Lewes (Delaware)

Since Lewes is small town, traveling by foot is a popular option for locals and visitors. You can easily walk to the beach and through town to go shopping or site seeing. Many people also choose to bike and rollerblade to and from their destinations.

In Lewes, parking meters are in effect on streets in the downtown business district, the 1812 Municipal Parking Lot, the Canalfront Park Parking Lot, and the 3rd Street Parking Lot from May 1 to October 14 from 9AM to 6PM. The rates for these meters are $1.00 per hour. Between October 15 and April 30, parking in the downtown business district is limited to a maximum of 3 hours. In the 1812 Municipal Parking Lot, parking is limited to a maximum of 3 hours from May 1 to October 14 and to a maximum of 3 hours on the canal side from October 15 to April 30. Parking meters are in effect at the Lewes Beach #1 and Lewes Beach #2 lots from May 1 to September 30 from 9AM to 6PM. The rates for these meters are $2.00 per hour. Parking at metered spots in Lewes can be paid with change or the Parkmobile app, with the 1812 Municipal Parking Lot, the Canalfront Park Parking Lot, the 3rd Street Parking Lot, and the Lewes Beach #1 and Lewes Beach #2 lots also accepting credit cards. Change machines are available at Mary Vessels Park and the Lewes Beach #1 and Lewes Beach #2 lots. Free parking is available at a lot at Schley Avenue and Franklin Avenue and at Otis Smith Park on Savannah Road.

If you are planning to travel on Route 1 to the outlets, grocery store, movies, or head towards the other beaches, your car or public transportation is the best way to go. Route 1 is three lanes on each side and gets extremely busy during the summer months.

There are a few different options of public transportation you can choose from while traveling in Lewes:

• DART- a public bus service which covers areas from Wilmington, Dover, Rehoboth Beach, and makes its way around Lewes, Georgetown, Long Neck, Ocean City, and Dewey Beach.
• Park "N" Ride Transit System- this transportation system is run by the state of Delaware and operates between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It commutes on Route 1 between Lewes and Dewey beaches and also makes some stops in Rehoboth beach.
• Jolly Trolley of Rehoboth- a shuttle service traveling between Rehoboth and Dewey beaches with stops about every half hour.
• Cape May-Lewes Ferry Trolley- if you are a foot passenger traveling to Lewes, there is the option of the trolley that the ferry provides. Buses and trolleys run from June 14 to Labor Day and make their way from the Lewes Terminal, through Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and to the outlets on Route 1.

Although Lewes is a small town, there is always something to see and do! The beaches to visit in and around Lewes are, Lewes Beach, Lewes Bay, Cape Henlopen Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, and Ocean City Maryland.

If you are a history buff, here are some places that offer tours that will interest you:

• Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation- this tour takes you out on the Bay to look at the beautiful and historic lighthouse of Lewes; the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse and Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse. The Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse was built in 1926 to replace a lighthouse that was previously damaged by a storm. It is also one of the most popular lighthouses on the Atlantic. The Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse housed keepers from 1885 to 1950 when it was lit automatically and was only less than a mile from the beach.
• Fort Miles Historical Association- located in Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes and focuses on World War II history in Delaware.
• Lewes Historical Society Complex at Shipcarpenter St. and West Third. Restored buildings and country store. Marine Museum next to Post Office. Walking tour of historic homes. Call Lewes Chamber of Commerce at +1 302-645-8073.
• Lightship Overfalls- built in 1938 and located on the canal in downtown Lewes since 1973. This was the final lightship that was constructed by the United States Lighthouse Service.
• Zwaanendael Museum- honors the first European colony in Delaware and houses pieces from Lewes military and social history.

• Cape Henlopen State Park +1 302-645-8983, several camp grounds, trails for walking, biking, and skating, nature trails, tennis and basketball courts, large fields to run around, hosts the annual Great Delaware Kite Festival which is held on Easter weekend every year, the Great Dune, a World War II observation tower overlooks the beach, 3,000-acre park (1,200-ha), nature center, and areas for surf fishing. The Cape Henlopen is also the Eastern Terminus of the American Discovery Trail.
• Winswept Stables- a great place to visit for people who wish to learn how to ride horses.+1 302-645-1651
• Cape May-Lewes Ferry- a seventy-minute cruise traveling on the Delaware Bay to Cape May, New Jersey, you can travel as a foot passenger or bring your car or truck across with you. +1 302-644-6030
• Lewes Harbour Marina- charters boat trips and a shop for boating supplies. +1 302-645-6227
• Heritage Golf Club- a larger, more developed golf course, with a waterfall and eleven sand traps.
• Nassau Valley Vineyards & Winery- picnic tables are available for people packing lunch, also hosts weddings.
• Great Delaware Kite Festival- held on Easter weekend every year, kite raffles, local food, stunt demonstrations.
• Overfalls Lightship Opening Party- this party is held the Friday before Memorial Day every year and commemorates the beginning of summer and offers live music, food, and a cash bar.

