For my entire life, I've been grateful to call the East Coast my home.
From Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Newport, Rhode Island, I've spent years exploring the region's beaches and coastal towns. Out of all of them, though, the destination I always recommend most is Bethany Beach, Delaware.
Bethany, which is part of a group of towns called "The Quiet Resorts," sits between the larger beach destinations of Ocean City, Maryland, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
It doesn't have the high-energy nightlife or bigger crowds of some of its more popular neighbors, and that's exactly why I love it so much.
Whenever my family wants a vacation that feels like a true escape, instead of another packed itinerary, this place is always our favorite pick along the coast.
We've visited every year for the past five years, and fall in love with it more each time.
The town has a slower pace that's hard to find.
Bethany Beach has managed to preserve a calm, laid-back atmosphere that I've noticed many beach towns have lost.
There are no nightclubs lining the boardwalk, and most restaurants and shops close relatively early. By 11 p.m., all you can hear is the ocean.
The mornings are just as memorable. Watching the sun rise over the Atlantic is reason enough to set an early alarm, and we almost always spot dolphins swimming offshore before most beachgoers have made it onto the sand.
Even during the peak of summer, when the beach is at its busiest, Bethany's atmosphere remains quaint.
In my experience, the crowds tend to be mostly families enjoying time together rather than the party scene found in larger beach towns. It can still get busy, but it never feels overwhelming.
I've come to love visiting in September and October just as much as summer. The weather is still warm enough for long walks on the beach, but the crowds have thinned enough that I start to feel like a local.
Everything we need is within walking distance.
My family's usual home base is the Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence Inn by Marriott, located right on the boardwalk.
Summer rates can get expensive, but I've found late May, early June, September, and October offer the best combination of beautiful weather and better prices.
And, fortunately, once we arrive, we don't need to spend any more money on gas.
After our four-and-a-half-hour drive from Richmond, Virginia, and once we check into the hotel, we rarely need to use our car again.
Most of our favorite restaurants, shops, and cafés are along Garfield Parkway, just a short walk from the beach, making it easy to spend the entire vacation on foot.
I return to many of the same local favorites every trip.
Almost every vacation at Bethany Beach follows the same delicious routine. Each morning starts with coffee and a pastry from Maureen's Ice Cream & Desserts, and after dinner, we're usually back for ice cream.
I make pizza almost weekly at home, so I'm admittedly picky. Even so, Pomodoro Pizzeria serves some of the best slices I've ever had.
No trip to the oceanfront is complete without a basket of Boardwalk Fries — preferably eaten quickly before opportunistic seagulls try to claim a share.
Stopping at DiFebo's Restaurant and Market has also become one of our favorite family traditions.
On our latest visit, we enjoyed an incredible dinner at the restaurant, and then the next morning, we stopped by the market for lunch and bought some treats to take home.
It's the kind of neighborhood institution that makes Bethany Beach feel like a real community, not just another vacation town.
The downtown area is small, but there's plenty to do in it.
As someone who always has a book in my bag, one of my first stops on the trip is always Bethany Beach Books.
The well-stocked independent bookstore hosts nationally known authors throughout the summer, and I almost always leave with a stack of new reads for the week — plus a few more to enjoy once I'm back home.
The rest of downtown is just as inviting, with a range of locally owned boutiques and beach shops to explore.
On a rainy afternoon, I'll wander through the stores and pick up a few holiday gifts — and a box of saltwater taffy for my husband from Candy Kitchen.
Throughout the summer, the bandstand hosts free concerts and family movie nights, while Sundays bring a lively farmers market.
In October, Friday night beach bonfires give locals and tourists another reason to gather. No matter when I visit, there's always something happening without the town ever losing its relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
I always return home feeling refreshed.
Every time I'm near an ocean, I always feel more relaxed, but nowhere I've visited leaves me feeling the way Bethany Beach does.
I return year after year because it's one of the few places where I can truly unplug, breathe a little deeper, and let the rhythm of the waves replace the rush of everyday life.
Long after I've unpacked my suitcase, that's the feeling I remember most — and the reason I'm already planning my next trip back.
