Welcome to The Eastern Shore of Virginia

WELCOME... to our beautiful peninsula located between the Chesapeake and the Atlantic.  Our extensive shorelines provide a wealth of recreational opportunities for fishing, boating, golfing, historic Victorian, Colonial, and Vintage Farm homes as well as beach lovers alike.   Our diverse economy includes everything from agriculture, the Virginia Space Flight Center, Wallops Island Flight Facility, to numerous artists & artisans who find inspiration in our beautiful surroundings. Come for a day or for the rest of your life!  Stay in one of the quality rooms available from Chincoteague to Cape Charles or settle in a picturesque town filled with colonial and turn-of-the-century homes, coming soon a second new Jack Nickelson Golf Course, a mall and a triplex movie theatre as well as a renovated historic hotel Consider relocating your business to the shore and take advantage of special incentives offered by Northampton and Accomack county Economic Development.   The Renaissance of the Eastern Shore                                                  Until recently the Shore has remained rather unchanged for several decades. Our beaches and pristine waterways are the envy of many well known coastal resorts, but now considering the creation of the new Arnold Palmer golf center and marina, many are predicting great things to come, for Cape Charles and the entire shore.  The 17-mile  Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel spans the Atlantic Ocean to Virginia Beach, with spectacular view of the Chesapeake Bay, with all of its natural wildlife, and array of fabulous boats, sail boats, motor boats, military ships, fishing boats, and many, many others..    So far from the hub-bub of big city life yet soo close as well.. In addition, The Outer Banks of North Carolina are two hours away, and Ocean City Maryland is 1 1/2 hours North.. Shopping - there are scattered stores and  quaint shops all along the "shore" as we call it here as well as wonderful restaurants from Cape Charles to Pocomoke MD.   Getting to the Shore The Eastern Shore of Virginia is easy to get to. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the US Highway 13 connect the Eastern Shore of Virginia to the major metro areas of the east coast. US Highway 13 is a 4-lane divided highway and a major north/south alternative route to Interstate 95. Commercial air service is provided by several carriers just across the Chesapeake Bay at Norfolk International Airport. City Miles Norfolk, Virginia 45 Richmond, Virginia 125 Baltimore, Maryland 140 Washington, DC 150 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 165 Raleigh, North Carolina 225 New York, New York 280   Climate Annual Average Rainfall 41.9 inches Average Summer Temperature 77 Annual Average Snowfall 6.0 inches Average Winter Temperature 40 Cooling Degree Days (°F) 1,219 Annual Average Temperature 58 Heating Degree Days (°F) 3,859 Population    1990  1997  2004     Accomack      County          31,100    31,300 33,280 Northampton County   12,600 12,800 14,800 Eastern Shore of VA  43,700 45,100 53,000 Education The high standards of the Eastern Shore of Virginia's public schools are demonstrated by the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence awards that local schools have earned. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program identifies and recognizes outstanding public and private schools across the nation. All of the elementary schools in both counties have been replaced or renovated in the last few years. Other initiatives in the elementary schools include summer reading enrichment programs, summer computer camps, a visual arts workshop for artistically gifted students, and a talented and gifted student program. In addition there are several "Home Schoolers" here on the shore with several support groups for interaction and field trips, as well as a new "co-op" starting in the Fall of 2005. Business Parks Accomack Airport Industrial Park Is located adjacent to the county's general aviation airport. The park has a beautiful wooded setting and is fully served with water, sewer, electric and communications infrastructure. The airport features an architecturally impressive terminal building and new t-hangers. Several sites in the park have direct access to the airport's 5,000 foot runway. This is a very impressive small airport, one  of the finest I've seen! Cape Charles Sustainable Technology Park Is America's first eco-industrial park. The park meets the high standards of businesses that have made a commitment to profitability with environmental and social integrity. It offers a Chesapeake Bay-front setting and is located across the harbor from downtown Cape Charles.   Both parks are within a Virginia Enterprise Zone, which offers substantial financial incentives to businesses locating or expanding in the parks. Incentives include a 10-year general income tax credit, a real property improvement tax credit, and job grants. Other available incentives include work force training and a foreign trade zone. Recreation Assateague Island National Seashore Roam the beaches, walk or ride the nature trails. 757-336-6577. Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel  The world's largest bridge-tunnel complex, 17.6 miles long. Toll Bridge. 757-331-2960. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge  Home of the famed Chincoteague Ponies. 757-336-6122. Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge  At the southern tip of the peninsula, the refuge is a bird lover's paradise. A museum houses an extensive and valuable waterfowl carving collection. No admission fee. 757-331-2960. Eastern Shore Railway Museum  Two miles west of Route 13 in Parksley on the original site of the old Parksley Station. Monday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Admission fee . Kerr Place Located in Onancock, it is the home of the Eastern Shore Historical Society. Built in 1799, it houses a collection of furniture and historical items relating to the Shore's history. Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission fee. 757-787-8012. Kiptopeke State Park  One of the newest state parks, it offers 375 acres of a variety of outdoor recreation and conservation activities. Camping, boating, picnicking, fishing and bird watching. Admission fee. 757-331-2267. NASA/Wallops Visitor Center  View collections of spacecraft and flight articles, as well as exhibits about America's space flight program. During December, January and February, NASA offers tours of Wallops Island launch site by advance reservation. No admission fee. 757 824-1344. Oyster and Maritime Museum  The only one of its kind in the United States, it features live marine exhibits, shell specimens, historical and maritime artifacts, and implements from the seafood industry. Admission fee. 757-336-6117. Tangier Island  Cut off from the mainland by the Chesapeake Bay, Tangier Island is a quaint mix of old and new. To get there you take an exciting excursion cruise down Onancock Creek and out across the Bay. Tickets for the Tangier Island Cruise. Admission fee. 757-787-8012. Visitor Information Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce/ Virginia's Eastern Shore Tourism Commission P.O. Drawer 460, Melfa, Virginia 23410 757-787-2460   Cape Charles/Northampton County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 87, Cape Charles, VA 23310 757-331-2304 All information on this site is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed.