in Tidewater Virginia (Irvington), the Chesapeake Bay makes for a refreshing staycation.

Chesapeake Restaurant at The Tides Inn in St. Michaels.

St. Michaels

Go: If the Chesapeake Bay is indeed The Land of Pleasant Living, this Eastern Shore town could be its capital. Home to a genteel world-class resort and second home to many urbanites, laid-back-but-sophisticated St. Michaels showcases bay culture, cuisine, and history.

Stay: Facing the Miles River, The Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond (308 Watkins Lane, 410-745-2200) provides deluxe accommodations, landscaped gardens, a fine-dining restaurant, and a spa/fitness center.

One of several old homes-turned-B&Bs, The Old Brick Inn (401 S. Talbot St., 410-745-3323) offers elegant guestrooms and an innkeeper-curated selection of bottled wines.

The water views from Black Walnut Point Inn’s cozy cabins are stunning (4417 Black Walnut Point Road, Tilghman Island, 410-886-2452).

Driving Distance: 79.5 miles, 1.5 hours

Best Boat Trip: Let Capt. Ed regale you with bay factoids and lore on a cruise by Chesapeake Skipjack Sailing Tours (213 N. Talbot St., 410-745-6080).

Eat/Drink: Gina’s Café (601 S. Talbot St., 410-745-6400) is a tiny jewel with a bohemian vibe and Southwestern fare, including to-die-for seafood nachos heaped with crabmeat.

Bistro St. Michaels (403 S. Talbot St., 410-745-9111) serves creative New American cuisine with Parisian ambience.
Get steamed bay crabs, steamed clams, and Eastern Shore sides at The Crab Claw (304 Burns St., 410-745-2900).

Or take the historic Oxford-Bellevue Ferry to renowned chef Mark Salter’s Robert Morris Inn (314 N. Morris St., Oxford, 410-226-5111) for gourmet Chesapeake fare.

Do: The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (213 N. Talbot St., 410-745-2916) and its Hooper Strait Lighthouse are must-sees.

Afterward, stroll Talbot Street—which is lined with intriguing shops, cafes, and historic homes—and then sample small-batch rums and whiskeys on a tour of Lyon Distilling Co. (605 S. Talbot St. #6, 443-333-9181).

Golf course at The Tides Inn in Irvington, Solomons Victorian Inn on Solomons Island, and Cove Point Lighthouse on Solomons Island.

Golf course at The Tides Inn in Irvington Solomons Victorian Inn on Solomons Island, and Cove Point Lighthouse on Solomons Island.

Solomons Island

Go: Piers filled with recreational and fishing boats, a major maritime museum and historic seafood plant, and a nearby naval air station give this small island on the lower Patuxent River its nautical flavor.

Stay: Enjoy an elegant respite and three-course breakfast at Solomons Victorian Inn (125 Charles St., 410-326-4811), once a yacht-builder’s mansion.

Facing a quiet cove, Back Creek Inn (210 Alexander Lane, 410-326-2022) features lovely gardens, charming rooms, and full country breakfasts.

Sleep with history: Rent the restored and modernized light-keeper’s lodgings at the 1828 Cove Point Lighthouse (3500 Lighthouse Blvd., Lusby, 410-326-2042, ext. 17).

Driving Distance: 82 miles, 1.5 hours

Best Boat Trip: Wm. B. Tennison (410-326-2042, ext. 41), the Calvert Marine Museum’s vintage oyster dredge boat takes passengers on a 1-hour tour past Solomons Island’s harbor, the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, and the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge.

Eat/Drink: Intimate C.D. Café (14350 Solomons Island Road, 410-326-3877) serves innovative seafood like grilled ahi tuna with grilled shrimp chimichurri.

Try the scallop and crab entree at yachting-themed Dry Dock Restaurant (245 C St., 410-326-4817).
Lotus Kitchen (14618 Solomons Island Road, 410-326-8469) is a local favorite for breakfast, lunch, light dinner, and killer Key lime pie.

Slake your thirst with Ruddy Duck Brewery’s seasonal ales (13200 Dowell Road, Dowell, 410-394-3825) or mai tais at imbibers’ mecca The Tiki Bar (85 Charles St., 410-326-4075).

Do: Hunt for fossilized sharks’ teeth at Calvert Cliffs State Park beach (10540 H.G. Trueman Road, Lusby, 301-743-7613).

Explore more recent history at the Calvert Marine Museum (14200 Solomons Island Road, 410-326-2042), where you can tour two lighthouses, watch boat-builders, learn about local seafood processing, and observe playful river otters.

Corkscrew sculptures greet you at The Dog and Oyster Vineyard in Irvington, the marina in St. Michaels.

corkscrew sculptures greet you at The Dog and Oyster vineyard in Irvington, the marina in St. Michaels

Irvington, Virginia

Go: A steamboat stop in the 1800s, this small town on Virginia’s Northern Neck has become a popular destination once more. It is home to a world-class resort catering to golfers, boaters, and spa-goers, and to one of the East Coast’s most romantic inns.

Stay: The Hope and Glory Inn (65 Tavern Road, 804-438-6053) offers three ultra-romantic lodgings: cheery rooms in an 1890s schoolhouse, garden cottages on the schoolhouse grounds, and “tents”—Gothic-style cottages—at the inn’s vineyard.

On beautiful Carter’s Creek, The Tides Inn (480 King Carter Dr., 800-843-3746) boasts spacious rooms and suites, a deep-water marina, an 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa, and activities from s’more roasts to on-site sailing lessons.

Driving Distance: 157 miles, 3 hours (via Route 3E)

Best Boat Trip: Faded Glory, Hope and Glory Inn’s classic Chesapeake workboat (804-438-6053), takes passengers for cruises along the town’s “main street,” aka Carter’s Creek.

Eat/Drink: The Tides Inn’s Chesapeake Restaurant (804-438-4489) offers fresh seafood, Southern hospitality, and splendid creek views.

Under new ownership, Trick Dog Bar & Bistro (4357 Irvington Road, 804-438-6363) upholds its reputation for refined local dining.

Hope and Glory Inn’s Dining Hall (804-438-6053) serves locally sourced, fixed-price dinners, and its vineyard, The Dog and Oyster (170 White Fences Dr., 804-438-9463), serves award-winning wines paired with Byrd’s Seafood Co.’s fresh seafood, like Rappahannock River oysters.

Do: The Dog and Oyster is but one of the many wine-producing properties in the region. Visit others on the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail (chesapeakebaywinetrail.com). Attractions like the Steamboat Era Museum (156 King Carter Dr., 804-438-6888) and the 1735 Christ Church (420 Christ Church Road, Weems, 804-438-6855) reflect rich Tidewater history.

The first Saturday of each month, shop the Irvington Farmers Market (98 King Carter Dr., 804-480-0697) for artisanal food products, handmade crafts, furniture, clothing, and local art. The 100-vendor-strong marketplace, which also offers live music, was voted the best farmers’ market on Virginia’s East Coast in 2015 by Virginia Living magazine.

On sultry afternoons, there’s nothing more refreshing than hours of immersion at one of the region’s ultra-cool waterparks. Foster family togetherness at an all-in-one destination (Hershey), double dip at the seashore (Rehoboth Beach), or mix leisure and learning (Williamsburg). Just be sure to take the plunge this summer.

Hersheypark, treatment products at The Spa at The Hotel Hershey.

Hersheypark, treatment products at The Spa at The Hotel Hershey.

Hershey, Pennsylvania

Go: The Boardwalk, the beach-themed aqua-musement portion of Hersheypark (100 W. Hersheypark Dr., 717-534-3900), offers Chocolate City visitors more than a dozen ways to keep it chill: wave pools, water slides, a lazy river, waterworks, a bodyboard wave, and five twisty tube rides with names like Vortex and Whirlwind. Hersheypark admission includes Boardwalk attractions, roller coasters, and other rides, including a new pick-your-thrill-level drop tower.

Stay: The amusement park has two on-site hotels: The Hotel Hershey (100 Hotel Road, 844-330-1711), a luxury resort boasting elegantly appointed rooms, suites, and cottages, and the family-oriented Hershey Lodge (325 University Dr., 844-330-1802), which offers rooms and suites for up to eight guests, plus a kids’ activities pool.

Driving Distance: 90 miles, 1.5 hours

Best Ride: Tidal Force, a wave-spewing splashdown coaster

Eat/Drink: Each hotel provides varied dining options. Try cocoa-dusted scallops at The Circular (717-534-8800), Hotel Hershey’s upscale restaurant overlooking the Hershey Gardens.

End your meal at Harvest (717-534-8800) with the house specialty dark chocolate cream pie.
Fire & Grain (844-330-1802), Hershey Lodge’s newest restaurant, serves re-imagined comfort food. The Bears’ Den is its popular sports bar/grill.

Looking to leave the hotel entirely? Enjoy pub grub and tasting tours at Tröegs Brewing (200 Hersheypark Dr., 717-534-1297).

Do: The Hotel Hershey’s high-end amenities include The Spa at The Hotel Hershey (717-520-5888), which offers the Whipped Cocoa Bath and other chocolate-influenced treatments.

Making your own candy bar at Hershey’s Chocolate World (101 Chocolate World Way, 717-534-4900) seems like an act of edible civic pride.

Dolle’s Candyland in Rehoboth Beach.

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Go: Waterparks at the shore might seem superfluous, but Rehoboth’s parks offer a refreshing break from sand and surf. Driving Distance: 121 miles, 2.5 hours (via Route 50); 151 miles, 2.5 hours (via I-95)

Stay: Newly renovated, The Avenue Inn (33 Wilmington Ave., 800-433-5870) offers spacious rooms for couples and families, plus an organic spa and indoor pool.
Kids 14 and under stay free at Oceanus Motel (6 Second St., 302-227-8200), a motel with an outdoor pool close to the beach.

Near Jungle Jim’s and Tanger Outlets, Holiday Inn Express (19953 Shuttle Road, 302-227-4030) gives family discounts: Children 19 and under stay free.

