SAGAMORE SPIRIT DISTILLERY

USA TODAY SPECIAL EDITION

MID-ATLANTIC | WHISKEY REBELLION TRAIL

THISTLE FINCH DISTILLERY Lancaster, Pa. Another small-batch distillery embracing the rye renaissance , Thistle Finch focuses on producing high-quality rye whiskey in the historic Pennsylvania tradition. Get an authentic taste of early American-style rye by sampling their un-aged Small Batch White Rye Whiskey . ▶ thistlefinch.com

SAGAMORE SPIRIT DISTILLERY Baltimore A short drive from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Sagamore Spirit is reviving the tradition of Maryland-style rye. Its Rye Port Finish won a Double Gold at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirit Competition and was also awarded the title of World’s Best Rye Whiskey. ▶ sagamore spirit.com SAGAMORE SPIRIT DISTILLERY REPUBLIC RESTORATIVES DISTILLERY Washington, D.C. Don’t just drink the whiskey — learn about it! Republic Restoratives is a woman-owned distillery with an open inviting, but engaging to whiskey

WIGLE WHISKEY DISTILLERY

WIGLE WHISKEY Pittsburgh It’s easy to see why Wigle Whiskey was a James Beard semifinalist in 2018 and a multiple American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA)-award windistillery is focused on developing a community of whiskey fans.

Wigle appeals to folks who not only understand the history of whiskey in Pittsburgh, but also nurture an appreciation for the terroir of Western Pennsylvania’s Monongahela Valley, which is said to have produced the best rye whiskey in early America. Must-tries are their ACSA Gold Medal award-winning ryes. ▶ wiglewhiskey.com warehouse concept that’s not only

ner. This family-owned-and-operated lovers yearning to understand more about the distilling process. ▶ republicrestoratives.com

DAD’S HAT PENNSYLVANIA RYE WHISKEY Bristol, Pa. Located along the banks of the Delaware River between Philadelphia and Trenton, N.J., Dad’s Hat distills award-winning spirits . Touring Dad’s Hat is like taking a trip through the 200-plus years of tradition that is distilled into every bottle of its whiskey. ▶ dadshatrye.com

STOLL AND WOLFE DISTILLERY

STOLL AND WOLFE DISTILLERY Lititz, Pa. Stoll and Wolfe is one of the companies working to revive the art of whiskey making in Pennsylvania. Try the Bourbon and Rye Blend , which earned an Excellent, Highly Recommended rating and scored 93/100 in the 2019 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, and the Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey , which was rated a 95/100 in 2018. ▶ stollandwolfe.com

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DELAWARE

| BEACHES

Triple Play

Which Delaware beach town is right for you?

ANDY BEACHES SERVE AS welcome respites for millions of vacationers every summer — perhaps even more so than usual this year.

Rehoboth, Dewey and Bethany beaches are within 13 miles of each other along the Delaware coast, but each town has its own vibe. Here are some insights to help you decide where to plant your beach umbrella: CITY OF REHOBOTH BEACH Rehoboth Beach is a 1-square-mile community and the largest beach resort in Delaware.

Breezes off the Atlantic Ocean encourage visitors to stroll the city’s mile-long boardwalk, shop and grab lunch or ice cream. The boardwalk was originally built in 1873; six years later the Henlopen Hotel opened in the same location it occupies today.

Rehoboth is a very walkable town, says Dan Director, who operates a New York consulting firm but chose to ride out the coronavirus outbreak in the beachside town where he grew up. Rehoboth Avenue, its bustling main street, runs perpendicular to the boardwalk in this Rehoboth Beach boardwalk

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY VISITDELAWARE.COM

“family-friendly town,” he says. “The boardwalk is great for kids; there are places to drink and listen to live music; the surf is pretty subdued. There is definitely something for everyone in town.”

Rehoboth Beach’s shops and neighborhoods are easy to navigate on foot or by bicycle. Attractions such as Jungle Jim’s water park and Funland can provide entertainment for children and teens.

Jungle Jim’s has waterslides and a lazy river and also features mini golf, batting cages and bumper boats. Funland has been operated by the same family since 1962 and offers an arcade, carousel and the Superflip360 and Freefall roller coasters. DEWEY BEACH Dewey Beach sits on a narrow strip of land between Rehoboth Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The town is only 1 mile long and two blocks wide, but on summer weekends its population swells from 300 year-round residents to more than 30,000 visitors.

Despite its size, Dewey Beach isn’t short on activities. The town hosts music festivals, sidewalk sales for shoppers and free movies on Monday evenings during the summer. There’s also a tradition of bonfires on the beach at Dagsworthy Avenue each Wednesday after sunset.

Visitors who want to spend more time checking out local watering holes and live music should head to Dewey, Director says.

“It is a pretty small area, but there are 21 bars on a 1-mile stretch,” he says. “Some of the bars are on the beach. Dewey has tons of beach food, is really easy to walk around and is super fun. It is definitely a party town.”

Dewey is also a good spot to try out a variety of water activities, including surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, jet skiing, kiteboarding or windsurfing. If you prefer something more quiet, you can rent a pontoon or sail boat or go surf fishing or crabbing. DELAWARE | BEACHES

Bethany Beach boardwalk

BETHANY BEACH Bethany Beach also boasts a wide, boardwalk-backed beach and is flanked on the north by Delaware Seashore State Park, a thin barrier island between the Rehoboth and Indian River bays and the Atlantic Ocean.

The town is on the small side, but has a library, nature center, farmers market, gardens and parks. The nature center has trails and is geared toward children, educating them about native plants, birds, inland bays and wetlands.

Bethany Beach operates a trolley service through the middle of September; for $.25, riders can jump off or flag down the trolley anywhere along its route.

The town shows movies on the beach at dusk on Monday nights through the end of August.