How to Practice Self-Care with a Beach Escape: Fenwick Island, Delaware

Only a short drive from Ocean City, Maryland is Fenwick Island, Delaware, a calm and relaxing alternative to the partying and bustle of Ocean City. It was a perfect getaway and provided a much-needed change of scenery that was necessary after a long quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still taking the necessary safety precautions, we headed to the beach for a relaxing vacation.

Keep reading for more details on how you can do the same, pandemic or not.

Woman on a Fenwick Island Delaware beach looking out at the water and large clouds in the sky

What To See

Fenwick Island has some beautiful natural scenery, including sand dunes. Make sure to keep your pets and yourself off of the sand dunes as they are protected for environmental reasons. It’s a peaceful sight to watch the sun set behind the dunes as you walk along the beach at dusk.

Fenced-off sand dunes with tall grass in Fenwick Island Delaware

Pathway between sand dunes on a Fenwick Island Delaware beach during sunset

What To Do

Close-up of an Amazon Kindle on a beach blanket with small shells laying on it in Fenwick Island Delaware

Fenwick Island has family activities like mini golf and a water park, but that’s not really my thing. What I enjoy is taking it easy on my beach vacations. A quiet place like Fenwick Island is better for eating seafood, walking on the beach, reading on the beach, and just taking a mental break from the stress of daily life.

For seafood, there are plenty of options. I went to Just Hooked restaurant twice because it was so good. It’s more of an upscale option, but there are also less expensive seafood options like Warren’s Station Restaurant, Rusty Jimmies, Ropewalk, Fenwick Crab House, Bahama’s Crabshack Carryout & Seafood Market, and more.

Because of COVID-19, every restaurant I saw had a carry out option and some, like Just Hooked, have outdoor seating.

Plate with halibut fish and garnish on a restaurant table with wine glasses — Halibut at Just Hooked restaurant

If you’re visiting with a dog, you can take your pet to Fenwick Island State Park which has a $10 entrance fee per car. This is where we spent our first full day, reading on the sand and getting a tan while the dog experienced the beach for the first time.

If you prefer not to pay at the state park, you can enter the beach from any of the multiple entrances along Bunting Avenue for free. Our hotel was only half a block away from Fenwick Island Beach so we could easily walk there every day and Fenwick Island State Park is just a minute’s drive down the main road.

Small dog on a leash standing on the sand at a beach

Make sure to watch my travel vlog on YouTube for more footage from Fenwick Island, Delaware. Have you been to the beach this summer? Let me know in the comments!