A quieter Delaware Shore escape in Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island | Field Trip

A direct shot across the Delaware Bay from Cape May, the Rehoboth area is the part of the Delaware coast most Philadelphians know best (if at all).

But head a little farther south and you’ll find Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island, neighboring towns with their own distinct flavor: preppy and polished in Bethany, quieter and nature-driven in Fenwick. Connected by the serene stretch of Fenwick Island State Park, the communities run about 10 miles down to the Maryland border. Paddle through birdsong-filled marshes, learn about shipwrecks just offshore, and snack your way through boardwalk staples, standout seafood, and beer brewed just feet from the bar. Without traffic, you’re clocking two and half hours from the city. Start the car.

Is it a house? Is it a hotel? Addy Sea Historic Oceanfront Inn is both, one of Bethany’s Beach historic mansions, built in 1901 by plumbing tycoon John M. Addy. The place is all crimson crepe myrtles, cedar-shake siding, white Adirondacks, and preppy wallpapers, with a backyard that spills right onto the beach. Depending on your style, you might gravitate toward the inn’s more traditional rooms or more contemporary coastal accommodations in the adjacent guest house.

📍 99 Ocean View Pkwy., Bethany Beach, Del. 19930

Pencil the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum in for May, when this charming, eccentric Fenwick attraction reopens for its 31st season. The maze of glass cases hold various treasures: revolvers, pottery, gold coins, and other artifacts salvaged from the wrecks off the Delmarva coast and beyond.

📍 708 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, Del. 19944

At the Jersey Shore, there’s Johnson’s Popcorn. At the Delaware Beaches, it’s Fisher’s Popcorn. Right off Lighthouse Road — the main drag into Fenwick — this longtime shop (est. 1937) is impossible to miss. Buckets overflow with butter, white cheddar, and caramel, but the true local favorite is Old Bay caramel.

📍 37081 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, Del. 19944

About three miles of state-protected shoreline comprise Fenwick Island State Park, a narrow north-south ribbon of Atlantic beach and bayside marsh with Route 1 running down the middle like a zipper. Park at the southern end and walk the undeveloped shoreline. In the spring, you’ll have the place mostly to yourself.

📍 DE-1, Fenwick Island, Del. 19944

If you’d rather get out on the water than walk along it, Little Assawoman Bay spans three square miles between mainland Delaware and Fenwick Island, and kayaks make quick work of its calm shallows. Local outfitter Coastal Kayak leads tours through the bay and along its forested shores, where bald eagles, osprey and hawks hunt between the pines. Advance reservations required for the tours, or you can rent a kayak (or bring your own from home) for independent exploring.

📍 36840 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, Del. 19944

Opened in 2022, Oceanview Brewing Company quickly became a community nexus for year-rounders, summer homeowners, and tourists in Bethany. Before dinner nearby, swing in for a pint or flight. The beers are solid, from the easy-drinking kölsch “Got Waves?” to a strawberry-kiwi sour or Slow & Steady, an imperial stout aged in ex-bourbon barrels.

📍 85 Atlantic Ave., Ocean View, Del. 19970

Corn-and-crab bisque spiced with jalapeno? On a cool spring night, say less. Painted octopi twist across the walls at Off the Hook in Bethany, but they might be the only sea creature you won’t find on this menu. Blackened swordfish rides on bacon-y collards, mussels cradle nuggets of chorizo, and roasted bluefish imperial comes with a Ritz-cracker crumb crust and malt-vinegar fries.

📍 769 Garfield Pkwy., Bethany Beach, Del. 19930