Rehoboth Beach

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Delaware Seashore State Park

More Photos
MonnieR
MonnieR
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
Review
4
Photos
Editor Pick

Delaware Seashore State Park

  • February 20, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by MonnieR from Niles, Ohio
Delaware Seashore State Park

When friends and family learned that my husband and I were planning a trip to Delaware, the common reaction was, "Whatever for?" The Delaware Seashore State Park, we replied, is one of the reasons – as was the chance to visit the historic town of Lewes.

The park, which encompasses roughly 2,825 acres, lies between the popular resort areas of Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach. On one side is the Atlantic Ocean; on the other is the Indian River Bay; in between are pristine beaches ideal for sunbathing, surfing, and fishing and an abundance of foliage and shorebirds.

More than half of the Western Atlantic flyway's population of red knot, ruddy turnstone and semipalmated sandpiper are believed to rely on the Delaware Bay in the spring as they migrate to their nesting grounds in the Canadian Arctic, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Their survival is heavily dependent on the hundreds of tons of eggs laid just under the surface of the beach sand by horseshoe crabs.

Since our visit was in July, we didn't see anything much more exotic than standard seagulls and a handful of osprey nests, but we had so much fun doing other things that it didn't really matter. We did, however, see dozens of empty horseshoe crab shells on the beaches.

Speaking of the beaches, sunners, surfers, windsurfers and fishing enthusiasts were plentiful. Doing any of these things isn't free, at least in summer months; out-of-staters take the biggest hit when it comes to visiting state parks here (the standard one-vehicle entrance fee is $8 each time you visit). We purchased a pass (a reasonable $24 for senior citizens) so we could come and go at any state property as often as we wanted all year long.

The cost of visiting state parks seems a bit high, but there's a huge offsetting factor: There's no sales tax in Delaware. No surprise, then, that we spent some quality time at the three large outlet malls in Rehoboth Beach, checking out favorite stores like L.L. Bean and Chico's.

Hikers are sure to like the short trail on Burton's Island, which offers views of salt marshes and bay islands. Thompson Island, located on Rehoboth Beach, is a relatively new addition to the park; the preserve here offers a salt marsh habitat. For now, vehicles are prohibited and human traffic is limited. For overnight stays, cottages are located on the north shore of the Indian River Inlet adjacent to the marina.

One of the big attractions in the park is the Indian River Life-Saving Station, considered to be the only standing life-saving station on the East Coast that's in its original location. Built in 1876 for use by the U.S. Lifesaving Service, it's been restored and now houses a maritime museum, educational facilities and a gift shop.

From journal Beauty And The Beach

Compare Rehoboth Beach Rates

1. Enter travel information

City

2. Select websites to compare rates

Each selected website will open a new window.

Helpful Rehoboth Beach Links

Rehoboth Beach Travel Deals