Rehoboth Beach calls itself the "Nation's Summer Capital" due to the large number of Washington, D.C. residents that vacation here annually. Rehoboth is a popular vacation destination for families and young singles alike, and also has a significant gay and lesbian community.
The Boardwalk at Rehoboth is crowded and lined with rides, food stands, and souvenir and beach themed shops. Funland is geared toward the younger set, with rides and game booths sure to entertain the kids, while a number of bars and restaurants cater to a crowd looking to see and be seen.
Shopping is a popular sport in Rehoboth and outlet malls and specialty shops are located throughout the area. Rehoboth has a number of bed and breakfasts and inns to choose from, as well as larger scale hotels; and a great deal of restaurants with a leaning toward seafood specialties.
Dewey Beach, the next door neighbor to Rehoboth, is best known as having a loud, party atmosphere with the nightlife playing a strong hand in its desirability. It has a constantly packed bar scene during the summer, but is a quiet area in the off season.
Known as the "Quiet Resort," Bethany Beach is the residential answer to Rehoboth. A quiet beach town, this area to the south of Rehoboth offers pretty beaches and an atmosphere for a peaceful getaway. The Delaware Seashore State Park, located between Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach, spans over 2,800 acres, and separates the Atlantic Ocean from Rehoboth Bay.
Fenwick Island, located just south of Bethany Beach, houses the Fenwick Island Lighthouse. The lighthouse is a preserved piece of local history, and dates back to the mid-1800s. The DiscoverSea Museum is also located on the island, and displays treasures from shipwrecks in the Delmarva Peninsula.
The Delaware beach resort area, along the eastern shores of Delaware, stretches from Rehoboth Beach, to the southern tip of Delaware where Fenwick Island meets Ocean City, Maryland. Rehoboth Beach is just south of Cape Henlopen State Park, near Lewes, Delaware.
