54 p235
The Drive » Pretty
straightforward: head north
on DE-1 for about 8 miles, and
you’re at Delaware Seashore
State Park.
7 Delaware
Seashore State Park
In between Bethany and
Dewey Beach, you’ll find
six miles of dramatically
wind-whipped dunes,
sea oats and crashing
Atlantic waves. When
skies are gray and the
sea is rough, Delaware
Seashore State Park
(%302-227-2800; http://www.
destateparks.com/park/
delaware-seashore; 39415
Inlet Rd; $4; h8am-sunset)
looks remarkably
rugged considering the
generally placid nature of
Delmarva’s, well, nature.
There are several
miles of hiking trails,
and during the summer
rangers lead daily
cultural and wilderness
activities. Mainly, we
like this spot because it
offers, in our opinion,
some of the prettiest
stretches of beach in the
region.4 p235
The Drive » Dewey Beach is
4 miles north of here via DE-1;
Rehoboth is 2.5 miles north of
Dewey Beach.8 Dewey &
Rehoboth Beaches
Dewey is the wild child
of the Delaware beachtowns. This is the spot
for spring breakers
and teenagers and
20-somethings from
further north looking to
party.
Rehoboth isn’t quite
as hedonistic, but that’s
a relative distinction.
People still come here to
let loose, but the crowd
is more slanted toward
older professionals
from DC, Baltimore
and Philadelphia.
Rehoboth has also been
a popular artist colony
and, by extension, LGBT
destination for decades;
as such, a small but
vibrant gallery scene is
manifest.
The main public beach
for both communities
is in Rehoboth, and the
intermixing of frat boysTRIP HIGHLIGHTStart: 1 Chincoteague
As you drive to Assateague from Chincoteague, you’ll have the option, at the MD-12/
US 113 split, of detouring northwest on MD-12. Follow this road for 4 miles and you’ll
enter a woolly patch of pine woods and soggy bottomlands.
For years, children who grew up in the far eastern reaches of the Eastern Shore
whispered about a ghost town by these bogs, an abandoned settlement known
as ‘Furnace Town’ named for an old smelting furnace. The ghost of an old African
American man, the town’s last inhabitant, supposedly stalked the site.
Good story, right? Well, it’s true, except for the ghost bit (as far as we know). And
whereas in the past this was a cautionary tale about the wild woods, today Furnace
Town (%410-632-2032; http://www.furnacetown.com; Old Furnace Rd; adult/child $6/3; h10am-5pm
Mon-Sat Apr-Oct, from noon Sun; pc) is a living history museum in the same vein as
Colonial Williamsburg (p316). Seven artisans, including a blacksmith, a weaver and
a printer, bring the town to life. The reenactors are pretty scrupulous about doing
everything the way it was done back in the day, and they’re quite willing to teach,
especially if you’ve got children along. If you need to combine a historical trip with
the trappings of a nature walk, Furnace Town is a perfect detour.FURNACE TOWN
DETOUR:
WASHINGTON.DC,.MARYLAND.&.DELAWARE.TRIPS.19
.DELMARVA