July/August 2026


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galleries and boutiques. As someone incapable of leaving a destination without at least one souvenir T-shirt and a fridge magnet for the collection, I was very much in my element.


meeting community in the 1870s.


Studying the exhibits, I began to


as a Methodist camp


The First Town in the First State


A visit to the free-admission Rehoboth Beach Museum added some useful context to the town, which began life


understand some of what makes Rehoboth tick. Many of the values associated with


attended a performance of the musical Dear Evan Hansen. This year- round professional theatre company has become a cultural cornerstone of the community,


programme of shows throughout the year.


producing an impressive


The production itself was excellent, and the evening left me with something more than entertainment. It gave me a glimpse of the community spirit that makes Southern Delaware special.


seem woven into the town’s character today. That feeling of community was reinforced during an evening at the Clear Space Theatre,


where I


community, hospitality and family life


- still heritage


SALTY AIR IN DELAWARE | 79


The next morning, I packed my bags and took an Uber a short distance north to historic Lewes. Where Rehoboth is energetic and social, Lewes feels quieter and more reflective. The pace slows noticeably, and with 13 restaurants,


its -


of them fine dining, quaint Lewes has been described as ‘a town with a beach’ rather than a beach town.


Known as The First Town in The First State - settled by the Dutch in 1631, Delaware was the first to ratify the US Constitution in 1787 - Lewes takes understandable pride in its place within America’s legacy.


many


My stay at Hotel Rodney boutique hotel felt perfectly suited to the town’s historic character. Elegant and friendly,


the hotel forms a central role in its legend and charm.


A highlight of my stay was meeting guide Bill Hicks for a tour of the outdoor Historic Lewes Town Campus. More than simply a collection of old buildings, the campus serves as a living interpretation of the town’s history, bringing together preserved structures that tell the story of Delaware’s earliest settlers.


Bottlenose dolphins, delighting everyone on board, while the sun slowly slipped below the horizon.


What might have been a straightforward history lesson became something far more engaging thanks to Bill’s enthusiasm and knowledge. We left the campus to walk along Second Street, which features five centuries of architecture. The oldest house in Delaware is here, still standing on its original foundations and dating back to 1685 – making it the first house, in the first town, in the first state! Bill ended our walk at the Zwaanendael Museum, where I discovered another perspective on the region’s


striking architecture reflects Delaware’s Dutch heritage, while exhibits explore the area’s maritime history, settlement and coastal culture.


past. Its early


Sunset and dolphins Naturally, there were more crab cakes. That evening, I enjoyed dinner at Harbour restaurant, sitting outside on its terrace. Famed for its sustainable seafood and waterfront views, I sipped a craft cocktail and realised that coastal living really doesn’t get any better than this.


Tours carried us out into Delaware Bay as the sky turned vibrant shades of pink, orange and red. Passing the East End Lighthouse, we spotted Atlantic


Although bustling Rehoboth Beach and historic Lewes were my focus on this trip, they’re just two chapters in the Delaware Beaches story – the towns of Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island are quiet and quaint, while Dewey Beach is more of a party town. But overall,


traditional feel to Southern Delaware. I felt like I’d stepped into a gentler version of life. The beaches are beautiful, the food is exceptional, the history fascinating and the sunsets unforgettable. Wouldn’t it be great if it was like this all the time?


For a few days visiting the Delaware Beaches, it was.


there’s a reassuringly


But the perfect finale was still to come. A sunset cruise with Cape Water


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