I did not go in with high expectations, to be honest. A small museum for an out of the way place's…read morehistory that is free of charge..... I assumed a few table displays and some tourist brochures. I assumed I would be in and out in 20 minutes. I was wrong, and for that (if you run the place) please accept my apology. The museum is in a small building on a side street in Tappahannock. It is comprised of a large-ish room with the main exhibits that trace the history of the area, a smaller room that is dedicated to the quasi-recent fishing / mariner trade, and a very large closet dedicated to older seafarers and pirates. There is also a nice gift shop. The main room begins with the pre-history of area, with lots of impressive shark and whale teeth found in the area. (Tappahannock is on the Rappahannock River, near its entry to the Chesapeake Bay.) The story continues with colonial artifacts and story boards telling of notable folk from earlier times. It also does much more than pay lip service to the role of African slaves and post-slavery free people in the area, including some decent info on the injustices continued upon them. Is it a deep discussion? No. But neither is it sugar coated. Other exhibits show info about the USS Tappahannock, a refueling ship that saw duty most recently in Vietnam but with a long history before. Other large exhibits include a civil war cannon and a relatively recent two man fishing boat for shallow water crabbing and fishing and oystering. Far from my expected 20 minutes, I believe wife and I were there for 90. This is a really nice small museum, perfect for the history buff, and worthy of a few bucks in the donating jar as you leave.

I Came for a trip tracing in my ancestry, the Essex County Museum was a wealth of information. In…read morevarious books I was able to find information about my family members going back to the late 1700s. As an African-American knowing how difficult it is to find information I was very excited and overwhelmed. Although the museum is very small it has a lot of book with great historical value, you can find lots of information and a very helpful staff member. The research books are available for sale along with various historical and general souvenirs items. Although Essex County may not have a place on your vacation list I would highly suggest you visit is beautiful. While you're there stop at a museum and take a walk through history.

It's kinda sad, ok? But they're doing their best for a county that hasn't ever had more than nine…read morethousand people in it. Census says so. Well, the people part. They express no opinion on the museum. There are actually some neat little historical things in Mathews. The Gwynns Island museum and the Mathews Maritime museum have them all. They have bits of things that have washed up on the beaches and stories about the pirates that got lost here and the soldiers who built forts here in the revolution. It's a neat little museum (they can arrange tours for groups of 8 or more...more people than that might not fit in the building) and it's worth a drive onto the island to check it out. The museum is only open April through October, only on weekend afternoons.

We went here expecting a tiny, one-room museum, but we had heard about the mastodon artifacts, and…read morewanted to see them. We were very surprised by what we saw. This is a fantastic little Museum if you enjoy artifacts, historical memorabilia, local history, and some very exciting times. Tom, the director, is a wealth of information and a lot of fun to just chat with. Even my 88 year old mother-in-law was excited about what was there, including some military and local history stuff, as well. It has some of the most unique artifacts and fossils that we've ever seen, and a lot of them. For a small Museum, we were there, amazed, for two hours, and never got bored. They even had a couple of books we could buy to continue our education, making the whole experience well worth the hour-long trip it took for us to get there from Williamsburg. Some of the artifacts they had there were 500 to 10,000 years old and up, and the museum is renowned for its 22,000 year old stone butcher knife, and a mastodon tusk segment and teeth all found together locally. They also had many items from early America. It was absolutely one of the most enjoyable museums we've ever been to. If you like stuff like that, then be sure to go out of your way to visit. Tell Tom hi for us!

