For years, our family has vacationed to Ocean City, Maryland, but this summer, we decided to switch things up and try Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, instead. Since we traveled with kids, one of the biggest advantages was that Rehoboth Beach was about half an hour closer to us (and half an hour can become much longer when everyone is headed to the beach). Check out our top five kid-friendly things to do in Rehoboth, Delaware.

Visit Rehoboth Beach

Visiting Rehoboth Beach is a must-do activity in the area. I loved seeing all my children’s stress from the past school year fade away as they leapt into the Atlantic Ocean. Immediately, they went running into the sand letting their sandals fall behind them without a care in the world.

We brought toys for sand castles and a beach volleyball. Those were all used for a few minutes, but my children didn’t want to be out of the water at all after getting in! Hours passed by before they were ready to do anything else.

Our favorite time of day to visit Rehoboth Beach was at 10 am to 2 pm on a Friday. Since not many people were there yet, we found a good spot on the sand.

When we visited later on Sunday at 4 pm, it was much more crowded. Unfortunately, the waves became so strong that the lifeguards asked everyone to get out of the ocean. The lifeguards packed up their things and left. So keep in mind that this isn’t the gentlest beach to visit, but if you go when the waters are calm, it’s a relaxing and fun adventure.

Also, the size of the waves doesn’t matter much if you’re like me and you splash your toes in as you walk along the sand. If you’re looking for actual swimming experiences in the area, read further for more tips, like visiting the phenomenal water park and swimming in the Chesapeake Bay.

Check out our soothing video of the

You’ll wish you were there too!

Buy an Unlimited Pass for the Rides at Funland

Funland is a small amusement park at Rehoboth Beach offering rides that mostly work for younger kids, like the Kiddie Wheel and Carousel, along with 2 or 3 that are more thrilling for teens, like the SuperFlip 360 and Freefall. Some of my daughters’ favorite rides included the Paratrooper, Haunted Mansion, and Bumper Cars.

We bought an unlimited pass that lasted from 1 to 4:30 pm, and it was well worth it. We only used the unlimited pass from 2 to 4 pm, but two hours of rides was enough to become a lasting memory for my daughters of one of their favorite moments from the trip.

Check out our video of the

Get spooked by all the surprise turns, and gain an idea of whether the ride is age appropriate for your kids.

Visit the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk

Walking the boardwalk is a favorite summertime activity for Mid-Atlantic families. Having the ocean view to one side and the fun shops on the other makes it truly feel like summer. Add that sensation to the taste of Thrasher’s Fries with vinegar on top, or a Cannoli ice cream from the Ice Cream Store, and it’s an unforgettable moment for the whole family.

Although the boardwalk of Rehoboth Beach looks similar to the boardwalk at Ocean City, Maryland, one difference is that Rehoboth offers more of a boutique shopping experience with shaded sidewalks if you head up the 1A Highway. Our family enjoyed looking through clothing stores, art shops, dog boutiques, and more. We spotted this adorable Crab Mural that my daughter had fun walking along for photos.

Check out the video of our first visit to the

After seeing the excitement my daughters had, you’ll know this is the weekend getaway your family needs.

Check out our video of the

You’ll see why this adorable performance inspired my daughter to borrow my camera to film it. The Coffee Mill offers delicious, toasted rainbow bagels for only $2. Plus, they have great customer service, and they have a clean bathroom for the kids!

Buy Twilight Passes to Jungle Jim’s River Safari Water Park

When it’s too hot outside to visit the beach, spend a day at Jungle Jim’s River Safari Water Park. My favorite thing about the water park was that it was all in one area, so I was comfortable having my tweens go from ride to ride while having one central meeting place. It was guarded well by the lifeguards, who I actually saw dive into the water twice to make sure children were safely buoyed by floated devices.

One lazy river goes around the main section of the water park. Off to another side of the park, there are a few rides that children can ride independently, together, or with the whole family.

From 3 – 6 pm, you can get discounted tickets, which makes it a great deal to do later in the day. Three hours is plenty to get in all the rides without feeling too drained from the sun.

Check out our video of

You’ll see why my kids couldn’t stop talking about the fun they had after we left!

Sit Down to Eat Together

Sitting down to eat together is a memorable part of a vacation. One of our favorite spots by the beach was Cooter Brown’s Twisted Southern Kitchen by Rehoboth Beach. The Chicken and Waffles appetizer was a delicious, kid-friendly dish. We didn’t try the deviled eggs, but I looked over and saw a teen trying them with the biggest smile on her face, so they must have been good.

The Sweet Tea Fried Chicken were actually brined in sweet tea. They had sweet, crispy skin that tasted incredible.

My daughter ordered the wings, and she ate each one on her plate.

I ordered the BBQ Bourbon Burger with smoked shoulder bacon, red onions, sharp cheddar, and BBQ bourbon sauce. Everyone wanted to try it!

Another memorable restaurant we ate at was Bethany Blues BBQ. They had a fantastic Smoked Brisket Kielbasa with sautéed peppers and onions, garlic mashed potatoes, and Carolina BBQ mustard. The ribs were also phenomenal, and they come in a kids’ size.

With live music playing in the background, it really sets the ambiance for a relaxing family vacation. They also offer Youth Band Night showcasing local youth musicians.

Additional Tips

• There is plenty of street parking and ample space in parking lots near Rehoboth Beach. Make sure to pay the meter. We did see cars getting ticketed for letting their time run out. You should pay for extra time since time flies by when you’re enjoying the beach.
• Although you might expect to find great seafood by the beach, we didn’t have any we would recommend. My daughter’s review of the crab cake sandwich we ordered at Summer House Restaurant was that it was “mushy,” which was a disappointment for Marylanders who love good jumbo lump crab. After that, we didn’t try seafood again, but the BBQ-style restaurants were fantastic.
• Staying on the boardwalk has its advantages, but you can usually find more affordable hotels in Lewes, Delaware, which is a small town that offers its own restaurants and shops that are worth checking out. We stayed at the Sleep Inn & Suites. They had a reasonably-sized 2 Queen Bedroom Suite. Unfortunately, their group block rates, which were provided by an outside vendor, were a complete rip-off. We were locked into a rate that was higher than the nightly charge. The initial room they gave us was the 2 Double Bedroom, which had beds that weren’t even long enough for us, and that didn’t really fit 2 people per bed. That being said, the customer service at the hotel itself was good. They couldn’t do anything about the group block rate, but they did upgrade our room without a higher charge (we really had already paid more than enough to cover it). The front desk clerks dealt with this with a positive attitude that made me feel comfortable staying an extra day. Plus, they offered some good mom-to-mom advice about places to visit with the kids.
• For a calmer swimming experience, you can try the Lewes Beach. It offers swimming in the Chesapeake Bay instead of the Atlantic Ocean, so there aren’t rough waves.
• You can also check out Cape Henlopen State Park to look at views, go hiking, and visit a lighthouse.

For more family-friendly travel ideas, make sure to follow Enjoying Family Life on , , , , and .