First visited by white men while searching for the lost Roanoke Colony of Virginia, the Eastern Shore Region is comprised of the two southernmost counties of Accomack and Northhampton on the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula. This landmass shared with Maryland is separated from Virginia on the east by the Chesapeake Bay. On the west, the Atlantic Ocean lies just beyond a series of outer islands.

U.S. 13 runs north to south and crosses the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay from Delmarva Peninsula to Virginia Beach and the metropolitan area of Hampton Roads via the 23-mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Travel along this route and discover quaint, Victorian-era towns, camping, and miles of beaches for swimming and sunbathing.

Stop in at the Little City by the Sea known as Wachapreague, the Flounder Fishing Capital of the World, with its shallow flats providing ideal conditions for flounder. Another city along the way is Chincoteague, noted for its wild ponies and beaches. Check out Onancocks art galleries or catch the hour-long round trip dining excursion on the restored 1913 Interurban railcar of the Bay Creek Railway in Cape Charles.

Islands beg to be included on the travel itinerary as well, such as the sister islands of Assateague and Chincoteague. The car-less island of Tangier is referred to as the Soft Shell Crab Capital of the World.

Dont forget to visit the Assateague Lighthouse and the regions shops, museums and wildlife refuges, but especially remember the three Bs bird watching, beaches, and biking. Festivals include the Chincoteague Island Seafood Festival in May, the Chincoteague Island Oyster Festival in October, and the Eastern Shore of Virginia Harvest Festival on the first Wednesday in October.

Perhaps the Eastern Shore Regions temperate summers and winters are what attracted the pirate, Blackbeard, who once sought refuge here. Combine this climate with that of your own laid-back, relaxing getaway and you will arrive home refreshed but eager for a return visit

Regional Overviews provided by Sharon K Grossman

Chincoteague NWR, located primarily on the Virginia side of Assateague Island, consists of more than 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest. Chincoteague Refuge, originally established in 1943 to provide habitat for migratory birds with an emphasis on conserving greater snow geese, ........more >

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On Virginia's beautiful Eastern Shore, explored by Capt. John Smith in 1608, Kiptopeke offers recreational access to the Chesapeake Bay. It's also a great place to explore unique migratory bird habitat along the Atlantic flyway. The park has two and three-bedroom cabins, six-bedroom lodges, RV and tent ........more >

The Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge was created on July 10, 1975 when 373 acres of land were transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA. The refuge, comprised mainly of salt marsh and woodlands, is located east of Wattsville ........more >

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