1 Reserve a Rooftop
Splurge on a six-course prix-fixe gourmet dinner on the roof at Galaxy Bar & Grill, where the birdlike view is split between O.C.’s Coastal Highway and the peaceful Assawoman Bay. Reserve the lone table, which seats up to four, at least two weeks in advance. Wine is included with the price of the meal ($150 per person), but the tip is not - please consider the three flights of stairs that must be negotiated by your tray-toting server. 6601 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, 410-723-6762.
2 Rent a Hog
For the first summer ever, Ocean City Harley Davidson has motorcycles for rent. This is your chance to live out those biker fantasies via a half- or whole-day rental or for an entire weekend or week. Rates have yet to be determined, but, hey, can you really put a price on “cool”? 12510 Ocean Gateway, 410-213-0444.
3 Eat an Apple a Day
Somewhere beneath all the caramel, Reese’s Pieces, pecans, marshmallows, and layers of white and dark chocolate, lies an apple. Or at least that’s what the chocolate mavens at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory tell us. Their candied apples are coated with so many layers of goodies, we’re afraid to visit the dentist. 135 Second St., Lewes, 302-645-5528.
4 Scream for (Homemade) Ice Cream
Butter brickle. Rum raisin. Banana. Oh, the banana. King’s Homemade Ice Cream Shop has been making ice cream the old-fashioned way since 1972 when Earl King opened his first shop in Milton, Del. Now the business is run by his son, Tom, who oversees operations in Milton and at the Lewes shop where the lines can be out the door on a hot summer evening. King’s sells sixteen flavors and four types of low-fat yogurt and water ice. For the record, King says he packs fourteen pounds of ripe bananas in each ten-gallon batch of that banana ice cream. No wonder the stuff tastes so fresh. 201 Second St., Lewes, 302-645-9425; and 302 Union St., Milton, 302-684-8900.
5 Build a Castle
Grab your buckets, shovels - and an architect - and sign up for the 24th Annual Delaware State News Sandcastle Contest in Rehoboth Beach on August 3. Prizes include up to $150 in cash, gift certificates, and merchandise from local merchants. Fisherman’s Beach near the Henlopen Hotel, 302-674-3600, http://www.newszap.com/sandcastle.
6 Go on a Multigenerational Shopping Spree
From funky, silk-screen print tops to quilted, reversible jackets to flowing linen outfits, Deanna’s sells fashionable wares suitable for every woman in the family. Choose from name brands like Jams World, Willow, Faith, Elegra, and a very wide variety of Dansko clogs. It’s not just a popular boutique, says owner Deanna Wagamon, “It’s a rumor mill in here, too.” 113 Second St., Lewes, 302-644-1112.
7 Raise a Lifeguard
Watch your child transform from a couch potato into a super-fit lifeguard courtesy of the Dewey Beach Patrol Junior Lifeguard Program. Designed for kids between ten and sixteen, this free program teaches skills such as aquatic search and rescue, communications methods, and components of a rescue. Courses are taught by the Dewey Beach Patrol and officers of Dewey Beach Emergency Medical Services. Summer sessions are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. from July 6-August 12. Dewey Beach Patrol Junior Lifeguard Program, 302-227-6365, http://www.deweybeachpatrol.com.
8 Go Naked
For those who like to sunbathe au naturel, Assateague Island’s desolate beaches are the place to go. The vast, isolated stretches of sand - specifically a famously “clothing optional” area about two miles north of the state park boundary - makes the perfect place to erase those tan lines. But, please, you didn’t hear it from us: nude sunbathing is technically illegal in Maryland and punishable by a $100 fine.
9 Give Your Beach House Exotic Flair
Design Studio is a refreshing change from all those beach furniture shops selling white wicker and sea-shell-adorned lamps. Instead, this shop specializes in summery exotic home dŽcor - like bamboo baskets, straw pillows, and handcarved animal sculptures - from Southeast Asia, Africa, and other far-away locales. Owner Mareitalouise Bertram, ASID, also provides expert interior design service in case you want to turn that run-of-the-mill beach house into a seaside Taj Mahal. 26D Pennsylvania Ave., Bethany Beach, 302-537-9794.
