We stayed at Aqualand from November - March of 2024. Staff was friendly and helpful! Campground was…read moreclean. There are long term residents but they were pleasant and respectful of other peoples property. No problems to report. Camp store has limited days and hours of operation so have what you need for your stay or plan accordingly. Plenty of shopping and restaurants just across the bridge. Marina is closed and not sure if it will be open this season as it has been used for a staging area for the new bridge that's been completed. This is an older campground so doesn't offer Wi-Fi but our Verizon phones and hotspot worked fine. Our view was amazing and helped to get through the winter months! We will stay here again!!

The only thing keeping me from giving out a 5-star review is the fact that these assbags lock the…read moregate at 8pm!! It was actually the weekend of the Summer Solstice...so you know, the LONGEST day of the year. I think it got dark at like 9:15 (sun 'officially' set somewhere around 8:45 or so), and these douches want you to be done fishing, cleaned up, and out the damn door by 8pm!? I love this spot for the fishing. It's only an hour south of DC, but the Potomac gets to maybe 50' deep at parts (maybe more?) and it's close enough to the Chesapeake Bay that the water is brackish (high salinity level i.e. ocean fish i.e. EDIBLE fish i.e. REALLY EFFIN BIG fish are up in there. Last Friday (June 19)I was in my canoe (prolly not a good idea with all the waves and currents and stuff...my buddy's $13k pontoon party boat couldn't hack the waves there on a windy day) fishing for rockfish, bluefish, croakers, spot, spanish mackerel, flounder, and sea trout. I actually caught nothing but a shit-ton of white perch which are good only for bait. I was right around the corner from the Aqua Land Marina, beside the power plant's release gate that was making a 50' current of dead fish (the shad/herring run ended recently so there was a ton of dead fish being sucked into the current and flowed straight out). This was naturally a great place to park and try to scoop up the big boys that would invariably be parked on the outskirts, getting their fill on fish flesh. I heard something massive break the water and turned to see what looked like a shark about 40' off the shore. Being 20' off the shore, I wanted to believe that it WASN'T a shark and was only a log or something. So I just ignored it. Heart was pumpin' though. About 20 minutes later I heard it again and turned to see what looked like a 5lb fish jumping out of the water (this usually means something bigger is chasing it to the surface, trying to eat it, thus referred to as a breaking fish). Then I saw what was chasing it. The dorsal fin was sticking out of the water (maybe a 10-16" tall) and there was about 4' of exposed back. Couldn't see the tail or the head. That was definitely a shark. Most likely in the 6'-7' range. I immediately paddled to the shore, dragging both the anchors, and started freaking out. I had to paddle back to the boat ramp and this guy is now 30' offshore, in 6' flats (that's a very shallow place) that extend all the way back to my truck. In short, I'm in his eating zone and my canoe is anything but stable with all the shit I've got in it. You may not have guessed it, but I ended up surviving. Got back with nary the further incident. I didn't see him again, but I know where to find him. I went up to Bass Pros near BWI Airport and bought gear that could withstand a battle with a shark. I will be buying a real boat really soon and then it's on. I am Ahab. Or at least Roy Schneider. And I'm gonna make that sonofabitch smile. Yeah, so after researching the possibilities of sharks on the Potomac, it's most likely that it was a nurse shark (which supposedly are docile, but google a picture of one, they're hella scary looking) or a spiny dogfish (which I've actually caught before) that really doesn't pose much of a real risk. However, in 1975 I think, commercial crabbers around the exact place on the Potomac I was at, netted 5 bull sharks accidentally. Bull sharks are one of the 5-10 sharks in the world that do NOT let go when they 'accidentally' bite a human. Most sharks hate pink meat. Bull sharks love it. And they're as aggressive as a trailer-park kid on meth. This is why I got back to the truck, exhausted/sunburnt, all late and stuff. Luckily, after being locked in, someone who has a slip there was leaving and let me out. The rates are good (like $8 to launch), there's a small store with beer, maybe bait, tackle, limited snacks, and strange hours of operation. I think they sell gas there too. People shore fish to some level of luck (mostly catfish, which I do eat out there, they are fine). There is also a campground attached and it looks aight. One caveat, MD State Police have a station there and they will eyefuck you from a distance when you're drinking on your boat and/or trying to dock on the chincy little dock. So be careful.

Colonial Beach, Virginia, is known for having a number of cottage vacation rentals. I can't imagine…read moreone more perfect than Beachcomber Cottages' Beachcomber III. From the time we initiated the booking, owner Cathy Bokman could not have been more helpful, gracious or accommodating. She and husband George own 5 cottages in town and have for years, so they know the area well. When we contacted Beachcomber Cottages, we didn't request a specific house (all are listed on their website), just asked availability at any of them. We got waaaaaayyyy more than we bargained for--the place is huge! Beachcomber III is on "The Point", that is, it is located at the tip of the peninsula (opposite end of the "Downtown" entrance) upon which the Town of Colonial Beach is situated. This section is mostly residential, as opposed to downtown where most of the businesses and the busy public beach are found. At this end, there are marinas, a couple of restaurants and a popular tiki bar, but the house is far enough away that you don't hear anything. It is a very peaceful and quiet setting, with mature trees and a clear view to the Potomac River and a small beach. About that view...the morning after we arrived, I woke up early, walked into the living room (one of them, but more on that later) and pulled back the curtains. GASP! I was greeted with a breathtaking pre-dawn view of the sun just about to rise over the horizon of the Potomac River. I stood frozen, completely awestruck as I watched one of the most beautiful sunrises I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot!) The beauty of this town is overwhelming. The house itself looks brand new. I understand the owners had done a complete renovation and the result is spectacular. Everything was white glove clean. The layout, though, is what impressed me most. It is almost like being in two separate houses, connected by a shared kitchen and dining area. There are two big living rooms on opposite ends of the house, 4 bedrooms (2 masters, again separated by the kitchen) and more bathrooms than I could count (at least 3.) There is also a laundry room with full size washer and dryer, a nice sized front porch and a side porch with grill. There were only two of us, but I could see this as the ideal vacation for extended families, those with kids/teenagers or groups of friends. There is just so much space. Probably 3x the size of my former apartment in DC. The place is well equipped with a fully stocked kitchen (utensils, small appliances, spices, etc.), bathrooms with hair dryer, towels, etc. and a family room (one of the living rooms) with games, books, TV (in the bedrooms, too), DVD, etc. We didn't want for anything. Beds were comfortable, linens provided and pillows fluffy. Free wifi, too. Loved it!

Warm hospitality in an tranquil setting. Monroe Bay Inn, under new ownership, opened for business…read morein the fall of 2011. I stayed there in February 2012 and enjoyed it very much. The home has glossy wood floors and ample seating areas that would be great for a large family or group. Local art hangs throughout the Inn. Guest rooms are upstairs and spacious, each with a private bathroom. We stayed in Room #1. The feather bed was luxurious, and two windows offered nice views onto the large front yard and quiet street below. The innkeeper was polite and thoughtful. The bathroom was fairly new construction, but the tiny shower made for tricky maneuvering and the bathroom light-fan combo was annoyingly loud. Breakfast was tasty, with a variety of fresh coffees and orange juice, and friendly, personalized service. This home was owned by the family of Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, and at one time provided summer stays to hearing-impaired children from the region. Upstairs, the rooms are lined along both sides of a longish hallway and hearken to that bygone era. At this time, the overnight fee was due up-front, and in cash. FYI.

My husband and I recently spent an overnight at The Monroe Bay Inn in Room #1. We had a pleasant…read morevisit - the Monroe Inn was spotless and comfy! I like the fact that the inn keeper had local art hanging throughout the inn to punctuate the spacious layout. The location was near the local sites in Colonial Beach and a short (5-10 minute) drive to the bay or beach area. The inn keeper suggested that the inn could accommodate family groups and was flexible regarding length of stay. If you are doing a winery visit or beach stay in the area, please consider the Monroe Inn for your stay.

Stratford Hall is the ancestral home of the Lee family of Virginia. The beautiful Great House and…read moreits surrounding plantation buildings is located on the Potomac River in Westmoreland County on Virginia's Northern Neck. The historic structures are now a museum operated by the National Park Service & is listed on the National Historic Register. Built by Thomas Lee, who served as an Acting Governor of the Colony of Virginia, construction was completed in the early 1740's. The buildings breathe history. One can feel it walking the grounds. Two of Lee's sons Richard Henry Lee & Francis Lighthouse Lee were signers of the Declaration of Independence & Delegates to the First Continental Congress. Thomas Liddell Lee was a Virginia Legislator. Walking the grounds where those men, who were instrumental in the Founding of the country, walked, lived & even played was a feeling that's hard to describe. I'd love to hear what the house and grounds could tell me with the whispers & stories it still must hold. The benefit of taking the backroads to Alexandria or nearby Charles County, MD, rather than the long parking lot that I-95 has become, is passing the wonderful historic places on the route. My route starts at the highway 17 exit off I-64 west and can continue north a number of different ways depending on my final destination. The easiest way to reach Stratford Hall and other beautiful historic properties from Highway 17 is to cross the Rappahannock River at Tappahanock on Highway 360 then north on Highway 3 which winds toward the Potomac. You'll see the signs for Stratford Hall from that road. If you're feeling adventurous, like I did in earlier years, you'll let your GPS take you through roads in an exploration of the countryside. In historic, beautiful Virginia you never know what you'll find. A visit to Stratford Hall is a must for those fascinated by American history.

