rehoboth beach
 

we would like to try this area this summer for our vacation.we have been to Va Beach and wanted to try something not as far from us(mass.) We have 2 teenage boys and want to have things for all of us to do and thought this area looked like it might satisfy everyone. I am looking at the Avenue,Boardwalk Plaza and the Oceanus. But am seeing in some posts that this isn't a good area to come to. I have read that it would be fun for the boys but now I'm not sure and surely don't want to book a week and have everyone be miserable. Would like some honest feedback. We are not that difficult to please, enjoy beach, a little shopping, bike riding, mini-golf. Thanks in advance.

I stayed at the Boardwalk Plaza for a business trip. I didn't get much time in Rehoboth as our business was mostly up the road in Dover.

The Boardwalk Plaza is a great hotel. It is small and has a quaint feel. I would just caution you that the king oceanview room is very small. The room was beautiful and perfect for me alone, but I wouldn't have wanted to share it with more than me and maybe my husband. The bed and furniture took up ALL the space in the room. The location is convenient to dining and beach activities.

It's been a long time since we did family vacation at Rehobeth but don't think that much has changed. There is a long boardwalk, mini golf, some rides I think and of course the beach. When my brother was a teen he loved it.

If you don't mind riding in the car for 30 + minutes, take a drive down to Ocean City, Maryland. The boardwalk is much bigger and there's lots of activities for teens and adults! Try Harpoon Hannah's Restaurant on Fenwick Island (at the north end of Ocean City) or Phillips Crab House (the sit-down restaurant, not the buffet).

As Beth48 points out, Ocean City MD might be a better fit. Many more things to do for the family.

Much though I love Rehoboth, I think it's gradually evolved to more of an adult resort, offering not much more than token activities of interest to the under-21 generation.

Another option, closer to MA, might be Wildwood NJ.

I'd have to agree with everyone, if you do not have children that are at the play in the sand all day age, Rehoboth Beach is not for you. I absolutely love Rehoboth Beach as an adult. I would recommend Ocean City, MD. Its for teens and families, long boardwalk with shops and taffy shops, etc. Even the road paralleling the road next to the ocean is filled with shops and restaurants. I would really book reservations now though since I remember going to Rehoboth Beach, DE in 2000 and our rental house wasn't going to be available until the next day and we had to go place to place trying to find an available room in Ocean City, MD. We ended up getting a place at Fenwick Island. Also note that Rehoboth is only like 26 miles from Ocean City so it would be worth a trip. The Sea Shell Shop on Route 1 Rehoboth has a Shell We Golf Mini Golf course and a neat store with lots of nautical stuff in it. You could also opt for a trip a few miles up the road to Lewes, DE and take the Cape May/Lewes Ferry over to Cape May, NJ (1 1/2 hr ferry trip each way) - you can take your car on the ferry or leave it at the lot in Lewes. If you are going at the end of July or in August if you go past Rehoboth a mile or two along the Delaware countryside you'll find roadside fruit and vegetable stands where you can get fresh produce. The watermelon is especially good. While on Rehoboth Avenue, about 2 blocks away from beach try out Grotto Pizza's breakfast one morning. My family went there twice. The breakfast bar was excellent for like $5-6. That is all I can think of for now.

i haven't gone to rehoboth in the summer since i was a kid. but my neighbors take their teenaged grandkids all the time and they apparently love it.

this past january, i stayed at the avenue inn for a couple nights with my mom and sister. it was during a snowstorm so we didn't get out and about at all. the hotel wasn't bad--standard hotel decor. i had a traditional thai massage at the spa that was fabulous! (but i think any thai massage is wonderful--just can't find them easily over here). we were in a deluxe queen which had two queen beds and a pullout sofa, all right in a row. the bathroom was normal size with the sink outside the bath area. the place was clean and service was good. the indoor pool is all stainless steel metal which is pretty funky.

We live in Ny and have been going to Ocean City, MD for 11 years. I suggest renting a condo thru a realtor for a week. We get a 2 bedroon, 2 bath apt, for the same price as a hotel. We prefer northern Ocean City, for it is a bit quiter, less traffic, but still everything is right there.

If you want me to e-mail you or visa versa, let me know.

Last summer, I joined my family (brothers, sisters, kids, etc.) for 4 days at Rehoboth Beach--we had the best time. Ocean City is not a place I'm interested in returning to, however, my younger brother and his wife and two kids (now 16 & 13) prefer it to Rehoboth.

We went to Rehoboth about 5 years ago. We rented a great house right next to the boardwalk. The rides at the boardwalk were for little kids (ours were around 5 at the time). The beaches are very crowded (towel to towel). I was not impressed at all by the beaches.I would probably never bother to return to Rehoboth. We wound up spending our other summers at Long Beach Island in NJ. I would look into Wildwood as an option. My friends have stayed there and the beaches are much nicer. There is a big cheesy boardwalk for teens. There is also a quieter section called wildwood crest which is very family oriented. I have also thought of going to Ocean City for a trip, but don't know much about it.

If your kids like the beach, they can spend the day at the beach and do the boardwalk in the evening. We rented a house close to the beach and boardwalk last summer. We had kids in age from 4-16. The older kids were at the beach during the day, ate dinner, then cruised the boardwalk in the evening. We all had a great time. FYI: Ocean City has more to do but it's also really busy so it depends on what kind of week you want for all of you. (Someone recommended Phillips for dinner. I agree.) I hear the first two weeks of August are the busiest times to go. Fenwick Island doesn't have a lot for the kids to do (in my opinion) and you have to drive to many restaurants. But it's more relaxing. Good luck!

One warning, if you do go to the DE/MD shore: The traffic. From Lewes, down through to Ocean City, can be truly horrendous in the summer.

Rte. 1 is the spine of the shore traffic. It bisects Ocean City, with activities, lodging and restaurants on both sides, and works well down there. But in Delaware, neither Lewes or Rehoboth Beach are on the highway.

If you want to go to Ocean City from Rehoboth, you must first get out of Rehoboth, and onto Rte. 1 going south. No easy task, that. Then make your way through Dewey Beach, on down to Bethany Beach, and finally down to Fenwick, which is kind of Ocean City North. And the return trip, of course, would be no better. Good luck....

I see lots of great suggestions on here and I also agree that Rehoboth isnt as geared towards kids/teens as Ocean City, MD is. However since your familiar with Va beach and their boardwalk/beach city mecca, you won't find anything better or the same that compares. In my opinion, Va Beach has it all!

Rehoboth is very crowded but most people do not take advantage of visiting Cape Henlopen Park and/or the beaches just 2-4 miles south of Rehoboth, pretty picturesque state parks that have beaches that are next to empty, right before you get to the other two beach resorts Dewey and Bethany.