Few folks want to come home from the beach. Parting with surf and sand is less sorrowful if you can bring a memento back to your everyday life, a souvenir that will remind you of the beauty and restorative power of Delaware’s incomparable coast.
Postcards are nostalgic, but wouldn’t you rather have a souvenir that you can taste, smell, touch or share with others? Here are 10 tempting options from local businesses.
Dolle’s Candyland
Established in 1926, Dolle’s is synonymous with saltwater taffy. Open year-round, the shop still sells original flavors like vanilla, blueberry, licorice and banana. Over the years, it has added some newfangled tastes. Watermelon, anyone? Busloads of visitors who stop at its new location near the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk clamor for boxes of taffy to take home. Dolle’s also makes crowd-pleasers by hand, such as Mellow Mints, sticks of colorful taffy with a mint kick and chocolates, including dark chocolate seashells and sea salt caramels, sold by the piece.
9 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach | 227-0757
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Blue Room Gallery & Gift Shop
Revisit happy days on the beach each time you wear sea-glass earrings from this friendly boutique. Named for a surfing term, Blue Room also carries beach-themed art, textiles, notecards, pillows and other goods reminiscent of sun and sand. A vintage-style poster of your favorite Delaware beach town is a must-have for your Delaware home.
123 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach | 537-6617
Fisher’s Popcorn
Fisher’s motto is “our popcorn just tastes better.” And it should. They’ve been making air-popped caramel popcorn since 1937 using a secret recipe. Since then, the business has popped, as the owners have added Old Bay and other fun flavors to the menu at locations in Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island and Rehoboth Beach. You can bring your signature Fisher’s canister back to the store to be refilled.
108 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach
37081 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island
48 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach | 888-436-6388
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Sea Shell Shop
Collecting shells by the seashore is a time-honored beach pastime—except most of the larger shells are broken and dinged by the time the surf drives them to shore. At the Sea Shell Shop, visitors can buy pristine starfish, sand dollars and mollusks ranging from Murex ramosus (a big, spiky conch) to the humble quahog clam.
119 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach
19366 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach | 227-6666
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Seaside Country Store
The big red barn in Fenwick Island is a landmark for shoppers who know Seaside doesn’t fudge on their fudge, perhaps because they’ve been selling it for more than 50 years. Sold by the piece or the pound, rich fudge is made daily in more than 30 flavors, from traditional chocolate to Key lime. Plus, shop around for fun gift-shop finds from clothing to home décor.
1208 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island | 539-6110
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Dogfish Head
There’s more than craft beer at Dogfish Head. You can wear a memento of the iconic Delaware-born brew. T-shirts in 100-percent cotton proclaim “off-centered beer for off-centered people.” Another great gift could be a four-pack of Dogfish craft beer. Also on tap: sweaters, flannel shirts, hats and outerwear, available for purchase at Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth Beach and at the Milton brewery.
320 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach
511 Chestnut Street, Milton | 888-8dogfish
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Edie Bees Confection Shop
Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, you can indulge visually in the fanciful, sparkling and colorful candies at Edie Bees, which boasts the most delectable window displays in historic downtown Lewes. Create your own sampler of yummy, gorgeous treats as a sweet reminder of your day at the beach.
115 Second Street, Lewes | 645-2347
The Soap Fairy
Bubbling with natural and vegetarian ingredients like olive oil, herbs and coconut, Soap Fairy bars and bath essentials conjure soothing memories of restful vacations. Sold under the Lavender Fields umbrella, the soaps are also a regular draw at farmers markets in Bethany Beach, Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.
18864 Cool Spring Road, Milton | 684-1514
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The Brush Factory on Kings
There’s always something unique to take home from this fun and quirky retailer, from 302 T-shirts to vintage stained glass. Candles from Coastal Crew are souvenirs to be savored with scents like lavender and sea salt or beach plum and lemon. Supporting local talent is a great use of your souvenir budget, and the Brush Factory on Kings is the perfect place to do just that.
830 Kings Highway, Lewes | 864-7005
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Sea Bags
Crafted in the United States from recycled canvas sails, Sea Bags offers nautical-inspired totes, wine carriers and pillows, a reminder of time on the water that you can enjoy on land. Sustainability meets fashion and functionality in this line of canvas bags.
40 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach | 567-2732 | rehobothbeach@seabags.com
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Bethany Beach Books
Just a few steps off the boardwalk, Bethany Beach Books has been around since 1991. This bookstore sponsors monthly book clubs, and hosts book signings and story times for the summer. The store also created its own monthly book subscription box service, an ideal gift for beach readers.
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99 Garfield Pkwy, Bethany Beach | 539-2522
Rehoboth Breeze
This downtown beach store carries t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and bags of top quality. A family-owned business and souvenir shop designs its clothes to represent the classic Rehoboth Beach experience.
138 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach | 226-5720
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