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 With its well-preserved historical buildings and Delaware bed and breakfasts,
Lewes draws American history buffs from all over the world.
The largest draw to this
romantic getwaway destination is the beach and the
array of gourmet restaurants and quaint shops along Second Street. Other diversions include boating, kayaking, hiking and fishing. Discovered
in 1631, by the Dutch, Lewes (pronounced "Loo-iss") is the first town
in the first state.
The Dutch established a whaling
station and called the first settlement Zwaanendael, or "valley of
the swans," because of all the swans they saw nearby. This peaceful time was
short-lived, as eventually the town passed through Dutch hands to the English in
1682, after the Lenape Indians massacred the original settlers.
Zwaanendael was renamed Lewes
in honor of the town in England. Years later, the town would be pirated by none
other than Captain Kidd, and bombarded by the English in the War of 1812 (as memorialized
by the cannonball still lodged in the side of one of the historical buildings).
During the nineteenth century,
Lewes established itself as a harbor docking station and a fishing center. Tourism
and commercial and recreational fishing still largely support the town.
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THINGS
TO DO
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See full list of activities and businesses
 There is so much to do while
lodging in Lewes, DE, where do you begin?
If you are into water sports,
first head for the gorgeous beach! Two of the motels in town, Beacon Motel and Hotel Blue, also have swimming
pools. Rent bicycles, beach chairs, umbrellas and boogie boards at Lewes Cycle
Sports next to the Beacon Motel on Savannah Rd. When we were there,
we noticed that Lewes had an unusually large population of ladybugs.
On your way down Savannah
Road to the beach, you can also rent a bicycle at Lewes Cycle Sports ($5/hour or $14/day) or a kayak at Quest Fitness at Village of Five Points a few miles from the beach. Tours include a Kayak at Sunset tour, Kayak Dolphin Watch
tour and a Bicycle Cape Henlopen State Park tour. No experience is necessary!
If you're into bigger boats,
try a boat cruise or a fishing charter at Fisherman's Wharf near the drawbridge.
A half day of fishing will set you back $25, and the season runs through November;
night fishing through October. Dolphin- and whale-watching cruises ($23.00) depart
in the morning and afternoon on weekends, and evening cruises ($10.00) depart
 weekends through September. There are also other charters boats that depart from Angler's Marina
farther in the canal.
There are plenty of things
to do on land as well! In the summer, all of the historical buildings open up to
the public for tours in the Lewes Historical Complex/Shipcarpenter Square.
During spring and fall, however, you can still take a self-guided historical walking tour of
the town and Zwaanendael Museum (maps available at the museum). If you "dig"
cemeteries, check out the one on Second St. Ask yourself how poor Elizabeth Cullen
could have died on February 30th (oops!).
At the end of the day, browse
the cool gift shops, antique shops and art galleries along Second and Front Sts.
and watch the sun set on the canal at a romantic dinner for two.
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LODGING
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We were pleasantly surprised
with a clean and quiet room at the Beacon Motel on Savannah Road.
Even on Dover Race Weekend,
one of their booked-up busier weekends, it was still quiet. We recommend taking
a refreshing dip in the rooftop pool at sunset before dinner—if weather permits.
There are many wonderful B &
Bs around town too, like the
Lazy L at Willow Creek
a Bed & Breakfast Resort, north of downtown.
Ruth Edwards gave me a tour
of the John P. Virden House Bed and Breakfast. She serves a full breakfast
on a huge wooden-carved sideboard that was originally built for a ship. The house
is beautifully decorated with Victorian period antiques and rugs and the guest rooms
either overlook the lush garden in back, or the town church in the front.
In the center of town is TheHotel Rodney, which overlooks the shops
on Second St. For a water view, try staying at the The Inn at Canal Square
(perfect for corporate and large groups). There are several other B & Bs to
choose from, most of which are within walking distance of the town, canal and beach.
See full list of lodgings
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DINING
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One of the main attractions
in Lewes is fine dining. For waterside dining at lunch, try Gilligan's. The
S.S. Minnow has been converted into a seafood restaurant on Front St. Great
idea, Professor!
We ate at The Buttery
on Second St., but we were told that La Rosa Negra on Savannah Road, was just
as good for dinner.
For more casual canal-side
dining, try LHR Seafood & Catering or Irish Eye's. Both offer live
music on weekends right out on the docks. Enjoy the wonderful seafood and watch
the sunset!
For dessert, don't miss
King's Homemade Ice Cream on Second St.
Full list of dining
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TRANSPORTATION
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BUS/SHUTTLE/FERRY:
Some people say getting to Delaware by public transportation can't be done, but
we've found a way! While the trip may be rather rigorous (bus, bus, shuttle, ferry,
shuttle) it's well worth it!
Since it takes 6-7 hours
to get to Lewes by public transportation, Lewes is best suited for a longer trip
(perhaps as an extension of a trip to Cape May or Atlantic City.)
But if you do want to do
the trek straight through, here's how. (It's really not that bad!)
From Port Authority, take
a NJ transit bus #319 to Atlantic City. (2-1/2 hours). In Atlantic City,
change for the #552 bus to Cape May. (2 hours). In the summer there's an
express bus from NYC to Cape May.
Stop in Cape May for breakfast,
lunch or dinner, depending on when you arrive.
At the Cape May depot, take
the Shuttle to the Cape May Ferry - make sure you purchase a loop pass which
includes 2 shuttle rides and the ferry ride. (15 min.). Ride the ferry to Lewes.
(90 min.) At the terminal, catch the Shuttle to Lewes. (5 min.).
Travel time: 6-7 hours.
CAR:
Take the Garden State Parkway to the very end. Make sure you have change for tolls!
Ride the Cape May Ferry.
(Make sure you call ahead 1 day before to make car reservations) When you
arrive on the other side, make a right at the terminal. Lewes is straight ahead.
Make a left at the Dairy Queen on to Savannah Road. Go over the drawbridge and you
are in the center of town.
Travel time: 4.5 to 5.5
hours.
CAR
RENTAL:
Another option is to take a bus to Atlantic City and
rent a car for the weekend for $19.99/day from Enterprise-Rent-a-Car
in Pleasantville, NJ. They'll pick you up anywhere
in Atlantic City.
From there, the Cape May
Ferry is about a 1-1/2 hour drive. The ferry ride is 75 minutes long and once
you are on the other side, Lewes is 1 mi. from the ferry terminal (see above).
Total travel time: 5.5
to 6.5 hours.
TAXI:
If public transportation fails at the ferry in Lewes, call Seaport Transportation,
a 24-hour taxi and shuttle service throughout the resort area. Call 302-645-6800.
For $5.00 they’ll transfer you from the ferry to Lewes.
LOCAL BUS:
The local D.A.R.T. bus runs through Lewes on Savannah Road and Second St.
in the summer until Labor Day. See website or call for schedule.
See full list of transportation
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TRAVEL
TIPS
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Packing Extras: Sunglasses,
suntan lotion, camera, bathing suit.
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WEATHER
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