REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. 鈥斅燛ven if you鈥檙e only planning a day trip to the beach, there are still a lot of things you need to take into consideration, and a couple you probably don鈥檛 think about until you鈥檙e there.
For instance, in some towns along the Delmarva coast, parking can be a major hassle both in terms of cost and availability. And then what happens if you have to go to the bathroom or change a child鈥檚 diaper?
The good news is that there are options 鈥� ones you may not think of right away 鈥� though what鈥檚 described as 鈥渁 hidden gem鈥� today is becoming less of a secret.
More and more people are starting to find that the Delaware Seashore State Park has everything you鈥檇 want for a day trip, says Pat Cooper, regional administrator with the Delaware State Park system.聽He estimates that last year alone, attendance went up around 5 or 10 percent.
And it costs less than what you鈥檇 normally pay for parking at nearby Rehoboth Beach or neighboring Dewey Beach. The cost of admission for out of state vehicles is $10 per day, Cooper says, and that covers everyone in your car, whether it鈥檚 just yourself or a Volkswagen full of clowns. You get the idea.
The park is composed of the several miles of beach along Coastal Highway between Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach. For families and those who live to swim, but want the watchful eye of a lifeguard nearby, the biggest beach is on the south side of the Indian River Inlet.
鈥淲e have a full service beach concession,聽with showers and everything,” Cooper said.
That includes bathrooms, which can be much fewer and far between when you visit some of the public beaches nearby. It also includes a concession stand offering all the beach food you鈥檇 normally find yourself buying during a swimming break. It鈥檚 also wheelchair accessible.
Another park just south of Dewey Beach near Towers Road also offers a guarded beach with lifeguards.
In recent years the state parks have also started offering more options to outdoor lovers as well.
The聽south side of the inlet is where you鈥檒l find lots of swimmers.
鈥淭he north side of the inlet, people like to surf,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty good surfing and it attracts a lot of surfers to come there because of the break,鈥� though he himself isn鈥檛 one of them.
And while trails in Cape Henlopen State Park have been enjoyed by hikers and bikers between Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, 鈥渢his past year we opened up a walking trail along the Assawoman Canal,鈥� Cooper said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 first phase, it鈥檚 a one-mile walking trail with a restroom facility. And we鈥檙e working on continuing that trail.鈥�
Visitors can access that around the Bethany Beach area. Several other trails for hikers, bikers and even equestrians can be found nearby too.
Pets are allowed on most of those beaches, though the swimming beaches are exempted 鈥渇or health department reasons.鈥� Leashes are required. And fishing also is allowed on most of those beaches, too.
Of course, the one thing the state parks can鈥檛 replicate is the iconic offerings that helped you fall in love with some of the beach towns. No concession stand can match an authentic sub from Louie鈥檚 or a Nicoboli, and you won鈥檛 find any Fisher鈥檚 Popcorn or Dumser’s Ice Cream stand either.
But depending on the direction you drive out of town from, you鈥檒l at most only be about 20 to 30 minutes away from everything else you associate a visit to the beach with, so it鈥檚 feasible to stop there on the way in or out as you鈥檙e passing by.
鈥淐ome to the state parks, enjoy it, enjoy nature, and you鈥檒l save money,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to feed the meter all day.鈥�
You won鈥檛 be hunting for a bathroom when you have to go, either.
Check 草莓传媒.com each Thursday morning through Labor Day for a new 鈥淏eyond the Bay Bridge鈥� feature, where 草莓传媒 will explore the goings-on at all the Delmarva beach towns. From new restaurants, events, to music and more, 草莓传媒 will bring you fun tips and information to make your trip to the beach more enjoyable.聽Be sure to bookmark the page as well as the 聽page to stay updated throughout the summer.
