New Season, New Attractions Here at the Delaware Beaches

For men and women who have grown up at or near the Delaware beaches, there are certain things that have remained constant over the years.

They truly are the reasons why the area has become such a popular vacation destination – the small town charm, the vibrant restaurant scene, the old school rides at Funland and, of course, the award-winning beaches themselves.

But even as those core elements of coastal Delaware life have remained the same through the generations, every year the area also kind of reinvents itself at the same time. There's always something new to see and do in coastal Delaware.

And that’s what we’re going to treat you with today.

So, if you’re at the Delaware beaches for the 2017 season, or even if you’re just coming for a short visit, you’ll want to save this blog entry for future reference. Because we’re going to give you the lowdown on all of the great new attractions for the Summer of 2017.

As is usually the case in and around Rehoboth, many of the new additions center on food. The Rehoboth/Lewes/Dewey area has really become known as a hot spot in the mid-Atlantic for it’s eclectic, vibrant and varied restaurant scene.

“Foodies” love Rehoboth, and the chef/owners who continuously offer up a wide selection of delectable culinary creations are a bit like rock stars at the Delaware beaches.

We’ll get to all of the great new restaurants in a moment, but we’re going to start with a trio of great new additions that promise to make a big impact on coastal Delaware during the Summer of 2017 and beyond.

We start with a new attraction at one of Rehoboth Beach’s most long-standing and beloved attractions…

New ride at Funland. For the first time in several years, one of the anchors of the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is getting a new ride, and the family-owned business is hoping it’s 2017 visitors will “flip” for it all summer long.

The SuperFlip 360 will spin, drop and flip riders, giving them a unique look at the beach and the boardwalk. It joins the other rides at this top Rehoboth Beach destination, that has been a favorite for generations of beach goers since opening in 1962.

Visit funlandrehoboth.com for more about the SuperFlip 360 and all of the great fun and excitement planned for 2017.

Lefty’s Alley & Eats. Open for a few months already just off Route 1 in Lewes, Lefty’s is sure to become one of the new “go-to” destinations for fun and entertainment in the resort area.

Featuring 16 bowling lanes, a two-story laser tag experience, an arcade and a wide selection of food choices, Lefty’s Alley & Eats is located at 36450 Plaza Drive in Lewes and has already claimed quite the following in coastal Delaware

For more information on Lefty’s, visit iloveleftys.com or call 302-864-6000.

Cape Gazette Photo

Hudson Fields. Together with the Highway One Co., Hudson Fields is introducing the newest southern Delaware concert venue this summer near Milton.

The music will feature several genres, but the 2017 season will be headlined by the Nashville-based group Old Dominion, recently named the “New Group of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music.

There are six shows planned for 2017 at the 4,000 seat outdoor venue, wrapping up in September with a Christian music festival.

Visit hudsonfields.com for more information, including directions, or to purchase tickets.

Big Chill Beach Club. Adding to the fun at Delaware Seashore State Park this year is the highly anticipated Big Chill Beach Club, a family-friendly rooftop restaurant that will include an “umbrella room,” 360 degree views of the ocean and bay, a fire pit and much more.

The venue also features a tented and floored wedding and event venue, and a live stage is scheduled to be constructed soon.

The restaurant at the club will feature “beach fare” that can be enjoyed on-site or easily taken down to the beach to eat while enjoying the sand and the surf of the state park.

Visit bigchillbeachclub.com for more information.

Brimming Horn Meadery. “Drink Like a Viking” at this new meadery located in Milton.

Featuring a tasting/sampling area, as well as a Scandinavian-style mead hall, Brimming Horn features both meads and ciders and is run by two gentlemen who have more than 20 years of experience crafting and perfecting their creations.

For those who may not be aware, a mead is an alcoholic drink created by fermenting honey with water, and sometimes with fruits, spices, grains or hops.

Visit brimminghornmeadery.com for more information.

Salted Vines Vineyard & Winery. Previously Fenwick Wine Cellars, the new Salted Vines is now open for business near Fenwick Island.

Featuring a series of 10 outdoor concerts between May and September, as well as special events like a Father’s Day Brunch in June, a “Retiree Happy Hour” every Thursday and “Salty Second Saturdays,” Salted Vines is located at 32512 Blackwater Road in Frankford.

Visit fenwickwinecellars.com or call 302-436-1500 for more information.