Driving Distance: 82 miles, 1.5 hours

Best Ride: Anaconda, Jungle Jim’s signature serpentine water slide

Eat/Drink: Check out the daily blackboard specials at local favorite Big Fish Grill (20298 Coastal Hwy., 302-227-3474).

Small plates and craft beers are highlights at The Blue Hen (33 Wilmington Ave., 302-278-7842), a new restaurant by two of Rehoboth’s top restaurateurs.
For sweeping views of the Atlantic and the stunning Indian River Inlet Bridge, visit Big Chill Beach Club (27099 Coastal Hwy., Bethany Beach), an outdoor eatery slated to open this summer.

For snacks, keep it casual and munch caramel corn from Dolle’s Candyland (1 Rehoboth Ave., 302-227-0757).

Do: The largest water park, Jungle Jim’s (36944 Country Club Road, 302-227-8444), features a lazy river that meanders past a wave pool/patio, children’s sprayground, tipping buckets, kiddie pool, and several water slides.

White Water Mountain (18645 Coastal Hwy., 302-645-8064) has two pools, spraygrounds, and several water slides.

Letting the kids loose at Shell We Bounce (20699 Coastal Hwy., 302-727-5416), an indoor palace of inflatable bounce houses, should burn off whatever excess energy the waterparks haven’t sapped.

Family fun at Water Country USA in Williamsburg.

Family fun at Water Country USA in Williamsburg.

Williamsburg, Virginia

Go: Better known for its preserved 18th-century village, Williamsburg is also an epicenter of theme-park fun, featuring both the state’s largest waterpark, Water Country USA, and the ever-popular Busch Gardens.

Stay: Golf-centric Kingsmill Resort (1010 Kingsmill Road, 757-253-1703) on the James River offers luxury guestrooms plus multi-room condominiums and riverfront cottages.

Amenities include golf, a spa, a pool/beach/lazy river complex, on-site dining, and free shuttles to the waterpark. Rental villas at Marriott’s Manor Club at Ford’s Colony (101 St. Andrews Dr., 757-258-1120) accommodate families with full kitchens, an activities center, and movie theater.

Driving Distance: 191 miles, 3 hours

Besyt Ride: Colossal Curl, a scream-inducing, multi-person ride with a wicked-high wall

Eat/Drink: Food venues at the theme parks serve light fare, kids’ treats, and frozen drinks. For a grown-up meal, reserve the chef’s table at up-and-comer Cochon on 2nd (311-106 Second St., 757-229-1199) and enjoy a personalized multi-course dinner.

Close to both amusement parks, The Whaling Company (494 McLaws Cir., 757-229-0275) serves fresh seafood in a nautical atmosphere.

In Colonial Williamsburg, order gourmet sandwiches (don’t forget the house dressing) at The Cheese Shop (410 W. Duke of Gloucester St., 757-220-0298).

Do: If you spend a day in Colonial Williamsburg (101 Visitor Center Dr., 888-965-7254), you can tell yourself the vacation had educational value.

Reward your studiousness with a two-park ticket to enjoy Busch Gardens (1 Busch Gardens Blvd., 757-229-4386) and Water Country USA (176 Water Country Pkwy., 757-229-4386), which offers 43 acres of rides, pools, lazy rivers, and children’s splashgrounds. Highlights include a large wave pool, fast- and slow-paced rivers, and Rock ’n’ Roll Island, a family water-adventure center. Popular thrill rides include Big Daddy Falls for tubers and Vanish Point for body sliders.

Source

Readers Discuss Their Favorite Local Beaches

Jess Mayhugh — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 15:07:53 +0000

Ingrid Friedenberg, entrepreneur: Fenwick Island State Park and Bethany Beach, DE. They are clean, family-oriented, pet-friendly, cute, and charming beach communities.

Kristy Wright, legal secretary: Rehoboth Beach. It has an upscale feel with fewer kids.

Val Levin, IT professional: Assateague: easy parking, natural beauty.

Scott Mech, sushi chef: There’s a “secret” beach in North Point State Park with a fallen tree that is absolutely amazing. Nature provided a beautiful bench for a beautiful place.

Lisa Frisky, staffing company branch manager: Ocean City, of course! Because it’s an easy escape from where I live. It has always been there for us, and the memories are priceless!

Source

50 Reasons Why We Love Our Beach

Mike Smith — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 08:30:00 +0000

Let us count the ways...

Come summer, the beach is our favorite stretch of real estate, a 50-mile-long wonderland of sun-soaked, ocean-lapped coastline between the mouth of the Delaware Bay and the Maryland-Virginia line. Within its borders lie five beach resorts, three boardwalks, four seaside state parks, one national seashore, eight inland bays, and countless opportunities to overindulge in one’s favorite seasonal pleasures. So knock yourself out. Party hearty at Fager’s Monday night deck parties. Watch family-friendly movies on the beach. Learn to surf. Nurse a hangover at The Starboard’s Sunday brunch. Look for wild ponies on Assateague Island. Grab a slice of Grotto Pizza. Ham it up in a photo booth with your buds. Why are we so enamored with the beach? Read on to find out.

BY MARTY LEGRAND

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Christopher Myers
Comfort food comes in a tub and it’s doused with malt vinegar . . .

Succumb to the boardwalk’s favorite frites, Thrasher’s French Fries, 801 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-4150, and other locations.

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. . . or smothered in caramel

Don’t forget your pals (like the pet-sitter) when buying tubs of gooey goodness at the original Fisher’s Popcorn, 200 S. Boardwalk Ave., Ocean City, 888-395-0335. The Fisher family also runs mom-and-pop(corn) shops in Fenwick (37081 Coastal Hwy., 302-539-8833), Bethany Beach (108 Garfield Pkwy., 302-537-9155), and Rehoboth Beach (48 Rehoboth Ave., 302-227-2691).

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Skee-Ball games still cost a quarter (or less).

Aim for the high-scoring holes to win T-shirts and free skee-ball for life at Beach Arcade, 5 N. Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-1040, or plush toys and skee-ball souvenirs at Funland, 6 Delaware Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-1921.

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Courtesy of Trimper’s Rides
Twenty dollars buys priceless nostalgia.

For two sawbucks (40 tickets), enjoy carny classics at Trimper’s Rides, Ocean City’s oldest amusement park (founded in 1890): bumper cars, the haunted house, the mirror maze, tilt-a-whirl, the Zipper, and the park’s vintage merry-go-round. 700 S. Atlantic Ave., 410-289-8617.

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John J. Young
Boardwalks beat boardrooms.

Large (Ocean City), medium (Rehoboth), or small (Bethany) resort boardwalks pulse with life. Embrace tradition: Order a peanut-butter chocolate twist at the Kohr Bros. stand at the Pier, 401 S. Boardwalk, Ocean City, 410-289-1178, and on weekends grab a seat for concerts at the bandstands in Rehoboth Beach, 1 Rehoboth Ave., 302-644-2288, and Bethany Beach, 114 Garfield Pkwy., 302-539-8011.

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Havaianas are considered formal wear.

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Pam Reid
Our pooch can meet new pals.

Play fetch with Fido at Ocean City’s off-leash dog playground, 94th St., 410-250-0125. Let your chowhounds feast at “pooch pancake breakfasts” held Sundays at Yuppy Puppy, 123 Garfield Pkwy., Bethany Beach, 302-537-0171. Ramble on the sand at Dewey Beach, one of the only Delaware or Maryland resorts that permits dogs on public beaches in summer. License required. 302-227-7796, iDewey.com.

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Courtesy of Karl Schwarz
We can cruise the beach,literally.

Register to drive a three-mile course on Ocean City’s famous beach at Jeep Week Beach Crawl Aug. 28-29 or buy a spectator’s pass that includes admission to Jeep Jam, an obstacle course/music festival in Berlin, 410-213-9473. Purchase an Over-Sand Vehicle permit and explore remote beaches at Assateague Island National Seashore, 6633 Bayberry Dr., Berlin, 410-641-1441.

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We can ride bicycles built for two.

Rent a tandem bicycle for a morning ride on the boardwalk, plus get info on cycling routes and local bike ordinances from Atlantic Cycles, 18 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-226-2543, and Wobbly Wheel Boardwalk Bicycle, 3 N. 1st St., Ocean City, 410-289-2453.

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We can totally check out the lifeguards.

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We get to read naughty novels and thrillers.

Catch up on the Fifty Shades trilogy under a beach umbrella or buy Jo Nesb’s latest crime tale at Bethany Beach Books, 99 Garfield Pkwy., 302-539-2522, or Browseabout Books, 133 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-226-2665.

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Kids can fish in SpongeBob’s ’hood.

Young squirts can catch crabs (mayhap a Krabby Patty, too?) at Northside Park Pier, bayside at 125th St., Ocean City, 410-250-0125. Head to Oceanic Fishing Pier (open 24 hours), 710 S. Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-2602, for larger species like flounder and bluefish.

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Courtesy of Michael Bentley
Kids can get touchy-feely with nature.

Let them see local wildlife and plant a garden during Saturday morning edu-tainment events at Bethany Beach Nature Center , 807 Garfield Pkwy., 302-537-7680 (free). Help them haul a fishing net full of sea critters at the Seining the Bay program with the Indian River Life-Saving Station, Fenwick Island State Park and Delaware Seashore State Park, 39415 Inlet Rd., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-6991 ($4 per person), destateparks.com.

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There’s a new crustacean in town.

Try the other white meat—lobster. Crack open a one-pounder, star of the lobster dinner at Twining’s Lobster Shanty, 37310 Lighthouse Rd., Selbyville, DE, 302-436-2305. Savor a Bar Harbor-caliber lobster roll at Henlopen City Oyster House, 50 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-260-9193.

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Bloody Marys enjoy cult status.

