Cruise to deserted islands, hike across sand dunes, taste award-winning wines and watch rockets blast into space at one of the most fascinating regions of Virginia.
The Eastern Shore of Virginia is an alluring escape of natural beauty. The region is a 70-mile (113-kilometer) stretch of the Delmarva Peninsula on the eastern side of Chesapeake Bay. Visitors are drawn to its farmland, forests, miles of coastline, historic towns and rocket launches.
Embark on a bird-watching trip to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The more than 14,000 acres (5,666 hectares) of habitats include dunes and marshes where you can see snow geese and thousands of migratory birds. Find more bird-watching opportunities in the maritime forests of Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve.
Take your pick from many hiking and biking trails throughout the region. The Southern Tip Hike and Bike Trail is a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) paved trail passing through upland forest. Rent a boat and a guide to get to the Barrier Islands where you can stroll along miles of deserted beaches.
Get out the map to explore Eastern Shore’s historic centers. See 17th- and 18th-century homes, buildings and shops at Colonial Williamsburg. Visit the Jamestown Settlement, a re-creation of America's first permanent English colony. Climb aboard replicas of ships that sailed from England to Virginia in 1607. Go to the Yorktown Battlefield where the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War was fought.
Wine lovers are in for a treat because the Eastern Shore is home to a handful of renowned wineries offering public tours and wine tastings. These include Chatham Vineyards in Machipongo and Holly Grove Vineyards in Franktown.
Just off Virginia’s Eastern Shore is Wallops Island where the NASA space agency launches rockets into space. Watch them climb into the sky from anywhere along the Delmarva Peninsula or at the NASA visitor center. Wallops Island also hosts the Space Flight Adventure Camp for 11- to 15-year-olds every summer.
Reach Eastern Shore by flying into Norfolk International Airport and then rent a car to travel to historic locations, wildlife reserves and picturesque countryside.