Tangier Island is a unique, tiny island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. We took a ferry over…read moreand immediately were offered a golf cart tour of the small fishing town. Our guide gave us the fascinating and rather informative history of this quirky and one of a kind destination. Population of about 400, the island houses private residents and just a few businesses. There's one small grocer, a post office, 4 restaurants, a few souvenir shops, one school, a doctor's office (a doctor comes over twice a week but three nurses are on call). One police office, no jail. A couple of churches and the museum are on the main circular road that encompasses this charming seafaring village. While this isn't an "exciting" or "happening" town, it is thoroughly engaging and delightful! The tour lasted only 15 minutes but it packed a punch. We went over a couple of small bridges around the inlets and saw some beautiful foliage and wildlife. You could see that many of the buildings and homes were weather beaten from the bay's salty gusts and storms, but that just added to the character of the island. After the tour, we walked all around the island which didn't take long at all. We bought some Tangier merchandise at the local souvenir shop, visited the sweet museum and enjoyed informative exhibits. We went to Fisherman's Corner Seafood Restaurant for lunch and the tour guide was right, you have to get a crab cake here in Tangier! All lump crab meat, huge and piled high in a golden brown patty! Our visit ended with a soft serve cone from Four Brothers Snack Shack, where we basked in the sun and soaked in this poetic, natural wonder! Our trip home left us not a little sleepy and dreaming of the sea!

The Genocide of Tangier Island…read more To all that have never been to Tangier Island, you owe it to yourself and your family to find your way to Tangier and it's neighbor, Smith Island. The island, the people and its way of life are being politically sent to the "Gallows". There is a paraphrase saying "If man created the problem than man can solve the problem". The pollical will to let Tangier Island die is in the crosshairs of the EPA and a forever genocide of a way of life and its history. If nothing is done to change the course, Tangier Island in our life time will be gone forever and it will never return. On your visit to Tangier Island you will be able to witness in real time, the death of an island. The current government will focus on nonsense issues at the cost of helping real people that are struggling to protect their way of life. The worst of the matter, there are many less costly solutions to saving the island than the cost of letting the island die. The history of the Island and the friendly atmosphere of the people is absolutely the best. I have been to Tangier Island seven times in the last 30 years. Each time, I am moved by the challenge that the island is facing. You will find your visit to Tangier Island unlike any place of interest that you have visited in the past. Whether, you travel by plane, ferry or boat, you will be taken on how nice and friendly everyone on Tangier Island is to visitors. Enjoy a living historic island. David Silver Spring, MD

We absolutely love coming to Holly Fork Farm each year for our field trip! They do such an amazing…read morejob making the experience fun, educational, and enjoyable for everyone. The staff is incredibly organized and welcoming, and there are so many wonderful activities for the kiddos. The students learn about the pumpkin life cycle and the different parts of a pumpkin, and they even get to pick out a pumpkin to take home! There are two different areas for the children to play, farm animals to see, a fun hayride around the farm, and a picnic area where we can enjoy lunch. Everything is always very clean and well-maintained, and we especially appreciate how kind and accommodating the owner and staff are. They truly make our visit special every year. We look forward to coming back year after year and are so thankful to Holly Fork Farm for providing such a wonderful experience for our students!

Holly Fork Farm is a charming experience for those looking to leave the city behind and enjoy a bit…read moreof rural fun, particularly during their autumnal events. Went here recently with my parents to enjoy the nice day and get some fall activities in. It's nice that they let people 60+ in for free so my parents didn't have to pay, and my basic ticket was $10. The all-inclusive pass is $25 but frankly this isn't really worth getting except for families looking to use the children's attractions like the slide and bounce house. There were plenty of chickens wandering around, as well as ducks, pigs, and other assorted barnyard animals in various pens which were fun to see. The pumpkin launching thing was a blast though $10 for three small pumpkins to fire is pretty pricey. The apple cider donuts were expensive too, 2 for $5 for small donuts. Thankfully the short hayride experience was included in the admission. While this was a cute experience, I think the main draw is for families with young children who would make the most use of all the activities here or older folks who are able to enjoy it for free. Otherwise, there's not much for those in their 20's-40's to do, though I did enjoy the brief time with the pumpkin launcher. If you have kids, definitely come! Others might want to review their other options. --- Overall: 4.0 stars Pros: - Nice staff, very friendly and helpful. - Inviting family-friendly atmosphere. - Free for 60+, not too expensive for others if you skip the kid stuff. - Plenty of stuff for kids if you're here for that. Cons: - Everything is a bit of an abridged version of things you might find elsewhere: very short small hayride, small play areas for kids. - Nothing to do for those without kids, nothing like rope swings or wine tasting.

