A Day Trip to the Delaware Beaches
Maybe you’ve got only a day to enjoy a trip to the sun, sand and sea. Well, good news — a day trip to Southern Delaware packs a lot of fun into a few hours.
What to Do at Bethany Beach
No Bethany Beach day trip would be complete without a visit to the beach, and thanks to the pedestrian-friendly Bethany Beach, you have plenty of attractions to keep you busy all day, including:
Chief Little Owl: This 24-foot totem pole has been at the corner of Delaware Avenue and Garfield Parkway since 1976. Check out the history and take a fun selfie here.
The beach: Bethany Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area, with plenty of room to swim, walk, comb the beach for shells and soak in the sun. If you can, try to catch a sunrise or sunset here, and be sure to check out the boardwalk for a stroll and to grab some snacks and souvenirs. You can spend your whole day at the beach and still enjoy the trip of a lifetime.
Town Museum: Inside the town hall, this museum tells you about the area's history, which started as a religious retreat. This destination is perfect for history buffs or as a rainy day activity.
Bethany Beach Nature Center: Stroll along the boardwalk through wetlands and check out the plants and wildlife. Be sure to pack your camera, because you never know what you might see!
Golfing: Both the Bear Trap Dunes and Captain Jack's Pirate Golf are great ways to spend a few hours working on your game.
What to Do in Coastal Delaware
Coastal Delaware has even more to offer beyond the beauty and excitement of Bethany Beach. During your day trip, you might also want to check out:
Rehoboth: You can spend a day here fishing or going on boat tours or sightseeing. With a mile-long boardwalk, several museums, stunning parks, horseback riding and more, you can easily fill your time here.
Laurel: If you’re looking for something offbeat and memorable, Laurel is a small town known for having the largest chicken houses and the largest sprinklers in the state. Laurel is also a great place to bring your camera for a long country drive. Check out the woods, too, where you can see wildlife roaming.
Lewes: Lewes has a stunning lighthouse and the last lighthouse built by the U.S. Lighthouse Service. Lewes beach is a great place to visit and relax, and the small town also has several unique art galleries. Be sure to visit Cape Henlopen State Park, and if your trip is during Easter weekend, take in the annual Great Delaware Kite Festival.
Plan Your Adventure
Are you ready to make a day of it? If you’re heading to Coastal Delaware, be sure to download the free and definitive travel guide from Ocean View Brewing. This is the insider’s view of what to do in the region, including all the tips and tricks to make your trip a blast.
A Long Weekend at the Delaware Shore
If you have an extra day off and a few days to work with, you can create the adventure of a lifetime when you spend your long weekend at Bethany Beach and the surrounding areas. There’s something for everyone, from history buffs and nightlife enthusiasts to art lovers and fishers.
What to Do at Bethany Beach
Bethany Beach offers plenty to do over a few days. You’ll want to check out:
The beach: It’s a must-do on your list — soak in the salt air and stroll along the boardwalk, taking in at least one sunset over the water. Pack a picnic — and your camera! — to truly relax. This is what vacation is really about, and Bethany Beach is considered one of the best-maintained and beautiful beaches in the area.
Nature Center: The nature center offers a native plant demonstration, kid-friendly activities and special events. It’s a great place to explore and learn about local plant and wildlife.
Parks: Delaware Seashore State Park, Fenwick Island State Park, Fenwick Island State Park and James Farm Ecological Preserve are all nearby and offer miles of coastline, incredible views and more. Whether you want guided tours, a quiet day in nature or thrilling adventures on the water, these local parks have you covered.
What to Do in Coastal Delaware
If you want a long weekend exploring other Delaware beaches and enjoying oceanside activities, you’ve got plenty of options:
Eat by the water: Check out the craft beer selection and mouth-watering menu at Ocean View Brewing or one of the other local restaurants. Spend part of your weekend sitting back and enjoying the salt air, views and amazing food and drink.
Get on the water: Rent a kayak, go swimming, head out on jet skis, go parasailing, head out fishing or take a boat tour. All you need to do is head down by the water to see a host of rental businesses and tour operators ready to take you out on the water so you can experience Delaware from a new perspective.
Take photos: Try to capture as many photos as you can of the lighthouses in Coastal Delaware, take some great selfies at local landmarks or take photos of exhibits at local museums. There’s plenty to see and capture.
Beach hop: Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island all have boardwalks with food and souvenirs. Take a stroll and be sure to check out beachside activities. Many beaches offer movie screenings or music during the nights and afternoons. Of course, bring a beach towel, sunscreen and umbrella to soak in the beach vibe, too.
Take in Funland: This iconic amusement park dates back to 1962, though it's been modernized with twenty rides and 11 midway games as well as snacks and shops.
Plan an Amazing Long Weekend
Are you headed to Coastal Delaware for your long weekend getaway? Get insider tips and ideas for an unforgettable adventure by downloading the free Southern Delaware travel guide from Ocean View Brewing. We’ve put our years of local expertise into building a guide with information you just won’t find anywhere else.