Practice mixology at the mecca of Bloody Mary bars, The Starboard, 2009 Coastal Hwy., Dewey Beach, 302-227-4600, offering a staggering selection of vodkas, mixes, and hot sauces. Savor the reigning champ of beach Bloodys, the Crabby Mary (topped with smoked jumbo lump) at Fish Tales, 2207 Herring Way, Ocean City, 410-289-0990.

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Crushes are permissible.

Renew your ardor for summer’s signature concoction, the Orange Crush, at the drink’s reputed birthplace, Harborside Bar & Grill , 12841 S. Harbor Rd., West Ocean City, 410-213-1846, or the renowned Friday night Taco Toss happy hour at The Lighthouse, 124 Dickinson St., Dewey Beach, 302-227-4333.

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Courtesy of Michael Bentley
You can never have enough dough.

Carbo-load on buttermilk pancakes or pepperoni pizza at the legendary Dough Roller, four Ocean City locations, including its original boardwalk site, 606 S. Atlantic Ave., 410-289-3501. Craft a designer doughnut at Fractured Prune, seven beach locations, including Coastal Hwy. at 81st. St., Ocean City, 410-524-4688.

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Courtesy of Papa Granes
Matt Haley’s restaurants still rule.

The late restaurateur’s legacy lives on. Enjoy imaginative seafood dishes, house-made sodas (or stronger tipples), and unbeatable bayside views at Catch 54, 38931 Madison Ave., Fenwick Island, 302-436-8600. Try Mex with a twist (Korean pork belly tacos, anyone?) at Papá Grande’s taquerias: 38929 Madison Ave., Fenwick Island, 302-436-7272, and 210 Second St., Rehoboth Beach, 302-212-2409.

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Bars come with playgrounds.

Enjoy a leisurely meal and a frosty margarita while your fidgety brood frolics on the sandy, pirate-themed playground at Dead Freddies Island Grill , 105 64th St., Ocean City, 410-524-3733, or Fish Tales, 2207 Herring Way, Ocean City, 410-289-0990.

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The nightlife is rejuvenating.

Rock out like you did in younger days at The Bottle & Cork, 1807 Rte. 1, Dewey Beach, 302-227-7272, featuring revival/tribute bands like The English Beat and Dark Star Orchestra. Kick up your boot heels to live bands and DJs at Cowboy Coast Country Saloon, Coastal Hwy. at 17th St., Ocean City, 410-289-6331, where daredevils can ride a mechanical bull.

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Sand-sculpting stirs our competitive juices.

Grab your buckets and spades and match your creativity with rival Rodins in two time-honored sandcastle contests in Rehoboth Beach: July 11 at Delaware Seashore State Park, 39415 Inlet Rd., 302-227-2800, and Aug. 1 at Fisherman’s Beach, end of the northern boardwalk, 302-227-2233. Or watch pro sculptors at OC Sandfest, Aug. 23-30, North Division St. Beach, Ocean City, 410-798-6304.

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Every hour is happy.

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Courtesy of James Allen
We can float on a raft sipping frozen rum drinks while listening to reggae.

Relax, mon, at the legendary, colossal tiki bar Seacrets (aka Jamaica USA), 117 W. 49th St., Ocean City, 410-524-4900. Arrive early to avoid the tipsy throngs. Or join ’em—but prudently: Book a room at Seacrets Hotel, 410-524-4496.

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History is spine-tingling.

Imagine a foundering 19th-century ship as re-enactors “rescue” victims during Breeches Buoy re-enactments at Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum at Delaware Seashore State Park, 25039 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-6991. Visit the mesmerizing artifacts at DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum , 708 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, 302-539-9366. If the museum’s deep sea-exploring owner is there, you may get to hold centuries-old gold coins.

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Shopping is tax-free in Delaware.

Browse the latest vintage-print summer dresses and fab best-friends bracelets at Downtown Cowgirl, 146 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-1917. Upgrade your business profile with a swank messenger bag from Coach Men’s Factory store, Tanger Outlets, 36470 Seaside Outlet Dr., Rehoboth Beach, 302-644-2062.

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Courtesy of Hotel Rodney
We like small-town hospitality.

Book a cozy room at a boutique spot like the Atlantic Hotel, 2 N. Main St., Berlin, 410-641-3589, or Hotel Rodney, 142 Second St., Lewes, 302-645-6466, then explore the charming, historic towns in which you’re staying.

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Courtesy of Randy Roberts
We love the new places to stay.

Rest in Mad Men-era style at Dogfish Inn, 105 Savannah Rd., Lewes, 302-644-8292 , an in-town motel modishly revamped by the owners of Dogfish Head Brewery. Drop anchor in a nightlife nexus, Hyatt Place Dewey Beach , 1301 Coastal Hwy., 302-864-9100, part of the waterside Lighthouse Cove dining/entertainment complex.

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Christopher Myers
We get to chow down on Baltimore Avenue.

Bring your appetite to one of Rehoboth Beach’s primary foodie boulevards, where renowned chefs make restaurants such as a(MUSÉ), 44 Baltimore Ave., 302-227-7107 (dinner, closed Mondays), and Café Azafrán, 18 Baltimore Ave., 302-227-8100 (daily lunch, dinner, weekend breakfasts) must-eat destinations.

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There be pirates everywhere, matey.

Search for treasure and bombard baddies with water cannons on a cruise with Duckaneer Pirate Ship Tours, 311 Talbot St., Ocean City, 410-289-3500. Let the kids get skull-n-crossbones tatts (temporary, of course) before they storm the movie-inspired miniature links at Captain Jack’s Pirate Golf, 21 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Bethany Beach, 302-539-1122. Cool off on the buccaneer-themed jungle gym at Jolly Roger’s Splash Mountain Water Park, 2901 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-3477, but beware the pirate head, a giant water bucket that periodically drenches park-goers.

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The beers have gotten a lot craftier.

Dogfish Head got the keg rolling 20 years ago. Now craft brewers abound. Hoist a house-brewed Kraken I.P.A. at the spacious Ocean City Brewing Co., 5509 Coastal Hwy., 443-664-6682. Indecisive? Order a surfboard-shaped flight of six sample beers at Backshore Brewing , 913 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-0008.

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Morning walks are more eye-opening.

Pass pine forests, cranberry bogs, and World War II bunkers on Cape Henlopen State Park’s Pinelands Trail , 15099 Cape Henlopen Dr., Lewes, 302-645-8983. Take in views of Rehoboth Bay and Dewey Beach’s skyline on Delaware Seashore State Park’s Thompson Island Trail, 39415 Inlet Rd., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-2800. (Of course, an early a.m. beach walk is great for shell-seekers.)

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Courtesy of Golden Plate
We can have our funnel cake and eat like a foodie, too.

Indulge in the satisfying spectrum of beach fare, from sugar-dusted mounds of deep-fried dough at Golden Plate, 19C Atlantic Ave, Ocean City. 410-289-4488, to gourmet tasting tours of Rehoboth Beach restaurants with Eating Rehoboth, 800-979-3370, eatingrehoboth.com.

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Mike Drukenbrod
We can find some peace and quiet.

Hike through bayside forest, marsh, and beach at out-of-the-way James Farm Ecological Preserve, Cedar Neck Rd., Ocean View, DE, 302-226-8105. Paddle quietly through a bald cypress swamp at Trap Pond State Park, 33587 Baldcypress Ln., Laurel, DE, 302-875-5153.

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We’re in sweet-tooth heaven.

Think outside the (salt water taffy) box wow fadeIn; try sea-salt caramels—among other goodies—at Dolle’s, three Ocean City locations, including the original, 500 S. Boardwalk Ave., 410-289-6000. Pretend you’re in Paris (by way of Penny Lane Mall); order a delicate, strawberry-stuffed crepe at Café Papillon, 42 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-7568.

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Clif Burns
Sunsets are worth celebrating.

When the sun dips over the inland bays, Ocean City parties à la Key West. Bring a beach chair, pack a picnic dinner, and listen to live bands Thursday nights at Sunset Park, South Division St., 800-626-2326. Earn “downy ocean” cred by lifting a glass to these sunset anthems: Kate Smith’s “God Bless America” at Macky’s, 5311 Coastal Hwy., 410-723-5565, and “Pete” Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” at Fager’s Island, 201 60th St., 410-524-5500.

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The fish are Hemingwayesque.

Watch nightly weigh-ins to see whose big billfish will net big bills (over $2 million in prizes) at the White Marlin Open (Aug. 3-7), Harbour Island Marina, 419 14th St., Ocean City, 410-289-9229. Root for anglers at Capt. Steve Harman’s Poor Girls Open (Aug. 13-15), Bahia Marina, 2107 Herring Way, Ocean City, 410-289-7438, a breast-cancer fundraiser.

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Christopher Myers
Movies are shown seaside—for free.

Bring the blankies and the Milk Duds and enjoy family flicks that keep the piggybank intact. These towns host complimentary movies on the beach: Ocean City (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights), three locations, 800-OC-OCEAN, ococean.com/freeforall; Bethany Beach (Monday nights), Garfield Pkwy. beach, 302-539-8011, townofbethanybeach.com; Dewey Beach (Monday nights), Dagsworthy St. beach, 302-227-2233, beach-fun.com.

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We love the ponies.

Visit Assateague Island National Seashore, 11800 Marsh View Ln., Berlin, 410-641-1441, and keep an eye out for the barrier island’s famous wild horses, who gravitate to the park’s marshes and breezy beaches in summertime. Play the ponies at Ocean Downs, 10218 Racetrack Rd., Berlin, 410-641-0600, the casino/racetrack that offers live harness racing each summer.

39
Courtesy of Carlos A. Lacruz
Indian River Inlet Bridge looks amazing at night.

After dark, the LED-lit, cable-stayed Route 1 span glows like a futuristic sailboat with neon-blue rigging. See it by car or the bridge’s walkway. Or stay nearby at the fully furnished Cottages at Indian River Marina, 39415 Inlet Rd., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-3071.

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We can pretend we’re in Hawaii.

