Fenwick Island, Delaware is just a bit north of the more well-known and more populous Ocean City, Maryland. Think of it has a long strip of land with beautiful beaches on one side, and a whole lot of hotels, eateries and entertainment on the other. It was with that in mind, we hit the road for a 24-hour road trip.

The Perks of Points

If you’ve been with us for a while, you know that we’re big proponents of points programs. Our two main points programs are aligned with Hilton Hotels (American Express) and United Airlines (VISA). We basically put all of our expenses on those two credit cards. And, it really pays off.

Not only do we earn hotel points, but in addition to those points, each year after we’ve spent a certain amount on our Amex card, we earn a complimentary night at any Hilton property in the world. So, of course we always look for a top-notch property. One of our favorites is the Conrad in Washington, DC. This time, we chose to book a room at Fenwick Shores, a member of the Hilton Tapestry Collection. It did not disappoint. An all suite boutique hotel just steps away from Bethany Beach, it could not have been more ideal. Seriously, it took us less than five minutes to be on the beach.

Fenwick Island

What to do in Fenwick Island? What isn’t there to do? First of all, it’s very much a beach town and very family friendly. Once we parked our car it stayed put until we left the next morning because we quickly learned we could walk everywhere we wanted to go. We found amazing tacos at Grab & Go Tacos, and delicious bagels at Surf Bagel.

There are a multitude of eateries in Fenwick, a fabulous country store that’s fun to browse, and the candy factory is undoubtedly a hit with kids. There are two large amusement parks with water slides and miniature golf. The Fenwick Island lighthouse dates back to 1858 and it’s the oldest lighthouse in the state. It’s a nice history photo op.

And, if that isn’t enough, just drive a bit south to Ocean City, Maryland where there is a boardwalk on the beach and amusement rides galore. The whole area is all about the beach, having fun and good eats.

Farmers Markets

Exploring the backroads while on a road trip is the best way to see the countryside. At least we think so. We followed Shore Highway (404) to/from Fenwick and along the way we stopped at numerous farmers markets. We love a good farmers market, actually any kind of open air market, and we always try to stop. Along with our stops at four or five markets where we found a bounty of fruit and veggies, we discovered a creamery that offered huge single scoops with the creamiest of creamy ice cream. Yum!

Chesapeake Bay Bridge

There was only one scary bit on an otherwise super fun 24-hour road trip to Fenwick Island in southern Delaware; crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It is equal parts spectacular and terrifying. The bridge is extremely tall so ships can pass under and as you can see the metal railings are not very high. It’s a nail-biter for sure.

With that being said though, we’re already thinking we need to return to Fenwick Island next summer.