10 Make Some Change
There’s no excuse for getting a parking ticket in Bethany Beach now that there’s a manned change booth at the beach end of Garfield Parkway. Attendant Don Oles says he distributs up to $1,200 in quarters daily and hears his share of bad jokes, too. Most popular: “Can I change my wife for a new one?”
11 Try a Crab Dip of a Different Color
Blue Crab Salsa ($5.99), made by Peppers, the Rehoboth Beach-based salsa and sauce company, is a super-tasty tomato salsa with healthy portions of blue crab meat in the mix. Try it with tortilla chips, veggies - or just a spoon. 6 Rehoboth Ave. at the Boardwalk, 302-227-4609 or 1815 Ocean Outlets, 800-998-3473, http://www.peppers.com.
12 Dip Your Dog
Summer mornings and evenings on Dewey Beach have gone to the dogs - literally. Anytime before 9:30 a.m. or after 5:30 p.m., dogs of all shapes and sizes can frolic in the surf under the supervision of their “parents.” Some prefer to swim, others like to play Frisbee, and some simply lounge in the sun - and we’re not talking about the owners. Dog beach licenses ($3) must be obtained from the Dewey Beach town office and are good for the dog’s lifetime. Town Hall, 105 Rodney Ave., Dewey Beach, 302-227-6363.
13 Prep-out
Schellenger’s inventory of pink and green accessories has not been seen since the days of once-popular preppy superstore Papagallo. The shop offers B.M.O.C-worthy items like long-sleeved Izod dress shirts, motif belts decorated with dogs, ducks, and drinks, as well as Muffy-approved women’s items like grosgrain head bands, watchbands, and belts in every color under the preppy rainbow. 117 Second St., Lewes, 302-645-4766.
14 Paddle with Sea Turtles
Coastal Kayak leads ocean tours among sea turtles and dolphins, wildlife tours through salt marshes and Bald Cypress stands, and full-moon, sunset, and weekend trips. Rentals are available from one hour to one week, and delivery is available on a limited basis. Rt. 1, Fenwick Island, 302-539-7999, http://www.c-kayak.com
15 Dig for Buried Treasure
Admit: You’ve always been a little curious about how much money those guys combing the beach with metal detectors discover. Perhaps it’s time to find out for yourself. Sea Shell City rents metal detectors by the half day ($20), full day ($35), or week ($140). They also sell “I Help My Dad Treasure Hunt” and “I Dig For My Mom” pins for prospectors-in-training. 708 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, 302-539-9366.
16 Build a Bonfire
What better way to live out those Annette Funicello/Frankie Avalon beach blanket fantasies than with a bonfire on the beach? Permits can be obtained from the Dewey Beach town office and require a $60 cash deposit, $40 of which is refunded the day after the fire if clean-up is approved. Remember, only twenty-five people are allowed at the fire, no alcohol is permitted, and the fire must be extinguished and cleaned-up by 11 p.m. Town Hall, 105 Rodney Ave. Dewey Beach, 302-227-6363.
17 Learn to Surf
Brett Buchler, founder of Surf Sessions Surfing Camp, has been teaching the how-to’s of surfing to both kids and adults for fifteen years. Campers, housed in an old beach house in Fenwick, surf anywhere from six to eight hours a day, receiving instruction both on land and in the water. Weekly rates are $500 per person, which includes room, board, and the rental of a surfboard, if needed. Weekly sessions run from June 23 through August 12. Day-rate lessons are also available. 10 South Carolina Ave., Fenwick Island, 302-539-2126. http://www.atlanticbreezes.com.
18 Watch Your Clothes Being Sewn
Move over, Ralph Lauren, here comes Scott Spahr, the owner of Rehoboth’s hip, new clothing store. Scott himself sews the store’s entire inventory of men’s and women’s clothing, tote bags, purses, and home accessories. The designs in Spahr are both practical and fashionable - many are made from vintage tablecloths, pillowcases, and draperies. For those whose shape demands a tailor’s attention, Scott does on-the-spot alterations. Now, that’s an about-time treat! 58 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-226-3804.
19 Stay With Friends
If you like to travel in style with friends, check out the club suites at Rehoboth’s newly renovated seventy-eight-room Bellmore Inn, formerly the Dinner Bell Inn. At $295 to $485 per night during the summer season, the adults-only fourth-floor club suites offer two adjoining two-bedroom apartments complete with balcony, gas-burning fireplace, Jacuzzi tubs in each bathroom, hot breakfasts, and preferred appointment times at the Bellmore’s in-house spa. 6 Christian St., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-5800, http://www.thebellmoor.com.
