BlinkVib

Distance from D.C.: 124 miles, about 2 hours, 40 minutes by car.

So many Washingtonians stream into Rehoboth Beach, Del., each summer that the town long ago adopted the nickname of “The Nation’s Summer Capital.” It’s the destination for diverse communities, including LGBTQ+ beachgoers, who began coming to the town in the 1950s and wound up transforming it. It’s known for restaurants, shopping, a treasured boardwalk arcade, and many ice cream and pizza shops. Oh, and cameos by President Biden, who has a beach house just north of downtown.

Consensus can be hard to come by in D.C., but Rehoboth is our pick for the beach town getaway suited for almost any occasion: a multigenerational reunion; a gathering of college friends; a weekend away with kids; a romantic escape for couples.

Rehoboth has settled into its role as the grande dame of the Delaware beaches — you’re more likely to find boutiques selling upscale dresses or Scandinavian art on the main drag of Rehoboth Avenue than questionable T-shirts. Longtime favorite Browseabout Books is where you pick up a beach read or drop in for an author’s signing. Penny Lane Mall, tucked down a quaint alley, is a window-shopper’s dream, with a photography gallery, shops selling sea-themed home decor, jewelers and an ice cream shop. The decades-old CAMP Rehoboth organizes art exhibits and meditation classes. Rock, country and tribute bands (think Elton John or the Eagles) play at the boardwalk gazebo Friday through Sunday nights.

The boardwalk is a mile long, and a few blocks near the central business district offer the expected mix of arcades and shops selling ice cream, boogie boards or T-shirts. The historic Funland amusement park, full of old-school games and modern rides, is a must-do for kids of all ages. The rest of the boardwalk acts as a wooden walking trail. On weekends, when the beach closest to the bandstand is covered with towels and umbrellas, pick a direction and follow it to less-crowded areas. Head south, and you’ll eventually hit Poodle Beach, long a gathering spot for gay men. For more exercise, just north of Rehoboth is Gordons Pond, a gorgeous salt marsh renowned for migrating and nesting birds, with walking and biking trails. Between Gordons Pond and Rehoboth, you’ll find North Shores, the town’s longtime lesbian beach.

Rehoboth’s charms, though, are timeless: The streets away from downtown are filled with houses, not towering condo buildings and hotels. For the most part, Rehoboth’s vibe is much the same as it was a decade ago, or a decade before that. And that’s what keeps people coming back.

Don’t miss: Rehoboth makes an excellent jumping-off point for exploring the area’s beer and wine scene. Nearby breweries include Dogfish Head, known for its bold flavors and unusual ingredients, which offers tours and tastings at its Milton mother ship, and Dewey Beer Co., which has gained a national reputation for smoothie-like fruit sours and tropical hazy IPAs, and now has a brewery and tasting room in Harbeson as well as the original brewpub in Dewey Beach. Wine lovers should head to Nassau Valley Vineyards, where there’s live music and an art gallery in addition to self-guided tours and guided tastings. — Fritz Hahn

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