The beaches out this way are a way of life in the summer. An absurd number of people sporting 'Salt Life' car clings are immensely proud of that fact, something that always brings me a chuckle. Before moving I was familiar with the domain of the über wealthy like the Hamptons or Martha's Vineyard as well as the more notorious Jersey Shore, but was somehow largely unaware hugely popular beaches existed all up and down the seaboard. As an entirely landlocked Minnesotan by birth, summers were the time of gorgeous weather, baseball and if I was lucky going to the lake. They're a little different here, not least because the heat and humidity is so miserable an escape to the shoreline is a near necessity.
Regardless of our former home we're not really beach people. Sitting in the sand all day long can be a little boring and, especially considering our skin complexion, too much sun never ends well. Still we've found ourselves there one a year or so since life took us to Maryland, always to the strip along the Delmarva peninsula. I personally prefer going to Delaware over Ocean City, Maryland (which has a bigger/deeper beach and longer boardwalk but also too many partiers and is overall kinda trashy) and that's where we went last weekend. Precisely we were in Rehoboth and that's the subject of today.
Rehoboth Beach is about a three hour drive from Frederick, in my mind comparable to a drive from the Twin Cities up north. Unless you go all the way around the bay, which would add time and still require tolls, you need to take the Bay Bridge. No not the one that stretches 17+ miles, including tunnels, down to the Virginia Beach area. This one instead passes by Annapolis, where the route before the bridge can slow to a crawl, before crossing the water and Kent Island to reach the eastern shore of Maryland. From there you can continue on the highway all the way to OCMD or take one of the smaller east/west roads over to Delaware. I do love that stretch, a brief excursion through peaceful farm country that otherwise seems out of place between the density of the DMV and the busy beach scene.
The biggest reason, if I'm being honest, I typically want to go to Delaware is Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton on the way to the coast. For the first summer in years we didn't stop by the taproom, though I could get over it since they also have a couple restaurants in, you guessed it, Rehoboth. We were able to have a dinner date one night, one of the reasons it was incredibly great having my parents along, and while I struck out on the more fancy Chesapeake and Maine (apparently you should call at least a day in advance and leave a voicemail), we did enjoy the brewpub as a backup plan.
There's plenty more to do in the mostly well-kept cute little town and I like it because it's not overly big (here's a map), even if the main beach area can still get crowded. Even from the rented townhouse on the other side of the canal everything is walkable, though we did drive closer and parked on side streets (with a parking pass) when we set up camp for the day. There are shops worth visiting, surprisingly good food and way too many treats. We checked out Funland, a little amusement park, and did indeed have good fun with our toddler (it's turning out he loves carousels). The itty-bitty rooftop mini-golf was the perfect length for his first time too. The in-total mile-long boardwalk is fairly open on the ends, with food and bathrooms and more concentrated in the middle of town.
As for the beach, they have some silly rules but they don't take away from the experience if you're prepared. There are spaced out lifeguards if that's important to you. The water doesn't appear to go up and down much with the tides and the waves are small but enough. The water was chilly and the sand is soft and relatively clean but scaldingly hot in the sun. As stated earlier, this actual beach isn't super deep but there was more than enough room to find a spot, especially if you get there in the morning. Word to the wise, they do not allow umbrellas to be laid down like tents or with securing strings that extend outwards. It really worked best for us to simply pay the college kid to install our shade since we only did two days in the sand. Otherwise I'm sure it's worth it to acquire smaller, more appropriately sized umbrellas that stand on their own for all you crazy people that go for a week or longer. Knowing the rules of the beach, and your rental, is key. A consideration I still somewhat funny is that most properties require you to bring your own sheets and towels and there are services that can provide such things.
The long and short of it is this this: Rehoboth Beach is small enough for our liking then also pretty nice and comfortable. I like going there, even if it doesn't always seem like it at the time (I can get a little ornery whenever traveling). Both our sons seemed to enjoy themselves too, and though the toddler refuses to go in the ocean he will play in the sand for quite a while if others bring him buckets of water.
A few places I'd revisit, even if I've already been more than once:
Rise Up Coffee - my wife's top reason for going to Delaware
Revelation Craft Brewing - hidden gem for craft beer
Chesapeake and Maine - Dogfish Head upscale seafood restaurant
Big Fish Grill Rehoboth - out on the main road, do not try to walk here
We didn't make it to a few places I was recommended (like Summer House and Zogg's) and I kinda wish we had, but there's just so much seafood. We certainly found enough as it was. I guess that's a downside to only staying a few nights.
Anyway that's more than enough for now on the Salt Life, at least how we ever so sparingly experience it. Until next time.
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