20 Read a Bestseller
What will be the hot beach reads this summer? We asked the bibliophiles at Bethany Beach Books to predict this season’s page turners: 1. Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy. Series hero Jack Ryan attempts to foil a Soviet Union plot to assassinate the Pope. (Available in early August.) 2. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. Satirical account of the life of a Manhattan nanny. 3. A Thousand Country Roads by Robert James Waller. Sequel and conclusion to Bridges of Madison County. 4. The Beach House by James Patterson. Action-packed tale of money, murder, and revenge during a summer in the Hamptons. 5. Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo. The true story of a series of great white shark attacks off the New Jersey coast in 1916 that inspired Peter Benchley’s classic, Jaws. (Out in paperback this summer.)
21 Head Up, Up, and Away
Get a birds-eye view of the Chesapeake and Delaware bays aboard Charles G. Wagner’s Della-Bear, the official hot air balloon of Delaware. Set out on a romantic sunrise or sunset flight for two, complete with a champagne toast. Della-Bear holds up to four passengers and can be brought to your preferred place of departure in Sussex County or Maryland’s Eastern Shore. All flights are $125 per person. 302-684-2002.
22 Break for E-mail and a Fairytale
Drop by Booksandcoffee on Thursdays for the children’s story hour at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Kids can listen to a good read while snacking on cookies, candy, and juice. Meanwhile, parents can relax with a cup o’ joe while surfing the Web on one of the in-house computers. 113 Dickinson St., Dewey Beach, 302-226-9959.
23 Get Soapy
Slather summer skin with the handmade lotions, mineral bath salts, and lip and body balms from The Soap Fairy, where everything is made on the premises. The Soap Fairy also offers off-season classes on how to make your own soaps and balms using herbs and items purchased at the grocery store. 110 New Road #1, Lewes, 302-645-4596, http://www.soapfairy.com.
24 Dine for a Dollar
So what if Junior only picked at his supper. If he ate at Crabbers’ Cove, his meal would’ve only put you back a dollar. For just a buck, kids can choose from a hot dog or fried chicken dinner with French fries and a watermelon slice. Little ones’ drinks are not included in the price, but do come served in handy sippy-cup-like containers. Tables are covered with paper and come with a box of crayons for mad doodling. So, eat up, kids. Or don’t. 113 Dickinson St., Dewey Beach, 302-227-4888.
25 Eat a Po’ Boy
Seafood Shack serves up Chesapeake seafood specialties, but in a very New Orleans way: as po’ boys, that decidedly southern take on the submarine sandwich. The tiny take-out/standing-room-only restaurant offers seven kinds of po’ boys, including sautŽed crab cake with mustard mayo, crispy oyster with wasabi mayo, fried shrimp with pina-colada dipping sauce, and fried clam strips with garlic chipotle aioli. Now that’s good eatin’. 42 1/2 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-5881.
26 Surf Fish
According to Clark Evans of Old Inlet Bait and Tackle, a Delaware Seashore and State Park landmark since 1962, the best place to surf fish in July and August is a swatch of beach called 3R’s, about a half mile south of Indian River Inlet. “There’s some naturally deep water there,” says Evans. “And it doesn’t get overly hot; the trough keeps the water at a temperature the fish are looking for.” The spot also has walk-on access, and it’s one of only a few beaches where anglers can fish all night. Clark says the cool water attracts blue fish, trout, spot, croaker, kingfish, and some puffers throughout the summer months.
27 Buy a Lifeguard Stand
Reign from on-high in your own handmade, custom-painted lifeguard stand from iLand ArT gallery. Be it for your own stretch of beach, pool deck, or hey, even your living room, these eight-foot stands ($395), crafted by gallery owners Chris and Jessica Clark, are an off-the-wall gift for the beach-lover who’s got it all. iLand Art gallery also carries a variety of unique, artsy gifts - in an even more unusual setting: the store’s floor is a boardwalk set among thirty tons of trucked-in sand. Coastal Hwy. between Maryland and Delaware avenues, Fenwick Island, 302-539-0800.
