I should have been a travel agent. Not only do I love traveling and planning vacations, I love telling other people where to go, too (take that where you want to). So its only fitting I guess that from my busy perch behind the cash register at Lambda Rising I must have answered at least 827 inquiries about where to stay in Rehoboth over the past year.
When I do travel, I love staying at Bed and Breakfasts. One day I plan to own one of my own, right after my personality transplant which, I hope, will give me the grace to actually be nice to people and the ability to function early in the morning so I can get up and make outrageously exquisite breakfasts that feature at least one icing drizzled thing every day. But for the past year Ive decided it would be easier to just work at B & Bs, and its been, well....lets just say I never want to clean another toilet in my life.
But for you, gentle reader and vacationer, I thought it would be helpful now that another season is upon us to guide you through the gay/lesbian owned/friendly Rehoboth B & Bs found on the map in the center spread of Letters (in the next issue, well cover the hotels and other establishments). This is not an endorsement of any of the lodgings. (And if you own an establishment that is not reviewed here, you need to get on the map! Call Camp Rehoboth at 227-5620 and well review you in a later edition.)
In talking with the B & B owners, I was very moved with their stories, their hospitality, and their role in the life of this town many of us call home. In just the past 3 years, the Shore Inn, At Melissas, Cabana Gardens, Sea-n-Stars and Chesapeake Landing have opened, and the Rehoboth Guest House, Silver Lake, the Mallard, the Summer Place Hotel, and Ramss Head have expanded and/or remodeled, adding great variety to the accommodations available here. There really is something here for everyone, so enjoy your summer!
Before we begin, some general notes: all the B & Bs reviewed here have A/C. They all serve at least coffee, tea, juice, and some variety of muffins and pastries for breakfast; exceptions are noted. All have at least a 2 night minimum stay on weekends, 3 on holidays. None allow pets, unless otherwise noted. Several actually have a large dog on the premises, so if you dont want to spend the weekend entertaining Pooky please inquire when you call. None allow smoking in the house, unless noted otherwise. Rates listed are generally through Labor Day, and are usually lower in September. Most are booked or near so for July 4th, so if you plan on visiting then, dont delay!
Now, on with our tour!
At Melissas 36 Delaware Ave. 302.227.7504 (800.396.8090)
Melissa wanted to create a house that screamed "beach," and she has succeeded beautifully. A huge front porch crammed with comfortable furniture graces the front of her brown shingled home. The 6 bedrooms are painted "the whitest white on the market," and are accented with throw rugs, furniture and other accessories in bold bright pinks, greens, blues and aquas. Rooms are vibrant, floors are beautifully restored hardwood, windows have wooden shutters, colorful paintings hang on the walls, and large baskets hold thick, plush white towels in each room. Four rooms have king size beds, 1 has a double, and the attic penthouse suite has 2 queen beds and a queen sleeper sofa. Three rooms have private baths, 3 share (2 of these have sinks in the room). During the week, stay two nights and get a third free! Expanded continental breakfast includes waffles and other goodies. Clientele is "all wonderful people," a mix of men/women/gay/straight. Rates: Wkday $90-$170; wkend $115-$195.
Cabana Gardens 20 Lake Avenue 302.227.5429
This beautiful yellow 5 room house sits opposite Lake Gerar, just blocks from the heart of town and the beach. Wicker abounds in the rooms, which are bright and beautifully appointed, with large private baths and cable TV. The 4 rooms with queen size beds are among the most spacious in town, while the fifth room has a double bed and is smaller, but still very nice. All rooms open onto large wooden decks, and there is a fantastically huge deck on the roof where its warm and sunny even on those windy cold days on the beach. The bright Florida room, where breakfast is served, has a TV for guest use and overlooks the colorful gardens and fish pond. Fresh fruit complements the continental breakfast. Mostly gay clientele is mixed men/women. Rates: Wkend: $115-$140; wkday 30 - 40% less.
Chesapeake Landing 101 Chesapeake Street 302.227.2973
For my money, this is the most scrumptious, lodging in Rehoboth. Inside, light abounds...windows, glass doors and skylights surround guests with the suns brilliance and the green of the pines, willows and oaks that surround the house. Outside, water is everywhere, from the pool in the back yard to Lake Comegys down a short bamboo-forested trail, to the ocean a block down the road. On the first floor is a sitting room with a big screen TV, brick tile floor and frig. Beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright windows appear throughout the house. The "Quiet House" construction means, basically, you dont hear a blessed thing in your room. The 4 guest rooms, all with queen size beds, are cozy and warm in neutral tones. Owner Richard Dougherty was an interior designer, and it shows handsomely, as each room has a very unique and splendid personality. Eclectic knick knacks abound; theres even a replica of a light used in Radio City Music Hall hanging in the stairwell. Richard serves a homemade medley of goodies for breakfast in the sunny front foyer. One block from the beach, minutes to Poodle Beach. You can even take the rowboat or the paddle boat out on the lake. Mixed clientele. Rates: $150-$175.
