Over the last couple of weeks I’ve spotlighted the home and lifestyle options offered up north in New Castle County and around the middle of Delaware in Kent County. One thing that came to mind as I wrote about these two places is the fact that Delaware is a fairly small state. So regardless of where you live, you’re rarely more than a couple of hours away from great attractions beyond your backyard.
I’m thinking in that same spirit as I take a look at Sussex County, which, tends to get a lot of attention because it offers miles and miles of coastline along Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean along with vast marshlands and forests as well as a good bit of our state’s agricultural lands.
Charm and Fun Along the Coast
Within all of that nature are many different types of communities suited to different lifestyle desires. Some places have become renowned for sublime pleasures. Lewes and Milton, for example, have quaint downtown districts with terrific restaurants and shops.
Lewes also has its wonderful Canalfront Park and access to miles of trails that make it easy to bike to the bay beach or the ocean if you’re up for a more ambitious ride, while Milton offers the Milton Theatre, with year-round live performances and films.
I won’t go into loads of detail about Rehoboth’s amazing boardwalk, beaches, shops and restaurants because they’re already famous. There are also some wonderful neighborhoods such as Henlopen Acres with beautiful tree-lined streets , and other residential areas around downtown that are an easy walk to the ocean. These areas – along with those farther south in Dewey and down in Bethany and beyond – are some of the most expensive for home buyers.
Fortunately, there are many other options – including neighborhoods with pools, club houses, walking trails and other features of a resort lifestyle within walking distance of your front door. Most are a short drive to that boardwalk and that beach and all of those delightful restaurants and shops for days and nights when you want to head into town.
One way to browse the offerings is to visit the Active Adults Realty web site and click on the Search box. You’ll see “Search homes by area,” with a scroll-down menu. The following towns are in Sussex County, and here are a few details about each:
Northern Sussex County:
Milford (part of this town is also in Kent County) offers several communities featuring single family homes, villas and townhomes. Some are close to the quaint downtown, while others are closer to the Delaware Bay.
Milton, as noted above, is a beautiful small town surrounded by new communities offering a variety of amenities. It’s also an easy drive to Lewes or Rehoboth.
Western Sussex County:
You’ll find lots of lower priced homes as you head west from the beaches, and many communities likewise offer amenities you can enjoy right outside your door, along with access to nearby parks and recreation options. These communities include:
Bridgeville, which appeals to folks who enjoy rural life yet within an easy drive to Dover and a 45 minute drive to the beaches.
Georgetown is the county seat.
Millsboro along the Indian River, which offers lots of homes with access to the water. It’s also just a short drive from wonderful natural areas such as Trap Pond State Park, the Assawoman Wildlife Area, and Redden State Forest.
Southern Sussex County
The southernmost part of the county retains its popularity due to proximity to the ocean and bay beaches, parks and natural areas, including Cape Henlopen State Park, and shopping districts in Lewes, Rehoboth and along the Route 1 corridor. It features the following communities:
Lewes, is a vast area beyond the well-known downtown. There are many new neighborhoods that are close to Route 1 shopping and offer amenities such as pools and clubhouses you can enjoy close to home.
There are also many neighborhoods that are an easy bike ride to Delaware Bay or a longer ride through Cape Henlopen State Park to the ocean. They include Governors, Harbor Point, Hawkseye, Mariner’s Retreat, Pilottown Village, Senators, Showfield, Tower Hill, Wolfe Runne and Wolfe Pointe.
Rehoboth Beach offers many new amenity-rich communities within a short drive of the ocean, including those that are tailored to the 55+ age group.
Bethany Beach offers miles of beautiful oceanfront and proximity to the Indian River Bay and other inland waterways.
Ocean View is about a mile west of Bethany Beach and also close to the Indian River Bay. It also offers lots of nature alongside some of the fast growing communities and is a top spot for retirees in search of more affordable homes.
Millville also offers communities with a range of home prices not too far from the ocean, including Millville by the Sea, with a clubhouse, tennis and pickleball courts, walking trails and a shuttle that runs to the beach during the summer.
Frankford, Dagsboro, and Selbyville also offer a range of communities with both luxury and lower price homes in a more rural setting that’s still an easy drive to the beach.
South Bethany and The Quiet Resorts are also top spots for both luxurious homes and more affordable communities, with a range of amenities, all close to beautiful natural areas.
So there you have it – and don’t worry if all of these choices have you feeling a bit overwhelmed. Our team of experienced local agents are ready to learn about the lifestyle you’re looking for so we can find the home of your dreams.
The post When You Love the Beach… and All That’s Within Reach appeared first on Active Adults Delaware Blog.