28 Whip Your Kids Into Shape
Newly opened Ready, Set, Go is a gym just for kids age three to twelve. Drop off your child for a two-hour session of gymnastics, indoor basketball, soccer, field hockey, or wall climbing. Call for prices and session times. 511 N. Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach, 302-226-4543.
29 Beat the Traffic
Rise above the summer traffic by flying to the beach. Forty-five-minute USAirways commuter flights leave twice daily from Reagan-National Airport at 12:25 and 9:30 p.m. for Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY). BWI also has daily flights, but you must change planes in Philly before landing at SBY. Arrange for the Airport Taxi Chauffeur Service to meet you curbside for the forty-five minute ride anywhere in Ocean City ($40), Bethany Beach ($48), Rehoboth Beach, or Lewes (both $60). Taxi reservations must be made a day in advance. Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport, 410-548-4827; Airport Taxi Chauffeur Service, 410-548-0975.
30 Get Your Fingers Messy
Arguably the tastiest barbecue joint around, Bootsie’s Bar-B-Q is a Bethany roadside institution. Specialties-of-the-shack include barbecued chicken, baby back ribs, and chopped pork sandwiches, plus locally grown corn-on-the-cob and tomatoes; and homemade fruit pies in seven flavors including strawberry-rhubarb, peach, and cherry. Bootsie’s also delivers for parties. Rt. 26, Ocean View, Del., 302-539-9529.
31 Quench Your Thirst
Parched after a hard day’s lounge in your beach chair? Treat your tonsils to a homemade lemonade or orangeade at the Sugar Shack. Made with fresh-squeezed juice, sugar, ice, and water, then thoroughly shaken to a frothy perfection, these tangy-sweet treats are an ideal way to slake a sandy thirst. Bethany Town Center Mall, Bethany Beach, 302-539-9607.
32 Eat a Bison Burger
Looking for something different to put on the grill this summer? Consider a bison burger. Colvine Bison Farm sells prime-quality bison steaks, roasts, and specialty cuts like ribs, summer sausage, and patty burgers. Call ahead. 10685 Buffalo Rd., Greenwood, 302-349-5334, http://www.rcollinsenterprises.com.
33 Take Out a Giant Personal Ad
Looking to say “I love you” in a new way? Arrange for Ocean Aerial to design and fly a personalized banner of up to forty letters - plus the requisite heart. The plane circles four times over the head of your beach-based sweetheart in Ocean City for $250, or over Rehoboth Beach for $300. Just let the pilot know when and where you’d like the banner to appear. And remember, timing is everything. 410-641-2484.
34 Check-Out Sunken Treasure
The fascinating Discover-Sea Shipwreck Museum is a treasure trove of marine archeology, from salvaged coins and bullion to jewelry and porcelain to hundreds of items uncovered from the wreck of the S.S. Republic, the sister ship of the Titanic. Free admission. 708 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, 302-539-9366, http://www.discoversea.com.
35 Get Some Peace and Quiet
Take a hike, bike ride, or go for a picnic at James Farm Ecological Preserve, a 150-acre tract of land on Indian River Bay. The preserve is open year-round and contains 2 1/2 miles of marked hiking trails, three observation platforms for bird watching, and a boardwalk that leads to a sandy beach ideal for beachcombing or doing absolutely nothing. Cedar Neck Rd., Ocean View, 302-645-7325.
36 Slip and Slide
Test the depth of your courage at two of the beach’s most unconventional water slides, the Stealth Mark III and the Master Blaster Water Coaster both at Jolly Roger’s Splash Mountain Water Park. The Stealth is a forty-five-foot-tall, half-pipe slide shaped like a butterfly. Riders seat themselves in an inflatable tube and plunge down the first “wing” and up the next, seesawing their way back and forth until finally splashing down in the Lazy River. The Master Blaster is a wild water roller coaster, where riders are propelled up inclines by jets of water before dropping down the other side. 2901 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 410-289-4902, http://www.jollyrogerpark.com.
37 Get Some Colors
Take a break from a khaki-, black-, and white-toned world among the racks at The Figurehead, a rare find among women’s clothing boutiques that draws a fashionable, citified clientele. Its playful fashions range from figure-friendly Brazilian designs to special-occasion, vintage-style dresses. Chic purses - bamboo-handled cigar boxes to fringe-covered Lottie Dottie pocketbooks - are also their bag. 125 Second St., Lewes, 302-644-2129.
