It’s the height of summer, a favorite time to visit Delaware’s beautiful coast, or to entertain your extended family if you’re lucky enough to live close by. It gets even better when you think about so many different things to do. Here are some options.
The beach, of course.
For all kinds of reasons, Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach are top destinations for surfside activities, thanks to their wide and pristine expanses of sand, big breaking waves, and quaint shops and restaurants.
Unfortunately finding a place to park can be challenging. If you’re lucky, you can get a space at a meter and pay via cash or with a credit card. But if you’re in a residential area and can’t find a meter you might need to get a parking permit.
Which might be easier via public transit.
Another option is to park your car at the large lot near Five Points in Lewes or off Shuttle Road in Rehoboth and then hop on the DART Bus, which will take you right downtown. This can alleviate a lot of stress, especially if you travel light and wait until you get to the beach to rent chairs and an umbrella. You can get schedules and pricing on the DART website.
Or if you stray a bit from the more crowded regions . . .
If you want to enjoy the same stretch of coastline without the shops consider Cape Henlopen State Park . You can enter it from Lewes at the end of Cape Henlopen Drive, and pay a guest fee to park in one of several lots. There’s a terrific beach and a club house with changing rooms and a restaurant that’s open all summer. HOWEVER, the park sometimes fills up on weekends, particularly holidays. So it’s best to head there before 11 a.m. or after 2 p.m. for a better chance of getting in.
Another way to enjoy the ocean is at Deauville Beach, within walking distance of downtown. There’s a kiosk where you can pay for parking for the day, and a parking lot that might likewise be full during the prime midday hours on weekends.
Head west from there and you can enjoy the beach around the North Shores area, which also has a large public parking lot and a good chance of getting a spot if you go after 2 p.m.
Lewes Beach is also open to the public if you can find a spot at its lot at the end of Savannah Road or on one of the residential streets. Just make sure you don’t block the driveways of local homeowners.
With grandkids, Funland is a must!
Rehoboth also offers Funland, a charming amusement park with rides, games and a haunted house. It’s all on a small scale and right on the beach. It’s open through the first week of September and is especially fun if you have children and grandchildren who are toddlers or under 10 or so since the rides are small and easy to enjoy.
And so are the water parks . . . and go-karts!
There’s also lots of fun at Midway Speedway Park, with a go-kart track, mini-golf and the White Water Mountain Water Park, with water slides and a large pool.
Farther south on Route One is Jungle Jim’s, with its huge water park featuring slides and a wave pool, with more mini-golf and batting cages as well.
With fishing and more fun out on the Bay and ocean.
It’s also easy to go fishing without stocking up on expensive equipment, and with expert help from experienced guides if you visit Fisherman’s Wharf in Lewes. You can go out on half-day or full-day fishing trips or charter a special trip. There are also opportunities to simply enjoy the open water and watch dolphins at play (along with a whale or two if you’re very, very lucky), or to take a scenic sunset cruise.
If you live farther down Route One toward Bethany Beach, check out all of the fishing opportunities around the Indian River Inlet. You can also go out on a charter or head boat via the Indian River Marina, which also offers access to inland waterways and the ocean.
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