Guest Rooms at Rehoboth 45 Baltimore Avenue 302.226.2400
In the heart of downtown, tucked behind Acanthus Design store, is this cozy 4 room B & B. The sunny room on the first floor features a great queen size sleigh bed, hardwood floors, shuttered windows and a private bath. Upstairs, a spacious tan and navy room houses a king size bed and private bath. The second queen size room (glorious lime green!) and full size bedroom (brass bed) share an adorable pink-tiled bathroom on the second floor. Cable TV in each room. Theres a large deck on the back of the house, and guests receive 10% off items purchased at Acanthus. Mixed clientele. Rates: Wkday: $45-$95 Wkend: $95-$175.
Mallard Guest Houses 60 Baltimore Ave. 67 Lake Ave. 302.226.3448
The Baltimore Avenue Mallard is a work of art, a sublime hodge podge of colors, patterns, paints, wallpapers and textures. Chunky, glorious antiques fill the house, gold framed mirrors and eclectic prints adorn the walls, great rugs accent the hardwood floors. Its splendor is enough to choke an antique dealer with envy. Even the bathrooms are gorgeous; one I was so awestruck in I could just picture a scene like "Honey, are you coming out?" "No, I just want to sit in here a little longer, thanks." The 6 rooms have queen size beds; some have private balconies. There are spacious porches, and a sundeck on the second floor. The living room has wingback chairs and a big screen TV, and is open into the elegant marble and wood kitchen. The Lake Avenue address (7 guest rooms) is only slightly less opulent. Rates: Wkday: $95-$115 Wkend: $145-$175. Holiday rates: $165-$195.
Rams Head Bed and Breakfast 302.226.9171
OK, so their ads usually feature naked men in a sauna, and maybe like me you thought this was, well, you know....but its actually a stunningly beautiful home and private complex off of Route 1. The whole place screams testosterone, which is appropriate since the Rams Head is for men only. Much of the main house is done in very masculine colors and imagery: hunter green, maroon, dark wood, brick, leather, tile floors, even a knight in armor on the entrance stairway. The 9 guest rooms (economies, deluxe and suites) are spacious and gorgeously appointed. All have queen size beds, a frig, TV, VCR, and hair dryer for that hard to manage hair. The movie library is for guest use; no PG-13s here! A beautiful dark toned sitting area with a fireplace overlooks the pool, while down the hall a bright sunny library is a great contrast. The tastefully landscaped back yard has Japanese maples, Russian olives, and potted plants and flowers galore. Outside, its clothing optional. In the back yard are a well stocked cabana, a gym with sauna, 3 new huge sunny guest rooms overlooking the heated pool and sunning area, and a vine covered gazebo with hot tub. No limits on smoking in the house. Rates: $105-$140.
Rehoboth Guest House 40 Maryland Avenue 302.227.4117
Now in its 11th season, the 12 room Guest House was gutted and updated a year ago; a third floor was added, as well as baths for nine of the rooms. Ten rooms have double beds, one a king, and one has a king with a king size sleeper futon sofa. Nothing fancy here, no TVs, its a place to crash, sit on the large front or back porches or sun on the spacious back deck. Outdoor showers are the largest and best in town, and if their walls could talk many of us would be leaving town and not coming back any time soon. Expanded breakfast this year will include cereal and fruit. Wine and cheese happy hour Saturday evening. Rates: Wkday $60-$90; Wkend $100-$150.
