| Cape Henlopen beach camping in Delaware offers | | | | of 1812. Pirates such as Blackbeard frequented the |
| surf, salty air and sun for anyone who doesn't mind a | | | | area, and rumors persist that he and his buccaneers |
| little sand in their sleeping bag. | | | | buried treasure in the dunes. The scenery and the |
| That's the thing about beach camping. The sand. You | | | | pirate legends have inspired countless artists, the most |
| just have to ignore the fact that it tends to sneak into | | | | famous of whom were N.C. Wyeth and Howard Pyle, |
| just about everything. | | | | who used the Cape Henlopen area as a model for |
| The campsites can be a bit crowded to the point | | | | many of their iconic pirate paintings. |
| where you will find yourself tent to tent with the | | | | Cape Henlopen State Park is itself located on land that |
| campers next door. If you can, opt for one of the | | | | was once Fort Miles, a World War II base used to |
| campsites (check the campsite map) that are side by | | | | guard the entrance of Delaware Bay from German |
| side, rather than back to back with the neighbors. The | | | | Uboat attacks. The submarine watch towers still stand, |
| bathrooms can get to be a hike from out there, but | | | | as do the troop barracks and massive gun bunkers, all |
| you'll have a better campsite experience. The | | | | of which are open for tours. If you're lucky, volunteers |
| campground is open from May through October. | | | | who serve as World War II reenactors will be around |
| The RV sites are simply parking spots along the | | | | to explain what it was like to be stationed at Fort Miles |
| paved camp road, very easy to get in and out of, | | | | and protect the port of Philadelphia from German |
| even if they do lack a pleasant setting or any privacy. | | | | attack. |
| However, you then get your very own sandy | | | | The park is maintained in part by the Friends of Cape |
| campsite to serve as your front yard. | | | | Henlopen who work to do those little extras for the |
| There are so many things to do at Cape Henlopen, or | | | | park that supplement the efforts of state employees. |
| you can just as easily choose to do nothing but simply | | | | There are a couple of drawbacks to camping at Cape |
| loaf on the beach. First of all, it's a very scenic | | | | Henlopen State Park. One is the price -- we paid $72 |
| destination full of sand and sky, interspersed nicely with | | | | for a two-night stay at our campsite. That's on the high |
| beachy pine woods (Japanese black pines, if you want | | | | end for tent camping. The other major drawback was |
| to be specific). | | | | the dumpy, dirty state of the campground bathrooms. |
| Cape Henlopen State Park has paved hiking and biking | | | | There would be no other way to describe the alleged |
| trails, plus free bike borrowing if you want to go for a | | | | facilities but to call them disgusting and dirty, with |
| spin. You can borrow the bikes at the nature center, | | | | plumbing that doesn't work, backed up toilets and |
| which is a good place to get a handle on the ecology | | | | moldy conditions. These bathrooms are long overdue |
| of a shore area. There is a huge salt water fishing pier | | | | for renovation and the cleaning staff doesn't seem to |
| with a well-stocked bait shop and snack bar, but you'll | | | | work on weekends. It's a bit puzzling because the rest |
| need a $20 fishing license if you are over 16. It's very | | | | of the state park is so well maintained, but the |
| inconvenient that for some reason the bait shop does | | | | campground facilities have been forgotten despite the |
| not sell fishing licenses so you'll have to drive back into | | | | relatively high camping fee. |
| town. In the summer, the state park beach is very | | | | But we don't want to end this article on a sour note, |
| popular. It has a nice bathhouse and snack bar, plus | | | | because we love Cape Henlopen camping. On a |
| easy access to the beach via a boardwalk. | | | | recent trip, the tide was out on the bay side near the |
| The state park staff offers many activities for families, | | | | fishing pier. We stretched out on the beach there and |
| from fall hay rides to wading explorations of the tidal | | | | watched kids explore under the pilings and through the |
| flats. | | | | shallows, finding hermit crabs and shells. Farther out, |
| Camping at Cape Henlopen State Park, you'll also | | | | the Cape Henlopen lighthouse stood watch and the |
| come across quite a bit of history. The nearby quaint | | | | Cape May ferry slid past as it began its crossing of |
| town of Lewes has shops and old houses that date to | | | | Delaware Bay. All the cares of the world melted |
| the late 1700s, including the Cannonball House that was | | | | away and we realized that gold wasn't the only |
| struck by a Royal Navy bombardment during the War | | | | treasure to be found at Cape Henlopen State Park. |