38 Learn About Lighthouses
Settle in for an air-conditioned six-hour tour of the Delaware Bay’s Lighthouses: East End, Harbor of Refuge, Brandywine, Fourteen Foot, Miah Maull, and Ship John. These once-a-month, narrated cruises include an on-board buffet lunch - bring your own beer or wine. The 110-foot boat, complete with outside deck, leaves at 10 a.m., returns at 4 p.m., and costs $55 per person. Summer tour dates are July 4, August 3, and September 2. Fisherman’s Wharf by the drawbridge, Lewes, 302-645-8862.
39 Get in Touch with Nature-From Your Car
Set out on an interpretive auto tour through the Assawoman Wildlife Area, a 2,600-acre preserve where “the needs of animals and plants come first and human outdoor recreation comes second.” Follow the thirteen numbered posts for an account of the area’s natural features, including several rare varieties of plants, the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel, and bald eagle nests. The tour takes approximately thirty minutes. RD. 2, Ocean View, 302-539-316, http://www.dnrec.state.de.us.
40 Play Cowboys and Indians
Mosey on over to the western theme park at Frontier Town that’s been transporting folks back to the days of Wyatt Earp and Miss Kitty since 1959. Witness the drama of a gunfight at the OK Corral and at a bank and stage coach hold-up, or blaze a trail to the on-site water park or miniature golf course. 8428 Rt. 611, Ocean City, 800-228-5590, http://www.frontiertown.com.
41 Get Cookin’ (or not)
No time to whip up a rack of lamb or salmon stuffed with herb cheese for dinner? Then turn to the delicacies-to-go at Coastal Gourmet Shoppe. The store, located on Route 26 several miles west of Ocean Highway, stocks freezers full of dinner entrees, starting at $6 per meal. What’s more, if you do feel like getting fussy in the kitchen, owner/culinary school grad Suzanne Beck and local guest chefs can show you how to make a masterpiece via weekly cooking classes held at the store. Coastal Gourmet also stocks a smorgasbord of sauces, mustards, olive oils, and kitchen gadgets for the beach-based home chef. 111 Atlantic Ave., Ocean View, 302-251-3663, http://www.coastalgourmetshoppe.com.
42 Pick Up the Pieces
Rain on your vacation? Spend a drizzly day tackling a jigsaw puzzle. Puzzles has the region’s widest array of jigsaws from beginner-easy to 1,000-piece behemoths. They also stock thousands of crossword puzzles and other brainteasers for ages four and up. 111 Second St., Lewes, 302-645-8013.
43 Love a Latte
We must have our morning cup of coffee. And there’s no better place to quaff a cuppa than Oby Lee Coffee Roastery. Oby Lee roasts their own beans right on the premises, plus their coffee menu reads like the passport of some well-traveled diplomat: Ethiopian Mocha, Seattle Sunrise, Indonesia Sumatra, and many more exotic blends. 124 Second St., Lewes, 302-645-0733; and Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 1-888-4OBYLEE.
44 Forge Ahead
By the heat of a blacksmith’s forge may not be the ideal place to be on a hot summer’s day, but the chance to watch John Ellsworth at work in his shop, Preservation Forge, is worth it. Ellsworth, one of Delaware’s only full-time blacksmiths, welcomes visitors as he demonstrates the antiquarian art of shaping metal into useful design elements: weathervanes, iron gates, candle holders, hooks, door latches, and other custom work. Just don’t get too close to that fire. 114 W. Third St., Lewes (Closed Wed.).
45 Take a Clydesdale to Dinner
Big night out at the beach? Forget renting a stretch limo, take a Clydesdale-drawn carriage instead. The folks at The Carriage Place will meet you and your party anywhere between Lewes and Ocean City for buggy-to-door service to your favorite restaurant, or simply for a romantic trot along the streets. Carriages range from the twenty-passenger Delaware Blue Hen Trolley ($750 for three hours) to a cozy two-seater ($600). Call seven days in advance for reservations and for The Carriage Place to arrange permits. 302-628-0100, http://www.carriageplace.net.
46 Ride a Bike by the Dunes
Looking for an all-natural setting for a bike ride? Cape Henlopen boasts eight miles of paved bike trails that wind beside its pine forests and legendary dunes. The park lends bikes free of charge for up to two hours daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. 302-645-6852.
