Ask any beach town local what their favorite time of year is and 9 times out of 10 they will tell you it is the month of September. Sure we love summer and look forward to it with mounting anticipation all year long, but the truth of the matter is, as soon as summer arrives, we are secretly counting the days until September hits. It’s not that we don’t appreciate the summer crowds, the lucrative benefits of incoming tourists, or all of the summer hype; it is simply that when September hits, locals finally get the chance to enjoy all of the perks of summer, minus the pitfalls of the large crowds. Beaches, bars, and restaurants are free reign again, and we revel in the chance to get out and enjoy the beautiful late-summer weather. Biking the boards, finally getting caught up on summer reading, or checking out that restaurant you’ve been hearing about for months are just a few options for locals this month.
Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a ‘locals only’ playtime. Visitors who aren’t bogged down with back-to-school schedules take advantage of this time of year as well, nabbing discounted hotel and condo stays, visiting friends, and enjoying the improved traffic flow. There’s also SO MUCH happening on the Eastern Shore during the month of September; so much so that we are focusing solely on the beach area for this article, with a round up of the ‘top five things we love about beach life in September:
Beach Days & Bike Days are the Best Days!
Without doubt or hesitation, September is our favorite month of the year to be at the beach. With the exception of the passing hurricane or tropical storm, September typically brings a weather forecast that is nothing short of perfection with temperatures hovering in the low 80s and upper 70s. The beach and boardwalk are significantly less crowded, which means you finally get the chance to dig your toes into the sand and catch up on all those summer beach reads you were so excited to tackle back in May. On the boardwalk, it’s finally your chance to bike to your heart’s content. A boardwalk bike ride or a bike ride to your favorite local restaurant is hard to top when it comes to daytime activities in Ocean City, and one that we highly, highly recommend. Of course a September beach day in Fenwick, Bethany and Rehoboth, or camping trips to Assateague are also fantastic options to consider this month. Simply stated, get outside and enjoy the weather!
Exploring the Shore
Speaking of getting outside and enjoying the weather, exploring the nearby coastal towns is ideal for beach-goers this time of year. In the summer, it can be tough traveling in and out of Ocean City with the heavy traffic flow. By September, traffic has eased up and it feels as if the local area is wide open and ripe for the pickin…because it is! A trip to Assateague, Berlin, Snow Hill, Bethany Beach, Rehoboth, Lewes…the options are endless and guaranteed to please. Jump in your car or on your bicycle or motorcycle and discover a new area of Delmarva. Better yet, share your adventure with us by tagging us in your photos or by using #shorebread!
Berlin Fiddler’s Convention
America’s Coolest Small Town is just a stone’s throw from the beach, which is why many beachgoers make a point of stopping in the quaint town on their way to or from the beach. Of course, as Berlin residents, we’re just a tad bit bias, but we think Berlin is the perfect complement to the beach life. Come September, we look forward to so many awesome aspects of Berlin living (sitting on the porch at the Atlantic Hotel for instance) but one of our favorites is the annual Fiddler’s Convention! Main Street shuts down for the bluegrass event, which features two days of live entertainment. After the shows, stick around to explore all that Berlin has to offer, including fantastic shopping and dining. The town has seen an influx of new businesses since last year’s Fiddler’s Convention so be sure to check them all out while you’re in town!
Dining Al Fresco
For us, it’s always about the food! Admittedly, there are times during the busy summer season that the thought of traveling from Berlin to Fenwick for sushi or tacos seems daunting; however come September, that concern falls to the wayside. In fact, we fully embrace the long rides on gorgeous September days when we can cruise with the windows down. What’s more, the cooler evening temperatures make for ideal conditions for dining al fresco. A few favorites that we have on our more immediate radar for outside seating are Ropewalk (OC), Papa Grandes (Fenwick), Leaky Pete’s (Berlin), Adolfo’s (Ocean City), Back Porch Café (Rehoboth) and the newly opened 99 Sea Level (Bethany).
Event-FULL
In case you missed our roundup of September Happenings, it’s safe to say we will not be lacking in things to do this month. There are events every weekend, with many overlapping to the point that we aren’t quite sure how we will fit them all in! Delmarva Bike Week, Bethany Boardwalk Arts Festival, Brews at the Beach, Sunfest, Kitefest, Pocomoketoberfest…the list goes on and on. Of course, there are plenty of impromptu activities to enjoy with your friends and family too. Bike rides, camping, shopping, miniature golf, golfing, happy hours, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, boat rides and much, much more await you this month…which is precisely why we love beach life in September!