Catch a wave at Ocean City’s surfing beaches. Two are reserved daily (on a rotating basis) for surfers, as is a permanent weekday spot at the Inlet in the summer months (info: 410-289-7556). Mellow out with “dynamite rolls” and a cold Kona at Nalu, 1308 Coastal Hwy., Dewey Beach, 302-227-1449, an open-air surf bar and grill.

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We can make s’mores on the beach.

Skip the local fire-permit bureaucracy and bring a bag o’ marshmallows to Dewey Beach’s free Wednesday night bonfires, Dagsworthy Street beach, 302-227-2233. Enjoy Thursday evening concerts at the North Inlet gazebo followed by a bonfire at Delaware Seashore State Park’s North Inlet beach, 39415 Inlet Rd., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-2800. (You bring chairs; the park supplies marshmallows.)

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Artists head outdoors.

Paint the town at Artists Paint OC Aug. 6-9, when everyone is invited to capture his/her favorite scenery en plein air, Art League of Ocean City, 410-524-9433. Admire and acquire paintings, photographs, and other artworks at The Rehoboth Art League’s Outdoor Fine Art and Fine Craft Show, Aug. 8-9 and 15-16, 12 Dodds Ln., 302-227-8408.

43
Courtesy of Tom Lynch Photography
Two words: steamed crabs.

Order a summer feast—steaming blue crabs and pitchers of Natty Boh—at The Crab Bag, 13005 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 410-250-3337. En route to OC, take a detour along Route 54 and get your crab fix at Old Mill Crab House, 8829 Waller Rd., Delmar, DE, 302-846-9000.

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Courtesy of Lighthouse Sound
Golf greens boast blue views.

Two of the shore’s premier courses feature stunning vistas of Assawoman Bay. Pit your skills on perhaps Ocean City’s toughest course, The Links at Lighthouse Sound, 12723 St. Martins Neck Rd., Bishopville, 410-641-1189. Channel the Golden Bear while challenging the Jack Nicklaus-designed links at Bayside Resort Golf Club , 31806 Lakeview Dr., Selbyville, DE, 302-436-3400.

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If it’s raining, we can still play miniature golf.

Swing with the fishes—and other replica denizens of the deep—at Undersea Adventure Golf, 6801 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 888-OLD-PRO1, one of Old Pro Mini Golf’s two indoor courses. Conquer the jungle-themed links at the other site, Safari Village, 13603 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 888-OLD-PRO1.

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There’s life in the back lagoons.

Explore the inland bays’ placid waters and varied wildlife atop a paddleboard on guided SUP tours by Coastal Kayak, Rte. 1, Fenwick, 302-539-7999 (a lesson is included). Book two-hour, ranger-guided Friday afternoon cruises on the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal from Lewes, through Cape Henlopen, to Rehoboth Bay; ($22 adults, $15 children), Cape Water Taxi, 302-644-7334, capewatertaxi.com.)

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There’s an app for that.

Try these best-of-the-beach apps: Rehoboth In My Pocket ($3.99 iTunes, Google Play), tips on dining, lodging, and attractions; Delaware State Pocket Ranger (free, iTunes, Google Play), plan trips and navigate using cacheable maps. Coming this summer: a pay-by-phone parking app and O.C. beach report app.

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We can see sea creatures.

Watch for bottlenose dolphins offshore and join the National Aquarium’s Annual Dolphin Count in July to help researchers track these marine mammals, Ocean City and Assateague State Park, Berlin, animalrescue@aqua.org. Go eye-to-eye with seahorses, horseshoe crabs, flounder, and other aquarium dwellers at Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, 813 S. Atlantic Ave., 410-289-4991.

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We dig fresh clams.

Search for succulent shellfish along the inland bays at Holts Landing State Park, Road 346, Millville, DE, 302-227-2800, and Assateague Island National Seashore, 11800 Marsh View Ln., Berlin, 410-641-1441. The Indian River Life-Saving Station in Rehoboth Beach offers clamming and crabbing lessons. 302-227-6991.

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David Clow
There’s an ocean, of course!

Source

How to Have Fun in the Sun at the Beach

Jess Mayhugh — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 08:00:00 +0000

>> Fireworks-lovers won’t want to miss the
Ocean City Beach Fireworks (10 p.m., Ocean City). The eight-minute
displays are visible along the boardwalk every Monday and Tuesday.

>> Indulge your competitive side with Family
Beach Olympics (6:30-8:30 p.m., Ocean City) every Tuesday through Aug.
6. Participate in free contests for building sandcastles, tug-of-war,
and relays.

>> Bring the whole gang to Movies on the Beach
(Mondays, Wednesday, Thursdays, and Fridays, various locations in Ocean
City) for family-friendly flicks. Bring your own beach chair or
blanket.

>> Snap up work in a variety of mediums by talented local artists at Arts on the Dock (Thursdays, 4-7 p.m., Ocean City).

>> The 35th Annual Sandcastle Contest (Aug. 3,
12-4 p.m., Rehoboth Beach, DE) always amazes spectators with intricate
designs ranging from swamp animals to mermaids.

>> Bring your kids to the 2013 Children’s Day at Sunset Park (Aug. 4, Ocean City) for children’s games and educational activities.

>> Gearheads unite at the O.C. Cruzers Car
Show and Music event (Aug. 4 & 18, 2-7 p.m., Ocean City) for this
custom-car show featuring live music.

>> Experience some wholesome family fun at the
2013 Worcester County Fair (Aug. 9-11, Snow Hill) with livestock and
horse shows, children’s rides and activities, live entertainment, and
food and craft vendors.

>> Marvel at the thrills and spills of riding
the pipeline during the Delmarva ESA Surfing Competition (Aug. 10, 6
a.m.-7 p.m., Ocean City) for youth and adults.

>> Fitness buffs might be interested in
participating in the 5th Greene Turtle Lewes 5K (Aug. 18, 8:15 a.m.,
Lewes, DE). Did we mention there will be beer afterward?

For more information, visit ococean.com or delmarvabeachguide.com.

AFTER THE FLOOD: The Ocean City Inlet was created during a particularly strong 1933 hurricane.

Source

Beach Bargains

Jess Mayhugh — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Sandcastles and flip-flops. Orange Crushes and Dewey Devils. The
Hurricane and the Tidal Wave. Soon, summer’s abiding pleasures will be
yours. As the countdown begins, we’ve found more than 50 ways to stretch
your beach bucks a little further this summer.

Ocean City & Assateague Island

There’s plenty to do at the resort town and the national wildlife refuge.

Deals Under $10

Grab a phaser and join your comrades for a game of laser tag at Lasertron
(33rd Street). The objective is to score as many points as possible by
trying to deactivate other players with your laser light. Cost: $9. planetmaze.com

Try summer ice-skating at the Carousel Oceanfront Hotel’s indoor rink (118th Street). Five bucks buys you an hour of ice time. Add $3 if you need to rent skates. carouselhotel.com

Sip summer’s favorite elixir, an Orange Crush, at the cocktail’s reputed birthplace, Harborside Bar & Grill in West Ocean City. The refreshing blend of vodka, Triple Sec, fresh-squeezed OJ, and 7Up fetches $5.50 at happy hour. weocharborside.com

Get spooked at an all-star boardwalk attraction, Trimper’s Haunted House.
Designed by a master of macabre amusements, this “dark ride” features
zombies, torture chambers, and spine-chilling stunts for The
Munsters-era prices—$4 per ride. ochh.net

Ride the Beach Bus all day for $3. Hop its Park
& Ride shuttle to West Ocean City to shop the new Under Armour and
Crocs stores at the Tanger Outlets. In Ocean City, the Coastal Highway
route is a steal: 24 hours of unlimited-stop downtown service. oceancitymd.gov

A Priceless Souvenir

Buy Ocean City, Maryland: A Pictorial History, perfect for beach
nostalgists; $19.98 at Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum gift shop
(813 S. Atlantic Ave.).

Watch For. . .

The release of Ping Pong Summer.Mt. Airy native
Michael Tully’s coming-of-age-in-Ocean City comedy starring Susan
Sarandon, Amy Sedaris, O.C.’s own Emmi Shockley, and the resort’s
rebuilt boardwalk.

Thrifty Day Trips

Assateague Island is a must visit. Go beachcombing, swimming, surf
fishing, clamming, and searching for all sorts of wildlife, including
the famed feral horses. Just $15 per vehicle for seven days’ access to
Assateague Island National Seashore and $4 each (Maryland residents’
rate) for daily entry to Assateague State Park. Admission is free if on
foot or bicycle. nps.gov/asis/index.htm.
Designate a driver and hit the Delmarva Wine and Ale Trail. Burley Oak
Brewing Company in Berlin offers free tours of its
barrel-factory-turned-brewery on Saturdays, Sundays, and rainy days. The
Maryland Wine Bar in Berlin is a one-stop winery tour, serving $1
tastings ($10 flights) of more than three dozen Maryland wines. toastourcoast.com

Cheap Dates

Romantic romps don’t have to cost a lot.