47 Tour a Winery
The words “Delaware” and “fine wines” may appear as unlikely a combination as a glass of pinot grigio and a Ho-Ho, but Nassau Valley Vineyards and Winery wants to change your mind. (About fine wines in Delaware, that is.) The first commercial vineyard and winery in Delaware, family-run Nassau Valley offers free, self-guided tours of its 116-acre grounds and free tasting of its seven wines. Groups of ten or more get a personalized tour of the facility with owner Peggy Raley. Don’t forget to pack a picnic, too. 36 Nassau Commons, Lewes, 302-645-9463.
48 Get Historical
The Lewes Historical Society complex is the place to go for a dose of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Delaware history. See how early settlers lived by touring twelve preserved structures - including a one-room schoolhouse, a doctor’s office, and the home of a U.S. congressman - that date as early as 1665. Tour tickets are available at the Ryves Holt House. Second and Mulberry streets. 302-645-7670.
49 Clog Your Arteries
Creamed chip beef from Jimmy’s Kitchen is a work of breakfast art. Never runny, it’s just stick-to-the-toast right. What’s the secret? “High quality meat,” says Jimmy Mourlas, who runs the eatery with his wife, Kim. “Plus, you have to watch over it like a baby - give it your complete attention.” For breakfast, Jimmy, you have ours. Coastal Hwy., Ocean Bay Plaza, Fenwick Island, 302-537-2423.
50 Clean Up the Beach
And when the party’s over, it’s time to clean up. The annual Coastal Clean Up Day is September 14 from 9 a.m. to noon throughout the beaches of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Last year between 1,800 and 2,000 people helped “bag it and tag it” in fifty-seven sites in Delaware alone. The most common items found were cigarette butts and food wrappers. The most unusual? A Texas I.D., a snow sled, and part of a kitchen sink. 302-739-4506.
51 Buy a Kimono
...or a sake set. Or a Japanese silk scarf. Japanesque has a shopful of gifty items and clothes with an Asian flare. We particularly like the colorful, fun summer robes (a cousin of the Kimono?) for just $34. 16 Pennsylvania Ave., Bethany Beach, 302-539-2311.
52 Mess Up Your Hair Real Good
Boardwalk rides pale in comparison to jumping out of an airplane. For the ultimate in thrill rides, contact The Skydiving Center at Ocean City. Specializing in first-time jumps, the husband-wife team of Josh and Jeanice Dolan offer tandem jumps, videotaped jumps, and accelerated free falls up to two miles above Assateague Island and the Atlantic Ocean. Rates for first-timers start at $199. 12724 Airport Drive, Berlin, 410-213-1319, http://www.skydiveoc.com.
53 Bend Like a Pretzel
Limber up with a yoga class at the Silver Lotus Yoga Institute. The center offers six-week courses in beginning and intermediate yoga as well as “restorative” yoga, yoga for kids, and Pilates. 782 Garfield Parkway, Ste. 202, Bethany Beach, 302-226-0401, http://www.silverlotusyoga.org.
54 Mangia! Mangia!
Mostly Italian is the place to go for all things Mediterranean. Owner Pete “I’m All Italian” Antolini sells more than thirty different brands of olive oils, forty kinds of pastas, three types of rice for making risotto, and bottles of balsamic vinegar aged up to 100 years. Insiders’ secret: Stop by on Thursdays - that’s when the fresh mozzarella gets delivered. 129C Rehoboth Ave. in the Rehoboth Muse, Rehoboth Beach, 302-226-4770.
55 Think Pink
If it’s a flamingo and it’s pink, it’s available at The Glass Flamingo, the only “all flamingo” shop at the beach. Owner Bill Sine says he originally started with a retro Fifties store, but the flamingoes just took over. “Some people take their flamingoes very seriously,” he says. Look no further than the wooden flamingo toilet seat we spotted during our last visit. 216A Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-226-1366, http://www.theglassflamingo.com.
