Rehoboth and Dewey beckon us to the Delaware shore with many bronzed bods filling the wide beaches and idyllic boardwalk. There are many restaurants from high to low cuisine and bars filled with weekend party-seekers from across the Mid-Atlantic. Prospects for good times abound!
But ask anyone in DC what is the worst part of any beach weekend and you’re likely to get the same answer … TRAFFIC! It snarls getting to the Beltway and around the Beltway and on U.S. Route 50 and miles before the Bay Bridge, speed traps, the “stop and go” of Delaware Route 1 and then the dreaded drive home … ugh! The horrible stress of traffic can make one wonder, is it really worth the effort?
Fortunately, I have found there is another way … ditch the car and go to the beach car-free! On my first Rehoboth weekend of 2012, I booked a ticket on the DC2NY bus, which departs from Dupont and Union Station on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day. Along the way, I relished stress-free travel in the comfortable coach, which offered reasonable personal space and uninterrupted Wi-Fi. The 2½ hour bus ride took me to a drop-off just 3 blocks from oceanfront on Rehoboth Avenue. After meeting up with my friends at our beach house, I was ready for the evening with no highway-stress decompression required! There’s also a second stop a few miles farther south for those continuing to Dewey. Check out DC2NY for more info.
My ideal way to get around is by bicycle and, luckily, there are many bike rental shops in both Rehoboth and Dewey. I rented from Bob’s Bikes on 1st Street near Baltimore, which I can recommend. For $14 per day, I pedaled away in a comfy beach cruiser. My only biking incident occurred when one of Rehoboth’s finest informed me that one needs a light after dark, which after-all does seem reasonable. But otherwise, I enjoyed biking with friends all around town and on the scenic 5-mile Junction & Breakwater Trail to the historic town of Lewes. We briefly considered a boat adventure from Lewes to Cape May via the famous ferry, but Rehoboth and Grotto Pizza beckoned us back to our weekend home base.
For those seeking additional travel options from Rehoboth/Dewey, there’s the “Beach Bus.” Destinations include: Rehoboth’s outlet malls, Bethany Beach, Ocean City (MD) and Wilmington’s Amtrak Station. For more information, check out Delaware Transit.
So there you have it, relaxing and a beach weekend can co-exist! I thoroughly enjoyed my car-free Delaware Shore weekend. Friends, bikes, beach and fun … now that’s my idea of Summer Serenity!