8 Underrated Coastal Hamlets In Virginia
Just south of Washington, DC, Virginia is shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley, tangled in endless rivers, many of which flow into the famous estuary Chesapeake Bay. This Eastern Seaboard state looks over the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic with the most distinctive shoreline, dotted by popular beach towns, underrated hamlets, and several islands.
Exploring Virginia's coastal hamlets is a five-sense experience, where you can indulge in the bay's sound, sparkle, seafood, salty air, and sense of adventure to seize each day. Discovering these towns, you'll come across friendly locals, from Urbanna to Onancock and 12 miles off into the bay on Tangier Island.
Cape Charles
This historic coastal hamlet is known for a big, beautiful public beach with a LOVE sign. Secluded at the south tip of the Eastern Shore, Cape Charles delivers a reinvigorating dose of vitamin sea along the tree-lined village streets, kid-friendly beaches, and dramatic sunsets over the vast Chesapeake. In addition to some of the state's best water views and fresh seafood, Cape Charles Natural Area Preserve boasts a diversity of wildlife to explore through wetlands and the woods.
The remote vibes enhance the peaceful appeal downtown, made for strolls and taking pictures along colorful Victorian-style homes in the sea salt air. It is easy to while away an afternoon in the R&R vibes, shopping at Peach Street Books and Brown Dog Ice Cream. Savor a cone on the way to Cape Charles Museum and Welcome Center, in a former power plant with a picnic area and a gift shop. Kiptopeke State Park offers one- and two-person kayaks to paddle around crumbling ships from WWII, a ghostly sight.
Colonial Beach
Straddling Monroe Bay with several marinas, the historic coastal town claims Virginia’s second-largest sand beach with a landmark fishing pier and a rocky breakwater. Colonial Beach extends into Maryland across the vast Potomac's south shore, creating an indent in the Old Line State's border. Hop on the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail, or swing by James Monroe Birthplace Park & Museum. The town's elevated Monroe Bay Campground offers sweeping views across both water bodies.
Once the “Playground on the Potomac,” Colonial Beach is also known for palm trees, ospreys, and the fabulous water vantage on three sides, 60 miles inland from the bay on Virginia’s Northern Neck. Perched on a river bluff to the south, Westmoreland State Park offers camping, a swimming pool, and a boat ramp. Whether you're heading for a swim in the river from the two-mile beach, fishing from the pier, or kayaking and seafood bayside, the sea-like coast is a freeing state of mind.
Mathews
Boasting the longest shoreline of any other on the Chesapeake, Mathews County lures weekenders to bask in glorious river views and a nostalgic appeal downtown. Established around the turn of the 18th century, the river town county seat staves off commercialization, with many magical moments for travelers and the unblemished Chesapeake views in minutes either way. Small businesses are the heart of the community, like the art center, plus two museums, lending a refreshing take from the city.
Take a drive south to the spectacular 1805 New Point Comfort Lighthouse, on a small island, commissioned by Jefferson. Or, sail past this, Chesapeake's third oldest and the tenth oldest in the US, from the bay to the town's floating dock on the East River. From the Williams Wharf Landing, hop on the three-block Main, host of the winter festival, Holiday Night Market & Tree Lighting. The Seafood Shack should be on your radar for all things crab, alongside the crisp, golden hush puppies.
Onancock
When the city folk seek sailing, sightseeing, and seafood, Onancock delivers southern hospitality along the tree-shaded lanes and a vibrant art scene. Founded in 1680 as a commerce hub, this active port town is not all bustle at the head of Onancock Creek. Whether you're into cruising the deep sea or reeling from the shore, the relaxed atmosphere is ideal to try something new with friendly guides and outfitters, after a selfie by the LOVE sign at the Eastern Shore Watermen's Museum.
Sheltered four miles from the open Chesapeake, you can sail in and dock at a marina, with fishing boats hauling in fresh catch. In lieu of beach resort vibes, kayak and paddleboard rentals are at your fingertips, plus Tangier Island is just an hour ferry ride into the bay. The federal-style Ker Place was a local merchant farmer's home. After a fill of galleries, outdoor patio cafés, and the 1950 cinema, Roseland Theatre, catch the sunset back at the wharf with osprey and great blue herons.
