We wanted to make a day trip to search for fossils at Calvert Cliffs and this seemed to be one of…read morethe only options so off we went. The road to get to the campsites / office is relatively bumpy and the road is full of ruts and rocks that could actually be challenging for a small car or a car that is low to the ground. We drove slowly and it was fine. The lady in the office was very friendly and we paid in cash which is preferred. This is clearly a family-run operation. The walk down to the beach was via a kind-of steep set of stairs. At the bottom there were a few other groups of people there, many of them apparently semi-professional fossil hunters with specialized digging hand tools. Unfortunately the tide was coming in when we got there (poor planning on our part), but this limited our fossil searching to a sliver of exposed beach itself as the water was covering a significant portion of the ground. I would highly recommend Wellington-style rubber boots or something similar to keep your feet dry while you search (everyone else on the beach was wearing them). Your sneakers will probably get wet. As far as fossils go, we didn't find much. One of us found what appeared to be a very small shark tooth. You are not allowed to dig into the cliffs themselves due to erosion concerns but you could see layers of shells and small fossils in the cliffside which was interesting. All in all it was not the fossil-rich experience I was expecting. I've heard about digging for fossils at Calvert Cliffs for many years and so it was a bit disappointing to come away empty-handed. If we had been better prepared to wade out into the water and brought some sort of implements with us we may have had more success. Not a terrible afternoon at all but not a place I will be chomping at the bit to return to.

This review is for the beach. Perhaps a new owner has taken over, as we had nothing but a pleasant…read moreexperience with the woman who took our money and her husband, who showed us where to park. It was $10 per person (cash only!), but considering that the beach has tons of shells and fossils, and lots of parking, we found it a very fair price. They even give you a permit so you can leave and come back on the same day. I would suggest bringing an umbrella or sun tent, as there isn't much shade (at least before 2 pm est, when we left). The water is a bit murky, but refreshing and sandy once you get out past the shoreline. You may want to bring water shoes.

When you first arrive at Lighthouse View, you will be blown away by the breathtaking view of the…read moreAssateague Lighthouse (hence the rental's name). But once you step inside, you'll never want to leave. This townhouse rental is beautifully decorated with soft, cool colors and beachy items everywhere. It provides enough room for a small family (we had 5 and were plenty comfortable). Almost everything you could need is provided. I cannot say enough good things about this home and cannot wait to have many more stays here. I was even able to contact the owners directly when I had questions after the rental agency was closed for the day. I would highly recommend this house to anyone...just don't pick the week I want :-)

From the owner: Located right on the water with your own private dock. Lighthouse View offers spectacular views…read moreyear round, as well as direct deep water access (the public boat launch is less than 100 yards from our front door). You can moor your boat or kayak by your front door and enjoy time on the water in this scenic gem of Virginia's Lower Eastern Shore. Lighthouse View has two bedrooms (sleeps 6 comfortably) and two full bathrooms, with an extra half-bath downstairs. Everything else you could possibly need is there for your use, including a barbecue, crab cooking pots, as well as crab traps for catching them right off your dock! Beach chairs and patio set with an umbrella so you can enjoy meals and hanging out on your deck. This part of the east side of the island is relatively free from trees (places where mosquitoes hang out) so there isn't a need for a screened in porch with Lighthouse View.

Perfect for all 4 couples!…read more 2nd stay at Spinnaker Waterfront and it's even better than the last time. We stayed with 3 other retired  couples this time and enjoyed having our own bedrooms and bathrooms. One chilly and rainy day we couldn't go fishing but enjoyed the fireplace and appreciated the nice dry firewood the owners supplied. Really enjoyed seeing the Chincoteague wild ponies again, and this time we did get to the Wallops NASA base.   We are planning on bringing our grandchildren for a week next summer. There are so many free activities that we can enjoy with them from catching crabs and swimming off the dock,  surf fishing on Assateague, and even climbing the light house.  Plus the 2 visitor centers on Assateague and Wallops can keep them busy if weather doesn't let us enjoy the National Seashore which is my favorite beach. Especially enjoyed lots of take-out seafood, and the savings vs eating in restaurants. But cooked lots of great breakfasts in the wonderful kitchen that was exceptionally well stocked with everything from paper products to spices and every pot and pan you can imagine including a large crock pot for our gang

Spinnaker is the perfect house for a family vacation. We spent most of the week enjoying the house…read moreand all it offers. Our favorite activity was eating smores off the grill on the back deck after eating dinner on the screened in porch. Our first time in Chincoteaque and we never made it to the beach - no need to when the water is in your back yard! The owners take care of the property like it's the home they live in all year round. We already booked a week for next year!

