For the lowest lodging rates, visit Fenwick Island between April and June or September through October. Many area motels and inns offer deep discounts during these "offseason" months. Budget-friendly choices include the Fenwick Islander Motel and the Seaside Inn. Both offer rooms with ocean views, outdoor swimming pools, easy beach access and lower offseason prices. Save on dining by cooking your own meals; both motels have rooms with kitchenettes, microwaves and refrigerators.
The Fenwick Island Lighthouse was constructed in 1858 to keep ships from running aground on the Fenwick Shoals. The 89-foot-tall lighthouse originally needed whale oil and two full-time lighthouse keepers to keep the light burning. Today, the lighthouse runs automatically and uses electricity. Admission to the lighthouse grounds is free, but donations are recommended. The lighthouse is open from May through September. A museum and gift shop are in the structure's base.
Fenwick Island State Park offers 344 acres of recreational space, including three miles of white sand beaches on the ocean and bay shores. Swimming is a popular activity from Memorial Day until Labor Day, when lifeguards are on patrol. Visitors can use the bathhouse's showers, changing areas, concessions and gift shop. Umbrellas, chairs and rafts are available for rental. If surfing is your passion, head to the park's designated surfing area. Anglers can go surf fishing in designated areas. Purchase a surf fishing vehicle permit at the bathhouse gift shop. The park has 2.6 miles of easy to moderate hiking trails. Keep your eyes open for the many shore birds and ospreys in the area. Save money and pack a picnic lunch; the park offers several picnic areas.
The DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum holds a collection of more than 10,000 artifacts. Exhibits and collections focus on shipwrecks from the Delaware coast and around the world. Learn about the maritime and colonial history of the area and shipwrecks such as the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, a colonial Spanish vessel that sank in 1622; the China Wreck, which is believed to have sunk off Cape Henlopen near Lewes, Delaware, in 1891; and the Faithful Steward, an Irish ship that sank off the Delaware Coast in 1785. Donations are suggested.