A Week in Coastal Delaware
If you have a week’s vacation to spend, Coastal Delaware is a perfect spot to visit. Whether you want a family vacation, craft beer tour, adventure, guys’ or girls’ week away, solo excursion or anything else, this part of the country has everything you need.
What to Do at Bethany Beach
If you’re spending the week at Bethany Beach, you can:
Stroll along the old-fashioned boardwalk, stopping for snacks and checking out the gift shops.
Catch a free concert at the bandstand if you’re there in the summer.
Dine at award-winning local restaurants.
Taste craft beers at nearby Ocean View Brewing and other breweries.
Take in a sunset or sunrise at the beach and go looking for shells, beach stones and sea glass.
Swim or go on a boat tour.
What to Do in Coastal Delaware
If you’re in Coastal Delaware and have a week to take in the sights and sounds, you might want to:
Check out museums and attractions, like the Lightship Overfalls, Cannonball House, Zwaanendeal Museum, Fort Miles Museum, Indian River Life-Saving Station and all the lighthouses.
Go on a stroll along one of the coastal trails.
Book a boat tour to see the wildlife and even enjoy dinner on the water.
Book some time at a spa.
Go shopping for books, clothes, art or anything you love.
Your Itinerary for a Week-Long Beach Vacation
If you’ve got a week to spend, here’s a sample itinerary of how you can spend your time:
Day 1: Arrive in Coastal Delaware and settle in. Head out to the nearest beach to eat some seafood and take in the sights.
Day 2: Get up early to catch a sunrise over the water, then head to one of the nearby state parks or nature preserves to catch photos of wildlife and take a stroll. After an afternoon nap, check out some local breweries and grab some food before strolling along a boardwalk.
Day 3: Find some local lighthouses and grab lunch on a deck overlooking the water. Finish the day by visiting local museums and art galleries, and have dinner on the beach during sunset.
Day 4: Start the day with some shopping, grabbing a few local treasures that’ll remind you of your trip. Then grab a drink and a meal at Thompson Island Brewing Company. Head to downtown Rehoboth to check out art galleries and unique shops.
Day 5: Visit Cape Henlopen State Park and fish off the pier or rent a kayak or bike to explore the more than 5,000 acres of nature and coastal areas. Finish your outdoor adventures with a delicious dinner out.
Day 6: Visit Funland amusement park and spend some time on the beach. Fit in a few bites to eat and check the local news to see what evening activities are available.
Day 7: On your last day, check off any activities you couldn’t quite squeeze earlier.
Start Planning
If you have a week’s vacation and want to make the most of your time at Coastal Delaware, start planning by downloading the free Southern Delaware travel guide from Ocean View Brewing. We know the area and offer great tips and ideas to make your vacation memorable!
Planning a Beach Vacation on a Budget
If you’re planning a vacation on a budget, Coastal Delaware offers plenty of free and inexpensive activities for everyone in your group. No matter what you love, there are plenty of things to do that won’t break the bank.
What to Do Cheap on Vacation
If you want to save money on your vacation, start by planning the stuff that will cost money. Budget for transportation, lodging and meals. That will give you a sense of how much of a budget you have left over. At that point, you can do several things to save money and have fun on your trip:
Consider camping rather than a more expensive hotel stay.
Look for vacation packages that save you money.
Research free events on the days you will travel and plan your days around them.
Remember to take in nature, which is often free or inexpensive with a state park pass.
Check any organizations you belong to and any libraries for free passes to events and travel discounts.
Consider smaller meals, like quick bites, instead of more formal dinners.
What to Do at Bethany Beach
The good news about Bethany Beach is that it’s pedestrian-friendly. You can park your car and save on gas and walk all over town and the beach. Bethany Beach even offers free parking near the boardwalk to save you money.
Here are a few more things you can do in town on a budget:
Browse at Bethany Beach Comics and Gaming.
Take the Bethany Beach Trolley to see the town for only 25 cents per ride!
Take a dip in the ocean, watch the sunset and relax in the sand.
Build sandcastles and hunt for shells or buried treasure.
Check out some craft beers at Ocean View Brewing.
What to Do in Coastal Delaware
Coastal Delaware has several things you can do to save money on your trip while having tons of fun:
Check out free concerts and free movie nights at the beach during the summer.
Take photos of the incredible nature around you.
Visit lighthouses in the area.
Visit DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum, where admission is free and donations are appreciated.
Hike along the coastal trails.
For just $10 — or $5 if you’re from Delaware — you get a full day of access to Cape Henlopen State Park, where you can hike, kayak, swim and explore nature.
Visit Broadkill Beach, an ERDG Backyard Stewardship™ community horseshoe crab sanctuary, or Slaughter Beach, another crab sanctuary, to watch the wildlife.
Go to a local farmer’s market to grab a bite and check out local crafts.
See the exhibits at Zwaanendael Museum for free.
For $5, you can visit and tour a lightship — a floating type of lighthouse.
Save Even More Money
Planning your itinerary can save you more by helping you decide ahead of time where you will spend and where you will save. Find more ways to save without scrimping on fun by downloading the free Southern Delaware travel guide from Ocean View Brewing. It has everything you need to plan your getaway!