56 Salvage Your Home Interior
During most days of each month, sisters Carole Lindes, Donna Wade, Ellie Lawing, and Vickie Frazier are busy combing junk stores, yard sales, and even trash bins for unlikely treasures to salvage. After restoring the mostly rustic items, they attach eye-poppingly good price tags, and have a sale at their Shop of the Four Sisters, open just one weekend a month. It’s an event as anticipated as the opening of a blockbuster movie. “Last sale, we had sixty-two people in line before the store even opened,” says Carole Lindes. “People were fighting over items.” Each month’s sale has a different theme, from “Rhapsody in Blue” (everything in blues) to “Rooms in Bloom” (flowers). Just remember to get there early. 517 Atlantic Ave., Millville, 302-541-8110, http://www.shopofthefoursisters.com.
57 Get Crafty
Creatable Crafts isn’t just another do-it-yourself pottery place. (Although they do have more than 400 different plates, bowls, vases, and ceramic do-dads to paint and fire.) These creative folks also offer D.I.Y. mosaics (trivets, serving trays, picture frames), wood kits (model cars to airplanes), and tie dying. What’s more - parents take note - on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, Creatable Crafts hosts a Kids Night Out child care program during which kids age five to twelve can make their own creations, eat pizza, and watch movies while their parents are out on the town. 146 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-1020.
58 Become an Artist
The Rehoboth Art League offers summer classes in drawing, metalsmithing jewelry, basket twining, sculpting, and dozens of other creative endeavors so your brain doesn’t turn to mush while lounging on the beach all day. The league hosts both adult and children’s classes. Call 302-227-8408 or visit rehobothartleague.org for a schedule of classes. 12 Dodds Lane, Henlopen Acres, Rehoboth Beach.
59 Put It on Ice
Cool off on those sweltering summer days with a visit to the Carousel Ice Skating Rink. The rink offers public sessions for all ages, plus skating lessons by appointment, ice shows, and birthday parties. 11700 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 800-641-0011, http://www.carouselskating.com.
60 Play Miniature Golf in the Rain
Lousy weather won’t hold you back at the indoor Old Pro Golf Undersea Adventure Course, which boasts the requisite miniature golf props - sunken submarines, tropical islands, and fake eels popping out of holes. But what separates this putt-putt palace from the rest is that they provide free ponchos to those adventurous enough to play their outdoor dinosaur-themed course in the rain. 6801 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, 410-524-2645.
61 Embrace Nature
Cape Henlopen Seaside Nature Center is an all-natural alternative for those rainy days at the beach. Kids love the 300-gallon please-touch tank with horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, snails and clams, and the five 1,000-gallon salt-water aquariums with fish and other aquatic critters. In nice weather, join the naturalists for nature walks and other environmental programs. 42 Cape Henlopen Dr., Lewes, 302-645-6852, http://www.destateparks.com
62 Get Spooked
Listen to local legends and “true” ghost stories as told by author Ed Okonowicz at the Indian River Lifesaving Station. Okonowicz will tell tall tales with the help of period-costumed surfmen, what lifesavers used to be called. July 7 and 21, and Aug. 4 and 18 at 7 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for kids under 12, and free for kids under 5. 130 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth Beach, 302-227-0478, http://www.irlss.org.
63 Look for Flipper
Join Mystic Whaler Cruises on their 85-foot powerboat for daily dolphin- and whale-watching excursions. You are guaranteed to spot dolphins (or your next trip is free), but there are no such promises for the more unpredictable migrating humpback whales. The three-hour tours cost $25 for adults and $15 for kids twelve and under. Departs at 2 p.m. from Fisherman’s Wharf at the Lewes drawbridge. 302-645-8862.
64 Bring a BLT to the Beach
Instead of settling for another soggy PB&J rescued from the bottom of your cooler, bring a Patsy’s BLT to the beach. Out-of-the-ordinary choices include a smoked salmon BLT with horseradish-dill mayo served on a soft roll, or a soft-shell crab BLT with chipotle pepper aioli on a crusty roll. 121 Campbell Place, Bethany, 302-537-CHEF.
65 Grieve Summer’s End
Pay homage to the passing of summer by taking your rightful place in the sorrowful yet comical procession of the annual Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral, held September 2. Mourners parade down the boardwalk carrying “summer’s coffin” to its final resting place at the bandstand overlooking the ocean, while accompanied by the soulful sounds of The Dixi Cats, a four-piece New Orleans jazz band. All those who knew and loved this beloved season are invited to participate. For more information, call 302-537-1585.