New to the Coastal Delaware Restaurant Scene

New Dogfish Head. The long-time brewpub held it’s last call this spring and has now been replaced with a new 6,300-square-foot, two-story facility that's located in what was the parking lot for the original downtown Rehoboth Beach location.

Featuring 180 seats, the multi-million dollar addition to Rehoboth Avenue features barrel-shaped booths, an elevated stage, great food and, of course, the unique taste of locally brewed Dogfish Head brews.

The new location opened on May 19 and promises to be one of the cornerstones of the Rehoboth Avenue business community for years to come.

Visit dogfish.com or call 302-226-BREW for more information.

Grandpa Mac (Route 1 location). The newest creation by James Beard nominated chef Hari Cameron, Grandpa Mac is located on Route 1 near the Picked Pig Pub and features a menu dominated with pasta inspired dishes.

Grandpa Mac also features a downtown Rehoboth Beach location, located on Baltimore Avenue.

Learn more at grandpamac.com or by calling 302-313-4751.

The Blue Hen. Located at the Avenue Inn on Wilmington Avenue, this new restaurant is presented by the creators of the immensely popular Henlopen City Oyster House and features a menu that, contrary to the oyster house, instead focuses on land-based foods.

Call 302-278-7842 for more information on the new Blue Hen in downtown Rehoboth Beach.

Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls. A popular destination for years in Annapolis, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls has opened up a new location on Rehoboth Avenue this year.

Located on the ocean block, the eatery is known for, you guessed, it’s wide selection of famous lobster rolls, as well as other lobster inspired dishes that include salads, soups and more.

Visit masonslobster.com or call 302-727-0411 for more information.

Rehoboth Foodie Photo

Axis. Brought to you by the owners of the popular Blue Moon on Baltimore Avenue, Axis is where the old Seafood Shack used to be and features international dishes like jicama, cilantro hot dogs, crispy duck skin and much more.

Call 302-227-2258 for more information.

Pig & Publican. Located in the Beacon Motel on Savannah Road in Lewes, the new Pig & Publican has around 80 seats, as well as a small outdoor seating area.

The newest “pig” in Lewes is from the owners of local eateries Pig & Fish and the Pickled Pig Pub and features a varied menu that includes such popular favorites as pan-seared scallops, spicy vegetable stew and Belgian Hangover Pasta.

Visit pigandpublican.com or call 302-313-4487 for more information.

New Surf Bagel. Located in the Midway Shopping Center on Route 1, the new location of Surf Bagel affords Rehoboth-based bagel lovers the opportunity for partaking of their favorite culinary creations without having to drive to the company’s original location in Lewes.

For years, the popular eatery has served New York-style bagels, as well as subs, wraps and salads, in Lewes and has become one of the First Town in the First State’s most popular lunchtime destinations.

For more information on the new Surf Bagel, visit surfbagel.com or call 302-644-4822.

Rosenfeld's Jewish Deli. Ocean City’s wildly popular Rosenfeld’s Jewish Deli has now come to Rehoboth, just in time for the 2017 summer season.

Located in Rehoboth Beach, the deli offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and includes such favorites as stuffed pastrami and turkey and brisket sandwiches, as well as Matzo Ball Soup, stuffed cabbage and more.

Visit rosenfeldsjewishdeli.com or call 302-645-1700 for more information.

Indigo. Filling a niche for Indian food in Delaware’s favorite summertime resort, Indigo is located at 44 Rehoboth Avenue and is the second location for the Annapolis-based eatery.

The restaurant features about 90 seats and will serve lunch and dinner. Menu choices are Indian based and include entrees like butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and other favorites from central and southern India.

Cabanas. This Salvadorian-themed restaurant is located on Route 1 in Lewes and features “traditional street food” from El Salvador.

The menu includes such items as mojarra frita, carne asada and sopa de mariscos, among many others.

For more information on Cabanas, call 302-313-4398.

Coming Soon

Shell We Bounce Trampoline Park. Moving from Rehoboth Beach to a much larger facility in Lewes, owners expect the new Shell We Bounce location to be open later this summer.

It will feature 26,000-square-feet and include two trampoline-themed dodge ball courts, a couple of small inflatable bounce houses for young children, a large arcade and plenty of food options.

For more information on Shell We Bounce, visit shellwebounce.com or call 302-727-5416.