Sussex County Beaches
From the so-called “Quiet Resorts” to the south all the way to the northern resort city synonymous with the area for generations, coastal Delaware has countless activities for residents and visitors alike.
For those that crave a continuous stream of excitement, the resort towns of Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach are a mecca. However, for those who seek out quiet laid back days on the beach, the towns of Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach and even historic Lewes will serve their needs.
The message: There’s plenty to do for everyone in southern Delaware.
To the north, Rehoboth Beach is the resort that initially made Sussex County a vacation destination. From bars and night clubs for younger visitors to the fun and games for families on the boardwalk, Rehoboth is a “one-size-fits-all” destination.
While Dolle’s Popcorn, Thrasher’s French Fries and Funland are all staples on the Rehoboth boardwalk, a major addition to the area in the last few years was the resort’s multi-million dollar Streetscape project.
Now finished, the renovation of Rehoboth Avenue, complete with a traffic circle welcoming visitors to town, serves as a modern-day reminder of the lure of Rehoboth Beach.
Slightly to the south of Rehoboth sits Dewey Beach, a town renowned for its nightlife, as well as its many water sports. On any given day in the summer, visitors can jet ski, parasail, go boating or enjoy some fishing – or partake in countless other activities on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Amid all the hustle and bustle of Delaware’s northern beach resorts, seemingly tucked away in a time warp, sits quiet little Lewes.
A historic town with officials who desperately want to keep it that way, Lewes provides a gateway to thousands of visitors each year who cross the Delaware River from New Jersey aboard the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.
But despite all the visitors and the increased traffic, Lewes is all about history. Dating back to 1631, the town’s chamber of commerce still advertises in the History Channel magazine and directs its marketing efforts towards folks interested in the past.
Indeed, Lewes predates the formation of the United States of America. It’s a town that became known regionally, if not nationally, with the 1980 publishing of “Cornstalks and Cannonballs,” a true story about the town’s residents fighting off an invasion by the British navy.
Back then, “Lewes was a busy town. Ship builders hammered and sawed. They made new ships. They fixed old ones. Fishermen got up before the sun to go fishing. Farmers worked hard in their fields,” wrote author Barbara Mitchell in her 1941 book. “Women cooked and sewed and cleaned. Little children played on Old Frog Hill. Bigger children went swimming in Sunday Monday Pond.
“Grandfathers on Market Street told stories of times gone by. Grandmothers on Knitting Street knit caps for their fishermen. And all the people were very proud of their little town.”
While much has changed in Lewes since the days when America and Britain were at war, much more remains the same. It’s still a quiet little town set apart from its larger and more modern neighbors.
Driving south down the Atlantic coast, visitors will come across the resort towns of Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island, the so called “Quiet Resorts,” which officials coined to help separate them from their larger neighbors to the north and south.
In marketing efforts, chamber officials boast of the resorts’ “small-town charm, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, award-winning restaurants, upscale shopping and championship golf.”
While locals now have to share Delaware’s beautiful beaches with visitors from all over the East Coast, there’s still plenty of ways for everyone to enjoy the majesty that is coastal Delaware.
And with half of the year suitable for outdoor activities, there’s plenty of time to try it all.