1. Alaska Stand burgers, Thrasher’s French fries, a
Dumser’s Dairyland milkshake with two straws: What’s more romantic than
sharing a boardwalk meal? Escaping afterwards to a secret beach. Anglers
like Homer Gudelsky Park aka “Stinky Beach” (an outdated description,
BTW) in West O.C., but it’s also an uncrowded option for watching
Tuesday night fireworks. co.worcester.md.us

2. Go stylin’ at Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill
(54th Street). Tailor your attire for Tuesday night’s wacky themed
parties—anything from hippies to rednecks to nerds—to get discounted
drinks and prizes as you kick back at this open-air beach bar. mackys.com

3. On Thursdays, take an afternoon bus to West Ocean
City ($4 for two, round trip) and browse Ocean City Fishing Center’s
Arts on the Docks, showcasing local artists’ works. Return pre-dusk and
head for O.C.’s answer to Mallory Square, Sunset Park, where sunset
worshippers enjoy weekly free concerts and spectacular solar descents. ococean.com

Family Freebies

Bring blankets and munchies (don’t forget the kids’ glow sticks) and
enjoy the city’s nearly nightly entertainment: movies, concerts,
fireworks, laser light shows, and family athletic competitions. Various
beach locations and invariably free. ococean.com

Learn about Ocean City B.C. (before condos), the finer points of
tying half hitches, and other cool stuff at the Life-Saving Station
Museum’s free boardwalk educational programs, which begin July 4.
Offered daily except Sunday. Kids adore shark-seminar Thursdays and
aquarium-feeding Saturdays. ocmuseum.org

Spend a day at Northside Park (125th Street), the city’s largest,
most lavishly equipped recreation area. Play softball or soccer. Walk or
jog the extensive paths. Enjoy awesome crabbing in Assawoman Bay. On
Sundays, pack a picnic and stay for Sundaes in the Park, a sweet deal
featuring free evening entertainment and inexpensive ice cream. ococean.com

Visit the Ocean City Branch of the Worcester County Library (100th
Street). Programs like story time will enthrall youngsters while you
chill out with the latest Grisham thriller or check e-mail on the
library’s public computers. Library cards are free to Maryland residents
with an ID. worcesterlibrary.org

Bethany Beach & Fenwick Island

The Delaware towns are known as “the quiet resorts.”

Deals for $10 or less

Bike lanes make pedaling around Bethany Beach a pleasure. Rent wheels
from Fenwick Islander Bicycle Shop ($10 up to three hours, $25 for 24
hours) and tour the town. Count how many historic camp-meeting cottages
you see. fenwickbikes1.com

Save time and euros: Order an authentic Italian dinner to go from
“Best of Delaware” Italian food winner DiFebo’s (789 Garfield Pkwy.,
Bethany Beach). Pasta with meatballs, baked rigatoni, and other
family-portioned entrees run $7-10 per person. difebos.com

Pick a lucky-color ball and go miniature golfing. Captain Jack’s
Pirate Golf in downtown Bethany charges $8 each per round all day. At
Viking Golf in Fenwick, $8 buys unlimited daytime play and one round
after 5 p.m. captainjackspirategolf.com; vikinggolfamusements.com

Pay pauper’s prices to see a king’s ransom in precious shipwreck
artifacts (gold bars, silver coins, pirate booty) at DiscoverSea
Shipwreck Museum (708 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island). Admission is free;
donations accepted. discoversea.com

Skip Bethany Beach’s parking and traffic headaches and take the
town’s sea-blue shuttle buses (“Jolly Trolleys”) instead. The one-way
fare is $2.50. jollytrolley.com/bethany.html

A $150-Million-Dollar View

Admire ocean and bay vistas from the new Indian River Inlet Bridge, a
futuristic cable-stayed span connecting Bethany Beach and Rehoboth
Beach. Carrying busy Route 1, the bridge is toll-free and safer now for
pedestrians and cyclists, thanks to an extra-wide sidewalk.

Watch For. . .

Restaurateur Matt Haley’s newest comfort-food emporium, Papa Grande’s
Coastal Taqueria, opening next to the chef’s Catch 54 on the Route 54
bridge in Fenwick Island.

Cultural Values

Enjoy music, dance, and theater at one of Delaware’s cultural gems,
Freeman Stage at Bayside, in Selbyville. Most performances at the
open-air venue are free; others cost as little as $10-20. Big-name acts
(like Lyle Lovett, pictured above, Sheryl Crow, and Pat Benatar this
summer) fetch somewhat more. BYOC (Bring Your Own Chairs).
freemanstage.org. Believe your eyes: There’s trickery afoot in tiny
Millville near Bethany Beach. Watch top-rate magicians at Dickens
Parlour Theatre, an intimate setting straight out of Victorian England.
Tickets $20-36. dptmagic.com

Frugal Field Trips

Save money and soak up culture and nature.

1. Learn the history of Fenwick Island Lighthouse,
built in 1858, including the fight to get the decommissioned beacon
relighted 30 years ago. Admission is free, though donations are
appreciated. Visiting dates and hours vary. fenwickislandlighthouse.org

2. Organize an ocean and bay family day. Take a
kayak class ($25 for families; $50-100 for others) or guided paddle
(from $50-100 per person) from Coastal Kayak, located on Little
Assawoman Bay across from Fenwick Island State Park. Then relax on the
park’s powdery white ocean beaches (admission $4).

3. Go bird-watching, admire a wildflower garden, and
learn about Delaware flora and fauna while hiking through woods and
wetlands at James Farm Ecological Preserve on Indian River Bay (Cedar
Neck Rd., Ocean View). Admission is free. inlandbays.org

Family Freebies

Forget stadium seating; gather the gang in beach chairs on starlit
Garfield Parkway Beach for Bethany Beach’s Monday night movies. The
flicks are G or PG and no fee. bethany-fenwick.org

Arrive early to snag seats for the most popular show in Bethany
Beach: free weekend performances at the boardwalk bandstand. Most are
concerts (rock, country, jazz, tribute bands, military brass), but other
acts include dancers and children’s shows. bethany-fenwick.org

Take the kids to a school they’ll love: Saturday morning nature
programs at Bethany Beach Nature Center (807 Garfield Pkwy.). After
story time, they’ll enjoy hands-on lessons at the center’s outdoor
classroom, a pristine marshland. inlandbays.org

Fly a kite on the beach. Fenwick Island’s and South Bethany’s beaches
permit such aerial acrobatics (but always obey the lifeguards). Kite
flying is restricted on Bethany’s public beach to before 9:30 a.m. (10
a.m. on weekends) and after 5:30 p.m. (5 p.m. on weekends).

Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach & Lewes

The shore communities offer vacationers an array of activities.

Deals Under $10

Energize for a day downy ocean with breakfast at JD’s Filling
Station, a motoring-themed diner in downtown Lewes. We dare you to spend
more than 10 bucks. The Early Riser Special (two eggs, toast, bacon)
costs less than half that. jdsfillingstation.com

By now you know: Parking equals $$, so public transit makes “cents.”
For $2.50 one-way, Jolly Trolley shuttles you between Rehoboth Beach and
Dewey Beach with stops in both. Or take the bus to nearby beach towns
or the outlets. Use Reho- both’s Park & Ride Lot ($7 fee) and
everyone in your vehicle rides free that day on all buses. jollytrolley.com; dartfirststate.com

Get value and great vistas at Ryan’s rooftop mini golf, overlooking
the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach. Perched above Ryan’s Beach Store, the
19-hole course forgoes bells and whistles for family rates, $4 per
person. One-putt the 19th and win a free game. 302-227-2667.

Everyone knows about Friday night Taco Toss at The Lighthouse, part
of Lighthouse Cove Dewey Beach (Ruddertowne). At Mug Night Mondays,
drinks are discounted for those who bring/buy reusable Lighthouse mugs
($10). ruddertowneusa.com

Awesome Apps

Customize Tanger Outlets’ free location-based app to its Rehoboth
Beach mega-outlet and receive app-only deals on your smartphone while
you shop. Programmable to any Tanger location, but only Rehoboth Beach
offers tax-free shopping. tangeroutlet.com/getconnected

Bartender too busy to bring your bill? The Starboard in Dewey Beach
is trying an app for that. Like pay-by-cell parking, Tabbedout, pictured
left, lets you manage your tab and—get this—settle anytime without
barkeep assistance. thestarboard.com

Watch For. . .

The brand-new Hyatt Place Dewey Beach, scheduled to open in the
revamped restaurant/night life complex formerly known as Ruddertowne.
Also, 10 percent savings at retail stores participating in Rehoboth
Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce’s new Sand Dollar Savings program.
Pick up free, QR-coded savings cards at the Rehoboth Beach Visitors
Center. beach-fun.com

Frugal Family Trips

See wildly beautiful Cape Henlopen State Park, pictured above, by
bicycle. Its Seaside Nature Center staff will orient you and provide
free bikes if you need them. $4 per vehicle daily admission for Delaware
residents; $8 for out-of-state vehicles. destateparks.com. Some
superheroes wear oilskins not capes. Relive the days of the U.S.
Lifesaving Service at the Indian River Life-Saving Station museum in
Delaware National Seashore State Park. Self-guided tours: $4 adults, $2
kids six-12; guided lantern tours and lifesaving-equipment
demonstrations $5-10. destateparks.com

Inexpensive Indulgences

1. Visit Rehoboth Beach’s new cupcakery Cake Break
(7 S. First St.) to sample gourmet goodies like the I-rish I Had Another
(Guinness beer cake, Jameson Irish Whiskey filling, Bailey’s Irish
Cream frosting) for $3 each (12 or more, $2.50 each). Kids get free
sprinkles to decorate their cupcakes. cakebreakrehoboth.com

2. Attention curd nerds: You’ll worship the
delicacies at Morgan and Gower Cheesemongers, the hip fromagerie now
occupying a former Rehoboth Beach church (20 Baltimore Ave.). If it’s
available, try the Pick & Mix sampler: $2 per piece or six varieties
for $10. And check out the grilled-cheese “sammich” bar. Find them on
Facebook.

