If summer’s heat and humidity make you want to run away to someplace refreshing, head for Rehoboth Beach, Del. It’s close to home and offers a clean beach, fun for the kids, and every kind of food you might possibly crave. With anticipation of cool Atlantic water on your skin and warm sand under your feet, you will know this is where you are supposed to be. Grab a colorful beach umbrella, beach chair and sunscreen and settle in. 

Shop Rehoboth Avenue

When you have had enough sun, sand and surf, take a stroll down Rehoboth Avenue with its myriad shops and good places to eat. You can buy the flip-flops you forgot, the t-shirt you need, the kite you want and carry all of that with you while you juggle your ice cream cone and dig in your bag of fudge to find the biggest piece of chocolate. You can visit Rehoboth Toy and Kite and find out what time they are going to fly their kites on the beach (sometime around sunset). If you are in the mood for pizza, Grotto Pizza is the place to go. You can find Grotto Pizza on the Boardwalk and on Rehoboth Avenue. The pizza is outstanding. While you are there, you can try the gelato as well. If rain is in the forecast, hit the bookstores and look for a good novel to carry you through. 

Walk the boardwalk

The mile-long boardwalk offers a view of the water while you walk, stroll, jog or ride your bike. There you will find plenty of places to eat and to buy everything you need for the beach. And don’t forget Dolles and Candy Kitchen, where you can choose your favorite flavors of saltwater taffy and other amazing confections. For excitement, there is the Funland Amusement Park and for arcade fun there is Virtual Fun Arcade and Playland, both on the boardwalk. 

Enjoy free music and movies

At the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand at Rehoboth Avenue and the boardwalk, you can enjoy the free Summer Concert Series every Thursday through Sunday starting at 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted, and, featuring all types of music from oldies to rock to jazz and funk/reggae, sponsored by the City of Rehoboth Beach. In addition, you can enjoy free movies at the Bandstand beginning at dusk on July 10 and  Aug. 21. For a schedule of music and movies, visit www.rehobothbeachbandstand.com or pick up a concert schedule at the Visitors Center as you drive into town. While you are at the Visitors Center, you can pick up lots of information about Rehoboth Beach along with coupons to help you save on food, purchases and entertainment.

Visit the new 

Rehoboth Beach Museum

After your stop at the Visitors Center, go next door to the new Rehoboth Beach Museum (511 Rehoboth Avenue), where you can see the “Evolution of the Swimsuit in the 20th Century” exhibit. You will learn about the late 1800s woolen swimsuits that covered most of the body and how the swimsuit evolved to what we wear today. Examples of swimsuits from earlier decades may remind you of your childhood or your teenage years or may just look really strange to you. There are also displays of lifesaving equipment and photos of life guards from earlier times. An intriguing exhibit is the collection of postcards from the early 1900s onward, sent to friends and relatives, describing fun times at the beach and messages of “wish you were here.”  Note that the addresses on the earlier postcards contain only the name and town of the addressee. There was no need for a street address or zip code in those days. This exhibit will be at the museum until December. The next exhibit will be “Rehoboth Speaks: The Story of the Nation’s Summer Capitol.” Admission to the museum is $5 for adults; $3 for students, military members and those over 65; and $2 for ages 6–17. Children under 5 are admitted free.

Have fun with 

other activities

Behind the museum is a playground where the kids can climb and slide and run all they want. This is one of two such playgrounds in Rehoboth. The other is near the Henlopen Hotel. If you need more things to do, check out these other Rehoboth Beach activities including golf and miniature golf, movies, and Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre, with performances of “Peter Pan,” “Snow White,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and “Puss in Boots.” If you are a fan of outlet shopping, you are in luck because you can shop tax free on Route One, where you will find 130 brand name outlet stores, featuring just about anything you might need or want. Also on Route One, you can take the kids to Jungle Jim’s Waterpark for a day full of fun. 

For information on places to stay and things to do at Rehoboth Beach, visit www.rehoboth.com.