Guest post by Kristen Williams
When we booked our family getaway at the Tides Inn over Columbus Day back in July, we didn’t expect the October weekend to also include summer-like temperatures. We headed to Irvington, Virginia, just an hour and a half from Richmond, Va., to the small historic fishing village for the long weekend. The Tides Inn is a timeless Virginia resort on a private peninsula of the Chesapeake Bay.
Initial Impressions of the Tides
When we arrived we sat underneath the large evergreen tree by the water. It is a gorgeous and peaceful spot that offers sweeping views of Carter’s Creek, and we relaxed and enjoyed a glass of wine. The kids checked out the property, including the giant chess set and croquet on the lawn. The resort also offers many water activities including sailing, jet ski excursions, kayaking, and paddleboarding. We opted to paddleboard and kayak on our first afternoon and then hung out by the pool. It was an incredibly gorgeous 85 degree fall day.
Accommodations at the Tides
The Tides has a variety of accommodations on its property. When Preston and I stayed here for an anniversary years ago, we were in a lovely suite in the main building. This time we came with our children, Carter and Elly, and opted to stay in one of the cottages. Dogs are welcome here, and on our future visit, we may bring Lilly (our Boston terrier) and Rizzo (our rescued yellow lab, named after the Cubs first baseman).
Dining + Fun Activities at the Tides
On our first evening, we had dinner on the Chesapeake Terrace while gazing over Carter’s Creek and the twinkling lights hanging from the tree branches. Preston and I enjoyed the steamed shrimp and the kids loved making s’mores, a nightly tradition at the Tides.
On Sunday morning we took advantage of the complimentary bikes and pedaled to The Local for lunch (still debating the best sandwich, the Yanni or the Steamboat) and the Dog & Oyster Vineyard, a prime stop along the Virginia Wine Trail. The vineyard is named after the rescue dogs that saved the grapes from hungry wildlife and the Chesapeake Bay regions greatest-known asset, the oyster. We were greeted by live music and the opportunity to “sip and slurp” — sip the local wine and slurp the oysters. Of course, we enjoyed both.
The kids wanted to go jet skiing so that was our main activity on Sunday. After a short instruction, our guides led us to the mouth of the river to play. We were fearless and went as fast as we could, and it was incredible. That is until Elly fell off the back of one of the jet skis. After that, we opted to take it a bit slower and explore the spectacular houses along the water for the rest of our tour. The homes and the views were breathtaking.
We enjoyed a slow Monday morning and I went for a run to further check out Irvington. The morning was foggy and I found myself jogging on a windy road through a cornfield. We went back to the Local for a tasty breakfast before heading home.
We Loved the Tides and What We’ll Do Next Time…
We had a great time at the Tides. The resort is about 70 years old and has a well-loved aspect to it — it is not high end or trendy but it’s very charming and you can imagine many families coming here over the years to create memories. We learned they are selling the Golden Eagle Golf Course and plan to make significant investments to the property and it will be interesting to see what improvements they make.
What we love about the Tides Inn is that there is something for everyone. The Inn and Irvington are quintessential Chesapeake Bay experiences. On our next visit, we plan to learn to sail by attending the Premier Sailing School. We’d also like to take a class to learn more about oyster prep and wine pairings. Tennis, the nine-hole par 3 golf course and a trip to the spa for a massage and facials are also on our list. And we need to have dinner at Merroir, a gourmet oyster tasting room. We would be thrilled if our cousins (hint hint) would join us for a family reunion and join us for some degrees activities and family fun.
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