Exploring Delaware: Indian River Inlet

The last few mornings I’ve hit the beach, I have been forced to go a little further south than I normally would, and have found myself hitting Indian River Inlet more often than normal.

While I really enjoy going to Indian River, it’s a little further south than what I want to go most mornings since I have to be in the office (and like to be in early). Generally, I stay in Rehoboth or Dewey, but since the beaches in Dewey I go to haven’t been open when I’ve been going out, I started heading south.

Indian River is fun because you have two choices on where to walk when you go there - North Side or South Side. When I go, generally it’s to the south side because I’ve always found it slightly less crowded when I go. On the south side, you walk toward Bethany, whereas on the North Side you’d be walking back toward Dewey.

On either side, you get really spectacular views of the Indian River Bridge, which allows drivers to cross the inlet. The differences, at least in my opinion, pick up there. The South side’s jetty extends further away from the coast, and is marked by a tall marker. This marker is featured in some of my favorite shots, including this one to the left that I took on one of these recent rides to Indian River. The North side’s jetty isn’t as long, but the currents and shorebreak make that side ideal for surfing. On especially windy days, you are almost guaranteed to see some surfers out in the water.

Both sides of the inlet also offer pretty decent beachcombing. I’ve found my share of glass down that way, as well as shells and my only piece of pottery.

Indian River Inlet is also home to Big Chill Beach Club, which has one of the best views around for diners. It sits atop the restrooms at the South side, and offers oceanfront dining right on the Atlantic Ocean.

When on the North side, I also enjoy taking a quick spin back by the marina to ogle at the boats. Sometime, I hope to fly my drone above them and get a cool aerial shot looking back down at the boats laid out in that grid-like fashion.

Indian River isn’t somewhere I spend as much time as I should, but somewhere I really recommend to anyone coming to the Delaware Beaches for everything going on.

So, have you ever stopped by Indian River Inlet? What were your thoughts?