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A weekend in Rehoboth Beach

Martin Hollander

5:51 PM EDT, June 22, 2007

At Cape Henlopen State Park, this is the view of the Atlantic from highest dune between Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras. (Newsday / Martin Hollander)

Delaware's Rehoboth Beach, nearby Cape Henlopen State Park and the town of Lewes are far better known to beach-seekers from Washington, D.C., area than to ocean lovers here. But the Diamond State's coast has several excellent beaches and historic communities, so there's plenty to fill a weekend.

Moreover, Rehoboth, Henlopen and Lewes are close enough to each other that visiting all three requires little driving once you've arrived.

Rehoboth fairly sparkles with its ample beach, boardwalk, eateries, stores, hotels and Rehoboth Avenue, a grand concourse for evening strolls. The Cape Henlopen park -- 5,000 acres with a 4-mile beach -- offers plenty of unspoiled nature by the sea.

To get there, take the New Jersey Turnpike to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Then follow I-295 to I-95 (the Delaware Turnpike) southbound. On I-95, take Exit 4A (Routes 1 and 7 South). Route 1 South leads to Rehoboth Beach, 75 miles away.

ATTRACTIONS
In Rehoboth Beach -- besides ocean and boardwalk -- there are bandstand performances throughout the summer, and some theater and art events. Listings can be found at rehoboth.com.

Flat-as-a-board Delaware is also great for biking. Six types of bicycles can be rented by the day from $18 to $45 at Bike to Go, 174 Rehoboth Ave. (800- 245-8587, biketogo.com). The shop also provides seven itineraries, ranging from 7.5 miles to 26 miles round-trip.

Strollers might be intrigued by the marble tablets, commemorating deceased Rehoboth citizens, that are placed at the foot of trees around town.

Lewes, proud of its history, puts it on display at the Zwaanendael Museum, Savannah Road at Kings Highway (302-645-1148; history.delaware.gov/museums/zm/ zm_main.shtml). The building, with its traditional Dutch stepped facade, is modeled on the town hall of Hoorn, in the Netherlands. Currently, the museum's featured exhibit is "The First Town in the First State." Admission is free and the museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 1:30-4:30 p.m.

The town also has a trove of restored 18th and 19th century houses and, to help view them, a walking tour guide is available from the Chamber of Commerce, 120 Kings Hwy. (877-465-3937, www.leweschamber.com ). A mile from Lewes is Cape Henlopen State Park (302-645-8983; www.destateparks.com). The entry fee is $8. Inside, there are bicycling and hiking trails, camping (877-987-2757 for reservations), pier and ocean fishing, swimming, bird-watching (up to 296 species), kayaking (tours, 302-645-6852) and -- at 80 feet -- the highest sand dune between Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras.

WHERE TO STAY
A listing of hotels and motels can be accessed at rehoboth.com. There are chain motels -- Sleep Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express -- on Route 1, outside town. But on the boardwalk, or nearby, are: Boardwalk Plaza, Olive Avenue and the Boardwalk (800-332-3224, boardwalkplaza.com), where "Victorian charm" is stressed and the lobby features resident parrots Emro and Peanut. There's also a restaurant, Victoria's, with tiers so that all tables have an ocean view. Summer room rates are $269 to $569.

Beach View Hotel, Wilmington Avenue and the Boardwalk (800-288-5962, beachviewmotel.com), is charmless but convenient and has a swimming pool. Summer poolside rates, depending on dates, are $139 or $169 on weekdays and $179 or $204 on weekends. "Balcony" tariffs are $154 to $184 weekdays and $194 to $219 on weekends.

Atlantis Inn, 154 Rehoboth Ave. (800-245-2112; atlantisinn -rehoboth.com), is in the middle of the action, midsummer rates are $189-$219.

Brighton Suites Hotel, 34 Wilmington Ave. (800-227- 5788, brightonsuites.com), is an all-suites facility with an indoor pool and weekend packages that is situated on a quieter street than Rehoboth Avenue. Rates vary from $499 to $729, depending on summer dates.

The Avenue Inn, 33 Wilmington Ave. (800-433-5870, avenueinn.com), has large, sedately furnished rooms and an indoor pool. Summer rates are $124-$164 weekdays and $154-$194 weekends.

WHERE TO EAT
In Rehoboth Beach, most restaurants are situated along Baltimore, Rehoboth and Wilmington avenues, which extend west from the boardwalk.

An especially friendly place is the Iguana Grill Restaurant and Cantina, 52 Baltimore Ave. (302-227-0948; iguanagrill.com). Salads are $4.75 to $10.75; appetizers, $5 to $9.75 and entrees $7.75 to $20.75. There are also nightly specials.

A good breakfast place is Sammy's Kitchen, 32A Wilmington Ave. (302-227-1168). Prices range from $3.99 for a short stack of pancakes to $11.99 for steak and three eggs. Open for lunch and dinner.

In Lewes, most restaurants are on either Second Street or Savannah Road. Jerry's Seafood, 108 Second St. (302-645-6611), offers such items as beet bruschetta for $9, an Angus beef burger for $10. A "Crab Bomb," $32 at lunch or dinner is 10 ounces of seasoned, baked jumbo lump crab.