Active Pursuits

Biking

The flat land along Route 1 in Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island is ideal for bicycling; however, caution is advised during peak traffic season in July, August, and summer holidays. Bethany also has bike lanes through town.

For a change of scenery, nearby Assawoman Wildlife Area offers several sandy but bike-accessible roads that wind through tidal marshland and forests. To get here, take Route 26 west and turn left on Road 361; then turn left on Road 363 and left on Road 364 in Bayard. The road splits, so bear left and follow the signs for Camp Barnes and Assawoman.

Bethany Cycle and Fitness Shop, 77 N. Garfield Pkwy. (tel. 302/537-9982), rents beach bicycles for about $18 per day, $40 per week.

Hiking & Birding

During the off season, Fenwick Island and Delaware Seashore state parks, both on Route 1, are great places for a walk along deserted beaches. In high season, however, when these beaches are covered with sunbathers, it's best to head out at sunrise or venture a little inland. Tip: Bring bug repellent. Note: Burton's Island, in Delaware Seashore State Park, will be closed during replacement of the Indian River Inlet Bridge; construction is due to last until 2009.

Assawoman Wildlife Area welcomes hikers on its few miles of dirt roads through tidal marsh and forests. An observation tower and duck blinds make it easy to view a variety of shorebirds.

Kayaking & Sailing

To tour the quieter waters of Assawoman Bay, a salt marsh, or the nearby bald-cypress stand, stop by Coastal Kayak (tel. 877/44-KAYAK or 302/539-7999; www.coastalkayak.com). It has a stand on the bay across from Fenwick Island State Park. Tours cost about $40 for adults and $30 for children; they last 90 minutes to 2 hours. It also rents kayaks, sailing catamarans, and windsurfers -- and it delivers. (Get a coupon from the website.)

Surf Fishing

A major draw in this area, fishing in Delaware's tidal waters requires no license. Surf fishing is permitted when lifeguards are off-duty. The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors two surf-fishing tournaments a year, in early May and October; for information, call tel. 302/539-2100.

Fenwick Island State Park has 3 miles of seacoast beach, most of which is open to surf fishing, and considerable tracts of open bayfront, ideal for both fishing and crabbing. There are also several dune crossings set up for off-road vehicles; a surf-fishing vehicle permit is required. Call tel. 302/539-9060 for vehicle permits and maps of fishing areas. Similar facilities are also available at Delaware Seashore State Park (tel. 302/227-2800).

Tennis

Although there's not much tennis for the general public, Sea Colony is the largest tennis resort on the East Coast, sporting 26 courts, including four outdoor lighted courts, four clay courts, and four indoor courts. If tennis is your game, contact a real-estate agent about renting a condo in Sea Colony's tennis villas.