3. Bypass the crowd waiting to dine at Rehoboth
Beach’s wildly popular Henlopen City Oyster House (50 Wilmington Ave.).
Instead, visit off hours to slurp super-fresh oysters ($2.25 each, $12
for six) at their raw bar. hcoysterhouse.com

Family Freebies

Take in some tunes. Rehoboth Beach Bandstand hosts numerous summer
concerts: R&B, oldies, country, jazz, swing, choral, military, and
something called “yacht rock” (think “The Piña Colada Song”).
Thursday-Sunday nights. rehobothbandstand.com

Bring the family and a blanket to free Monday night movies on the
beach at Dagsworthy Street in Dewey Beach. The beach also hosts
Wednesday night bonfires suitable for s’more-making. BYO marshmallows. beach-fun.com

Come to Canalfront Park in Lewes for free entertainment, including
Cinema by the Canal on select Wednesdays and concerts one Friday night
per month. lewescanalfrontpark.org

Ride the wave and learn skimboarding at Alley-Oop’s free Saturday
morning clinics in Dewey Beach, home of the East Coast Skimboarding
Championship, located at New Orleans Street beach. alleyoopskim.com

Learn how little Lewes bravely withstood British bombardment in 1813
at “Delaware and the War of 1812,” an exhibit at the intriguing
Zwaanendael Museum (102 Kings Hwy.). Free admission. history.delaware.gov/museums

Source

The Beach After Dark

Jess Mayhugh — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The beach towels are draped on the deck. There’s a damp ring of sand
in the shower. Evening has fallen, and while the sunlight may be
finished until tomorrow, you’re still radiant and ready to conquer the
“coolest” part of the day—the beach after dark.

A seaside vacation is not all about sun and surf. It’s cocktails at
sunset. Bonfires by the ocean. The boardwalk in all its bright, kinetic
glory. We’ve found 30 fun and engaging ways to spend your evenings at
the Maryland and Delaware beaches this summer.

Ocean City

Get Glowing
The sun has delivered the ta-dah!
moment nightlifers crave—sunset. Time to flip-flop to the bayfront,
where tropically themed restaurants and beach bars embrace unique
twilight traditions. The best known is Fager’s Island (201 60th St.,
410-524-5500), where the staff cranks up Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,”
timed to coincide with the sun’s swoon—even on cloudy days. At Macky’s
Bayside Bar & Grill (54th St., 410-723-5565), sunset signals a Kate
Smith sing-along. Order a frozen Mango Macky and join the chorus
crooning Kate’s rousing “God Bless America.” Or view the day’s dying
rays aboard a yacht. The sleek 75-foot “Judith M,” whose daytime gig is
hauling anglers in style, departs daily at 7:30 p.m. for sunset cruises
in the Atlantic (at Bahia Marina, 22nd St. and the bay, 410-251-5859).

Save The Sawbucks
You’ve depleted your wallet on
gasoline and Guitar Hero Arcade. Now what? Fortunately, O.C. is the
Sand of the Free, where four nights a week the beach becomes a no-cost
family entertainment center. Watch free movies on a big inflatable
screen Mondays and Fridays. Run, flex, and play in the sand at the Beach
Olympics on Tuesdays. Boogie on the Beach to live music on Wednesdays.
(Times, locations, and more family freebies at www.ococean.com.)
Play a family miniature golf marathon at one (or all) of Old Pro Golf’s
four O.C. locations, pictured. Kids three years and younger play for
free, and $4 extra per person buys unlimited rounds on the colorful
outdoor and indoor courses (1-888-OLD-PRO1, 410-524-2645).

Munch A Bunch
No one visits the beach to diet.
Embrace gastric destiny by gorging your way from one end of the boards
to the other on our own Boardwalk 3.6K Evening Classic. Working north
from the inlet, hit these fuel stops (with nearest cross street): The
Dough Roller (S. Division St.) for fresh pizza, Thrasher’s (Wicomico
St.) for indigenous fries, Dumser’s (Dorchester St.) for a chocolate
shake (neutralizes the vinegary fries), Fisher’s (Talbot St.) for
classic caramel popcorn, Polock Johnny’s (Talbot St.) for a corn
dog—now, pop some Tums until reaching . . . the Alaska Stand (8th St.)
for a juicy burger, then burn calories through the lengthy hotel
district (a no-fry zone), and collapse at Candy Kitchen (28th St. and
Philadelphia Ave.) for celebratory chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Practice Your Moves
Remember the “laser dance”
in Ocean’s Twelve? Channel your inner master thief as you slither under,
over, and around a web of laser beams in Ripley’s Impossible LaseRace, a
cat-burglaresque interactive attraction the Believe It or Not! folks
debuted last summer on the Boardwalk (Pier Building, 401 S. Atlantic
Ave., 410-289-5600). Break a light beam and you forfeit points and time.
Bon chance. (Open until midnight or 1 a.m., depending on the number of
customers.)

Play An Adults Arcade
Love ’em or loathe ’em,
one-armed bandits are the new game in town. Join the thousands who’ve
trekked to the Casino at Ocean Downs (10218 Racetrack Rd., Berlin,
410-641-0600), which boasts 750 “video lottery terminals” (i.e., slot
machines) ready to reward winners with something more spendable than
cuddly stuffed giraffes. In addition to push-button slots, Maryland’s
newest casino offers electronic roulette and blackjack daily until 2
a.m.

Go Fish
Stripers and croakers and blues, oh my!
Anglers can wet a line after dark at: Oceanic Fishing Pier (710 S.
Philadelphia Ave., 410-289-2602) and the Route 50 Bridge.

T.G.I. Thursday
Celebrate weekend eve with
thrifty Thursday deals. The Shark on the Harbor (12924 Sunset Ave., West
O.C., 410-213-0924) goes crazy over crustaceans with Lobster Lunacy
dinner specials—provided local fishermen are “catching, not just
fishing.” Plan a girls’ night out at Galaxy 66 (6601 Coastal Hwy.,
410-723-6762), whose rooftop Skye Bar offers discounts on certain
cocktails, or Macky’s (54th Street, bayside, 723-5565), which celebrates
“Little Black Dress Night” with half-price drinks.

Get Spirited
Imbibe history and mystery in
nearby Berlin. Wednesday evenings from July 6 to September 7, hunt
“orbs” and other paranormal activity on Spirits of Berlin guided tours.
The 90-minute walks will chill you with tales of the Witch of Assateague
Island and the ghost of Stephen Decatur, the 19th-century naval hero
who was born near here. (Reservations, 410-920-7200.) Afterward, quaff
an EVO Primal Pale Ale at The Globe (12 Broad St., 410-641-0784), a
neighborhood pub housed in a handsomely restored movie theater.

Surrender Your Keys
Driving’s a drag, especially
at night. Try these convenient conveyances instead: For bayside
bar-hopping, hail Buzz Boat water taxi (561-512-2727; service ’til
midnight); for shopping, hop the Boardwalk Tram (410-289-5311; service
’til midnight) and Coastal Highway buses (410-524-7716; 24-hour service
during the summer, plus a new $3 ride-all-day fare); for late-night
snacking, Just Deliveries fetches food from any local restaurant until
9-10 p.m., depending on the day (877-958-2828), and Fat Daddy’s delivers
its pizzas and subs until 4 a.m. (midtown, 410-524-8228; downtown,
410-289-4040).

Club-Hop
College students and the highly
energized flock to Seacrets (117 49th St., 410-524-4900) for its
Jamaican vibe, potent libations, and dancing in the sand. The popular
Party Block (17th St. and Coastal Hwy., 410-289-6331) packs three
nightclubs (cover bands, ’90s/2000s hits, techno/hip-hop) under one
roof, with a pool bar outdoors. Its kid sibling, the under-21 dance club
H2O (14 Worcester St., 410-289-7102), spins hip-hop. If you get your
kicks singing karaoke, The Sandbar (3303 Coastal Hwy., 410-289-1558),
pictured, stages a lively show with special effects. Outgrown bikini
contests and foam pits? The Ocean Club at the Clarion Resort
Fontainebleau (10100 Coastal Hwy., 1-800-638-2100) offers Top 40 bands
with no cover, and Teaser’s, the tiki bar at Sunset Grille (12933 Sunset
Ave., West Ocean City, 410-213-8110), rocks the harbor with live music
nightly.

Dine Late
As good times roll into the wee hours,
many restaurants keep pace. Satisfy midnight crab-cake cravings at BJ’s
on the Water (115 75th St., 410-524-7575), which serves surf and turf
until 1:30 a.m. daily and offers late-night happy hours Sun.-Thurs.
Enjoy entrees or grownup snacks like artisanal cheeses paired with fine
wine at Liquid Assets (9301 Coastal Hwy., 410-524-7037), pictured, an
uptown bistro and spirits shop that serves a full menu until midnight.
Nibble boardwalk fries served Dublin-style at Shenanigan’s Irish Pub and
Grille (Boardwalk and 4th St., 410-289-7181), offering fries drenched
in Guinness gravy and other Emerald Isle fare until 10 p.m.

Fenwick & the Bethany Beaches

Savor The Silence
Among them, the “Quiet
Resorts” have just one abbreviated, lightly commercialized boardwalk
(Bethany Beach’s). That means visitors can easily enjoy a low-decibel
evening if they wish. Unlike the seaside parks, which close at sunset,
the municipal beaches remain open until at least midnight. So sink your
toes into cool sand and listen to the waves’ ceaseless rhythm. Do beachy
things either forbidden during daylight (like surf fishing) or simply
difficult (like stargazing). For the former, Fenwick Tackle (Route 1 and
Maryland Ave., 302-539-7766) fills anglers’ needs with licenses, bait,
tackle, and tips.

Hunt For Treasure
Shipwrecks litter the Delaware
coast, and there’s no better place to learn about them than DiscoverSea
Shipwreck Museum (708 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, 302-539-9366; open
’til 8 p.m. daily). The owner, a compulsive wreck-diver, has recovered a
gazillion artifacts (precious jewelry, bits of pottery, scary medical
implements), many of which inhabit this maritime mausoleum. Since local
beaches still yield wreckabilia, try hunting for buried booty yourself.
Invest in a metal detector at Sea Shell City (downstairs from the
museum) or rent one from Gale Force Rentals of Bethany Beach
(302-539-6244 or 800-321-1592). You might discover a gold coin—or a
hotel guest’s Rolex entombed since 1972.

