Rehoboth Beach, DE
The iconic Dolles sign along the Rehoboth Beach, DE boardwalk
Rehoboth Beach, DE bills itself as "the nation's summer capital" - and it's true, summer days there unfold like a hot August day, with the simple pleasures of the beach, Grotto's pizza and enjoying a drink at sundown with friends occupying most of the day.
Equidistant from Washington DC and Philadelphia, Rehoboth can feel overrun during the summer. But what about off-season? I spent a week at the beach in April 2021, still during the pandemic, to check it out!
Morning Coffee:
The iconic Dolles sign along the Rehoboth Beach, DE boardwalk
With the beach pretty much off-limits except for short walks depending on the weather, Rehoboth Beach has plenty of other attractions that make it a great weekend getaway. I wanted to make the most of the day outside, after being cooped up most of quarantine, so I made my way each morning to Rise Up coffee roasters at the traffic circle on Rehoboth Avenue. The usual line-out-the-door crowd is gone and you can grab a coffee and sit in peace at their side garden area while you plan your day. An extra-large americano with a shot of 1/2 & 1/2 and I was ready to go!
Junction and Breakwater Trail
One of the best ways to get some fresh air is to bike the 5.8 mile one-way Junction and Breakwater trail that runs from Rehoboth to Lewes DE. The path is very flat, well-maintained and goes through some really beautiful, small pine forests, cornfields and salt marshes - including an 80 foot railroad bridge that has been refurbished. The trail has bikers, joggers, and people out walking their dogs. I highly recommend renting or borrowing a mountain bike for the trip. Another great bike ride is from Rehoboth town to Henlopen State park, where they have miles of trails to explore, that are far away from the crush of outlet mall shoppers on Route 1.
Spa Day
Don't let the construction site throw you off (we're all 'under construction' aren't we?), One Sprit Massage is THE place to go in Rehoboth for serious bodywork. No frills in a good way, One Spirit has been around since 1999 and this is always my go-to spot to jump-start my beach vacation. Coming out of the COVID restrictions (I'm vaccinated), I really felt like I needed some help to re-align myself after being hunched over a computer on zoom calls for the last year. I highly recommend Chris Black as a massage therapist, but really, you can't go wrong with any of the therapists here!
Avenue Apothecary & Spa
I rounded out my spa day with a facial atAvenue Spa. Again, after being cooped up all winter, I needed some professional help to get my skin under control and feeling refreshed. The facial menu was a little overwhelming, but my great esthetician, Brenna, steered me to the artic berry facial, which was amazing. My massage and facial was a great one-two punch after a long winter of hibernation.
Henlopen City Oyster House
When In Rehoboth, I always fight for a spot at the no-rez Henlopen Oyster - it helps to know the hostess (thanks Morgan!). The Kuentz-bas wine is definitely a winner with oysters. During the season, getting a table here is almost a blood-sport and since they don't take reservations, I try to come in at lunch when they open or the middle of the afternoon. I love the vibe of this place - buzzy, huge windows for lots of natural light and a great bar area. Oyster sampler platter is a must and - if you want a more substantial meal - I almost always get their catch of the day, grilled, and put on top a spinach salad. This is the more highbrow lunch place...if you're looking for the lowbrow but totally amazing lunch spot, then I head over to Lori's Oy Vey Café. The best chicken salad and tuna salad in town - in fact, their new menu item is called "the Bidens' - Joe likes the tuna, Jill, the chicken salad" - so you get 1/2 of each. Lori's is celebrating their silver anniversary this year - so mazel tov Lori and here's to 25 more years!
Blue Moon Restaurant & Bar
The Blue Moon is a Rehoboth institution. Part fine-dining restaurant, part oldest gay bar in town, the Moon attracts a wide swath of locals, LGBT vacationers and foodies. For a romantic, quiet night out, book dinner in the Sears Craftsman house that has the main dining room...but for more of an adventure, book dinner in the bar, where weekly drag shows are the order of the day. I went for Saturday dinner for the Legends Drag Show -which was just incredible. The drag lineup included such famous names as Reba McEntire and Etta James - but the best by far was the amazing Gladys Knight, who brought the house down with her rendition of Boyz II Men's "End of the Road." Check out the twirl here! (For an equally entertaining drag show, head over to The Pines, with it's 2nd floor bar and restaurant space!)
Boating on Indian River, Rehoboth Bay and the Lewes & Rehoboth canal
I like boats, but I love friends who own boats. I was lucky enough to have my friend, Captain Bill, take me out on a beautifully sunny day as we circumnavigated from his home base in Indian River Bay, out into the Atlantic ocean and northward past Dewey and Rehoboth beaches and around Cape Henlopen and back home through the Lewes & Rehoboth canal. There are tons of waterside bars and restaurants in the area - such as Paradise Grill and the Rusty Rudder in Dewey- that are boating and live music destinations in their own right. If you can get out on the water in Rehoboth, definitely take the opportunity!
Just up the road from Rehoboth is Lewes, Delaware....the "first town in the first state." Originally settled by the Dutch in 1631, Lewes has a really historic fee with Victorian houses and a small, dense town core alongside the canal. Lewes has instituted a public art program and the newly installed “Unbounded II” by NYC artist Rachel Mica Weiss consisting of 500 obsidian rocks bound in rope. I think it looks like a jetty or breakwater and I think it fits great into this maritime setting. If you’re in lower Delaware, go check it out!