August 5th, 2009
Lewes, Delaware…..A True Gem
Exploring some of the town of Lewes, Delaware, is what I did on Wednesday, and I am telling you, this town is one of those towns that it does not matter what season we are in, it is really pretty in all of them. And, what a resume this town has. “The first town in the First State”!! Delaware was the first state to ratify the constitution, and Lewes was the earliest town founded in the state.
So, when someone tells you that Lewes is just a sleepy town, don’t kid yourself. This town does not and I repeat, does not roll up its sidewalks at dusk. It just gets started.
Lewes is very accessible. If you are coming from Ocean City, Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach or Rehoboth Beach on Coastal Highway (Rt. 1), there are several ways to go into the town. From Rt. 1 take Exit 9 East and follow the sign that says Cape May-Lewes Ferry. You will access Kings Highway and will pass the Cape Henlopen High School and its new beautiful building to be inaugurated this Fall. You will veer to the left and continue to follow the sign that says Historic Town. Follow the road and turn right on Savannah Rd. and then make a left turn on Second St.
Or, just follow Rt. 1 or Coastal Highway and turn right on Savannah Rd. (by the Arby’s) and follow the road until you reach the town and turn left on Second St.
Lewes does not have a Main St. Second St. is the main street and where the majority of the restaurants and shops are. Pretty much is all meter parking.
I was hungry for lunch, so my first stop was Cafe Azafran, located on 109 Market St., behind King’s Ice Cream, which is on Second St. (more on that ice cream store later). Their tel. is 302-644-4446. Their web site is www.CafeAzafran.com. This restaurant is Mediterranean and they also include tapas, which are small plates for sharing.
The lunch menu just made me want to come back for dinner.
I had the Marco’s Chef Salad and it was delicious. It had poached chicken and Spanish Serrano ham over field greens, endive, artichokes and hard boiled egg, roasted peppers, tomatoes and olives. Their dressing was balsamic vinaigrette. On top, it had a shaved Pecorino cheese. I had a refreshing iced tea for my beverage but they have an assortment of daily wine offerings from Italy, Spain and Chile. They also have homemade Sangria, Mango Bellinis and Espresso Martinis.
Plenty of desserts too like Affogato Mocha which is a dark chocolate gelato with espresso, Kahlua, Lewes Dairy whipped cream (local cream) and shaved chocolate.
The prices are very reasonable too. For more information, do check their web site so that you can see what they offer on their dinner menu.
Since I did not have any coffee after my lunch, I decided to march myself to King’s Ice Cream on 201 Second St. and have a taste of coffee ice cream, which people rave about.
King’s Ice Cream is a great place to go after a meal or just to have an ice cream and people watch from the benches outside their store. There is indoor seating too. King’s Ice Cream started in Milton, Delaware, in 1972. It is a family operated business and all ice cream is homemade. If you come to the Delaware beaches and you mention King’s ice cream, everyone knows what you are talking about. In case you need to contact King’s Ice Cream, the tel. is 302-645-9425.
The first store I decided to visit in this quaint town was the Beach Jetty. Everyone calls it the Jetty and their location is 123 Second St. The tel. is 302-645-4606. Maryanne and Pam were great with the customers and they had plenty of them. This store is a women’s shop with neat jewelry, and beautiful and casual clothing. Certainly, a must stop shop.
The next store on my walk around Lewes was Shorebreak. The owner, Josh, who is a local and native of Lewes, told me that he had just opened about 3 weeks ago. The address is 115 Savannah Rd. (Savannah and Second St.) and the tel. is 302-645-8488. The web site is www.shorebreaklewes.com, but it is still under construction. He has casual clothing for men, perfect for the kind of casual lifestyle, here at the beaches.
Back on Second St., I stopped at Deanna’s. This store is also a women’s shop that has clothing for a wide variety of tastes and styles. She has very nice accessories and gifts as well as a large selection of Dansko shoes, which are very popular. Her addres is 113 Second St. and the tel. is 302-644-1112. Deanna and her daughter are always ready to assist you and help with your selections.
Now, if you decide to stay in Lewes, there are more than a few places to stay. Here are a couple of them:
The Beacon Motel is located on 514 East Savannah Rd. For reservations, please call 1-800-735-4888 or 302-645-4888. This is a non-smoking motel. Major credit cards are accepted. For more information, you may go on their web site www.beaconmotel.com
Another place to stay is Hotel Rodney (Boutique Hotel) and it is located on 142 Second St. Their tel. is 302-645-6466 and the web site is www.hotelrodneydelaware.com You can walk to shops, restaurants, spas and museums.
I have only touched the surface of what this town has to offer. I will be back with more information soon.
In the meantime, visit Lewes and enjoy this historic town.
Tags: Accommodations, Delaware Beaches, ice cream shops, Lewes, lunch and dinner, Mediterranean Food, men's shop, motels and hotels in Lewes, Restaurant, Shopping, women's shops
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