Rehoboth Beach, Delaware: An Ecotourism & Sustainable Travel Guide

The Beach itself: The beach is wide and the sand is soft and clean. The lifeguard stations are abundant, and the water is refreshing in late summer. Chair and umbrella rental is available daily. The vibe on the beach is relaxed, with plenty of space for all. It’s not a party beach, and it’s welcoming and friendly to everyone: families, couples, or friends. It is also an accessible beach, with handicapped sand buggies available for rental. The beach is within walking distance to all accommodations, restrooms, restaurants, and parking facilities. Trash and recycling containers are at each entrance to the beach. Beach access is free. The beach is non-smoking and only allows pets during the off-season, not in the summer. The dunes are also protected from human footprints.

Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk: The boardwalk is a pristine mile-long wooden path that extends in either direction from the center of town. It is perfect for walking or running along, and also for riding a bicycle during the off-season or in the early morning before the boardwalk becomes pedestrian-only during the summer. In the evenings, it is a charming, well-lit path connecting shops, restaurants, hotels, and beach homes with the buzzy Rehoboth Avenue amid the waves of the Atlantic Ocean crashing ashore.

Gordon’s Pond/Cape Henlopen State Park: Just north of Rehoboth Beach (and easily reachable by bicycle) is Cape Henlopen State Park, a 3,000 acre park with nature paths and camping areas. It’s also home to Gordon’s Pond, which features a more than five-mile-long out-and-back natural surface trail with several overlooks peering over a wildlife refuge for migrating waterfowl—a true birder’s delight!

The Point: Also in Cape Henlopen State Park is the Point—literally the point where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Here, the dunes are protected due to the environmental sensitivity of the area, but you are able to camp out on either of two adjacent shorelines. The star attraction here is the shoreline along the Delaware Bay, a wild and unspoiled stretch of sand with calm waters—perfect for little ones who might be new to swimming. Just keep an eye out for the hermit crabs that frequently wash ashore. Alternatively, you can enjoy the sand on the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Here, you will have a beach almost entirely to yourself (plus the cute sandpipers and ghost crabs!).

Junction and Breakwater Trail: This is a six-mile-long rail trail connecting Rehoboth Beach with the town of Lewes. The path is mostly off-road on a dedicated trail that features both an asphalt and natural surface at various points along the path. It's a great path for bicyclists!

Delaware Seashore State Park: Just south of Rehoboth and Dewey Beach is another sandy park operated by the state. This park may be a bit too far for some cyclists to get to at almost nine miles one-way, but it offers ample parking for cars and RVs ($10 for out-of-state visitors, $5 for in-state visitors). This park is also a great place to kayak, as it provides access to the calmer waters of the Indian River and Rehoboth Bay on the other side of the highway.

Rehoboth Avenue: During the day or in the evening, strolling along Rehoboth Avenue is an activity not to be missed. Here, the standard beach eateries and souvenir shops are replaced by high-quality restaurants, trendy apparel stores, local artisan shops, and other small businesses. The vibe can sometimes feel more downtown chic than beachy, yet it still offers the typical coastal things you’d expect, like surf shops (Sierra Moon), ice cream shops (Kohr Brothers), candy shops (Candy Kitchen), and boardwalk fries (Thrashers). Chain establishments are uncommon in Rehoboth.

Penny Lane: A small pedestrian alley just off of Rehoboth Avenue—it's an incredibly charming brick paved street with high-end local shops featuring artisanal goods. A truly Instagrammable street that you wouldn’t expect to see at a beach.

Apothecary Spa: Located inside the Avenue Inn is Rehoboth’s most luxurious spa, Apothecary. The team here utilizes organic, natural, and eco-friendly products in their massages, body treatments, wraps, and facials. Manicures, pedicures, and wax services are also offered. An adjacent shop sells many of the products offered in the services.

Salt Air: Located on Wilmington Ave, Salt Air is a farm-/sea-to-table restaurant with a country-chic vibe. They feature a menu of local ingredients, sustainably sourced seafood, and organic meats and poultry. A personal recommendation would be either the scallops or the seafood stew—large enough for two!

Henlopen City Oyster House: If oysters are your thing, Henlopen City will not disappoint. Located next door to Salt Air, Henlopen City offers oyster shooters, steamers, and entrées, but also other sustainable seafood dishes that change daily, such as caviar, lobster mac and cheese, crab cakes, and scallops. They feature local farmers and list their partner farmers on their menu. Henlopen City also offers an impressive list of all-natural wines.

The Blue Hen: Located inside the Avenue Inn and Spa, this restaurant offers a raw bar amid upscale pub favorites. Their vegetarian options are also of note. Their cocktail list is split into clever low-proof and high-proof options. After dinner, try to get a spot outside to sip a cocktail in front of the fifire pit

NaLu: NaLu is a casual spot along Rehoboth Ave near the boardwalk that specializes in Hawaiian food and drinks. Their poke bowls are the best and freshest in the town, and their tropical cocktails will bring a smile to your face with their taste and presentation. There is ample seating inside and limited bar and outdoor seating on a first-come first-serve basis. NaLu is also a great spot to watch a game of either Philly-, Baltimore-, or DC-area sports teams.

DiFebo’s: DiFebo’s is the closest Italian restaurant to the beach in Rehoboth. It is a family owned restaurant that features authentic homemade pasta in a comfortable setting. Servings are generous. There is also a family style menu.

Mariachi Restaurant: If you are craving Mexican food while in Rehoboth, this is the authentic family owned restaurant you should visit. There is a ground-floor dining room and an upstairs patio that overlooks Wilmington Ave. The food is always fresh, featuring Spanish, Mexican, and Latin American specialties.

Grotto Pizza: Grotto is a classic pizzeria on all of the Delaware beaches and has multiple locations in Rehoboth. There is one along the boardwalk and also one on Rehoboth Ave that stays open year-round. The sauce and cheese are applied in concentric circles, which makes their pizza unique. They also offer pasta, salad, and chicken tenders to pair with their pizza.

Cafe a Go-Go: This is a specialty coffee shop and café that is open early (7:30 am) and offers some of the best coffee near the shore. They also offer whole beans for purchase. The espresso and espresso-based drinks at Cafe a Go-Go are excellent and pair well with a morning stroll along the beach or boardwalk.