Play With The Kids
Summer is made for tilting at
tiny windmills and making a big splash in a little lagoon. At Captain
Jack’s Pirate Golf (21 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Bethany Beach,
302-539-1122), you needn’t wear a cocked hat to go mini-golfing, but
where’s the harm, mate? The props—a giant pirate ship and skeletal
sailors—will make ye feel at home. Frolic with other infamous high-seas
marauders—the Vikings—at Thunder Lagoon Water Park (38960 Island St.,
Fenwick Island, 302-539-4027). Cool off with a languid river ride or
brave the “black hole” built-for-two body slide as the amusement park’s
iconic Viking vessel dumps boatloads of water into the splash pool.

Be Amazed
You’ll be enthralled as top magicians
perform at a charming new magic theater honoring Charles Dickens, who
used to dabble in parlor trickery. Dickens Parlour Theatre (35715
Atlantic Ave., Millville, 302-829-1071) hosts “an evening of magic for
the entire family” daily in a cozy theater-cum-Victorian salon west of
Bethany. Its owner, resident magic man Rich Bloch, developed innovations
used (aptly enough) by David Copperfield, among others. Guests get to
chat with performers following the evening shows and rainy-day matinees
and can also opt for a pre-show catered dinner.

Think Santa
While you’re in a Dickensian mood,
begin your holiday gift shopping at Fenwick Island’s all-purpose
emporium, the Seaside Country Store (1208 Coastal Hwy., 302-539-6110,
open ’til 10 p.m.). Famous for its fresh fudge and kicky cheese spread,
the store packs an entire mall’s worth of goodies and gifts into two
floors, including a Christmas shop upstairs.

Strut Your Smarts
Round up your wiseacre friends
for Team Trivia nights on Tuesdays at Smitty McGee’s Raw Bar &
Restaurant (Route 54, West Fenwick Island, 302-436-4716). Discounted
“Yuengs” and wings will help you (or not) with the brain challenges.

Keep It Sweet
From longtime favorites like
Dickey’s Frozen Custard (97 Garfield Pkwy., Bethany Beach) to newcomer
The Blue Scoop (Bayside Village Town Center, West Fenwick Island,
302-436-1166), your cone may runneth over this summer. Have Dickey’s
coat your twisty soft-serve in a layer of chocolate or order one of Blue
Scoop’s sundaes smothered in locally grown peaches. If you’re craving
snowballs, Bonkey’s (35849 Atlantic Ave., Millville, 302-260-2471) has
scores of flavors. Or order one “stuffed” atop a scoop of ice cream. On
Indian River Bay, Serendipity (32580 River Rd., Oak Orchard,
302-945-3600) is known for its gourmet caramel-coated apples.

Dine On Deck
Surrounded by the sea and Little
Assawoman Bay, Fenwick Island is one of our favorite outdoor dining
spots at sunset. Order a drink to match the horizon’s hue and a platter
o’ fresh seafood at Harpoon Hanna’s (Route 54 and the bay,
302-539-3095), pictured, where tropical oasis meets modern sports bar.
Catch 54 (Route 54 and Madison Ave., 302-436-8600) has a split-level
personality: a fine-dining lounge upstairs, shabby-chic fish house
below. Both have great views, but you’ll find us below decks inhaling
fish tacos with spicy mayo.

Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach & Lewes

Go Dancing
When the sun sinks over Rehoboth Bay,
it’s party time in Dewey Beach. Most nightclubs attract a young (or
forever young), energetic crowd, fueled by liquids frozen and potent. A
quickie guide to dancing hotspots and what you’ll enjoy and imbibe: The
Lighthouse (Ruddertowne, 124 Dickinson St., 302-227-4333): a raw bar and
Orange Crushes; Northbeach (125 McKinley St., 302-226-8673): dancing
and a drink concoction called a Dewey Devil; Ponos (1306 Highway One,
302-227-3119): a light show and martinis; Rusty Rudder (113 Dickinson
St., 302-227-3888): deck parties and Sunset Sippers; The Starboard (2009
Highway One, 302-227-4600), pictured: a collegiate vibe and Grapefruit
Crushes.

Paddle At Sunset
Here’s a hot new way to watch
the sun cool down: Hawaiian-style by leisurely paddling on an extra-wide
(31 inches), stand-on-top surfboard (aka paddle board). DelMarVa Board
Sport Adventures offers guided Stand Up Paddling (SUP) excursions
nightly from Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes (and other locales).
Leave 90 minutes before sunset, paddle along calm waters, and then
return as the moon rises. Dolphin sightings are common. Trips cater to
beginners. Reservations required, 301-651-0542, delmarvaboardsports.com.

Step Back In Time
Give the kids a history lesson
Xbox can’t offer: a lantern-lit tour of a real World War II artillery
battery. Several times a month, uniformed interpreters lead night
visitors through forsaken Fort Miles, once a heavily armed outpost that
defended the coastline 24/7. Part of Cape Henlopen State Park now, the
old bunkers, gun batteries, and barracks set among windswept dunes, form
a haunting backdrop for your foray. Tour cost, $5 per person;
awesomeness factor, priceless. Advance registration required,
302-645-6852; for tour dates, destateparks.com/attractions/fort-miles.

Seek Chocolate
Organize a chocoholics’ pleasure
hunt for temptation in all its forms. Alcoholic: the Chocolate Cherry, a
grown-up ice cream float (chocolate and cherry vodkas, cherry juice,
chocolate syrup, and vanilla ice cream) at Irish Eyes Pub (213 Anglers
Rd., Lewes, 302-645-6888). Frozen: rich Dutch chocolate ice cream (dark
chocolate with dark chocolate chunks) at King’s Homemade Ice Cream (201
Second St., Lewes, 302-645-9425). Fruity: the Monster Apple, a juicy
Granny Smith wrapped in caramel, roasted pecans, and rich chocolate, at
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (Tanger Outlets, Rehoboth Beach,
302-227-0422). Guiltless: Chocolate Zen, an award-winning European-style
dark chocolate gelato from Gelato Gal (20200 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth
Beach, 302-227-1001). Nostalgic: a “fancy-pants version” of the
childhood favorite Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes featuring PB mousse-filled
brown-butter pound cake with chocolate malt ganache at Salt Air Kitchen
(50 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-2444).

Croon A Tune
Karaoke isn’t merely a once-a-week
special in Rehoboth Beach; it’s a campy culture. Check out these
hotspots: Frogg Pond Tavern (3 S. First St., 302-227-2234), Tuesday and
Thursday nights; the Purple Parrot (134 Rehoboth Ave., 302-226-1139),
Friday and Saturday nights; and Rigby’s Bar & Grill (404 Rehoboth
Ave., 302-227-6080), Monday nights.

Discover Nature
Marvelous seaside state parks
bookend Rehoboth and Dewey beaches: Delaware Seashore (Highway One,
Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-2800) to the south and Cape Henlopen (Cape
Henlopen Dr., Lewes, 302-645-8983) to the north. Although both beaches
close at sunset, they allow nature-lovers a peek at nocturnal goings-on
via programs guided by naturalists. Bring your flashlight and go
ghost-crab spotting or stretch out on the sand to enjoy a narrated look
at the night sky. Advance registration required (destateparks.com).

Tour The Collective
On the second Saturday of
the month, the Rehoboth Beach Gallery Collective (known as Mosaic) holds
Art Walks from 6 to 9 p.m. as member galleries host special exhibits
and receptions. View and buy paintings, jewelry, sculpture, glassworks,
furnishings, and photography—everything from nautical paintings to funky
furniture. Visit rehobothmosaic.com.

Drive Like Crazy
Not on Route One (it’s usually
gridlocked), but at one of the go-kart tracks along Route One in
Rehoboth Beach. Midway Speedway Park (18645 Coastal Hwy., 302-644-2042)
offers the most choices: five different tracks—including slick, banked,
and super-8 track—and 10-kart styles for speed demons of all ages.
Crocodile Mile, a track at Jungle Jim’s (36944 Country Club Rd.,
302-227-8444), is a nifty pint-sized version of the “Monster Mile,”
Dover International Speedway’s NASCAR track 40 miles up the road.

Catch Live Music
Try these music varieties
paired with the perfect potable: Bottle & Cork (1807 Highway One,
Dewey Beach, 302-227-7272): top-notch performers from the Avett Brothers
to Lifehouse with cold brews; Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats (320
Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-226-2739), pictured: blues, roots
rock, and offbeat (acoustic-surfer-folk-rock, anyone?) with house-brewed
IPAs; Zogg’s Raw Bar + Grill (1 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach,
302-227-7660): steel drum bands and Rum Runners. Or skip the alcohol and
find a seat at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand, pictured left, for free
concerts all summer long.

What’s New: Ocean City

Baltimore’s own skateboard Superman, Bucky Lasek, and his
extreme-sports colleagues will carve up the beach July 21-24 when the
Dew Tour stops in Ocean City for the first time. It’s also the first
oceanside venue for the nationally televised (NBC, MTV, and USA)
skateboard, BMX, and surf competition (www.allisports.com/dew-tour).
Salisbury: The Salisbury Rollergirls’ inaugural flat-track season
features home bouts June 19, July 17, and August 21 at Crown Skating
Center (28410 Crown Rd., Fruitland, 443-736-7652), about a 40-minutes’
drive from O.C. The ladies say it’s all about sisterhood, but with noms
de track like Bust’er Skull and Ida Crazy Momma, we wonder.

What’s New: Fenwick Island

Twining’s Lobster Shanty (37310 Lighthouse Rd., Selbyville,
302-436-2305), a laid-back seafood eatery with bay views; DelMarVa Board
Sport Adventures (39084 Harpoon Rd., 301-651-0542), windsurfing,
stand-up paddling, and—om!—paddle-board yoga lessons. Bethany Beach:
Matt’s Fish Camp—as in chef Matt Haley of Bluecoast, Catch 54, Lupo di
Mare, et al.—opening in North Bethany Beach by summer; Off the Hook (769
Garfield Pkwy., Bethany Beach, 302-829-1424), a local
dock-to-table/farm-to-table restaurant; Bethany’s first Thrasher’s
French Fries stand; sightseeing rides by C.V.C. Helicopter Service (www.cvchelicopterservice.com).

