Attractions

Rehoboth and Dewey offer a quieter, more relaxed alternative to Ocean City, Maryland, but both towns have nightlife and shops that stay open past 5pm, which you won't find at Bethany, Lewes, or Fenwick Island. If the sandy beaches, good restaurants, and intriguing little shops don't interest you, maybe the outlets will.

Indoor Attractions

The Rehoboth Art League, 12 Dodds Lane (tel. 302/227-8408), is nestled in the Henlopen Acres section of town amid 3 acres of gardens, walking paths, and an outdoor sculpture area. The facility includes three galleries, a teaching studio, and a restored cottage. It offers exhibits by local and national artists. Admission is free, except for some special events. Open year-round, Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 1 to 4pm.

The Anna Hazzard Tent House, 17 Christian St., off Rehoboth Avenue (tel. 302/226-1119), is one of the original tiny tent buildings erected when Rehoboth was a summer retreat for Methodists. Admission is free. Open May through September, Wednesday and Saturday from 10am to 2pm; and October through December, on the first and third Wednesdays and Saturdays of the month from 10am to 2pm. Closed January through April. It's a good idea to call ahead.

Especially for Kids

Funland, on the boardwalk between Delaware and Brooklyn avenues (tel. 302/227-1921; www.funlandrehoboth.com), has rides and games. The rides for the preschool set are varied enough to keep the youngsters busy for hours; rides for kids over 8 or so are more limited. It's open from Mother's Day weekend to Labor Day; the arcade from 10am, the rides from 1pm. It closes when everybody's ready to go home.

About 1 1/2 miles north of town is Jungle Jim's Adventure Land, Route 1 and Country Club Road (tel. 302/227-8444), which offers go-carts, miniature golf, bumper boats, a rock-climbing wall, outdoor rides, and a water park with slides and rides. It's open weekends in May and September and daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, from 10am to 11pm.

Rehoboth Summer Children's Theatre, at Epworth United Methodist Church, 20 Baltimore Ave. (tel. 302/227-6766; www.rehobothchildrenstheatre.org), performs favorites such as Peter Pan and The Emperor's New Clothes on selected weeknights in summer. Curtain time is usually 7:30pm. The theater also offers morning acting workshops and an apprentice program. Call for reservations.

The Life-Saving Stations

Just south of Dewey and beside the Ocean City Inlet are two buildings that memorialize the men of the U.S. Life-Saving Service.

The pumpkin-and-brown Indian River Life-Saving Station, on Route 1, south of Dewey (tel. 302/227-6991; www.destateparks.com), has been restored to its 1905 appearance. Built in 1876 as an Atlantic-coast outpost to look out for ships in distress, it was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915, decommissioned in 1962, and restored in 1998. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, its spare interior recalls the lives of the men who lived here. Guides tell the stories of heroic rescuers who saved sailors from sinking ships. Admission is $3.50 for adults, $2.50 for seniors, and $1 for children. Indian River Inlet Bridge construction is affecting operating hours, but in summer, it's open daily from 8am to 6pm, with guided tours available from 10am to 4pm. Off season, it's usually open on weekends, but call ahead to confirm.

Another station is on the Ocean City, Maryland, boardwalk. The white-and-red Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, at the Ocean City Inlet (tel. 410/289-4991; www.ocmuseum.org), recalls the men who saved 4,500 sailors off these shores. Artifacts include a restored surf rescue boat and a pictorial history of storms that have raged here. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 12. Hours are June through September, daily from 10am to 10pm; May and October, daily from 10am to 4pm; and November, December, and April, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Call ahead in winter months.

Spas

Sometimes you just need a little pampering. Rehoboth has become something of a spa resort, with plenty of places to choose from. Avenue Day Spa, 110A Rehoboth Ave. (tel. 302/227-5649; www.avenueinn.com), offers European facials, waxing, makeup, and hair and nail care. It has a spa shop as well. The Spa at the Bellmoor, 6 Christian St. (tel. 302/227-5800; www.thebellmoor.com), offers massage, facials, body treatments, waxing, and nail care. The Spa by the Sea, 46 Baltimore Ave. (tel. 302/227-8640; www.thespabythesea.com), offers traditional massage, facials, manicures, and other treatments.