We're staying at Rehoboth the week after Labor Day. What are the crowd levels typically like on the beaches, roads, restaurants, town? Can you still rent umbrellas and chairs? Since we usually visit during the hectic summer months, we're looking forward to a quieter vacation.
HI,
After Labor Day the crowds will die down some. Sometimes people will visit the week before or week after the holiday, so there will still be a decent amount of people around then. Traffic will probably not be terrible (like it is around July 4th), but it will not be light. The season here has really extended. We see people visiting all year round now, but the busiest times are during the months that the kids are out of school! As far as beach rentals, I believe they start with Memorial Day and end with Labor Day.
Hope this helps some.
We visit Dewey Beach every year, for the first full week after Labor Day. The water is at its warmest, the crowds have abated, and the rent drops on accommodations. There are still plenty of people, but the crowd demographic shifts to older adults and young parents with pre-school age children. Nearly all the restaurants and establishments are still open, including beach chair & umbrella rentals. If you don't have kids in school, it's probably the best time of year to visit.
A heads-up, though: the weekend after Labor Day is "Ocean City Bike Week", which means thousands of Harley-Davidson riders with loud mufflers roaring up and down Route 1 all day and night. Most of 'em don't bother to stop at Rehoboth, so its just more of an acoustic & traffic annoyance than anything else.
Great time to come! Everything is still open,the water is still warm, but the crushing crowds are gone. It will still be busy, and the parking meters will still be in effect (until Sept 16), but I'm sure you will enjoy your visit!
We usually go in September, too. Knowing what you want to do is important. If you want outlet shopping/dining, you're still good to go in September (thou some stores alter their hours, closing sooner in September during the weekdays). You should still be able to get your shop-on in early-mid September without issues. During the weekends (Thursday night thru Sunday/Monday afternoon), you'll still be dealing with horrendous crowds and traffic, both at the outlets and the beaches. For the most part, boardwalk activities (Funland, haunted house, arcades, specifically) shut down after Labor Day, and only open during the weekends. I get the feeling this is a changeable thing thou, relying on expected crowds, something that's changeable based on events occurring in and around Rehoboth after LD). If you have children hepped-up for boardwalk attractions, they may be dissapointed. If you don't care, or are an adult couple looking to get away for a quiet weekend, then post LD Rehoboth might be your cup of tea. We like it then and can often find things to do that don't involve the boardwalk: Bike rides through Henlopen state park and downtown, fairly lively night life on Friday's and weekends, the art colony in Henlopen acres, and just milling about surrounding towns like Lewes, Cape May, Milford... there's lots to do, but many things summer visitors might take for granted during the peak season will be harder to find open, even thou you'll still be dealing with about the same level of crowds around Rehoboth proper and the outlets (slightly less people on the beach itself if the weather is at all chilly). Rehoboth has events happening all year round (ie. Halloween fest, Christmas tree lighting, art shows, film festivals, etc.); it just depends on what you're looking to do.
RE: Funland
They're opem this weekend, but that's it until spring of 2013.
September/October is my favorite time of year in Rehoboth! The weather is usually in the mid 70s to high 60s during the day and 50s in the evening. It's the best!
Rehoboth Beach is a fantastic town! There are TONS of restaurants to suit any type of fancy. there is a mile long boardwalk with a old-fashioned amusement park called Funland. The "quieter" ends are North and South Rehoboth. North Rehoboth is often referred to as "The Pines" or "North Shores". All of the accommodations in these areas are rentals and are quite popular. You'll find more hotels in the center of town (Rehoboth Ave., Delaware Ave., Wilmington Ave, Maryland Ave etc.) The beaches at the north and south ends are much more quiet and peaceful. Rehoboth is a very walkable town....so you won't have a problem getting around. I hope this helps!!!
You are lucky to be so close to RB, in Wilmington. I've thought of retiring to DE (when I am ready to retire that is, like, 30 years from now--oh, yay). Would love to be right in the Pines area, in an old cottage there. Now I just have to win Lotto! ;-)
