Top 5 reasons not to sleep on Fenwick Island’s cult treasure, The Seaside Country Store

If you are staying in the quiet seaside resort town of Fenwick Island, DE, or just driving Coastal Highway on the way to Bethany Beach or Ocean City, you’ve passed by the iconic, red Seaside Country Store www.seasidecountrystore.com

Next time, pull over! Count down with us the top five reasons local insiders and savvy

influencers break down the doors of this roadside marvel the minute they open for the season in March.

#5. A charming “old fashioned” candy counter offers a taste of nostalgia

Chuckles, licorice pipes, Turkish taffy, Zots, Swedish fish, every flavor of homemade fudge and so much more. Don’t forget to pick up candy cigarettes for the kids. I’m partial to the rocky road and chocolate amaretto fudge.

#4. The carefully curated selection of all things celebrating Old Bay Seasoning and the Maryland Blue Crab

Flavored chips, nuts and snacks, serving items and decor, clothing and loungewear, cocktail

mixes, witty signage, lighting . . . I recommend the “Sting Ray” cocktail mixer. It’s a spicy Bloody

Mary mix with clam juice. All it needs is ice and your favorite vodka. And #1, below.

#3 The discriminately displayed barnyard-animal themed merchandise

Heavy on chickens, roosters and cows, but fans of pigs and pork will not be disappointed.

#2 The hype-worthy homage to man’s best friend

Dog lovers, head to the second floor for toys (human and canine), plaques, coasters, flasks, to-go bottles, mugs, t-shirts, inspirational posters, tea towels, socks. I’ve been living in my

matching black lab slippers and boxer shorts.

And, the #1 reason everyone flocks to Fenwick Island’s Seaside Country Store: Stacks of creamy cheddar cheese spread!

Seaside Country Store starts every pint of its famous house- mixed spread with a base of Cabot Vermont Cheddar Cheese. One might argue the merits of Cabot Vermont Cheddar vs. Kerrygold Irish Cheddar, but Cabot’s is without a doubt the best, or the second best, cheddar in the world. Flavors include horseradish, port wine, old bay, southwest fiesta, and Swiss almond. Seaside’s cheese-spread sommelier — or cheese-spread steward, as he is known locally — tells us that the runaway favorite flavor is horseradish, followed closely by port wine.

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