Exploring the "Nation's Summer Capital" of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Millions of people from throughout the mid-Atlantic and beyond visit tiny Delaware every year, spending billions of dollars annually. And Sussex County is responsible for the lion's share of these visitors (9 million in 2016, according to data from the Delaware Tourism Office).
And with 26 miles of Atlantic coastline and five great beach towns, it's no wonder why tourists continue to flock to Delaware's southernmost county.
But today, we want to look at what is widely considered to be the hub of coastal Delaware. It's the area that has the largest number of restaurants, the most hotels, the most well-known boardwalk and the biggest selection of entertainment options, particularly during the warm weather months.
We're talking, of course, about the "Nation's Summer Capital" of Rehoboth Beach. Once a mecca for Washington politicians and elite (thus the nickname), Rehoboth is the municipality that pops into most people's minds when they hear "coastal Delaware."
The actual city of Rehoboth Beach is only around one square mile, anchored by Rehoboth Avenue and extending both north and south. But then there's greater Rehoboth, which includes busy Route 1 and all of the shops and businesses that flank the area's most well traveled north-south highway.
At the Oldfather Group, we know and love all of coastal Delaware and also coastal Maryland (read our earlier report on Ocean City here). But our headquarters are in Rehoboth Beach; it's our home base, it's where we began our business back in 2004 and it's where we sell a good number of our properties annually.
So today, we want to tell you about some of our favorite places in beautiful Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Some of these highlighted areas have been chosen by members of our team, others are just ones that we, as a group, love to frequent.
But all help comprise the small town charm that is Rehoboth Beach.
Okay, so how do we do a feature about our favorite spots in Rehoboth Beach without it turning into a book? Well, that could easily happen if we didn't set some pretty strict parameters.
So, while there are literally dozens of places in Rehoboth that we know and love, we simply can't feature them all here in this blog entry.
What we can do is hit on a few of the big events and locations, while letting members of our staff tell you about their favorite places in the "Nation's Summer Capital."
And that's where we'll begin. So here we go - favorite places in Rehoboth Beach, as named by members of the staff and sales team at the Oldfather Group of Ocean Atlantic Sotheby's International Realty.
We begin with...
Browseabout Books (Steph Moyer). One of the finest independent book stores in the United States, Browseabout Books has been a fixture on Rehoboth Avenue since 1975, when Steve and Barbara Crane first opened in coastal Delaware.
A local favorite ever since, Browseabout holds a large number of book signings every year and has played host to many famous authors and celebrities, including former Vice President Joe Biden and Hollywood icon Kathy Lee Gifford.
Featuring a huge selection of books, as well as gifts, games, and a selection of food items, Browseabout Books is located at 133 Rehoboth Avenue, just a short walk from the Boardwalk.
Just look for the green awning and enjoy your visit!
Sunshine Octopus (Richard DeCore). Located at 149 Rehoboth Avenue, in the Village by the Sea Shops plaza, the psychedelic shop that is Sunshine Octopus takes you back to a time when peace and love ruled the world.
Open seven days a week from April through November, and Fridays through Sundays year-round, this one-of-a-kind shop has been around since 1987 and has become a favorite in Rehoboth Beach.
Popular items at the "groovy" store in downtown Rehoboth include incense, tapestries, tie-dye items, hemp products, bandannas and much more.
So hop in your Volkwagon bug (or use your imagination) and mosey on down to "the Octopus" for some special items that you won't find anywhere else in coastal Delaware.
Salt Air (Linda Rosatelli). There's no questioning the fact that Rehoboth Beach has one of the most eclectic and lively restaurant scenes in the area, and Salt Air is certainly one of the best the city has to offer.
Featuring what the owners refer to as "hand crafted food," this eatery located on Wilmington Avenue offers farm to table fresh cuisine in an upscale atmosphere.
The owners and chefs take advantage of fresh seasonal produce, sustainable seafood and organic meats and poultry to create their mouth-watering creations. It's a great example of coastal Delaware's unique food scene, and one we highly recommend.
Popular dinner items include Grilled Scottish Salmon Panzanella, Eastern Shore Crab Cakes, Seafood Stew, the Un-farm Double Stack Crab Cake Sandwich and the Salt Air Fire Grilled “Barrel” Rib Eye.
Bring your appetite and choose your favorite dish any day this summer. Trust us, Salt Air will not disappoint.
Thrasher's French Fries (Julie Seymour). When you think of "beach food," one of the first things that pops in your mind is probably the unique taste of Thrasher's French Fries.
Best served with a side of vinegar, these delicacies are a hot item during the summer season on the Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach. Long lines often await, but most people don't seem to mind waiting for their "reward" while at the beach.
Located in the middle of the boardwalk, Thrasher's is a "must have" during any trip to the beach. Just don't forget the vinegar!
