A lovely hidden gem in Williamsburg! I love this spot and highly recommend it to locals and…read moretourists. Romantic, tucked away, and overlooking the beautiful pond! Got engaged here as well! A super cute spot to visit with your partner!

Beautiful bridge in the heart of the William & Mary campus. It crosses a small pond and is very…read morepicturesque. Always have to cross it when here on a visit. I'll be back!

This place is off the beaten path of the outlet crowd. It's a fairly new development (in real…read moreestate terms) with so much more condos and business being built around it. It has so much to offer such as the movie theater, Fabric stores, shops for teens to adults, and of course plenty of eatery. The New Town area is a sought out location for potential home buyers in the area, per a realtor when I was at a open house and the name itself brings people in. So when strolling through the area, you can find shops a foot away from businesses. The area gives you that urban living vibe. It actually reminds me a lot like DC.

Had a great time talking history with George. This is the best perspective on Native American…read moreculture. We loved our visit.

What a eclectic little river town! I love the Scottish name and it's Colonial history! Main…read moreStreet is filled with restaurants, jewelry shops, antique shops, a Little Free Library, the Town Hall, historical sites and much more! I saw the Kilmarnock Museum, but didn't get a chance to go, it's on my list for my next visit! I was surprised at the amount of traffic we encountered on this Friday afternoon. We parked and walked the several blocks and cross streets to see everything and get a taste of the local color. One driver almost hit us, didn't slow down and honked at us... chill dude, pedestrians have the right of way and we were 1/2 way in the street as he came barreling down this small road! But that incident didn't deter us from checking out NN Burger, one of the best burger and milkshake shops in the Northern Neck! Nor did it stop us from taking pics at the cool artsy wading boot photo ops along the street. We loved the mosaic pair! Yep, they have big shoes to fill and Kilmarnock is kilting it!

Kilmarnock will always have a special place in my heart. From the moment you drive through the Main…read moreStreet, passing by the antique stores, the mom n pop shops, the character of the old that's blended with the new - it's a breath of fresh air to see that places like Kilmarnock still exist. The Rivah antiques and accessories store is my favorite - plenty of throwbacks to drool over. Lee's Restaurant is a local favorite, serving up seafood and fantastic pies at fair prices. Then there's the quaint Front Porch Coffeehouse which offers some great tasting coffees for half the price of Starbucks, and many more one of a kind stores. It's great that Kilmarnock has kept mom n pop shops as the main attraction on Main Street/S Main Street, but keep driving and you'll find a Walmart, Food Lion, McDonald's and plenty of other chains in your hour of need.

It's like you've stepped back in time here and although I realize it probably isn't 100% like that…read more "in season" I hope that it's able to remain as quaint as possible for the locals. We even happened to run into a couple from suburban Philly here. So it's obvious that the word is out about it. The main street is lined with the usual high-end tourist shops, but sprinkled within our some really cool unusual shops. If you have the same kind of sense of humor, as I there is a shop on the right side of Mason Street, almost to the end of town near the beach that has a lot of politically incorrect items that I found hilarious. In the off-season we didn't find much open for us to eat unless we ventured onto the side streets And those in our group that numbered about 30 all reported that the side street restaurants were very good and that the people were very friendly.

I loveeeee Cape Charles! It's such a fun getaway from VAB which is only an hour away…read more This sleepy little beach town on the Eastern Shore has beautiful old architecture, pristine beaches, great food, it is small super walkable and has such friendly and welcoming locals that you'll never want to leave. The main part of town is bustling on weekends during summer with day and overnight guests browsing one of over 20 or so cute shops with snacks, clothing, jewelry, gifts and home goods. They boast about three ice cream shops in a super small area and that is my kind'a place. The food here is excellent - with Ambrogia an authentic Italian restaurant with some seriously good, fresh food and a menu that changes weekly, The Shanty with fabulous water views and seafood, Deadrise with amazing pizza and pasta, and Hook and Harvey for a more fancy, date night kind'a place with a great wine list and fancier fare and much, much more. During summer months, there is a weekly free concert series in the main park in the center of town which has a gorgeous gazebo and tons of grass. People bring lawn chairs and listen to the bands and food trucks pull up. It's incredibly fun and wholesome. You'll feel like you've gone back in time to the good ol' days when things were far simpler. Bay Creek has been established nearby and is a short 4 minute drive just outside town. It's a private golf course community that adds to the charm of the town. Perfectly manicured, with a nature preserve, 27-holes of golf, pools, a tavern, and much more. It's a private club now but you can enjoy a meal at the Tavern (I believe) even if you are a guest and can do a Discovery Visit and stay a weekend with access and tours. I've been visiting for years and I never leave unhappy. I always feel refreshed, restored, and happier than when I arrived. Nothing is rushed here, no one is angry and no deadlines are being pushed. It's a place to slow down and enjoy the simpler things.

