The Best Small Town On The Atlantic Coast For A 3-Day Weekend
Running from the rocky shores of Maine down to the sunny beaches of southern Florida, the US Atlantic Coast covers an enormous variety of towns and terrain. As a result, planning a vacation along these shores is never a question of if you should visit, but rather, which town deserves your attention. If you are already dreaming of your next long weekend getaway, Cape Charles is one of those towns that should be at the top of your travel list.
Located in Virginia, on the Chesapeake Bay, this town not only offers gorgeous beaches, but also some pretty phenomenal nature preserves. Its historic district is equally remarkable, with hundreds of buildings dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries. Do not be surprised if, by the end of this article, you are already hunting for hotel rooms!
Downtown Cape Charles
Between its bakeries, art galleries, and restaurants, you will definitely want to plan some time exploring Cape Charles’ downtown district. Many of the town’s businesses are concentrated on or near Mason Avenue, making this street a great place to begin your day. Right on Mason, you can grab some breakfast at Coastal Baking Co., a family-owned bakery that is known for its handcrafted biscuits, cinnamon rolls, and muffins, among other pastries and breads. Afterward, spend some time browsing some of the nearby galleries or boutiques. Lemon Tree Gallery and Studio is just a couple of blocks down from the bakery, and features a gift shop, a fine art gallery, and live artist studios all in one space. The gallery also occasionally hosts community events, such as live music on Friday nights.
Make sure to grab lunch or dinner at The Shanty at some point during the weekend! This establishment, located right on the harbor, has been operating in Cape Charles since 2012, standing out for its commitment to sustainable seafood. A few of the dishes you’ll find on the menu include raw and steamed oysters, local flounder, spicy shrimp mac n cheese, and tuna burgers.
Historic Attractions
While Cape Charles is set in one of North America’s oldest colonized regions, the town itself is a later arrival. It was not incorporated until the 1880s, when many of the historic landmarks that still stand today began to take shape. Today, the entire Cape Charles Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, encompassing over 500 buildings. While many properties on the register are privately owned, some are public, such as the Historic Palace Theatre. This theater, opened in 1942, is a notable example of Art Deco, featuring details like neon lighting, hand-painted murals, porthole glass paneled doors, bucket lights, upholstered interior walls, and more. Many performances and classes continue to be held here, meaning that you can experience a piece of its history for yourself.
If you are eager to learn more about the town’s history, plan an afternoon at the Cape Charles Museum, which is housed in a tall brick building on the eastern edge of town. Receiving about 3,000 visitors a year, the museum exhibits the town’s history from the 19th-century boom to its mid-20th-century ties to railways and ferries. You can even see a crater from the area that is 35 million years old!
Nature Preserves
Cape Charles Beach, located directly west of the historic district, is easily one of the favorite spots to enjoy a summer weekend. But if the weather is a little too cool for sunbathing, there are still a couple of beautiful nature preserves nearby to explore. Just a five-minute drive south of town, you’ll find the Cape Charles Natural Area Preserve, an important habitat for migratory bird species. Travelers can explore this preserve via an elevated boardwalk that passes over forested uplands. Fall is one of the best times to visit, as you’ll likely spot plenty of migratory songbirds and raptors resting here during their journey.
A short drive north of Cape Charles, visitors will also find the Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve. Spanning nearly 300 acres, this preserve is home to a mile of Chesapeake Bay shoreline, a freshwater pond, a maritime forest, and a three-quarter-mile-long trail that winds through some of the highest sand dunes on the state’s eastern shore. During the fall, this area is similarly a prime spot for spotting migratory songbirds and raptors, while seabirds frequent the area in the summer. Turtles, frogs, dragonflies, butterflies, and the federally threatened northeastern beach tiger beetle inhabit the area as well.
Local Inns & Hotels
The perfect weekend is not complete without a cozy place to stay. Luckily, you have several adorable inns and hotels to choose from in town! The Northampton Hotel should be the first on your radar, with roots as a hotel dating back to the 1930s. Today, the hotel offers plenty of amenities, including a European-inspired café, Wi-Fi and workspaces, bicycles, beach chairs and umbrellas, and more. Travelers looking for a slightly more secluded and quiet place to stay will also love The Baywood Bed and Breakfast, which is just a short drive south of town. Many rooms overlook the bay, with the bayview rooms featuring private balconies to take in the scenery. The woods-view rooms, meanwhile, offer a peaceful view of the surrounding forest, where deer and other wildlife often wander by. And of course, get ready for a full breakfast here each morning!
Activities To Suit Every Taste
Cape Charles is one of those destinations that has activities for every type of traveler. Want to spend the whole weekend on the beach? Prefer a day or two of birdwatching? More interested in hopping from gallery to gallery? No matter what you are in the mood for, Cape Charles can make it happen. All you have to do is pick your dates, book that hotel, and get ready to have a relaxing long weekend away!
