88 miles SE of Wilmington; 27 miles N of Ocean City; 110 miles SE of Baltimore; 124 miles SE of Washington, D.C.

Rehoboth is the most popular of the Delaware beaches. It's small-town friendly and beach-resort casual, yet has a touch of style, too. Visitors can choose from beachfront condominiums, boardwalk hotels, and old-fashioned cottages. On the south side of town, grand homes overlook Silver Lake. The town's shops offer a lovely diversion, with everything from home fashions to hippie accessories. Just outside town on Route 1, Rehoboth has become synonymous with outlet shopping -- and Delaware has no sales tax. Frequent visitors can rejoice that major construction of the town's entrance has been completed after 4 years of dust and disruption. The results look good, too.

Rehoboth Beach is also a popular destination for gay and lesbian travelers, a mid-Atlantic alternative to Provincetown or Fire Island, with a number of gay-owned and predominantly gay venues.

Head south from Rehoboth and you hit Dewey Beach. It's a more casual suburb of Rehoboth, with a trolley connecting the towns in summer. Dewey is noted for its nightspots. Ruddertowne, in particular, draws young crowds for its party atmosphere. The beach is good, and the Rehoboth Bay is only a couple of blocks from the ocean.