Nickelodeon Parents' Pick for Best Local Blog in Atlanta
What: Rehoboth Beach
Where: Mid-Atlantic Coast in Delaware
When: Anytime
Cost: That depends on you!
Photos: For additional photos of Rehoboth Beach, visit Field Trips with Sue on Facebook
I grew up in the Mid-Atlantic, so going to the “shore” or “down the ocean” was a much different experience than my children have visiting their grandparents at St. Simons Island along the Georgia coast where the beach has hard packed sand, the waves ripple up to shore and the closest thing to a boardwalk is the bike paths along the park downtown. Don’t get me wrong, I love St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island and Sea Island too. But, there is something about the waves that could knock you into next week if you aren’t careful and the flashy, tacky wonderful boardwalk that made me want to show the boys a different kind of beach town.
Rehoboth Beach is located along the Delaware coast among a stretch of shore that changes names from Rehoboth Bch., to Dewey Bch., Bethany Bch., Fenwick Island and then Ocean City Maryland. It’s kind of like traveling along streets in Atlanta where the name changes six times and you haven’t even made so much as a 45 degree turn.
Boardwalk Plaza Hotel
Where to Stay: Like any beach town, there are multiple types of accommodations in Rehoboth. Hotels, motels and homes are for rent. What I didn’t see are the high-rise condominiums prevalent along the Florida Panhandle. We stayed at the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, a Victorian themed, AAA Four Diamond, family owned, hotel across the boardwalk from the beach. The hotel offers standard rooms, ocean view and ocean front rooms and suites, as well as efficiencies. Our suite had pocket doors between the rooms; a nice touch to keep the kids asleep while you enjoy a cocktail on the porch overlooking the ocean or get a little work done at the desk in the morning. The couch in the room also pulls out to a bed, for additional guests.
Victorian Stereoscope Photo Viewer
In keeping with the hotel’s Victorian theme, there are numerous antiques and antique reproductions in the lobby providing a fun history lesson for kids. Mine enjoyed looking at pictures through the stereoscope and were excited to learn the hotel will mail your postcards if left in the antique post box. The kids also enjoyed conversing with the hotel parrots, Emro, a colorful Sun Conure and Peanut, an African Grey parrot who are often out of the cage and greeting guests at check in. The birds keep the Victorian theme going as they were popular pets during that time.
Vintage Funland Games
What to Do: Rehoboth is a guarded beach. Lifeguards are on duty from 10 am to 5:30 pm each day. The sand is soft and somewhat rocky at the shore with tiny peebles mixed with larger pieces of sand. Waves can be large and there is definitely a current that can carry you down the beach, so be wary of allowing little ones into the water alone. After a day at the beach, it’s time to head to the boardwalk to do a little people watching, eat some junk food and see if you can win a cheap stuffed banana from the arcade. Rehoboth’s boardwalk has several arcades but the real attraction is Funland. A 50-year-old beachside amusement park that is a mix of the old and new; vintage boats spinning around an aged mermaid sit beside a neon pirate ship called the Sea Dragon. Modern video games mix with perennial favorites like Skee Ball. Nearby Dewey Beach has free movie night on Mondays and family bonfires on the beach each Wednesday.
Thrashers French Fries, Classic Boardwalk Food
What to Eat: Tony Wilbert, of Wilbert News Strategies gave me a great list of places to eat at Rehoboth Beach. We went Grotto’s Pizza for dinner and Royal Treat for breakfast, but ran out of time before we could hit Jake’s Seafood. Mostly because I thought the restaurant was on Route 1, but come to find out, there is a beachside location. We did however, sample the treats of the boardwalk. I’m an ice cream nut and Kohr’s custard didn’t disappoint, especially coated in a shell of chocolate. However, we all agreed that Sharkey’s water ice was a bit more refreshing. Thrasher’s French Fries are as good today as they were when I was a teenager going to Ocean City and my boys agreed. Dolles iconic sign made us stop for a taste of taffy. The boys thought it good, but are still holding Malone’s from the DuQuion, IL State Fair as a favorite.
Good to Know: If you aren’t staying at Rehoboth or you need to drive your car to the beach, bring a $10 roll of quarters. There are no parking lots close to the beach and all on-street parking is metered. My brother spent the day with us from Pennsylvania and he kept leaving the beach to find quarters and feed the meter.
Although we were provided a complimentary room for the purpose of reviewing (as is common in the travel industry), we only recommend places we would stay and products we would use.