This is the stuff movies are made of... a remote fishing island with nary a car in sight…read more.. picturesque scenery with ferry boats as transportation... quirky townsfolk in a village of yesteryear with gravestones in backyard marshes. Let the story unfold... A visit to Tangier Island has been on my "to do" list for years! Due to its rapid erosion, some experts say the island may not be around much longer, so I thought I'd better make the trip before the island sinks into the Chesapeake's abyss. I'm not a fan of boats or open water bodies, hence I'd been apprehensive to hop the ferry boat over the Chesapeake Bay towards Tangier. But I finally mustered up the nerve and boarded the Chesapeake Breeze ferry. The ride wasn't bad at all! As a precaution, Hubby and I used some essential oils provided at the dock store to prevent motion sickness. Naught to fear, all was well! From Reedville in the Northern Neck, it took approximately 1 1/2 hours to reach Tangier Island which is set upon the Eastern Shore between Virginia and Maryland. Upon approaching the shore, it was obvious this little island is a true fisherman's village. We docked in a marina and disembarked on one of several piers surrounded by rows of crab baskets. Once on land, we were greeted by a row of golf cart guides, known as Tangier taxis, asking if we wanted a tour of the island. Yes please! Tourism is second to crabbing and fishing as the island's source of income. The tour took a mere 15 minutes and costs $5. The island is about 3 miles long and 1 mile wide so you can see why the tour was a short one! We coasted on the main road that loops around the island while our informative, and not a little bit robotic, guide delineated facts and figures about this "floating village". With a population of about 400, she explained that there are only about a dozen cars on the island and most people travel by bicycle, moped, or golf cart or simply hoof it. We crossed several foot bridges on our tour which went over the marshy, saturated wetlands. Our guide narrated some island history and waved at the few points of interest: the tiny post office, one school (classes may have as few as 6 students each), the medical building (a doctor visits the island twice a week but they have 3 nurses on the island), the church, the 4 gift shops, the 2 B&Bs, the handful of restaurants (maybe 5?) and the Tangier Island History Museum. There's one policeman, no jail, no crime to speak of. Many family back yards contain grave stones and there are tombs all over the island due to lack of burial land. After the tour was walked the island ourselves to get a closer look at our surroundings. Because the water has inundated the land, many homes and businesses have makeshift bridges or wide plank boards on their soggy lawns to gain access from the house to the shed or the street. Most of the structures here are weather-beaten and worn and some are dilapidated. It's as if the whole town could use a coat of paint! But the buildings still stand as a testament to this island's fight for survival. We witnessed some beautiful wildlife. Beautiful herons and egrets stood in the marshes. Osprey nests sat on pylons. We saw flocks of barn swallows and other birds. Crabs and sea life flourished. Butterflies danced around us. It was peaceful, lush and serene. We passed several fishermen casting their rods in the many surrounding inlets as walked along the shore observing the crabbing and oyster boats. The water tower can be seen from anywhere on the island. Happy to support the tourism trade, we visited all the gift and souvenir shops and bought some jackets for the ferry ride home. We also paid a visit to the museum which gave an in depth overview of the island's colorful history including tales of Captain John Smith, Indians, and the War of 1812. We stocked up on books and post cards of Tangier. We took the ferryman's advice and went to lunch at one of the restaurants that served crab cakes. He suggested we not leave the island before trying this famous favorite food of the locals. Fisherman's Corner was a cute little no fuss diner that fit the bill. My hubby said they were some of the best crab cakes he'd ever had! Afterwards we meandered over to Four Brothers to grab a soft serve cone and chill for a spell. I felt like time traveler in this town! We couldn't get cell service, and didn't see anyone tied to their phones which was refreshing. Here you could really live in the moment. Soon enough the ferry came to take us back to "civilization". I can hardly imagine what it would be like living day to day in this isolated environment but I was glad to capture a glimpse of this unique floating wonder. It was an experience that I will not soon forget! If you get a chance to visit, go before it melts into obscurity. Pan out. And scene...

Let me just preface this by saying we haven't actually visited the farm but have purchased their…read moreproduce from the Old Beach Farmer's Market down at the Oceanfront. We love, love, loooooooooooove the produce from here! The major draw for us initially was that the produce is certified organic. The other major draw is that we're reducing our carbon footprint by not having our produce travel from Latin America or the West Coast for that matter...plus, purchasing/consuming produce closer to when it has been picked ensures a tastier product that is more nutritional. We have gone to the Farmer's Market on very hot Saturdays only to get produce that is ridiculously fresh. The produce we've gotten is just gorgeous. I rarely gotten veggies this beautiful from our commissary or local markets. They stay fresh in the fridge for a while and I love knowing that I'm giving my family quality vegetables. We will definitely subscribe to their CSA next year. We totally believe it's well worth it.

