Have never been to the Delaware Beach. Could someone give me a quick run down of Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, Fenwick Island. Where would be the best for oceanfront house rental. Thanks so much.

They are all different. Rehoboth is a cute town, very quaint in parts. Also, has large gatherings of gay people. If that will bother you, it's not the place for you. It's downtown area is bustling every night and lots of fun. Dewey is for the college aged crowd. Bethany is the nicest and priciest. If you can afford it, it's great. They have many homes for rent, but many are large-intended for 10-12 people. It's very expensive for a family of 4. There is a huge complex of condos there (Sea Colony) which is great, but also pricy. Fenwick is ok-it's so small you can almost miss it. Don't overlook Ocean City which ends at the Delaware line. There are lots of places in the northern (I think it' north) end-the streets are all numbered and it's the 100s and up up to around @ 140th Street. Prices seem to be a bit more reasonable in Ocean City than Delaware. Enjoy.

Rachel's response is fairly accurate but it's only one perspective. Though she says Rehoboth has a gay community, it's also one of the largest family coastal resort destinations between New Jersey and Virginia. It is more than quaint -- it is filled with fantastic shops, restaurants, amusement parks, etc...in a quaint way. PACKED in the summer. Probably already too late to get a summer house rental in the lovely (family) neighborhoods of the Pines and South Rehoboth. The gay community is there (that's what keeps the shops, restaurants and quaintness so attractive) but they have their own gathering places (including their own beach area, out of sight of families), not that it bothers me -- it doesn't! but if that bothers you. Dewey is a wild party town and if you don't want that, don't go near the place. Bethany is a quiet family area, all big huge houses, no attractions really like Rehoboth, and that's what some prefer. If you want house, beach, and gathering with your family, only, Bethany is for you. Ocean City is the classic huge, overbuilt, high-rise ocean resort with traffic stopped cold, bumper to bumper, down the main (and only drag) on any summer night. You can keep it (loved it when I was 25 though). That's my two cents.

Delaware beach?
Thats pretty much an oxymoron.
If your expereinces with beaches have been FL of HI, better think twice, De will not live up to your expectations.
It's not a pretty place. And way overcrowded.
Stay home and save up some more money and go somewhere better.

Betty, you didn't mention whether or not you have kids. If you don't or can leave them behind, do yourself a huge favor and wait until just after Labor Day to visit any of the beach towns in Delaware. All of those places are jammed during the summer, and the holiday weekends are particularly bad. Once the parents have taken their screaming brats back to school, it's quiet and beautiful. My husband and I have gone to Dewey Beach in early to mid-September several times and loved it. I personally don't care about gay people, but even so I saw relatively few in a town known to be a gathering place for them. Definitely wait; you won't be sorry and will have the chance to really get to know the area. Just pick one and go--once you're there it's easy to drive up and down the coast and explore! Enjoy!

In searching for a Beach community not too far of a drive (from New Jersey)
I am considering North Bethany Beach for a family vacation.
The houses look beautiful - are the beaches nice? clean? Any horshoe crabs?