Discover Delmarva: Cape Water Tours
LEWES, Del.- Right in the heart of Lewes, Cape Water Tours offers a variety of trips and excursions to their guests; Whether you love animals, history, or just enjoy a day on the water.
WMDT was ready to set sail onto the Lewes Rehoboth Canal and see some of the rich history before we reached Delaware Bay. Captain, David Green Owner-Operator of the company tells us, the canal we launched from what used to be First Street in Lewes years ago.
As we departed the oldest town in Delaware you get a view of Pilot Street with homes of the old river pilots who helped ships navigate up the Delaware River. Once we exited the historic canal, Green was ready to take us out on the bay for a staple tour “Our most popular trip would be the dolphin tours. We offer two different types of dolphin tours.”
Sure enough, it wouldn’t be long until we saw some Dolphins and much more Green tells us “You never know what you’re going to run into out here it’s pretty amazing.” Some of the animals you may see could be osprey, seagulls, turtles, stingrays, and a variety of fish you have to keep your eyes peeled or you may miss it!
The next stop was the East End Lighthouse; Cape Water Tours offers a tour, plus access to the property. Green tells us we actually may have seen the property before due to its prominent location in Delaware Bay “As far as I can tell, looking at a lot of different publications. This has got to be one of the most photographed places in Southern Delaware.”
We docked at the lighthouse and it felt like we took a step back in time. Originally built in 1885 and active until 1996 the building was packed with history. They offer tours of the lighthouse and an extensive explanation of the history and importance of this building.
They also tell us their offerings extend into wildlife as well. “We offer an eco-tour two days a week that stays in the inland waters, back on the Lewes Rehoboth canal.” An important part of the tour is exploring the importance of estuaries and the protection they provide for our coastal plain. However, true wildlife enthusiasts, get a deeper dive into the Delaware Bay “We have one that we call the ultimate eco-tour. That comes out here in the bay, and we drag what’s called an otter trawl net.” Catching different animals on board, a naturalist provides expert information on the findings, and of course, releases them back into the water afterward.”
With a wide variety of tours and special cruises based on the season – there is never a bad time to set sail here in Lewes. Each season brings new animals and a changing landscape to see what you can find.
Cape Water Tours still has plenty of trips throughout the fall into winter with offerings of live music, Halloween-themed tours, and specialty cruises to Milton.
For more information on their sailing dates and rates check out their website.
