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Lewes
(pronounced "Lewis") is a quaint,
historic beach town (population 3,200) along the
southern shore of Delaware, where the Atlantic
Ocean and Delaware Bay meet at Cape Henlopen.
Founded by the Dutch in 1631, it is Delaware's
oldest town ("the first town in the first
state") and one of several communities that
make up the state's beach resort area. Originally
a whaling village, today this cozy spot attracts
not just beachgoers but families and
retirees. Dilapidated old Victorian homes
are being restored, some for private living and
others as elegant B&Bs, and the town is
growing (3% in the last 10 years). The cost of
living, though, is not cheap at roughly 30% above
the national average. The median home price is
$410,000.
Tourists
come here for the history and beaches, but Lewes
is not as overrun in the summer as some of
Delaware's other beach resorts that are farther
south, particularly Rehoboth Beach (it has a mile
long boardwalk and factory outlet stores) and
Dewey Beach. Lewes is a very walkable town (most
of it can be seen in an hour by foot), with
history around nearly every corner. The Ryves-Holt
House, the oldest house in the state (built in
1665), is here, and the 1926 Harbor of Refuge
Lighthouse stands guard over Lewes Harbor.
When
it comes to beaches, residents enjoy clean,
unassuming strips of sand on the Delaware Bay and
around the corner at Cape Henlopen State Park on
the Atlantic Ocean (also a great place for birding
and camping). Fisherman's Wharf is a dock that
stretches along the pretty Lewes and Rehoboth
Canal and is home to tackle shops, restaurants and
hundreds of boats. Lewes' downtown is small but
charming, and shopping for antiques is great fun
(and Delaware has no sales tax). Several golf
courses are in the area, and there is a small
public library (computers with Internet access are
available). Dining options are better than would
be expected in a town this size.
Precipitation
averages four to five inches per month, and
humidity is high. Summer temperatures reach the
low 90s, and winter temperatures are generally in
the 30s and 40s but can dip into the 20s. Snow
falls occasionally.
Lewes
has limited in-town bus service (provided by
DART), and a bus travels between it and the more
southern beach towns. A ferry also runs across the
bay to Cape May, New Jersey, a delightful spot
with great beaches and world-class birding. Dozens
of churches are in the Lewes-Rehoboth Beach area,
and the crime rate is well below the national
average.
Beebe
Medical Center is a 148-bed, non-profit community
hospital that specializes in cardiovascular
services, oncology, women's health and
orthopaedics (Beebe ranks in the top 5% of
hospitals nationwide when it comes to orthopedic
surgery). Three more hospitals are within 30
miles.
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