Downtown Lewes offers Second Street shopping which has many small specialty stores where you can shop for clothes, books, antiques, art, homemade candy and ice cream, children's toys, crafts, flowers, furniture, jewelry, and sporting goods. A few minutes outside of Lewes on Route 1 is Tanger Outlets, which houses over 130 name-brand outlet stores.

• Abraxas Studio of Art, 123 C Second St, ☏ +1 302 645-9119. Art studio offering seascape and landscape paintings and prints by artist Abraxas. 
• Blooming Boutique. Boutique selling accessories, jewelry, Trollbeads, handbags, shoes, and clothes, with two locations in Lewes. 

• 107 Second St, ☏ +1 302 644-4052. 
• 102 Savannah Rd, ☏ +1 302 645-7479. 

There are many different types of restaurants to choose from when dining in Lewes. There are local favorites and chain restaurants. There are also chain fast food restaurants on the Route 1 highway.

• Striper Bites- American style, specializes in seafood. Located in downtown Lewes
• Agave Mexican Restaurant- Mexican food, located in downtown Lewes, reasonable pricing, locals rave about the guacamole and margaritas. Plus, casual atmosphere, happy hour daily, over 70 different kinds of tequila. 137 Second Street, Lewes.
• Mr. P Pizza and Pasta- local favorite for homemade pizza and fresh bread.
• The Wheelhouse- overlooks the historic Lewes harbor, seafood, offers lunch, and dinner.
• Lemon Tree Restaurant- local favorite, diner food, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, home of the famous "Bubba" size.
• Tokyo Stakehouse- Japanese cuisine, popular for sushi and sashimi, hibachi grilles.
• Capriotti's Sandwich Shop- fine quality sandwiches since 1976, wide variety of specialty sandwiches.

• Nassau Vineyards, 36 Nassau Commons, +1 302-645-9463. Orchards, Winery, Picnic Tables. Bring your lunch and have a glass of wine. Open Tu-Sa 11AM-5PM, Su Noon-5PM, Closed Mo.
• Irish Eyes Pub and Restaurant- there are two locations in Lewes and Rehoboth, offers large beer list and menu. 213 Anglers Road, Lewes and 52-b Rehoboth Avenue.
• Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats- this brewery and restaurant in Rehoboth offers vintage beers and brew new beers regularly. 320 Rehoboth Avenue.
• Grayhare Tavern- over forty beers, happy hour daily, pool, darts and big screen tv's. 18766 John J. William Highway, Rehoboth.
• Bottle and Cork- nightclub and hosts live music. 1807 Highway One, Rehoboth.

• Dogfish Inn - Trendy, retro-style motel associated with Dogfish Head Brewery 105 Savannah Rd, +1 302-644-8292
• Lazy L at Willow Creek- bed and breakfast, pets are welcome. 16061 Willow Creek Road, +1 302-644-7220
• Inn at Canal Square- waterfront, within walking distance to Lewes Bay and within a mile of the ocean beach of Cape Henlopen State Park. 122 West Market Street, +1 302-644-3377
• Cape Henlopen State Park- camp grounds that offers over 150 sites, available March 1- November 30. +1 302-645-8983
• Zwaanendael Inn- also is known as Hotel Rodney, historic inn built in 1926 located in downtown Lewes near Second Street shopping, about a mile down the road from Lewes beach. 142 Second Street, +1 302-645-6466
• The Beacon Inn- located at 514 E Savannah Rd near second Street shopping, restaurants, and Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, +1 302-550-9283
• Blue Water House- bed and breakfast, hosts special events. 407 East Market Street, +1 302 645-7832
• Steamboat Landing RV Park- located near the Broadkill River, within 20 minutes to Delaware Beaches, numerous grass lots for your cars and campers.+1 302-645-6500

There are also some chain hotels such as Sleep Inn & Suites, Heritage Inn, and Red Mill Inn available to vacationers.

• The Inn at Lewes Rehoboth Beach, 18282 Coastal Highway, ☏ +1 302-200-9978. One-bedroom efficiency apartments available for short and long term, event weekends, seasonal and off-seasonal rentals. Furnished or unfurnished. Half-mile to Tanger outlet shopping, two miles to Lewes Beach, four miles to Rehoboth Beach. 

There are different options available for vacationers looking to take day trips from Lewes:

• Cape May, New Jersey - A seventy minute ferry ride takes you across the Delaware Bay to the small town of Cape May where you can enjoy beaches, shopping, restaurants, and site seeing of beautiful Victorian architecture.
• Rehoboth Beach - A ten minute drive from Lewes takes you to the boardwalk and beach of Rehoboth. This town is also filled with outlet shopping, restaurants, bars, miniature golf, and Jungle Jim's Safari Water Park.
• Dewey Beach - There a number of activities to choose from when traveling to Dewey including kayaking tours, sailing lessons, parasailing, golfing, shopping, nightlife, boat rentals, free children's movies on the beach, and even family bon fires. There is something for everyone to participate in.
• Ocean City, Maryland - about a 46-60-minute drive from Lewes, Ocean City offers a large boardwalk and beach, amusement parks, outlets, watersports, fishing, and water parks.