This is a great location for a wedding or any other event! It's got everything you could possibly…read moreneed: a spacious outdoor area for a wedding or another event set up, a pier for beautiful pictures, a large reception hall, and a beautiful main building for staying over/getting ready/hanging inside during a cocktail hour. Plenty of parking space. The sunsets are gorgeous here. I photographed a wedding at Woodlawn Farm a while back, and I could see how much everybody was enjoying the venue and how much fun they were having. Highly recommended to anybody looking to celebrate your special occasion!

What a perfect location for a waterfront wedding! Our daughter and son-in-law were married at…read moreWoodlawn in June. The grounds are beautiful. Plenty of room in the cottages for the bridal party and the main house has a wall of windows overlooking the water. Upstairs, there are more rooms and plenty of space for the bridal party to get ready. Jim and Maggie provided guidance and recommendations throughout the planning process removing some of the guess work in picking vendors. They were there early the day of the wedding to make sure everything ran smoothly while their staff was busy setting up and coordinating with vendors. Everything from the ceremony under the trees on the water, to the cocktail hour in the courtyard, reception in the air conditioned barn and games on the lawn was beautiful. Memories that will last a lifetime for our family. Comments from some of our guests: "Who knew you could have a destination wedding in Ridge,MD; just 1.5 hours from Washington, DC?" "Most beautiful wedding I've ever been to." "Great weekend getaway with lots to do before and after wedding." Mary G.

This state park is well staffed and maintained. Many free activities are offered and cover lots of…read moretopics, including age-appropriate, environmental programs for kids -- that's nice. Jane's Island seems to be known primarily for the camping possibilities. The camping sites, both for tents and cabins, are pretty full during the season. Has a loyal following. Reserve early. Also, fishing is all the rage here. I saw many people fishing from the banks of the water and from kayaks, etc. However, biking possibilities are only average. Hiking is about the same. Crisfield gets a fair number of storms, had a bunch during our visit, and it can affect the grounds, but the area dries out pretty quickly.

I was last here back when I was a camper, but now we are old and prefer "glamping". We booked way…read moreahead for a full-service cabin for 4 people and it was exactly what the doctor ordered. Cabin #1 had a full kitchen, dining room and bathroom. Upstairs was a small loft with a room with 2 twin beds, reachable by stairs (note other full service cabins have ladders, not stairs to the upstairs area). Downstairs had a bedroom with a full bed, and another bedroom with 2 twin beds. It came with a screened in porch that was wheelchair accessible. The kitchen came stocked with everything you needed, pots and pans, a microwave, toaster and coffee maker. There was a gas fireplace, but they had turned off the heat for the season. We shared a little dock overlooking the water with the cabin next door, but we had our own charcoal grill and a fire pit. We were so happy with the cabin - nothing fancy, but since two of the days we were there had torrential rain and tornado like winds, we were happy to be safe and sound and dry with electricity to boot! It is also pet friendly.

Large and comfortable tri-level home waterfront property in Northern Neck, Virginia. Four…read morecomfortable bedrooms, plenty of beds, clean and well stocked with linens, a large kitchen, lots of games, books, TVs in every room. Kiddie pool, hot tub for the adults, kayaks, canoes, and a 4-passenger pedal boat. 'The property has a garden shed storing bicycles (which need a little love, some rust, etc.) Care has been taken to ensure few or no mosquitos, or other flying insects, much appreciated in this part of the country. We especially enjoyed the large upper deck off the kitchen, with two barbecue grills, a long table with comfortable seating for 10. Our group of 8 (6 adults, 2 children) found something to do every day when including several day trips to local wineries, Colonial Williamsburg, or shopping. We found lots of second hand and thrift stores, full of treasures.

From the owner: Book our beautiful home for fishing, crabbing, recreation and more! Make your memories here!read more

We had a great time staying at the Inn. The people who run the inn are very friendly and met us at…read morethe dock when we arrived from the ferry. They helped us transport our luggage from the ferry and when we were preparing to return to the mainland. The rooms are comfortable and include private bathrooms. In the morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of pancakes, fruit, potatoes, and bacon. I would definitely stay again. There are three rooms available for rent. We also enjoyed borrowing the bicycles and the kayaks to help us explore the island.

Best hotel on smith island. Me and my grandmother stayed in the first floor room, and it was very…read morecozy. We took the morning ferry going back, so we never got breakfast, except for the free cereal. All together, it was a great stay. Will come back