I visited the grounds on an early Sunday morning and came away quite enchanted. It was huge! It was…read morewell staffed! It was beautiful. All around well done and one of my favorite of the old surviving Virginia plantations. You park and go thru a very small museum to pay your dues. Then across a neat bridge over a ginormous gully to the gift shop and a beautiful walk to the house. The house tour (self audio) was quite cool. The grounds were just awesome. Lots of outbuildings well maintained. It was like a mini Colonial Williamsburg in all the depth and information. I could have spent a day there. Later, I decided to drive the other side and stumbled upon a whole new unexpected world. Lots of cabins that could be rented, a restaurant that seemed closed for the winter and then a windy drive to the river where people were searching and finding fossil shark teeth. One showed me his treasures. They weren't gigantic, but you could definitely tell they were shark teeth. Finally before leaving the river front was a old gristmill which alone would have been worth the trip. Anyone near the area should add it to their list and if you have guests around, make it an activity on your "visitor's list".

Had a really good time. Nice and relaxing with plenty of space. It is not to large that all the…read morepeople can be involved in the conversation. The Captain was very informational and has stories. We will defenitly be looking to book again.

We recently did a 2-hour Tiki cruise for my mom's birthday, and had such a great time! The boat…read moredeparts from a bar/restaurant on the water so there's plenty of parking and you can grab a drink or a bite (and use the bathrooms--there's none on the boat) before or after. The boat itself is literally a round, floating tiki bar on the water. It holds up to 6 people plus the captain. You can bring your own drinks (recommend taking a page out of our book and bringing a pitcher of pre-made painkillers with you for the ride!) and snacks, and they provide water and drinking ice. You can also connect to bluetooth speakers to play your own music. Our captain was great, he chatted with us throughout the ride, pointing out wildlife and sharing little tidbits about the landmarks and history of the area as we cruised around. As you'd expect this thing doesn't move very quickly, but it made for a really relaxing ride with plenty of time to check out the views, enjoy a few drinks, and gawk at all the houses and boats along the shore. We went around 6:30pm and it was perfect for beating the heat and catching some sunset. Would totally do this again for a special occasion or with out of town visitors!

We went on a trip in September and it was fantastic! Captain Brian and first mate Theo were the…read morebest. We had three couples, caught a ton of fish, and had so much fun. We will be using Marauder Charters again for sure and highly recommend them!

Reserved and put a deposit down for a Chartered trip only to be disappointed. The lack of…read morecommunication to notify me that my months in advance pre planned, organized family trip (some of which were traveling in town just to attend), wasn't going to occur was disheartening. I found out that the trip had been canceled ONLY because I reached out to the owner to confirm, since the deposit and contract was made months before, 3 days before the contractional date. Just to be texted that all scheduled trips will have to be done on a later date. No contingency plan or future discounted trip for the extreme inconvenience. A big fat NOTHING.... Unprofessional to say the least.I requested my deposit back and it took 2months before I even received that.

This place is family-owned and operated, and you get that feeling right when you check in…read more The customer service is a fantastic. There's laundry facilities on site and they offer a pool and small exercise room. The room itself is great for me because I need to be able to cook. Full size fridge, stove, and basic dishes and cookware to get you started. They clean rooms every day (unless you want less, like me) and change sheets weekly during your stay. The A/C and climate control works great. The Wi-fi fast on my laptop but doesn't work so well on my phone for whatever reason unless I go outside. I would have given an extra star if the pool/exercise room was open past 5pm and on the weekends. That's kind of a bummer for those who are here for a while and working the hours those amenities are open. Otherwise this place completely fills my needs and more. I would recommend this place to any friends that are going to stay for a while. http://www.glennel.com/woodside.html

LOVED IT!!! Stayed here for the first time this weekend with my spouse and our two toddlers and was…read morethoroughly impressed. The owner and her staff are warm, welcoming, knowledgeable, and very accommodating. The rooms are simple but clean with AMAZING showers. Perfect after a long day at the beach. The motel is situated right across from the beach and a few minutes walk to the pier and some great restaurants. Would highly recommend Doc's, and will definitely be making a return visit!