Sand in My Shoes 6th & Canal Streets 302.226.2006
You cant go wrong with a place that advertises that cake or fruit is available all day on the buffet. Sand in my Shoes is much more than a B & B, its a community center, its family, and its due to the very apparent love and care of its owners Joy Reese and Donna Gibler. I met up with Joy in the Club Room during breakfast while she was serving hot waffles and pineapple muffins right out of the oven, with lots of food lining the counter. This room is the center of activity, with a grand piano and stools, a living room area with TV and video library, a stereo and CD selections, and the huge kitchen to pump out the breakfast and, later, some snacks when a singer entertains Saturday night. Upstairs, there are 11 rooms with a combination of full to king size beds. Some rooms have 2 full size beds. The place isnt very fancy, but warmly comfortable, like home, with wood paneled rooms, ceramic tile baths, and color TVs in each room. On the front porch facing the canal is a hot tub, gas grill, a pond of turtles, and lots of furniture to relax on. There are also two suites with kitchenettes. Pets allowed, but must be under control. Clientele: An ardent following that is probably 75% women, but this is a very inclusive house and all are welcome. This is one cool place to hang out. Rates: Wkday: $70-$83, $100 for suite; Wkend: $93-111, $145 for suite.
Sea-n-Stars 44 Delaware Ave. 302.226.2742
I met owner Wendy Bunce on a Saturday afternoon as she and some fun friends were busy landscaping. With her tool belt on and power saw in hand.....well, you get the picture. As we stepped into the brown shingled house, past all the fabulous purple porch furniture, the front room still had the glorious smell of her homemade waffles in the air. This large inviting room is an open living room/kitchen, one end a comfortable sitting area with brick fireplace, the other a bright kitchen where Wendy whips up fresh waffles, quiches, french toast and other goodies for breakfast. As we talked and looked at the dozens of incredible paintings and sketches on the walls (all from Maryland artists, all for sale), the words "spiritual" and "healing" came up alot from this remarkable Renaissance woman, and I could easily see why shes a natural as an innkeeper. The four rooms on the first floor are bright with colorful paint or wallpaper. Two rooms have queen size beds (1 with private bath), 2 have double. Rooms with private baths also have a frig. All rooms have cable TV. On the second floor are a 1 BR and 2 BR apartment with fully equipped modern kitchens, living/dining area, and private entrance. The 2 BR has a wonderful sleeping porch with wood wainscotting and windows galore. In the heart of downtown, less than two blocks from the beach. Clientele mostly women, but all are welcome. Rates: Wkday: $55-65 rms, $85-100 apts; Wkend: $85-95 rms, $140-190 apts. Weekly rates also available.
The Shore Inn at Rehoboth 703 Rehoboth Ave. 302.227.8487 (800.597.8899)
Hosts/owners Ben Killebrew and Michael Roussel are very warm, outgoing and personable, and theyre always present to interact with guests. With 14 rooms (5 with double beds, 8 with 2 double beds, and one a mini suite with a king bed), this 2-floor motel style inn has lots of outside sunning and sitting area with comfortable wicker furniture. The rooms are colorfully and nicely furnished. All have private baths as well as phones, a frig and coffee service. Happy hour Fri/Sat from 5:00 - 6:15 features an open bar as well as hot and cold appetizers such as meatballs, a chicken dish, homemade Mexican dips or shrimp pate. There is an above ground pool with enclosed sunning area and beautiful potted flowers, as well as a hot tub on premises. Super continental breakfast includes homemade breads and muffins, baked pancakes, french toast, souffles or other dishes. No smoking restrictions. Clientele mostly gay men, but all are welcome. Rates range from $95-$140 a nite. Stay over 5 nites and get a 10% discount.
Silver Lake Guest House 133 Silver Lake Dr. 302.226.2115 (800.842.2115)
As I sat with owners/hosts Mark and Joe after another long day of work, a great blue heron flew over. Its that kind of place. Nearing the end of a massive reconstruction, Silver Lake will emerge nearly double in size with 13 guest rooms. A third floor has been added with 6 rooms, 4 of which have cathedral ceilings, french doors and a balcony offering the most stunning views in town of Silver Lake and its geese, ducks and egrets, and a wide expanse of ocean beyond. The second floor has been completely renovated as well, but those green tile 50s bathrooms have been maintained. The sunroom has been redone, and now features a large kitchen. The house is done in warm earth tones of beiges, light grays and off whites. Six rooms have king size beds, 7 have queens (one of these has 2 beds). All rooms have cable TV. There are also 2 2-bedroom apartments with queen beds and sleeper sofas, as well as complete kitchens and a living/dining area. Dogs are allowed in the apartments. No smoking restrictions. Minutes to Poodle Beach. Rates: (July-August) wkday: $90-110; Wkend $130-160. June slightly less.
Looking for more B & B information? Check out the 2nd part of this article in our 5/30/97 issue!
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5/16/97 Issue. Copyright 1997 by CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. All rights reserved.