Town of Cape Charles

I loveeeee Cape Charles! It's such a fun getaway from VAB which is only an hour away. 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.

Being a Virginia Beach resident my family enjoys the short trip across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel East to the small town of Cape Charles. Views are stunning and there is even an overlook on the East side. The only thing in between the two cities just 30 miles or so apart is the dreaded toll. This listing is for the town itself, restaurants and beach although there is a specific yelp for the beach. Without question the cost of passage has kept the Eastern Shore mainly underdeveloped and pristine. That's precisely the way they like it and refer to the the cost to cross as "no toll, no control". Locals may not love the $18 one-way fee, but it keeps developers out. Round trip in 24 hours is discounted to $14/$6. Residents that travel the crossing daily are afforded a deep reduction of $10 daily round trip from the private company that owns the bridge. EZ Pass electronic toll collection is preferred, but provides no discount other than noted. Construction is under way for expansion of the two tubes making passage safer and faster. The Town of Cape Charles founded in 1884 has a history rich in rail, ferry and shipping interest. William Lawrence Scott, president of the NYP&N, or New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk company purchased the original 2,509 acres. The land would be utilized for the planned town except 40 acres broken off for his business interest. The large tract was comprised of three large plantations owned by heirs of former Virginia Governor Littleton Waller Tazewell. A harbor was installed at a whopping cost back then of $300,000 to allow commerce to flow from Norfolk to New York. The last ferry service from the town to Norfolk ceased in 1963 once the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel was constructed. This also killed most of its shipping interest. The town since then has declined and has only recently in the last decade seen a resurgence with tourist being the driver to the economy. Today's Cape Charles is basically the same layout as it was from the late 1800's. The community of 136 acres with 644 equal divided lots. East to West streets are named for Virginia statesman. North to South after fruit. Newer and quite impressive gated residential developments have sprung up outside the city that utilize water views. The homes in the city are a mix bag with condition, however there is interest in restoring. Many are small wooden two story three bedroom structures with small lots and garages in rear. Large old homes do exist with some being bed and breakfast. My experiences with the town has primarily been with their biggest asset, the beach. The combination of a revived downtown with hotels, retail shopping and beach has brought in big tourism dollars. A few examples of newer businesses that are driving tourism. Brown Dog Ice-cream, The Shanty restaurant, The Northampton Hotel and Restaurant and Cape Charles Brewing Company. There are others including popular bed and breakfast homes that are a draw to the coastal city. Many locals forgo cars in lieu of golf carts seen everywhere and sweet custom designs too! A couple of places do offer sales and rental. It's a super fun way to explore. Summer season just kicked off a few weeks ago and this is your opportunity Virgina Beach residents to explore a town abundant in history. Just this past week I had a blast at their old fashion 4th of July day celebration complete with parade, food trucks and evening fireworks. If planning an overnight expect many properties are already booked up for the season ending September 1st.