I’ve had a bit of an extended break from blogging, as I packed up my life in Korea, sat on my suitcases, in hopes that they would actually zip- and moved back to America.  I’ve been home for a few weeks now, and, though I have some things I would still like to write about in Korea, I think I’d like to start writing what I’ve been doing around America.

First stop?  Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.  My mom and I have been going to Rehoboth every summer since I was a little kid.  It was really nice to head back to the beach this year.

Perhaps you’re thinking- ‘but wait.  She hates hot weather, and sun….’ Well, I also dislike sand… and pretty much the beach in general. But, I like to see it.  And hear it.  And eat ice cream. And walk along the boardwalk and smell the beachy air.  I’m just not really a fan of sitting on the actual beach.

I really like Rehoboth because there are tons of shops and cafes and restaurants around the beach area, in easy walking distance.  One of our favorite places is Nicola’s Pizza Shop.

Home of the Nic-o-boli, which is a delicious heap of meat and cheese wrapped in pizza dough.  It always on the list of places to stop, and has been a neighborhood institution for basically ever.  And rightfully so.  And, as an added bonus- they are really on top of drink refills.  You will never be thirsty.

My favorite place to check out (Since I am unbelievably cool) is the bookstore.  Browseabout Books is a great independent bookstore, which has everything you dream of in a bookstore.  A great selection of new and used books.  Friendly staff, and lots of staff recommendations, an entire section of the store selling house things and nick knacks, and a cafe.  Basically, all that and a bag of chips.

They also host book signings, and other events.  I think if I lived in the area, they would see me ALL the time.  It’s just such a great atmosphere. Another place that would see too much of me-

Dolle’s Candyland is another institution.  Located directly on the boardwalk, they sell all sorts of candy, but are famous for their delicious salt water taffy.  Nothing says beach like salt water taffy.  Directly across the street from Dolle’s is the Ice Cream Store.

The Ice Cream Store has hundreds homemade flavors.  And I can’t tell you all of them are great… but I can tell you all the ones I tried were phenomenal.  They have wacky flavors like ‘creamy ranch’ and ‘motor oil’.  They even have a ghost pepper ice cream that you have to sign a waiver before eating.  I got a Samoa ice cream.  And I can say without hesitation- if you have ever loved Samoa girl scout cookies- this tasted exactly right.  It was beyond amazing.  We also tried the ‘buttery salted caramel’ which was less girl scout-y, but just as amazing.

Shopping in Rehoboth is so much fun, because it’s filled with fun little side streets and alleys, lined with independent boutiques, shops, galleries, and cafes.  This picture is of ‘Penny Lane,’ my favorite such side street.

One of my very favorite things to do in Delaware is all-you-can-eat steamed crab.

It’s pretty much the perfect meal.  Corn, a bucket of steamed clams, a bottle of Yuengling, and a tray full of steamed blue crabs, coated in Old Bay seasoning.  Not only are they delicious, they’re also incredibly fun to eat, even if it is a lot of work for very little crab.  But any place that gives me a mallet as an eating utensil, is a good place in my book.

Now, in a pretty impressive change of pace for me, on this trip, I actually got up early, and dragged myself down to the beach to take some pictures of the sunrise.

Due to some windy weather/ Atlantic hurricanes, the water was pretty choppy.  Much bigger waves than I was used to seeing at this beach, and a rip current that made swimming very unsafe.  No one was allowed in the water for the entire time I was there.  Lovely for me, as I wasn’t going in the water anyway, but loved seeing the waves.

So, now I’m off to upstate New York, and then over to Chicago before heading south.  Hoping to be in Central America in about 3 weeks.  Excited for the next trip!