I am reviewing the CSA this farm offers. We purchased the summer small share and we're very…read moredisappointed. First of all the portion was very very small and by this I mean you would get three tiny potatoes for example in a week, not even enough to make a side with a meal. For the first 5 or 6 weeks you mainly receive greens and lettuce. I found it unfair that they offer you to PURCHASE for a premium price certain items like blueberries that they don't even include in their CSA, what a bummer. I felt as though our CSA was what ever small amounts they had left over and the best produce was offered at their stands in the farmers market. I wish I had taken photographs of our weekly bag, one week we literally received a 2" piece of rosemary. This really made us laugh considering we have it growing in a pot on our patio and it grows like a weed. To be fair we had a CSA through an organic Pungo farm last summer that was fabulous(Cullipher Farms) In the spring they gave us live herb plants which produced all summer and even came back this year! Their small share was far more than two people could eat in a week and we ended up canning and freezing many yummy things. It also included fruit often, which was a sweet bonus. Cost and quality wise Mattawoman Farm's CSA just didn't add up to other area CSA's we have experienced.

It's difficult to hide my excitement of a road. But no ordinary road mind you. A historic trail…read moreturned present day park most likely used by the Indians to travel by horse. It stretches 23 beautiful scenic miles and cuts through gorgeous wooded terrain. The Parkway runs along the James River in sections and is an absolute must if time permits to avoid the highway and travel at slower speeds to enjoy the scenery. The project to build the Parkway began in the 1930's and coincides closely with the construction and rehabilitation of Colonial Williamsburg. The project concluded in 1957. The road connects the Historic Triangle of Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown Virginia all on one incredible tour. The Parkway is considered a park and is ran by the National Park Service. It also has the unique designation of being just 1 of 31 of its kind considered a "National Scenic Byway". Speed limits range from 35-45 mph and are patrolled by the NPS. Semi trucks are not permitted. The surface is concrete in excellent condition and well maintained. You can jump off and on at the tree cities. I can't help but be giddy about such a cool road with neat history connecting such historic communities. Best times of the year are Fall and Summer. Whether a tourist, or local it's a fun road to travel.

Colonial Parkway is a 23 mile scenic parkway linking the three points of Virginia's Historic…read moretriangle, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown.

Captain Pete is awesome! Responsive on his cell when coordinating the trip, easy going and super…read morepatient during the trip. We spent five hours on his smaller of the two boats and really enjoyed a relaxed day of fishing. The kids (5,8,10,12) caught some fish and the highlights of the day surely were the 3 sand sharks that we caught and let go. Can't blame Pete for what bites but I am sure that if we were able to fill the cooler with fish I would have tacked on another star ;). Thank you Pete for a fun and memorable day! I'll try to get some pictures up too. Val

What a quaint "rivahside" town. Not only are there several great restaurants here but there are…read morealso some fabulous antique shops. I love Essex Square, Lowery's restaurant which is a Tappahannock landmark (even though it's under new management), the Rappahannock River bridge, the sites in the downtown historic district and the gorgeous water views. The iconic DAW theater is a site! Love that stained glass. NN Burger has some of the best burgers and milkshakes in the Northern Neck. We just soaked up the local color and history here. This is a quiet place that's full of cool shops, great fishing spots, active wildlife(check out the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge) and cute B&Bs. The architecture ranges from Colonial to Victorian. I marveled at the old brick buildings and the adorable gingerbread houses. One of my favorite hidden finds is the giant gnarled 450+ year old basswood tree tucked away in the garden of the Essex Inn! It's an incredible thing to behold and one of the main reasons for visiting this tranquil, little charming town!

When you think of Tappahanock, not much comes to mind but there is a lot of history here…read more Tappahanock is the oldest town in Essex County, Virginia. This small town is located on the Rappahannock River. There are some restaurants that have been around for years! Parr's which is now closed use to have some of the best burgers, hotdogs and honestly what ever you can think of that a fast food would have but better. I never was a hot dog fan but man when I was asked to try one of theirs I was shocked....it was so good. Lowerys (new ownership from when I went) has been in the town since 1938 and still alive and serving folks. The original port of the town June Parker Marina, which use to transport Tobacco is still there as well. They do now have several new locations such as Los Portales (great Mexican restaurant), they have Walmart, and several other places. There have been some celebrity residents to the area as well. Stacy Tuff (former New York Jets running back's), William "Bill" Moore (blues artist), Chris Brown (R&B singer), Bill Dennis (NASCAR drover) and several more. This is again a small town but has so much history to go along with it. I like the suburbs or city life but I am always so happy to come back to the country for a slower pace of things! Sets you back with the earth because you can slow down and truly see the beautiful all around. If you get a chance to pass through take a moment and stop by, I am sure you will get welcomed in and smiles!