Clean, friendly & lots to choose from. We picked up some delicious juicy blackberries here, some…read morezucchini & squash as well as some yummy baked goods, micro greens, frozen veggie ravioli, puppy cookies, and handmade soap & body scrub as well as a bourbon honey & a goat milk caramel sauce! Staff was super friendly & didn't rush us out even though it was about closing time. Will be back next time we are in the are!

Great Lakes & Iceberg lettuces almost two weeks post planting. Beautiful and healthy - thanks Dug…read moreIn team!

Visitors to the island will likely find themselves in this museum as it's one of the few tangible…read morethings to do. It is a large shotgun house which has been repurposed for this use. There is a small admission charge, but they do take all major cards. The short movie that they play is a little schmaltzy, but it does have some interesting moments. The movie and the exhibits both mention the decline of the island, but stay oddly silent on all the controversy surrounding sea walls and dredging and sea levels. The exhibits are highly specific and contain a lot of primary source documents. It is not generic material by any means and is worth perusing. Given that the museum is close to the dock, I suspect a common pattern for many will be to travel the island and then check out the museum on the way back, which worked out fine for me.

We didn't think a tiny island museum like this would be much to look at... we were wrong! Since…read morethere's little to do here, the museum offers a perfect snapshot of life in Tangier and shouldn't be missed! Whether you come by bike, golf cart, or stroll here as we did, this museum is just a hop, skip and a jump from the cruise pier. Located on the marshy outskirts of the bay, this is a really well thought out and planned space full of interesting displays. This secluded island is somewhat of an enigma and the museum explains much of the history and mystery surrounding this fascinating floating village. The quaint cottage styled building is inviting bedecked with cool concrete crab chairs and a checkerboard table. Inside, we were greeting by two sweet ladies who gave us some highlights to see! We paid the nominal fee of $3 and made sure we also donated a few dollars in the box for upkeep and restoration. It was refreshing to see that this museum, being one of the few tourist attractions on the island, didn't try to gouge their visitors. We took our time exploring each exhibit which included some War history, the Indians who once occupied the island, Captain John Smith's role in Tangier history, boating and crabbing displays, artifacts, maps, newspaper clippings, artwork, photos, models, and more. We sat and enjoyed the video describing the struggles on the island, the challenging lifestyle here, and the fisherman who love it and strive to keep it afloat! The moving footage on the video not only depicts the gorgeous Chesapeake Bay, and the abundant water life and wildlife seen here, but it also shows interviews of some of the folks that live and work on the island. One local Tangier waterman is quoted saying, "It is not an easy way of life. In fact, it is a true labor of love..." The restrooms were clean and tidy. But cell service can be a struggle here on the island so you'll have a chance to really connect with the relaxed vibe and friendly people around you! The gift shop had some cool postcards, trinkets, jewelry and a great selection of books. We purchased the one about Tangier's history and I can't wait to delve into it. For lover's of Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay, quirky small towns, history buffs or just curious tourists, all you need to know about Tangier Island can be discovered here!

Shelley is such an amazing and wonderful caretaker for her farm. We had the privilege of going to…read moresee her and the baby goats on our last road trip. It was the highlight of our trip!! Such personal 1:1 time and in such a loving atmosphere. We will be back soon!!

Well it may only be a nine-hole layout, but this is still a gem of an old Southern town golf course…read morethat has charm and character that even the newest tracks around the country are lacking. I had not played the course for over fifty years until a visit back to West Point earlier this summer; but my kid brother Chris & I hit the course on an early morning and going around twice was a real treat! It seems to have not changed much since I learned the game of golf caddying there in the late 1950s. Excellent combination of trees, rolling fairways, ponds and classic older greens. Probably the biggest change since I moved away from that town was the fact that it is no longer strictly private. Outside play is welcomed and the staff are all eager to make you feel at home. The setting on a large pond next to the historic Romancoke Plantation is stunning. It would be great if some deep pockets entrepreneurs would take it over someday and expand it to eighteen holes, but the mill town is no longer as affluent as it once was so the chances of this happening are pretty nil. But for a young aficionado of the game of golf who wants to learn a game that could take him or her to Tiger like levels at the top, could not find a better course for many miles to fall in love with the game.