Fenwick Island

Not too far from the chaos of Ocean City lies the gorgeous Rt. 54 also known as Lighthouse road. A few really great restaurants are set up right on the water and the Lobster Shanty is definitely a gem on the marsh. I had the pleasure of working at The Shanty last summer and besides having the best job at the restaurant of running the parking lot and working valet, which allowed me to relax and talk to patrons outside, I got to sample the food and have a few drinks there myself. The menu is frankly stacked.

Many summer resorts boast spectacular beaches and a vast array of fabulous accommodations. So what distinguishes one beach town from another? Along coastal Delaware, it's the indigenous flavors that set it apart from its sand-strewn neighbors to the north and south. This season, go beyond those cookie-cutter chain restaurants and pizza dives - and indulge in the most savory sips and bites at the beach. Along with some revamped favorites, we've uncovered delectable new destinations for haute cuisine, homegrown produce and seafood, locally brewed and distilled libations, markets and food tours.

One thousand volunteers turned out along Delaware's oceanfront shoreline this weekend to plant beach grass in hopes of preventing erosion from future storms.The turnout was the largest in the three-year history of the Planting O' the Green program on Delaware's beaches. Groups gathered on beaches from Kitts Hummock to Fenwick Island Saturday.

Not too far from the chaos of Ocean City lies the gorgeous Rt. 54 also known as Lighthouse road. A few really great restaurants are set up right on the water and the Lobster Shanty is definitely a gem on the marsh. I had the pleasure of working at The Shanty last summer and besides having the best job at the restaurant of running the parking lot and working valet, which allowed me to relax and talk to patrons outside, I got to sample the food and have a few drinks there myself. The menu is frankly stacked.

A Pennsylvania man has been arrested in a series of  "peeping Tom" incidents in Fenwick Island. Ocean City Police charged 44-year-old William Devon Jones of West Chester, Pa., with peeping into the windows of three apartments at the East of the Sun complex in Fenwick Island. During the investigation, Jones was observed by police as he rode his bicycle north from Ocean City into Delaware on Tuesday. He was then seen peeping into the windows of the complex, before returning to Ocean City.

Tom and Lynn Giordano, of Bel Air, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Gina Giordano, to Kevin Reich, son of Charles and Kathy Reich, of Fenwick Island, Del., formerly of Fallston. The bride to be is a graduate of C. Milton Wright High School, Salisbury University and holds a master's degree from Towson University.  She is employed with Harford County Public Schools and teaches third grade. The prospective groom is a graduate of Fallston High School and Towson University.  He is employed with Harford County Public Schools and teaches high school.

Snowboarding is a sport synonymous with cold weather. But what about the boarders who just say "no" to snow? For them, summer lasts all year long -- even when temperatures fall. Hardcore surfers suit up, paddle out and catch waves in the dead of winter and in early spring, when the white powder just won't do. Winter surf spots Cape May, N.J. -- Long Beach Island, N.J. -- Ocean City, N.J. -- Fenwick Island, Del. -- Indian River Inlet, Del. -- Ocean City (48th Street for more serious surfers, 30th Street for beginners)

If you're ready to relax, unwind and enjoy white sandy beaches set in a family-friendly, small-town atmosphere, then head straight to the Delaware beaches. Made up of Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany and Fenwick Island, each town has a distinct personality offering something for everyone. Lewes has its vast history, while Rehoboth is known as the "Nation's Summer Capital" because of its popularity with the Washington crowd. Dewey Beach is remembered for it's laid-back way of life and as the East Coast skim boarding capital while Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island are known as the quiet resorts.

Go here: Bethany Beach is part of the "Quiet Resorts," a seven-mile stretch of beaches including South Bethany and Fenwick Island, just north of Ocean City. Thanks to a beach replenishment project, there's more sand than ever for lounging, but there's also swimming, fishing, surfing, sailing and raft-riding. The boardwalk is lined with shops, restaurants, bars and video arcades, and Captain Jack's Pirate Golf mini-golf course is just two blocks away. Its proximity to Ocean City makes it a popular destination for high school graduates in the spring, so be wary of large crowds in May and June.

Name: StowAway Bags What it is: Lightweight — OK, featherweight — nylon bags that weigh less than a pound and can fold neatly into a zippered pouch that comes with each bag. How it works: The bags come folded flat in an 11-by-9-inch carrying case but can expand to hold enough clothing and gear for a weekend getaway or even a weeklong vacation. The bags are available in sizes medium (15 inches by 20 inches) and large (18 inches by 24 inches). They are waterproof and wrinkle-resistant, too. The good: The bags hold a lot of gear and make a perfect carry-on.

