The best beaches in the world
Delaware may be one of America’s smallest states, but there are many things to do here, including some amazing beaches. Home to charming seaside towns and a rich history, this mid-Atlantic state really comes alive in the summertime. Close to Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., a visit to the Delaware can easily fit into your East Coast travel plans. Whether you’re planning to spend an afternoon at the shore or a long vacation, you’ll find a lot to enjoy in the First State.
The second smallest state in America, after Rhode Island, Delaware gained prominence as the first state to ratify the Constitution. But its shore attracted visitors long before the American Revolution. These days, Delaware beaches still attract crowds. Visitors flock to the shoreline towns to enjoy some fun in the sun, laid-back beaches, and tax-free shopping.
The 28 miles of Atlantic coastline in Delaware are home to four major beach towns along with one small island with some serious beach appeal. Each locale has its own charm as well as everything you need to put together a full-fledged vacation—hotels, great restaurants, and fun places to explore will complement a day at the beach.
The northernmost of the major beach communities, Lewes is wedged between Breakwater Harbor, the Great Marsh Preserve, and Cape Henlopen State Park where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. A popular place for whale-watching tours and outdoor adventures, Lewes is a natural place for fun. To the south, Rehoboth Beach has earned the nickname of America’s Summer Capital. This fun and funky hangout is a favorite of Washington residents looking for a vacation at the shore.
The wild at heart will enjoy a trip to Dewey Beach. The centerpiece of Delaware’s watersports scene offers a long list of fun, everything from water and jet skiing to skim boarding. Bethany Beach and neighboring Fenwick Island tend to be a little quieter—both are good places to relax and enjoy some quiet eco tour options.
Rehoboth Beach hotels can be the best places to stay when exploring the Rehoboth coastal area and beach. Along Ocean Drive, visitors will find beautiful Rehoboth Beach, lively Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, and Dewey Beach south of it all, just before the coastal highway whisks off to Delaware Seashore State Park. This park borders sprawling Rehoboth [...]
Delaware Seashore State Park is home to one of the most popular Delaware beaches. When the weather turns warm and the days grow longer, many Washington, D.C. residents pack up and make the trip east to Rehoboth Beach in southern Delaware. And many of these folks make a visit to this welcoming and friendly state [...]
Rehoboth Beach Delaware may not be the biggest towns along the Atlantic coast, but it’s one of the most charming. If you’re looking for a wide, sandy beach and a long boardwalk along the shore of a pleasant town, you’ll find it in southern Delaware at Rehoboth Beach. Every summer, the town is a big [...]
Bethany Beach Delaware, a small town along the Atlantic Ocean, may have an official population count around 1,000 people, but in the summertime, its numbers can swell to 15,000. That doesn’t mean, however, that the town is crowded or overwhelming. It’s part of a group of towns called the Quiet Resorts, along with Fenwick Island [...]
Dewey Beach, set right along the Atlantic Ocean along the coast of Delaware, has been a hit with vacationers for generations. The narrow spit of land in between the ocean and Rehoboth Bay has become one of the East Coast’s most popular spring break locations, drawing young revelers from Washington, D.C., Wilmington, and points elsewhere. [...]