Reedville
Like Onancock, Reedville was destined since its founding in 1874 by Elijah Reed on the bay's western shore to become a bustling fishing village at the head of Cockrell's Creek, near the Little Wicomico River and Slough Creek. Soon, a wealthy commercial center, thanks to the oily menhaden, one of the US's richest places, expanded into a remote yet fully developed waterfront community. See the typical waterman’s home at the George Reed House (c. 1899), embellished by the founder’s son with gardens.
The historic district is adorned by architecture, with the most eye-catching Queen Anne-style homes along Millionaire’s Row, where menhaden industrialists, merchants, and sea captains lived. The striking, rust-colored, early 1900s Bethany United Methodist Church is across from the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum, with another extravagant William Walker House (1875) on-site. Down at the marina, you can enjoy seafood, take a fishing charter, and soak in the sunset looking west to the bay.
Tangier Island
This remote, wild, and marshy "isolated idyll" between the Eastern Shore and the Northern Neck of Virginia is accessible by plane or boat 12 miles out on Chesapeake. At just over 1.5 square miles, Tangier is the “soft crab capital” of the nation, with a knack for fishing, harvesting crabs, and oystering, plus local businesses, like gift and ice cream shops, a museum, and fine dining on fresh daily catch. Used for thousands of years by the local Pokomoke Indians, their arrowheads are still around.
John Smith first visited in 1608, 78 years prior to its founding by Cornish farmers and fishermen. The townfolk take pride in their lifestyle, with almost no cars or reception, a unique accent, and the St. Piran’s cross on the island’s flag. Travelers are eager for a taste of culinary craft, the best sunsets, and the time capsule at the Tangier Island Museum. The characterful narrow streets are popular to explore via bikes and golf carts, from the marina in the north down to the unspoiled beach.
Urbanna
Easily accessible off major highways or by boat via the Chesapeake, you’ve arrived in “more boats than folks” Urbanna, underrated for the likes of Kilmarnock right across the Rappahannock River. Discovering this charming port town, slightly off the beaten path, can take on various forms, from art, wine, and music under the stars to whimsical inns, boat races, and chic shops. Taber Park is a hub with events and Urbanna Farmers Markets, plus the iconic LOVE sign for that Insta-selfie.
Take a stroll along the docks, sails, and local craft, or elevate your views up and down the long wooden staircase at the secluded Watermen’s Park, an ideal vantage for sighting boats and osprey preying on fish. Many enjoy the small town of Urbanna during the epic oyster festival that takes place annually in late fall. Beyond the iconic Urbanna Oyster Festival, it is ideal to get some space from the crowded beach locales, with pockets of natural beauty and marinas lining the riverfront.
Yorktown
Known for its key role in the American Revolution, Yorktown embraces you in historic charm and refreshing appeal along the York River, with the sites fabulously framed in water views. In addition to museums with multimedia, battlefield reenactments, and boat-building lessons, it is all connected by the Riverwalk, plus a free historic trolley. Your eyes are drawn up to memorials commemorating George Washington's 1781 victory over the British, like Victory Monument, with a Liberty statue.
Don't forget to look around; surrounded by parkland, Yorktown cherishes the past but lives in the present, getting outdoors at every opportunity. It is hard to tell where the vast York River ends and the beautiful Chesapeake begins, with brackish fishing and lush riverbanks. Treading the soft sands at Yorktown Beach, the sweeping bridge takes your gaze across the river, drawing you closer. Nearby, the Yorktown Windmill was a guidepost for nearly two centuries, built in 1711 by William Buckner.
Discover Coastal Virginia’s Heart
Pick one town or several along the way to discover how an endearing lifestyle ties into Virginia's dominance on the map of the US beyond its popular destinations. Whether you land front and central on the bay or just inland from the river mouth, the vast waterways create sea-like coastlines, so no wonder everyone is just a little obsessed with the sea.
Many strive to preserve a traditional lifestyle, greeting visitors with sincere southern vibes and nostalgia in the air. Each boasts a unique distinction, like the longest Chesapeake shoreline in Mathews County and its Jefferson-commissioned lighthouse, or the vast, sandy Colonial Beach, Virginia's second-longest.
