Rediscovering America_ Exploring the Small Towns of Virginia & Maryland - Bill Burnham [106]
The Cape Charles Town Harbor Marina is recently renovated, with all new water, electricity, bulkhead and about 50 slips awaiting the pleasure boater. (tel. 757-331-2357)
The Low Sea Co. sails its tall ship Schooner Serenity out of Cape Charles from April through November on sunset cruises and charters. Passengers can lend a hand setting the sail, or even take the helm. Or simply sit back and relax with a beverage. Reservations required. (tel. 757-710-1233, www.schoonerserenity.com)
Dining
Eastern Shore restaurants often have shorter hours during the off-season, so call before you stop by. Those listed below include days open and meals served in summer.
A mile north of Cape Charles on four-lane Route 13, Foggy Dog Pizza has a whopping 30 toppings to choose from for your specialty pizzas, along with pastas, subs and salads. Open for lunch and dinner every day. (tel. 757-331-2177)
South of town on Route 13 is Shore Break Restaurant with a menu of seafood, steak and daily specials for lunch and dinner. Closed Tuesdays. (tel. 757-331-3900)
In downtown Cape Charles, Garden Café and Gifts serves seafood, prime rib and pastas daily for lunch and dinner. (233 Mason Avenue, tel. 757-331-1600)
A few doors down, Harbor Grille serves fresh local seafood as it comes into season. It has great soft shell crab and a raw bar. Serving breakfast and lunch Tuesday-Saturday, dinner Thursday-Saturday. (203 Mason Avenue, tel. 757-331-3005)
Rebecca’s serves down-home cooking in a 1930s grocery store turned arcade and dance hall that was once a Sears catalog store. It’s named for the daughter of the owner, Eddie Bell, a former oysterman. Serving lunch and dinner; closed Mondays. (7 Strawberry Street, Cape Charles, tel. 757-331-3879)
Lodging
Cape Charles has a handful of motels, and a half-dozen B&Bs awaiting the traveler looking for a quiet stay in a port town. Cape Charles House B&B is a 1912 Colonial Revival with a wrap-around porch, and is filled with antiques and collectibles. (645 Tazewell Avenue, tel. 757-331-4920, www.capecharleshouse.com, $$)
Chesapeake Charm B&B is furnished with antiques and treasures made by the owners’ four grandmothers. (202 Madison Avenue, tel. 757-331-2676, www.chesapeakecharmbnb.com, $$)
Sea Gate B&B has an enclosed breakfast porch decorated with artifacts collected during the owner’s travels. (9 Tazewell Avenue, tel. 757-331-2206, www.bbhost.com/seagate, $$)
Wilson-Lee House is a 1906 Colonial Revival home furnished eclectically with period and contemporary styles. (403 Tazewell Avenue, tel. 757-331-1954, www.wilsonleehouse.com, $$)
Sterling House B&B is just three doors from the beach and the innkeepers will lend you umbrellas and bicycles. There’s a hot tub on the back deck. (9 Randolph Avenue, tel. 757-331-2483, www.Sterling-Inn.com, $$)
About 10 minutes south of Cape Charles is Nottingham Ridge, an historic home on 100 acres with a private beach, offering four guest rooms. (Nottingham Ridge Lane, tel. 757-331-1010, www.nottinghamridge.com, $$)
Pet-friendly: Also on Nottingham Ridge Lane and with a private beach is Pickett’s Harbor Bed & Breakfast, which takes pets with a $25 charge. (tel. 757-331-2212, www.bbonline.com/va/pickharb, $$)
Pet-friendly: Near the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Best Western Sunset Beach Resort is a full-service hotel with 74 rooms, a pool, and a private beach. Pets accepted with a $10 charge. (tel. 800-899-4786 or 757-331-1776, $$)
More rustic accommodations are found at Cherrystone Camping Resort in nearby Cheriton offering 300 acres of Chesapeake Bay waterfront for