Good afternoon,

We’ll admit it. Trips to Rehoboth have been less frequent in the past couple of years.

Day-trippers and residents face traffic in the fall and winter that mirrors summer congestion of a decade or so ago.  

After all, coastal  Sussex is booming from its outer edge at Bayhealth’s new Sussex Campus down to Fenwick Island and well into inland areas.

On a gloomy-looking Friday we decided to head south on a Route 1 where on some  Kent and New Castle County segments,  80-mile-an-hour traffic is common. One stretch featured a  box truck driver from a bar stool company deciding that 50-miles an hour in the left lane was just fine. 

 The result was some hairy moments as frustrated drivers looked for openings.

Once past the madness, it was a fairly smooth trip south of Dover with our first stop being  Rehoboth Avenue and the Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats.

The joint was jumping at 1 p.m. and we sat at the bar.  If you have not been to the new Dogfish complex that includes the Chesapeake and Maine seafood spot and a craft beer and  Dogfish paraphernalia carryout location, go now.

You might remember that a cranky mayor initially opposed plans for the project, trotting out an ordinance that barred large-scale dining and entertainment spots, like  Ocean City’s Seacrets.

Existing establishments – like the sprawling Nicola Pizza complex –  were grandfathered in. Eventually, the  powers that be  relented and residents  later elected a new mayor

Brewings and Eats, which reportedly came with a $4 million price tag,  is a big drawing card for Rehoboth.  The place celebrates, Dogfish’s off-centered mantra, with a quote on non-conformists from Ralph Waldo Emerson a  part of the décor. You won’t find that at your local Applebee’s.

We had a nice chat with a couple from Baltimore while enjoying what was dubbed as the best ever dark Munich beer to come out of Milton. We agree and hope that the brew eventually makes its way outside Sussex.

The quick trip to Rehoboth wound up with a walk on the boardwalk to see the waves being kicked up by Florence while grabbing a cup of custard from Kohr’s.   Had we not stopped at Dogfish, fries at Thrasher’s would have also been on the agenda. And yes, there was a final stop at the outlets.

It was a great day that showed why Rehoboth ranks as one of America’s best beach towns.

The only downside of our trip was a misfire of the Friday newsletter, the only one in two years that was not operator error. Our apologies for the Saturday edition. We’ll be back on Tuesday and on time. – Doug and Sharon Rainey.