Rehoboth Beach: A Gay Travel Haven

The unofficial gay and lesbian summer beach resort of the Mid-Atlantic states, charming Rehoboth Beach is situated along a sweeping, sandy stretch of the Delaware shore that’s within three-hour drives of Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Over the past decade, many of the town’s guesthouses, shops and restaurants have received stylish makeovers and this once low-key, largely middle-class town has developed a see-and-be-seen cachet that extends well beyond nearby cities. Prices have risen, too, but Rehoboth largely retains a laid-back, welcoming vibe that makes it a perfect destination for summer fun and a romantic weekend retreat during the quieter spring and fall shoulder seasons.

The town began developing a subtle gay following in the ’50s, and gays continued to settle here. Then, in 1980, Glenn Thompson opened a full-scale gay resort, the Renegade, on the western outskirts; soon after, the Blue Moon restaurant and bar opened downtown. Nowadays, Rehoboth (Beach-fun.com for general tourism info; CampRehoboth.com for details on the LGBT scene) teems with gay-owned or – oriented businesses, including cafes, restaurants, bars and about a dozen guesthouses. Although the Renegade was razed in 2002 to make way for condos, the Blue Moon is still a first-rate place to dine and socialize.

Although an increasing number of trendy, urbane businesses have opened here recently, Rehoboth’s beachfront is still lined with a bustling, honky-tonk boardwalk of saltwater taffy parlors, video arcades and souvenir shops. Many visitors spend afternoons catching rays at the beach. The largely gay male section, known as Poodle Beach, runs from about St. Lawrence to Penn streets, at the southern tip of the Boardwalk. Women sunbathe here to some extent, but more lesbians and a fair share of gay men flock north of downtown to the beach at Cape Henlopen State Park (aka North Shores, a 20-to-30-minute walk or 10-minute drive via Ocean Drive).

See the Full Story at the Dallas Voice

Click here for gay travel resources in Delaware.