What’s New: Dewey Beach

Port-Dewey Beach (1205 Highway One, 302-227-0669), a seafood
restaurant that has Thai night every Thursday. Rehoboth Beach: Henlopen
City Oyster House (50 Wilmington Ave., 302-260-9193), a retro-rustic raw
bar/seafood house; JAM Bistro (20 Baltimore Ave., 302-226-JAMM), the
latest eatery from the Eden restaurant folks; a Hatley store with all
manner of nature-inspired apparel, (52 Rehoboth Ave., 302-227-2951); new
stores in the Tanger Outlets, including Dooney & Bourke, and
C.L.A.D. (Current Love and Desire), a clothing/accessories shop is
opening at First Street Station, Rehoboth Avenue. Lewes: Cake Bar (115
Second St., 302-645-2253), a bakery/bistro by SugarBakers of
Catonsville, and Biblion (205 Second St., 302-644-2210), seller of
books, literary gifts, and art.

Dine On High

For an escapist meal, do as the song says: Climb way up to the top of the stairs. Check out these dinner-with-a-view options.

The Cultured Pearl (301 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth
Beach, 302-227-8493) remains the ne plus ultra of “haute” cuisine with
its Japanesque rooftop boardwalk suspended over a man-made lagoon.
Burbling fountains, bamboo, and ultra-fresh sushi will whisk you Far
Eastward.

The Greene Turtle (101 S. Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach,
302-226-2000)—yes, that Greene Turtle—boasts a menu and location that’s
a cut above basic boardwalk eateries. Snag a table on the balcony,
which overhangs the boards, and enjoy sea views with your burger and
those fab pretzels con queso.

Okay, so Planet X Cafe (35 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth
Beach, 302-226-1928) doesn’t have rooftop or even balcony dining. But
this landmark’s purple porch perches above street level and is
invariably described with the “f” word—funky. (One Facebook fan likens
the place to “a psychedelic monastery.”) Achieve dietary peace with a
curry or tofu Zen Bowl.

Two Seas (1300 Coastal Hwy., Dewey Beach,
302-227-2610) has you covered for late-night nibbles and a killer view.
The best seats in the house are at the tippy-top on a deck, where you
can order appetizers and take in vistas of the ocean and Rehoboth Bay.

Find The O’s-Zone

Homesick for your Boys of Summer? Orioles fans can conjure Camden Yards “downy ocean” by:

Enjoying deep-fried pickles, cold Natty Bohs, and the red-hot O’s at
Pickles Pub (706 Philadelphia Ave., 410-289-4891), which packs ’em in
on game nights like its Ridgely’s Delight namesake.

Visiting “the farm” in Salisbury, where the O’s Class-A affiliate
Delmarva Shorebirds play at the Arthur W. Perdue Stadium (6400 Hobbs
Rd., 410-219-3112). There are post-game fireworks Saturday nights and
low-ball ticket prices on “$2 Buck Mondays,” a new promotion honoring
the O’s skipper. Visit
www.theshorebirds.com.

Hosting a game party at your beach pad. Order takeout at Boog’s
Bar-B-Q in West Ocean City (12842 Ocean Gateway, 410-213-7447) or
downtown (401 S. Atlantic Ave., 410-289-7771). Then, switch on MASN,
nosh the best pit beef and ribs this side of the Warehouse, and you’re
set.

Source

Rehoboth Beach – Baltimore Magazine

A Beloved Rehoboth Beach House Gets a Refresh

The Little State That Could

→ CITY CENTER

→ SCHOOL SPIRIT

→ DOWNY OCEAN

Shore Pours

A blackberry cobbler beer at Burley Oak and sunset at Backshore Brewing.

Pawed patron at evolution and a beer flight at Dogfish Head.

Review: Henlopen City Oyster House

Stop Into These Sandwich Spots When You Head Down The Ocean

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On the beach and an Orange Crush in Ocean City.

On the beach and an Orange Crush in Ocean City.

Ocean City

Cape May architecture and the Cape May Lighthouse.

Cape May architecture and the Cape May Lighthouse.

Cape May, New Jersey

Fresh brew at Three Ships Coffee in Virginia Beach, Bald Cypress Trail in First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, The Cavalier in Virginia Beach.

Fresh brew at Three Ships Coffee in Virginia Beach, The Cavalier in Virginia Beach, Bald Cypress Trail in First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

GO WITH THE FLOW

Deep Creek Lake, ice cream from Lakeside Creamery at Deep Creek Lake.

Deep Creek Lake, ice cream from Lakeside Creamery at Deep Creek Lake.

Deep Creek Lake

The Ledges Hotel near Lake Wallenpaupack, horseback riding, and blueberries at Paupack Blueberry Farm.

The Ledges Hotel near Lake Wallenpaupack, horseback riding, and blueberries at Paupack Blueberry Farm.

Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania

Jefferson Pools in Warm Springs, Lake Wallenpaupack sunset.

Jefferson Pools in Warm Springs, Lake Wallenpaupack sunset.

Hot Springs, Virginia

Take Flight: 8 Great Getaways

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Chesapeake Restaurant at The Tides Inn in St. Michaels.

St. Michaels

Golf course at The Tides Inn in Irvington, Solomons Victorian Inn on Solomons Island, and Cove Point Lighthouse on Solomons Island.

Golf course at The Tides Inn in Irvington Solomons Victorian Inn on Solomons Island, and Cove Point Lighthouse on Solomons Island.

Solomons Island

Corkscrew sculptures greet you at The Dog and Oyster Vineyard in Irvington, the marina in St. Michaels.

corkscrew sculptures greet you at The Dog and Oyster vineyard in Irvington, the marina in St. Michaels

Irvington, Virginia

Hersheypark, treatment products at The Spa at The Hotel Hershey.

Hersheypark, treatment products at The Spa at The Hotel Hershey.

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Family fun at Water Country USA in Williamsburg.

Family fun at Water Country USA in Williamsburg.

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Readers Discuss Their Favorite Local Beaches

50 Reasons Why We Love Our Beach

Let us count the ways...

Christopher Myers Comfort food comes in a tub and it’s doused with malt vinegar . . .

Shutterstock . . . or smothered in caramel

ShutterstockSkee-Ball games still cost a quarter (or less).

Courtesy of Trimper’s RidesTwenty dollars buys priceless nostalgia.

John J. YoungBoardwalks beat boardrooms.

ShutterstockHavaianas are considered formal wear.

Pam ReidOur pooch can meet new pals.

Courtesy of Karl SchwarzWe can cruise the beach,literally.

ShutterstockWe can ride bicycles built for two.

ShutterstockWe can totally check out the lifeguards.

ShutterstockWe get to read naughty novels and thrillers.

ShutterstockKids can fish in SpongeBob’s ’hood.

Courtesy of Michael BentleyKids can get touchy-feely with nature.

ShutterstockThere’s a new crustacean in town.

ShutterstockBloody Marys enjoy cult status.

ShutterstockCrushes are permissible.

Courtesy of Michael BentleyYou can never have enough dough.

Courtesy of Papa GranesMatt Haley’s restaurants still rule.

Christopher Myers
Comfort food comes in a tub and it’s doused with malt vinegar . . .

Shutterstock
. . . or smothered in caramel

Shutterstock
Skee-Ball games still cost a quarter (or less).

Courtesy of Trimper’s Rides
Twenty dollars buys priceless nostalgia.

John J. Young
Boardwalks beat boardrooms.

Shutterstock
Havaianas are considered formal wear.

Pam Reid
Our pooch can meet new pals.

Courtesy of Karl Schwarz
We can cruise the beach,literally.

Shutterstock
We can ride bicycles built for two.

Shutterstock
We can totally check out the lifeguards.

Shutterstock
We get to read naughty novels and thrillers.

Shutterstock
Kids can fish in SpongeBob’s ’hood.

Courtesy of Michael Bentley
Kids can get touchy-feely with nature.

Shutterstock
There’s a new crustacean in town.

Shutterstock
Bloody Marys enjoy cult status.

Shutterstock
Crushes are permissible.

Courtesy of Michael Bentley
You can never have enough dough.

Courtesy of Papa Granes
Matt Haley’s restaurants still rule.

Shutterstock
Bars come with playgrounds.

Shutterstock
The nightlife is rejuvenating.

Shutterstock
Sand-sculpting stirs our competitive juices.

Shutterstock
Every hour is happy.

Courtesy of James Allen
We can float on a raft sipping frozen rum drinks while listening to reggae.

Shutterstock
History is spine-tingling.

Shutterstock
Shopping is tax-free in Delaware.

Courtesy of Hotel Rodney
We like small-town hospitality.

Courtesy of Randy Roberts
We love the new places to stay.

Christopher Myers
We get to chow down on Baltimore Avenue.

Shutterstock
There be pirates everywhere, matey.

Shutterstock
The beers have gotten a lot craftier.

Shutterstock
Morning walks are more eye-opening.

Courtesy of Golden Plate
We can have our funnel cake and eat like a foodie, too.

Mike Drukenbrod
We can find some peace and quiet.

Shutterstock
We’re in sweet-tooth heaven.

Clif Burns
Sunsets are worth celebrating.

Shutterstock
The fish are Hemingwayesque.

Christopher Myers
Movies are shown seaside—for free.

Shutterstock
We love the ponies.

Courtesy of Carlos A. Lacruz
Indian River Inlet Bridge looks amazing at night.

Shutterstock
We can pretend we’re in Hawaii.

Shutterstock
We can make s’mores on the beach.

Shutterstock
Artists head outdoors.

Courtesy of Tom Lynch Photography
Two words: steamed crabs.

Courtesy of Lighthouse Sound
Golf greens boast blue views.

Shutterstock
If it’s raining, we can still play miniature golf.

Shutterstock
There’s life in the back lagoons.

Shutterstock
There’s an app for that.

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We can see sea creatures.

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We dig fresh clams.

David Clow
There’s an ocean, of course!