Virginia's Eastern Shore
The Eastern Shore of Virginia is a beautiful peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Eight and a half miles wide at its widest point, Accomack and Northampton counties are steeped in history and stunning natural beauty.
From the Maryland line on the north, the Shore extends 70 miles to Cape Charles and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in the south. On the east (seaside) beyond the wetlands and the barrier islands is the Atlantic Ocean. On the west (bayside) is the Chesapeake Bay and an extensive system of creeks with stunning westward water views and protected access to the bay.
It’s an area steeped in history, first discovered by settlers in the summer of 1608 when Captain John Smith and a party of 32 men in four boats came from the colony at Jamestown to explore and map the area. They made contact with the Indians of the Eastern Shore and established friendly relations with the Indian King Debedeavon and his brother Kiptopeke.
The first permanent English settler, Thomas Savage, came to the Shore around 1614, and his descendants still live here today. Other settlers followed rapidly, and a county government soon was established. Today, Northampton County possesses the oldest continuous court records in the nation, dating from 1632.
For more information about the Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore of Virginia - You’ll love our Nature
Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce
Northampton County Chamber of Commerce
Schneider Development’s Top 10 Favorite Things to Do on the Eastern Shore (staff opinion only!)
- Kayaking through the creeks with Southeast Expeditions
- Sunset Tours on the Schooner Serenity
- Vanilla Cokes at Rayfield’s Pharmacy lunch counter
- Searching for sea glass on the beachfront
- The Palmer and Nicklaus courses at Bay Creek
- Gallery openings at Arts Enter
- Folk art and furniture at The Windsor Chair Company
- Hunting for Sand dollars on the barrier islands
- Fried Pickle sticks at Kelly’s Gingernut Pub
- The Christmas bash at Watson’s Hardware