Things To Do in Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island
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Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island Attractions
The 1-mile-long Bethany Beach Boardwalk has only a few businesses on it. It's more of a promenade, perfect for a leisurely walk near the beach. Most of the shops and fast-food eateries are on Garfield Parkway, which intersects the boardwalk midway. Fenwick Island has no boardwalk between its hotels and its wide-open beach with gentle dunes. Shops and businesses are concentrated along Route 1.
To see real sunken treasure, head to the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum, Route 1 and Bayard Street, Fenwick Island (tel. 302/539-9366; www.discoversea.com), a small private museum above the Sea Shell City shop. The collection includes jewelry, coins, china, and a seashell display. Admission is free. Hours are Memorial Day through Labor Day daily from 11am to 8pm, September through May Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.
Built in 1859, the Fenwick Island Lighthouse, on the Transpeninsular Line, Route 54, about a quarter-mile west of Route 1, is one of Delaware's oldest. The lighthouse is still in operation; its beams can be seen for 15 miles. Its grounds and ground floor are open to the public July and August, Thursday through Tuesday 10am to 2pm, and September through October 12, Friday to Monday 10am to 2pm. Find the gate on 146th Street in Ocean City. Admission is free.
Across from the lighthouse is the Viking Golf Theme Park, routes 1 and 54, Fenwick Island (tel. 302/539-1644), an inland amusement park with miniature golf, a water park, and go-carts. Hours vary according to weather. The water park is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, daily from 10am to 8pm. Miniature golf is open from Easter weekend to October, on warm weekends from 10am to 11pm, and in summer daily from 10am to midnight.
Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island Shopping
Bethany Beach
Most of the shopping in Bethany Beach is along or near Garfield Parkway, with a few shops on the boardwalk. They're generally open daily from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours in summer.
Bethany Beach Books, 99 Garfield Pkwy. (tel. 302/539-2522), is the perfect place to pick up some beach reading. For your sweet tooth, head to the Fudge Factory, 3 Town Center (tel. 302/539-7502), or follow your nose to the delectable aromas at Fisher's Popcorn, 108 Garfield Pkwy. (tel. 888/436-6388 or 302/539-8833).
Stop in Alice H. Klein, on Garfield Parkway (tel. 302/539-6992; www.tkodirect.com), for delicate, handcrafted jewelry. Bethany's premier boutique is the eclectic Japanesque, 16 Pennsylvania Ave. (tel. 302/539-2311), which carries a wide selection of Japanese jewelry, home furnishings, and books.
Fenwick Island
Shopping in Fenwick is limited, but if you like country items, visit the Seaside Country Store (tel. 302/539-6110). This big, red store on Route 1, surrounded by strip malls, has room after room of merchandise with a country feel -- from gifts and clothing to home decor to candy. It's closed December through February. Pottery Place (tel. 302/539-3603) has lots of beachy nature, but those in the know show up at 7am for their first cup of joe. The coffee bar in the back of the shop has famous coffee, including those fattening wonderful coffee drinks. It's open at 7am for your caffeine fix year-round.
Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island Nightlife
Hanging out on the boardwalk is all the rage -- but there really isn't much to do at night. Still, it is the place for teens to meet their friends and everyone else to take a stroll and enjoy the ocean breezes.
Bethany Beach's bandstand features shows beginning at 7:30pm. The performances are all family oriented, with orchestras, bluegrass bands, and puppet shows. Sometimes there are dance lessons or talent shows. The town posts a schedule on the boardwalk and at the town hall on Garfield Parkway.
