Southern Delaware without Going to the Beach

Crazy you say? Going to Southern Delaware without actually going to the beach?

Okay, call me crazy, but I had a great time exploring the many secrets just waiting for you in Rehoboth, Lewes and Milton.

And because of my good nature, I'm going to share my findings with you. Hopefully by the time you get to the end, you'll want to explore some of these places also.

Space will not allow me much detail on each, so I'll get to the point. My first stop was the Rehoboth Beach Museum (511 Rehoboth Ave). Here you'll find some history of the town and a World War II exhibit. Five dollars for adults.

Here's a suggestion, across the street is the Visitor Center. Stop in for brochures and to ask questions. I learned the popular Sea Witch Festival is being held October 26-28.

The American Bus Association said it was one of the top 50 festivals in the country.

Next stop was the Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane). This is a place where you can stroll the grounds and check out artists at work. You can even take some art classes.

Next I visited the Indian River Life Saving Station (25039 Coastal Highway). For years this station was manned by hardy souls whose main job was to assist sailors in trouble. The Station serves as an everlasting memory to the bravery and dedication of these men. Four dollars for adults.

Then it was off to see the Lightship Overfalls, a National Historic Landmark located in Lewes, a short drive from Rehoboth. This is the only nautical historic landmark in Delaware.

At one time it was a floating lighthouse guiding ships to shore. Now it is permanently moored at the dock. It was built in 1938 and brought to Lewes in 1973. Two dollars for adults.

Okay here I go to the Zwaanendael Museum, (102 Kings Highway, still in Lewes). It opened in 1931 and was built to commenorate the 300th anniversary of the first European settlement in Delaware. It's free.

Time for a beer break so I was taken to Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton Delaware.  They offer free tours and samples. Tours are one hour. They brew about 30 beers and send out about 170,000 barrels a year. By the way, Dogfish is a type of shark.

By this time you can imagine I worked up a bit of an appetite. My tour guide for the day, from Southern Delaware Tourism, took me to Striper Bites Bistro, 107 Savannah Road.  During the summer the restaurant is open seven days with their signature dish being blackened maki club.  It's  casual, seating for 120, live music Thursdays and no reservations accepted.

That concluded day one. But wait, there was a day two.

It began with a tour of the Kalmar Nyckel, a recreation of the ship that brought the first Europeans to settle the Delaware Valley in 1638. It's located next to the Lewes-Cape May Ferry. They do tours and day sails ($60 for adults). The sails are about three hours and does go into Delaware Bay. It was launched in 1997.

My last stop was Fort Miles, unknown to many locals but well worth a visit and located in Cape Henlopen State Park. It's actually situated in a bunker. A bunker that was built during World War II to protect the shoreline. It did that by having huge guns pointed out to the sea. None had to be fired.

Tours are Wednesday and Saturday and cost four dollars.  (fortmilesha.org)

I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted.