We stayed at Aqualand from November - March of 2024. Staff was friendly and helpful! Campground was…read moreclean. There are long term residents but they were pleasant and respectful of other peoples property. No problems to report. Camp store has limited days and hours of operation so have what you need for your stay or plan accordingly. Plenty of shopping and restaurants just across the bridge. Marina is closed and not sure if it will be open this season as it has been used for a staging area for the new bridge that's been completed. This is an older campground so doesn't offer Wi-Fi but our Verizon phones and hotspot worked fine. Our view was amazing and helped to get through the winter months! We will stay here again!!

The only thing keeping me from giving out a 5-star review is the fact that these assbags lock the…read moregate at 8pm!! It was actually the weekend of the Summer Solstice...so you know, the LONGEST day of the year. I think it got dark at like 9:15 (sun 'officially' set somewhere around 8:45 or so), and these douches want you to be done fishing, cleaned up, and out the damn door by 8pm!? I love this spot for the fishing. It's only an hour south of DC, but the Potomac gets to maybe 50' deep at parts (maybe more?) and it's close enough to the Chesapeake Bay that the water is brackish (high salinity level i.e. ocean fish i.e. EDIBLE fish i.e. REALLY EFFIN BIG fish are up in there. Last Friday (June 19)I was in my canoe (prolly not a good idea with all the waves and currents and stuff...my buddy's $13k pontoon party boat couldn't hack the waves there on a windy day) fishing for rockfish, bluefish, croakers, spot, spanish mackerel, flounder, and sea trout. I actually caught nothing but a shit-ton of white perch which are good only for bait. I was right around the corner from the Aqua Land Marina, beside the power plant's release gate that was making a 50' current of dead fish (the shad/herring run ended recently so there was a ton of dead fish being sucked into the current and flowed straight out). This was naturally a great place to park and try to scoop up the big boys that would invariably be parked on the outskirts, getting their fill on fish flesh. I heard something massive break the water and turned to see what looked like a shark about 40' off the shore. Being 20' off the shore, I wanted to believe that it WASN'T a shark and was only a log or something. So I just ignored it. Heart was pumpin' though. About 20 minutes later I heard it again and turned to see what looked like a 5lb fish jumping out of the water (this usually means something bigger is chasing it to the surface, trying to eat it, thus referred to as a breaking fish). Then I saw what was chasing it. The dorsal fin was sticking out of the water (maybe a 10-16" tall) and there was about 4' of exposed back. Couldn't see the tail or the head. That was definitely a shark. Most likely in the 6'-7' range. I immediately paddled to the shore, dragging both the anchors, and started freaking out. I had to paddle back to the boat ramp and this guy is now 30' offshore, in 6' flats (that's a very shallow place) that extend all the way back to my truck. In short, I'm in his eating zone and my canoe is anything but stable with all the shit I've got in it. You may not have guessed it, but I ended up surviving. Got back with nary the further incident. I didn't see him again, but I know where to find him. I went up to Bass Pros near BWI Airport and bought gear that could withstand a battle with a shark. I will be buying a real boat really soon and then it's on. I am Ahab. Or at least Roy Schneider. And I'm gonna make that sonofabitch smile. Yeah, so after researching the possibilities of sharks on the Potomac, it's most likely that it was a nurse shark (which supposedly are docile, but google a picture of one, they're hella scary looking) or a spiny dogfish (which I've actually caught before) that really doesn't pose much of a real risk. However, in 1975 I think, commercial crabbers around the exact place on the Potomac I was at, netted 5 bull sharks accidentally. Bull sharks are one of the 5-10 sharks in the world that do NOT let go when they 'accidentally' bite a human. Most sharks hate pink meat. Bull sharks love it. And they're as aggressive as a trailer-park kid on meth. This is why I got back to the truck, exhausted/sunburnt, all late and stuff. Luckily, after being locked in, someone who has a slip there was leaving and let me out. The rates are good (like $8 to launch), there's a small store with beer, maybe bait, tackle, limited snacks, and strange hours of operation. I think they sell gas there too. People shore fish to some level of luck (mostly catfish, which I do eat out there, they are fine). There is also a campground attached and it looks aight. One caveat, MD State Police have a station there and they will eyefuck you from a distance when you're drinking on your boat and/or trying to dock on the chincy little dock. So be careful.

It was quiet. It wasn't crowded. It was peaceful... BUT... it's so many rocks and bugs in the…read moresand... like millions of these sand flea black crab looking things... it was a very uncomfortable situation. So glad we had chairs because sitting on that beach blanket was awful. Probably won't be back... but it is okay

Great beach front property, clean, nice decor, rooms are spacious, shower pressure is good…read more Property is located at the end of the beach.. not crowded.. Front desk employees are very pleasant and professional. Restaurant upstairs has great beach view with fine dining options, sushi, steaks and such. Downstairs restaurant offers casual dishes. Check in and out can be a little long. Overall good property to enjoy Virginia Beach.

Colonial Beach, Virginia, is known for having a number of cottage vacation rentals. I can't imagine…read moreone more perfect than Beachcomber Cottages' Beachcomber III. From the time we initiated the booking, owner Cathy Bokman could not have been more helpful, gracious or accommodating. She and husband George own 5 cottages in town and have for years, so they know the area well. When we contacted Beachcomber Cottages, we didn't request a specific house (all are listed on their website), just asked availability at any of them. We got waaaaaayyyy more than we bargained for--the place is huge! Beachcomber III is on "The Point", that is, it is located at the tip of the peninsula (opposite end of the "Downtown" entrance) upon which the Town of Colonial Beach is situated. This section is mostly residential, as opposed to downtown where most of the businesses and the busy public beach are found. At this end, there are marinas, a couple of restaurants and a popular tiki bar, but the house is far enough away that you don't hear anything. It is a very peaceful and quiet setting, with mature trees and a clear view to the Potomac River and a small beach. About that view...the morning after we arrived, I woke up early, walked into the living room (one of them, but more on that later) and pulled back the curtains. GASP! I was greeted with a breathtaking pre-dawn view of the sun just about to rise over the horizon of the Potomac River. I stood frozen, completely awestruck as I watched one of the most beautiful sunrises I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot!) The beauty of this town is overwhelming. The house itself looks brand new. I understand the owners had done a complete renovation and the result is spectacular. Everything was white glove clean. The layout, though, is what impressed me most. It is almost like being in two separate houses, connected by a shared kitchen and dining area. There are two big living rooms on opposite ends of the house, 4 bedrooms (2 masters, again separated by the kitchen) and more bathrooms than I could count (at least 3.) There is also a laundry room with full size washer and dryer, a nice sized front porch and a side porch with grill. There were only two of us, but I could see this as the ideal vacation for extended families, those with kids/teenagers or groups of friends. There is just so much space. Probably 3x the size of my former apartment in DC. The place is well equipped with a fully stocked kitchen (utensils, small appliances, spices, etc.), bathrooms with hair dryer, towels, etc. and a family room (one of the living rooms) with games, books, TV (in the bedrooms, too), DVD, etc. We didn't want for anything. Beds were comfortable, linens provided and pillows fluffy. Free wifi, too. Loved it!

+ 6/5 stars for Zach…read moreand Storm's Tide Charters! Brought my 6 & 7 year old out and we had an absolute blast! Zach knows how to keep the kids engaged and caters really well to what you're looking for out on the water. Highly recommend for every one of all ages to check him out! Will definitely find time to get back out there with him again!

Unfortunately I call looking for this fantastic cruise for sunset. But due to Covid-19 they weren't…read moreable to do so. Although they were gracious and thankful for the inquiry. I highly recommend them. The concern was my well being and that of their crew. With that level of concern I will sail with them when circumstances change.

My wife and I booked an evening sunset cruise for a long weekend getaway. Carmelita and Josh were…read moreable to get us a 2 hour trip on a busy weekend in Solomons. The two of them make a great team. It's obvious from their introduction that they love sharing their passion of sailing with others. Before we even got to the dock I was in contact with Josh on the phone and email. He responded quickly and was happy to offer some amenities. Josh offered me a few pick up locations and offered to drop us at our hotel marina. Once on the boat we covered a quick but thorough safety brief. We toured the river before entering the bay. Carmelita and Josh made suggestions for restaurants and other activities on Solomons and pointed them out as we passed them. Our tour took us around Solomons Island and under the bridge at sunset. Carmelita took pictures of us the whole time and shared them with us after the tour. It was great talking with them about how they got into sailing and how they learned their craft. The boat was clean and appeared to be sound. On the way back lighting storms were surrounding us. The light show was really cool to watch. The storm was about 30 miles so there was no danger and we felt safe the Josh and Carmelita were keeping an eye on the weather. I would definitely recommend their tour or charter service. They were great hosts and provide a memorable experience. You should book your tour now.

We recently did a 2-hour Tiki cruise for my mom's birthday, and had such a great time! The boat…read moredeparts from a bar/restaurant on the water so there's plenty of parking and you can grab a drink or a bite (and use the bathrooms--there's none on the boat) before or after. The boat itself is literally a round, floating tiki bar on the water. It holds up to 6 people plus the captain. You can bring your own drinks (recommend taking a page out of our book and bringing a pitcher of pre-made painkillers with you for the ride!) and snacks, and they provide water and drinking ice. You can also connect to bluetooth speakers to play your own music. Our captain was great, he chatted with us throughout the ride, pointing out wildlife and sharing little tidbits about the landmarks and history of the area as we cruised around. As you'd expect this thing doesn't move very quickly, but it made for a really relaxing ride with plenty of time to check out the views, enjoy a few drinks, and gawk at all the houses and boats along the shore. We went around 6:30pm and it was perfect for beating the heat and catching some sunset. Would totally do this again for a special occasion or with out of town visitors!

Had a really good time. Nice and relaxing with plenty of space. It is not to large that all the…read morepeople can be involved in the conversation. The Captain was very informational and has stories. We will defenitly be looking to book again.

This is a lovely winery. They have multiple seating areas, upstairs and downstairs. You can sit…read moreinside or outside. They also had downstairs rooms for tasting as well. The staff is fantastic, very friendly and engaging. There is a limited menu with availability based on events and whether.food trucks are onsite. The vineyard is lovely and the grounds seem extensive with a lot going on. They had a large variety of wines ranging from white, rose, red, sparkling and port. It's great to have a place like this available!

What a sweet diamond in the middle of a cornfield! Went there last night to meet friends for the…read morevery first time and it was above exceptional! The wines are so good and the atmosphere is so cozy. They had music last night and it was like being in Nashville! I highly recommend this. They have rooms to rent houses to rent and just gorgeous fields and landscape. They have a food truck on the weekends and it's just as a perfect place to meet up and to spend your next weekend. Cheers y'all.

Stratford Hall is the ancestral home of the Lee family of Virginia. The beautiful Great House and…read moreits surrounding plantation buildings is located on the Potomac River in Westmoreland County on Virginia's Northern Neck. The historic structures are now a museum operated by the National Park Service & is listed on the National Historic Register. Built by Thomas Lee, who served as an Acting Governor of the Colony of Virginia, construction was completed in the early 1740's. The buildings breathe history. One can feel it walking the grounds. Two of Lee's sons Richard Henry Lee & Francis Lighthouse Lee were signers of the Declaration of Independence & Delegates to the First Continental Congress. Thomas Liddell Lee was a Virginia Legislator. Walking the grounds where those men, who were instrumental in the Founding of the country, walked, lived & even played was a feeling that's hard to describe. I'd love to hear what the house and grounds could tell me with the whispers & stories it still must hold. The benefit of taking the backroads to Alexandria or nearby Charles County, MD, rather than the long parking lot that I-95 has become, is passing the wonderful historic places on the route. My route starts at the highway 17 exit off I-64 west and can continue north a number of different ways depending on my final destination. The easiest way to reach Stratford Hall and other beautiful historic properties from Highway 17 is to cross the Rappahannock River at Tappahanock on Highway 360 then north on Highway 3 which winds toward the Potomac. You'll see the signs for Stratford Hall from that road. If you're feeling adventurous, like I did in earlier years, you'll let your GPS take you through roads in an exploration of the countryside. In historic, beautiful Virginia you never know what you'll find. A visit to Stratford Hall is a must for those fascinated by American history.

I visited the grounds on an early Sunday morning and came away quite enchanted. It was huge! It was…read morewell staffed! It was beautiful. All around well done and one of my favorite of the old surviving Virginia plantations. You park and go thru a very small museum to pay your dues. Then across a neat bridge over a ginormous gully to the gift shop and a beautiful walk to the house. The house tour (self audio) was quite cool. The grounds were just awesome. Lots of outbuildings well maintained. It was like a mini Colonial Williamsburg in all the depth and information. I could have spent a day there. Later, I decided to drive the other side and stumbled upon a whole new unexpected world. Lots of cabins that could be rented, a restaurant that seemed closed for the winter and then a windy drive to the river where people were searching and finding fossil shark teeth. One showed me his treasures. They weren't gigantic, but you could definitely tell they were shark teeth. Finally before leaving the river front was a old gristmill which alone would have been worth the trip. Anyone near the area should add it to their list and if you have guests around, make it an activity on your "visitor's list".