REHOBOTH BEACH: The 'Nation's Summer Capital' lives up to its moniker
REHOBOTH BEACH – The city of Rehoboth Beach may be one square mile, but The Nation's Summer Capital provides plenty of entertainment for all during the season.
Founded in 1873, the city was originally founded as a camp meeting ground and Christian seaside resort. It was incorporated in 1891 as Cape Henlopen City and then renamed to Rehoboth two years later. While the year-round population may be 1,327, according to the 2010 census, the resort city can have upwards of 40,000 in it on a summer day.
Rehoboth Beach gained the nickname, "The Nation's Summer Capital" because of the reputation it has for vacationers coming from Washington, D.C.
The city's mile-long boardwalk was originally built in 1873, and has changed and been rebuilt several times, thanks to storms. New for 2014, smoking is now prohibited on the boardwalk and is limited on the beach to certain designated areas.
The beach is closed from 1-5 a.m. daily and alcohol is prohibited on the beach at all times. Dogs are prohibited on the beach and the boardwalk through Sept. 30.
The city and its boardwalk have received several accolades within the last few years for being family friendly, including being named in America's 10 Best Beach Towns by Parents Magazine, as well as one of Coastal Living Magazine's 10 Great Coastal Boardwalks in 2013.
Rehoboth's gay-friendly reputation dates back to as early as the 1940s, according to CAMP Rehoboth (CAMPRehoboth.com), a nonprofit gay and lesbian community service organization on Baltimore Avenue which has served as an environment of welcoming for all people for more than 20 years. To this day, the resort city continues to be nationally recognized for that.
In recent years, the city has made efforts to make itself more bicycle-friendly, introducing a map of bicycle friendly roads in the city. Bicycles are allowed on the boardwalk from 5-10 a.m. daily through Sept. 15.
The city will be in its second year of its scooter parking permit implementation, which charges users $40 for a seasonal permit, or they can park in car spots at car rates.
For those looking for a break from the beach, there is plenty that Rehoboth and the nearby area offer. Fans of the arts can enjoy live theatre at Clear Space Theatre (ClearSpaceTheatre.org) on Baltimore Avenue or the Rehoboth Art League (RehobothArtLeague.org) based in nearby Henlopen Acres. There are plenty of boutique shops throughout downtown Rehoboth, while the Tanger Outlets just outside the city limits on Route 1 provide plenty of brand name shopping options.
From a scoop of ice cream to some fine dining, foodies can get their share of delectable delights in the city, including food from James Beard Award nominated Hari Cameron at a(MUSE.) and Jay Caputo at Espuma. If you want a little taste of everything, Eating Rehoboth (EatingRehoboth.com) provides a $49 walking tour of what the city has to offer. The city hosts its popular farmers market at Grove Park from noon-4 p.m. on Tuesdays, starting May 6.
AT A GLANCE
Beach patrol: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on weekends from May 24-Sept. 21
Public Transportation: Accessible via DART First State
Key phone numbers: Beach patrol, 302-227-2280; police, 302-227-2577; city hall 302-227-6181
Parking permit fees: $45 for a week, $30 for a three day weekend, $13 for a weekend day, $8 for a weekday. Permits are required in non-metered areas from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Parking meter rate: $1.50 per hour. Can be paid with quarters or credit card via the Parkmobile app. In effect from 10 a.m.-midnight daily through Sept. 14.
Website: CityOfRehoboth.com