Tom and Lynn Giordano, of Bel Air, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Gina Giordano, to Kevin Reich, son of Charles and Kathy Reich, of Fenwick Island, Del., formerly of Fallston. The bride to be is a graduate of C. Milton Wright High School, Salisbury University and holds a master's degree from Towson University.  She is employed with Harford County Public Schools and teaches third grade. The prospective groom is a graduate of Fallston High School and Towson University.  He is employed with Harford County Public Schools and teaches high school.

A Pennsylvania man has been arrested in a series of  "peeping Tom" incidents in Fenwick Island. Ocean City Police charged 44-year-old William Devon Jones of West Chester, Pa., with peeping into the windows of three apartments at the East of the Sun complex in Fenwick Island. During the investigation, Jones was observed by police as he rode his bicycle north from Ocean City into Delaware on Tuesday. He was then seen peeping into the windows of the complex, before returning to Ocean City.

If the courtyard that greets visitors to Denny and Cindi Mather's beach home in Fenwick Island, Del., looks like the entrance to a motel, that's because it once was. The walled courtyard with foliage, fountain and an arched wrought-iron gate that opens to the road was there when the couple purchased the Sea Charm Motel and the property it sat on in 2008. They purchased the former motel with the intent to tear it down and build their dream home. Since they wanted to build a home larger than what would have been permitted on a vacant commercial lot, they had to keep part of the motel to satisfy the variances.

Name: StowAway Bags What it is: Lightweight — OK, featherweight — nylon bags that weigh less than a pound and can fold neatly into a zippered pouch that comes with each bag. How it works: The bags come folded flat in an 11-by-9-inch carrying case but can expand to hold enough clothing and gear for a weekend getaway or even a weeklong vacation. The bags are available in sizes medium (15 inches by 20 inches) and large (18 inches by 24 inches). They are waterproof and wrinkle-resistant, too. The good: The bags hold a lot of gear and make a perfect carry-on.

If you're ready to relax, unwind and enjoy white sandy beaches set in a family-friendly, small-town atmosphere, then head straight to the Delaware beaches. Made up of Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany and Fenwick Island, each town has a distinct personality offering something for everyone. Lewes has its vast history, while Rehoboth is known as the "Nation's Summer Capital" because of its popularity with the Washington crowd. Dewey Beach is remembered for it's laid-back way of life and as the East Coast skim boarding capital while Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island are known as the quiet resorts.

Salary: $24,000 Age: 60 Time on the job: One month How she got started: For 22 years, Barbara Hobbs worked for T. Rowe Price in Baltimore and Owings Mills. The past 12 years were with its facilities and office services division, where she helped maintain the company's five buildings. If there were problems, she would set up the electrician, plumber or other in-house service to fix it. She also would check the buildings to ensure all was in working order.

Many summer resorts boast spectacular beaches and a vast array of fabulous accommodations. So what distinguishes one beach town from another? Along coastal Delaware, it's the indigenous flavors that set it apart from its sand-strewn neighbors to the north and south. This season, go beyond those cookie-cutter chain restaurants and pizza dives - and indulge in the most savory sips and bites at the beach. Along with some revamped favorites, we've uncovered delectable new destinations for haute cuisine, homegrown produce and seafood, locally brewed and distilled libations, markets and food tours.

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND - Just below the dunes and far enough above the high tide line to be safe from waves and people, a rare and vulnerable plant spreads its stems under the sand on this wide beach, poking up green leaves that hide thousands of tiny seed pods. It is seabeach amaranth, once common on beaches from Massachusetts to the Carolinas but not seen here for more than 30 years, or in Delaware for 125 years. The plant, which is on the federal list of threatened species, seems to be staging a comeback on mid-Atlantic beaches, aided in part by federal and state agencies.

Go here: Bethany Beach is part of the "Quiet Resorts," a seven-mile stretch of beaches including South Bethany and Fenwick Island, just north of Ocean City. Thanks to a beach replenishment project, there's more sand than ever for lounging, but there's also swimming, fishing, surfing, sailing and raft-riding. The boardwalk is lined with shops, restaurants, bars and video arcades, and Captain Jack's Pirate Golf mini-golf course is just two blocks away. Its proximity to Ocean City makes it a popular destination for high school graduates in the spring, so be wary of large crowds in May and June.