Memorial Day Weekend: A Lewes Day Trip and Beach Time

We slipped away for Memorial Day weekend to spend time with John’s family at their lovely beach house near Bethany Beach, Delaware. While we were there a reader suggested we check out The Old Screen Door in Lewes, about a 30-minute drive from Bethany. Lewes is an adorable small town — tree-lined streets, historic charm, and plenty of shops to explore. Here’s the front of the shop:

The store is small but packed with a fun mix of vintage finds and newer pieces that feel just right together. It’s the kind of place where you can discover a single object that makes a room more interesting.

One Little Purchase: A Decorative Tricycle

Clara loves bikes — and pretty much everything else — so she immediately gravitated toward a cool metal tricycle on display. It wasn’t meant for riding, but it made us smile, so we bought it for our office. At $30 it wasn’t a steal, but we like bringing home one or two small “house things” from trips because they carry vacation memories with them.

We don’t have a permanent spot for it yet, but once we add more storage and cabinetry to the office it will fit in nicely. Only after we set it in the car did we both laugh at how much it vaguely resembled the creepy tricycle from the Saw movies — strange, but somehow endearing.

Its slightly unnerving vibe makes it more memorable, and those little quirks are exactly what turn a house into a home.

Window Shopping in Downtown Lewes

After the shop we wandered downtown Lewes, a picturesque stretch full of boutiques, cafés, and family-friendly stores (including a spot named Cake Bar). Clara loved Kids Ketch, a toy store stuffed with clever, quirky items. She was especially taken with a small green doll named Groody, whose tag was a hilarious little manifesto about being both stressed and lovable.

We also ran into nostalgia items like snap bracelet watches — I used to wear a snap bracelet as a scrunchie in grade school — and the sight of them made me smile. We didn’t buy Groody or a watch this time; sometimes it’s just nice to window shop and enjoy an ice cream while strolling around town.

While peeking through a florist’s window, I spied a small pig planter that was exactly my kind of thing. I left it behind, but it had me daydreaming for a while.

Antique Alley: Unexpected Finds and Small Treasures

One of our favorite stops was a narrow alley labeled “Antique Mall.” Inside we found a carefully curated collection of vintage items — oversized mercury-glass accents, an antique bronze porthole mirror, and other striking pieces. There was even a large carved wooden horse priced at $250; I gave it a hug, told it I loved it, then moved on.

I also fell for an art print about Kalamari that was over $200 — too rich for the moment, but it’s the sort of piece that lingers in my imagination. There was also a clever tin whale toy whose moving mouth and shifting eye made it irresistibly playful.

We admired sets of tightly nested baskets and other decorative finds, though many of the full sets were pricey. Just as we were leaving we spotted a small stand with iron birds and sea turtles priced at $6 each. I’ve always had a soft spot for sea turtles, so we took home a little metal turtle as a memento.

All told, we spent about $40 for the day — the $30 tricycle, the $6 sea turtle, and a little ice cream while wandering. It felt like a small, perfectly simple splurge.

Neighborhood Charm and Beach Time

Lewes also has charming houses and fun details everywhere. We drove past homes with large concrete dogs on the lawn, picket-fenced beach cottages, and even a house with gargoyles guarding hydrangeas — all adding to the character of the trip.

We also spent plenty of time on the beach with family — playing, relaxing, and enjoying the long weekend. Clara was front and center in the fun, and we snapped some sweet moments of her enjoying the sand and surf.

On the drive John and I took turns reading Tina Fey’s Bossypants aloud; it kept us laughing and was a great way to pass the time while Clara and Burger slept in the back. We both enjoyed it and would recommend it for road-trip entertainment.

That’s the nutshell version of our Memorial Day escape. What did you do for the holiday? Any beach trips, antique hunts, or nostalgic snap bracelet scrunchie stories to share?

Note: some images featured a spooky-looking tricycle that reminded us of a famous horror film prop.

Update: we also announced this week’s giveaway winner—check the original announcement for details.