I currently attend The University of Virginia's College at Wise, nine hours away from my hometown of Cape Charles. Cape Charles, Virginia is a tiny beach town on the eastern shore of Virginia, an area that is plentiful in many things including (but not limited to) food, family, and fun.
When I look out of my dorm room window, I only see mountains. It makes me miss the beach and the farms from back home.
When traveling through Cape Charles (via car, bike, or feet), you can find a plethora of different things to do. Shopping is a big thing in Cape Charles since our town is small-business-oriented. You can find any beach, souvenir, or food items that you may want at any of our small stores that line front street! Also, you can always count on The Palace Theater to be holding an event or show during any month of the year, although the summer is the peak season for us here in Cape Charles.
Food is another big aspect that we hold near and dear to us in Cape Charles. We take pride in using fresh, local, and in-season ingredients at most of the restaurants that, like me, call Cape Charles their home. Go to the Shanty for some fresh and in-season seafood and then head on over to Brown Dog Ice Cream for a scoop of the best locally-made and natural-ingredient ice cream that you have ever had. It will be like taking a step into the past when you walk in and hear the jukebox-style music and see the smiling faces of the staff members who are ready to scoop out any of the eight small-batch flavors! Come quickly, though, the flavors are so different and they taste so great that they only stay in the dipping cabinet for anywhere from a few days to a few hours.
There are also a ton of different things to do with your family while you're visiting our quaint little bay-side town. Take your family for a day at the beach, to a show at the Arts Enter's Palace Theater, or to a big dinner at any of the aforementioned areas. Finish off your day with a ride down the eastern shore. You'll see farms (Shockley's, Pickett's Harbor Farms), the Eyre Hall Gardens (Civil-War-era gardens set against a backdrop of one of the beautiful waterways that cover the eastern shore), and the many shops and restaurants that are known for their home-style cooking (Stingrays-Cape Center, Terrapin Station Antiques).
All in all, the eastern shore of Virginia is an amazing place! It takes sitting on our beach and basking in the rays of the sun in order to fully enjoy its peacefulness. The serene waves and the constant smell of salt water in the air truly make it the beautiful place that it is. The tourist attractions add to the whole of it all. Cape Charles, the tiny beach town on the eastern shore of Virginia, is truly a place that I have come to love over the years.
"Find your place. Once you find it, you will truly know serenity."
