Addy Sea

An 1897 Victorian cottage built directly on the sand in Bethany Beach, still owned and run by the family that's had it for generations. Addy Sea is on the National Register of Historic Places, holds 13 rooms across the main house and an adjacent guest cottage, and runs adults-only — 21 and over. It's the oldest hotel on Delaware's beaches, and the only one this close to the Atlantic without sitting inside a high-rise condo.

The mood is romantic-country with the salt air baked in.

The setting

Bethany Beach is the quieter of Delaware's three beach towns — south of Rehoboth, north of Fenwick. The boardwalk is short, the ocean is gentle, and the streets behind it are residential rather than commercial. Addy Sea is at 99 Ocean View Parkway, on the corner where the boardwalk effectively ends and the houses begin. Steps from the front porch to the sand.

The drive from Washington, DC, is about three hours; from Philadelphia about two and a half. Rehoboth is twenty minutes north for the larger restaurant scene; Assateague Island is forty-five south for the wild horses.

The building

A three-story Victorian cottage from 1897 — clapboard, wraparound porch, the kind of bones that don't get built anymore on a public beach. Interiors run period-appropriate in the main house: antique furniture, vintage textiles, the original layouts mostly intact. The adjacent guest cottage is more contemporary, with coastal-modern interiors. National Register listing dates to the building's significance as one of the original Bethany Beach homes.

The rooms

Thirteen rooms total — twelve in the main house, four in the guest cottage (some shared bathrooms in the main house, all private in the cottage). Each room has its own name and its own configuration; some have ocean views, some look toward the porch and the side gardens. Beds are antique-style, baths range from claw-foot vintage to modern depending on the room.

Food & drink

A complimentary gourmet breakfast comes with the stay. Afternoon tea runs daily from 3 to 4 p.m. — pastries from the in-house pastry chef. In peak season, complimentary boxed lunches are available for the beach. There's no public dinner restaurant; for that, the Bethany boardwalk and Rehoboth restaurants are five and twenty minutes away.

On the property

A small inn, sized to the building.

• Direct beach access — steps from the porch
• Complimentary bicycles
• Breakfast and afternoon tea included
• Beach lunches in season
• Open seasonally; closed in deep winter

Who it's for

• Adult couples who want a Victorian B&B with the ocean immediately outside
• Travelers who'd rather have a porch than a pool
• Anyone planning a quiet beach weekend without a kids'-pool soundtrack
• Mid-Atlantic regulars who've done Rehoboth and want quieter

Who it's not for

• Families with kids — the property is 21 and over
• Travelers who want a full-service resort with restaurants and a spa
• Anyone uncomfortable with antique-leaning interiors and shared-bath options in some rooms

Nearby

The Bethany Beach boardwalk for Grotto Pizza and the bandstand on summer nights. Rehoboth — twenty minutes north — for Henlopen City Oyster House, Dogfish Head, and outlets. Assateague Island National Seashore for the wild horses. Fenwick Island State Park for emptier beach. Cape Henlopen further north. The Indian River Inlet for fishing.