Cape Charles Virginia?

[Anonymous]

what's it like? nice? worth going?

[Anonymous]

We rented a house there last summer and had a nice time. It is small, very old fashioned and slow-paced. Great if you want to get away from it all and unplug for a whlile. The beach is very calm and sheltered, so ideal for little kids. We went to the beach most days, wandered around town, went to the playground, rode bikes, rented kayaks, that sort of thing. VA Beach is close enough for a daytrip, for a change of scene. There's not much to do in the evenings, but we had a nice dinner at Aqua, a restaurant in the resort at the edge of town. We also went to Kelly's pub once or twice.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP, but thanks to their question I got on-line and ended up renting a cottage for spring break...never been to Cape Charles before but now looking forward to it! Thanks for the introduction to it

[Anonymous]

We spent a week there when our son was 1. It is a lovely, quiet town, perfect for a relaxing week with young ones.

[Anonymous]

Do you think most things will be closed down at the end of March?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone ever done a kayaking trip with kids using South East Expeditions in Cape Charles? Our kids are 10 and 7. Sounds like a fun thing to do, just want to make sure the company/guides are good.
Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We've been to the area by boat and by car. Super quiet, quaint, feels like a time warp but they have added some nicer restaurants and golf courses. Aqua is in a new-ish marina complex that feels like a millionaire's village in the Bahamas. You are on the bay but so far down that the water is cleaner and saltier, you can really feel how close you are to the ocean.
I would recommend getting out on the water - fishing boat, or rent kayaks or a skiff. Also, on the drive down, you could spend the day on a actual ocean beach (Assateague or Chincoteague) pretty easily then check in late. Or drive across the big toll bridge and go to VA beach for the day.
Crisfield is a good place to detour for lunch or dinner.

[Anonymous]

Wachapreague is a great place to rent a motor skiff, follow the channel thru the marsh (they will give you a chart) anchor at the edge of a shifting sandbar near Cedar Island (and the other barrier islands there, most owned by the Nature Conservancy and uninhabited) and have your own pirate island for the afternoon. We saw maybe 100 pelicans resting on the one we went to. Plan for a half day or full day and you can get lunch at the Island House. Bring shade umbrellas and water.
Another expedition could be to Kiptopeke State Park.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all of the great suggestions. We are getting excited!

[Anonymous]

We go every summer for one to two weeks. It is the highlight of my children's summer. We stay in this tiny obscure beach about 15 minutes away from Cape Charles called Smith Beach. This will be our sixth summer. The bay is fantastic for swimming, boating and wildlife. It truly is a wonderful way to relax. We've eaten at Kelly's a bunch and there is a great ice cream shop that opened last year. There is a newer restaurant that opened at the marina that is good. Also go to the Cape Charles drug store and have breakfast/lunch. Best BLTs of all time and like stepping back in time. Have a great time. Can't wait to we go in August!

[Anonymous]

We are staying on Smith beach for spring break! First time there so glad to hear of your positive experiences and local suggestions. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anyone ever eaten at either of these two spots near/in Cape Charles?

http://www.baycreekrailway.com/

http://www.thegreatmachipongoclamshack.com/ordereze/1000/Page.aspx

Any good seafood restaurant recommendations for Cape Charles or surrounding area?

[Anonymous]

Willis Wharf is a place with tons of atmosphere, try to go before sunset. The one bar has bar food and seafood and great onion rings and root beer. I do not know if that place is still open.
The town of Oyster is cool to take photographs, but there is nowhere to eat. Feels like a piece of the east coast that has been lost in time.
The restaurant at Aqua was pretty good, overpriced resort fare but creative and nice interior.
A sandwich shop in downtown Cape Charles - I think it might have been the Cape Charles Coffee Co. - had a burger and great grilled shrimp sandwich. We stopped at the Machipongo roadside store and bought some seafood but it was mostly a place to stock up on frozen items. Zero ambiance but worth a look around. Gary Howards in Chincoteague is our go-to as far as fresh seafood to take home.
StingRays gets good reviews and is a favorite with locals, it is not fancy.
Wachipreague has small boats to rent for a whole or half day. I recommend doing an afternoon out on the motorboat, take it to the deserted sand bar at the mouth of the ocean. Brings drinks, a shade umbrella, TP.

[Anonymous]

Not OP - but for those of you who've been and love it, can you recommend your rental properties?

[Anonymous]

We just returned from a long weekend in Cape Charles. We had a great time! Rented a small waterfront cottage on Smith Beach. Loved exploring all of the surrounding areas including a day trip up to Chincoteague. On our drive down we stopped in Cambridge for dinner at Jimmie and Sook's (delicious!). We also really enjoyed dinner one night at the Exmore Diner...our kids especially loved that little trip back in time.

It was a quiet, low-key kind of trip. Just what we all needed and we are already looking forward to a return to the area! I hadn't even heard of Cape Charles until seeing it discussed here on DCUM. So thanks to all for the great suggestions!