Anonymous wrote:Yes.

Stereotypically, Rehoboth has been known as the gay beach, while Bethany is the family beach.

If you want bread and circus from high-end sushi, oyster bars, and caviar to pizza joints; gay bars to kiddie world like Funland, Rehoboth is your place. There is something for everyone,

If you want a quieter, family-oriented place with less variety and choice, Bethany is it.

signed, a 20-year veteran of Rehoboth who did Bethany with friends once, and ran screaming. YYMV.

Rehoboth Beach is just as much a family beach as Bethany. Rehoboth boasts Funland, which is the most clean, wholesome amusement park anywhere! Especially known for the adorable, antique kiddie rides. Family run by the Fasnachts.

Anonymous wrote:What’s ocean city like compared to these two places. I am new to this area.

Avoid. Very trashy unfortunately. Lots of strip malls and neon signs and high rises....

Bethany is boring. There are a few restaurants, but there isn’t anything to do there. There is a huge MoCo catholic contingent there. Many people have houses (or lots) passed down from grandparents. The boardwalk doesn’t have much in it.

Ocean city is much bigger, had a many miles long boardwalk. About a mile of it is filled with tacky beach type shops and friend food places. Not many good restaurants, but lots with places to eat on the water, which the other two beaches don’t have. OC has high rise condos in the northern part of town, and lots of run down three story places in the southern part. They have some new places that are nice, and if you absolutely have to be ocean front, it’s basically the only option unless you want to go to sea colony in bethany. Sea Colony looks like a jail complex and you can’t really walk to anything.

I prefer Rehoboth because I like to park the car and walk everywhere. They have great restaurants, decent beach and a nice boardwalk for the kids. A few cheesy beach things, but also some nice shops on Rehoboth ave.

Anonymous wrote:What’s ocean city like compared to these two places. I am new to this area.

More middle class.

What’s ocean city like compared to these two places. I am new to this area.

I'd heard all of the above but we've been several times now and my experience is that Bethany is still VERY crowded, even if less so than Rehoboth, so don't go there expecting some peaceful family experience. If you really want a mellow peaceful beach scene, go to Lewes (or go for the day, which is what we do).

Also, Rehoboth historically had a reputation for having a gay scene before it was okay for gay couples to be particularly open. You will see no more gay couples or gay bars than you'd see in an urban part of DC or NY. It is primarily filled with (straight) families, and is very, very family friendly.

Agree with the others. I feel like Rehoboth is easier to walk around than Bethany.

We stay in Bethany (quieter) and visit Rehoboth (more fun)

Both are fun and lovely! Bethany is quieter.

Rehobeth is VERY crowded but has more of a OC crowd on the boardwalk. Has good restaurants and more urban. Bethany is more family oriented less crowded and more UMC families. Can be expensive.

Yes.

Stereotypically, Rehoboth has been known as the gay beach, while Bethany is the family beach.

If you want bread and circus from high-end sushi, oyster bars, and caviar to pizza joints; gay bars to kiddie world like Funland, Rehoboth is your place. There is something for everyone,

If you want a quieter, family-oriented place with less variety and choice, Bethany is it.

signed, a 20-year veteran of Rehoboth who did Bethany with friends once, and ran screaming. YYMV.

Agree with PP - Rehoboth bigger, more bustling, much better boardwalk.

Rehoboth is much bigger, it has a real boardwalk with arcades and shops, it has many more (and better) restaurants, it has bigger crowds. Bethany gets crowded on weekends too but is probably 1/10th the size.

Keyword being noticeable. Are both equally bush this time of the year?