Seashore Coastline

Southern Delaware Getaway

Whether you’re embracing the outdoors, dining on coastal cuisine, taking in breathtaking sunset views, or walking the boardwalk, southern Delaware makes for a truly memorable getaway. Here's how to get the most out of your next trip to Delaware's beaches and beyond.

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Penny Lane Mall Streetscape
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Lefty's Bowling alley balls and alley shot
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Grotto Pizza
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Candy Kitchen Candy Jar
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bethany beach turtle beach cafe
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Hyatt Place Dewey
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Woodys Dewey Beach
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The Starboard
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discoveries

Day 1: Rehoboth Beach


Morning: Get an early start on with some retail therapy: Go shopping at Tanger Outlets, offering discount prices on designer names, and eclectic boutiques in downtown Rehoboth Beach, where you’ll find one-of-a-kind gifts, artwork, and coastal fashions.

Lunch: Head to Thompson Island Brewing Company for unique and flavorful craft beer and creative dishes inspired from local farms, beaches, and bays.

Afternoon: If you aren’t soaking in the sun on the beach, kids of all ages will enjoy bowling, laser tag, and an arcade full of games at Lefty’s Alley and Eats. Or during the summer, head to the Rehoboh Beach boardwalk for arcade games and classic amusement rides at Funland.

Evening/Dinner: Stroll the boardwalk, play a round of mini-golf, grab some ice cream, Thrasher’s French Fries, or a slice of Grotto Pizza and just take in the sights and sounds of Rehoboth Beach. (Travel tip: Many of the local restaurants and bars have live entertainment, check their schedules to up to date information).

Where to stay: For oceanfront views, book a stay at the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel or Atlantic Sands Hotel. Or for a more boutique style hotel within waking distance to the beach, check out The Bellmoor Inn and Spa or Hotel Rehoboth.

Day 2: Bethany Beach


Early Morning: Set the alarm and wake up early to watch the sunrise over the ocean as you walk along the boardwalk with a cup of coffee from 3BB Café. Add the sounds of the waves crashing and the smell of the salt water and you’ll be whisked away to a moment of rest and relaxation.

Morning: Get out on the water! Try your hand at surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, or stand-up paddleboarding. Rentals and lessons are available. Or take a guided kayak tour of the peaceful salt marshes of Assawoman Bay. Rehoboth Bay is considered ideal for small-boat sailing, so rent a Sunfish or Hobie and set sail.

Lunch: The oceanfront views from the decks at Mango’s look out over Bethany’s boardwalk, bandstand, beach, and the Atlantic. Go for the fish tacos or other Caribbean-inspired eats.

Afternoon: For more than 150 years, the Fenwick Island Lighthouse has stood sentinel on the Delaware coast just north of the Maryland line. Built in 1859 to help mariners avoid the shoals off Fenwick Island, the lighthouse stands 87 feet tall and offers sweeping vistas of the barrier island and beyond.

Dinner: For fresh seafood imaginatively prepared, including locally caught fish, crab and lobster, head to dinner at Bluecoast Seafood Grill in North Bethany Beach.

Where to stay: Stay right on the boardwalk and steps from the beach at Bethany Beach Ocean Suites. Wake up to the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean, enjoy fine dining at their onsite restaurant, 99 Sea Level, and treat yourself to a day at the Drift Away Spa, without having to leave the hotel.

Day 3: Lewes


Morning: Grab a cup of coffee and pastry from The Station on Kings. Then, head out to Cape Henlopen State Park to claim your spot on the beach. Visitors can choose between a lifeguarded beach with a public bathhouse or drive on beach access for surf fishing. (Make sure to check out the Point for one of the best views of the coastline).

Lunch: Enjoy fresh seafood at the nautical inspired Striper Bites Bistro in downtown Lewes.

Afternoon: Visit the Lewes Historical Society to learn about history behind the first town in the First State. With rich maritime history, you’ll walk through preserved homes and museums near the canal front on fun and educational tours. (During the late spring through early fall season, make sure to visit the Lewes Farmers’ Market located in the historic dishes for great local flavor). 

Evening/Night: Take the Cape Water Tours and Taxi out for a sunset cruise from the Lewes marina and set sail along the coastline for a peaceful 90-minute ride. When you return, dine out at Agave for delicous Mexican cuisine and handmade pizza, craft beer, and wine at Half Full.

Where to stay: Craft beer enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers can both find a Lewes basecamp at the Dogfish INN. Spend some time in your beer-centric room to relax, put on a record, and enjoy a beer, or borrow a bike and set out to explore coastal Delaware.

Day 4: Dewey Beach


Morning: Walk along the beach, go for a bike ride, or take the Jolly Trolley into Rehoboth Beach for an early morning stroll on the boardwalk. Be sure to stop in a couple shops and galleries before heading back to Dewey Beach.

Lunch: Grab a bite at Woody’s Bar and Grill. Definitely try the crab cakes and homemade chips.

Afternoon: Spend some time soaking in the sun and having fun on the water. Dewey Beach is a skimboarding hot spot and right across  Coastal Highway you’ll find the Rehoboth Bay, a great spot for jet skiing, parasailing, and wake boarding.

Dinner: Admire the sunset on the bay with laid back live music at the Rusty Rudder.

Evening/Night: Dance the night away at Dewey’s lively beach bars like the The Starboard, which serves late-night eats until 1 a.m. , Bottle and Cork, which dubs itself “the Greatest Rock and Roll Bar in the World,” or Nalu for an open air Hawaiian themed surf bar. 

Where to Stay: Stay at the comfortable and modern Hyatt Place Dewey Beach, located on the bay and only steps away from the ocean.

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