Things to do / Travel Guide
Virginia is for lovers, so they say, but this designation is no less true for eastern Maryland and North Carolina. From the small and historic fishing towns of Maryland, to the genteel city of Richmond, Virginia, to the spacious bays and sounds of North Carolina, you'll find this region a welcome change. Life goes on slower in these coastal parts, the better to take it easy, find a secluded spot on the beach, and spend some quality time together. Eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland awaits for all kinds of romantic trips, either to mark a specific event like a honeymoon or anniversary, or for a romantic getaway, spontaneous or not.
Romantic Accommodations in Eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland
There are a wide variety of romantic bed and breakfasts and inns in eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. In searching for the most romantic spots, just as in real estate, the secret is a heavy dose of location. This region, then, is inundated by great coastal locations.
There's one bed and breakfast, though, that stands out not only as one of the region's best locations, but also as one of the best in all of America. It's right on Chincoteague Bay, in the small town of Snow Hill at Public Landing. Right on the bay, so that you can go swimming just by walking to the foot of the lawn, is Mansion House Bed and Breakfast. Far in the distance you and your partner can catch glimpses of Assateague Island, of wild horses fame.
The mansion was built in the 1830s by a wealthy planter and judge, and in its reincarnation as a bed and breakfast it's been lovingly restored and refitted with antique and new period furniture. Service is top-notch, breakfasts are lovingly and graciously served, and the views - like that of the moon rising from the bay and striking a swathe of moonlight on the waters below - are unmatchable.
In the seaport of Norfolk, just south of Hampton Roads, you'll find a bed and breakfast at Historic Page House Inn, in the Ghent Historic District. Surrounded by more mansions, and the Chrysler Museum of Art, this turn-of-the-20th-century mansion is a lovely place to spend a romantic getaway. The rooms are smothered in Southern goodness, with lovely antiques and gas-log fireplaces. If you stay in the Bathe Suite you get access to a state-of-the-art sunken hot tub; all the suites come with king-size beds, either canopy or brass.
The best place to stay in Wilmington, North Carolina, just four blocks from the Cape Fear River, is the Murchison House. This bed and breakfast is nationally acclaimed as another one of America's best, and it shows. It's the perfect place for a getaway, with a multi-roomed downstairs filled with antiques and originals, a library, parlors, and dining room. The owners aim to provide a completely carefree zone, where the only things you have to concentrate on are yourselves and the lush surroundings. Rooms are spacious, all themed appropriately to fit the Southern environment, and specially made up for romance. In the Virginia Mae Room you'll find the most gorgeous Victorian canopy bed.
Romantic Dining in Eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland
If you're one of those who thinks that no more is needed for a romantic dining experience than a humble seafood café with good service and better food, then eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland is for you. Fresh crab for two, clam chowder, and bass await. A good representative of what's in store can be found at the PGN Crab House, serving some of the best crab throughout the Chesapeake Bay. Otherwise taste the fried chicken, soul food if there ever was some, and the otherworldly French fries.
Now for a place with lots of atmosphere, a classy evening in a bustling Southern city, reserve yourselves a table at Todd Jurich's Bistro, in Norfolk. The walls are decorated by mythical sea-inspired art and the interior in general is tastefully arranged. This lends an aura to the food that can only be described as mythical. After the first course, the soup, and the salad, your entrée arrives in full pomp and splendor. Maybe you have the shellfish-finfish roast with spoonbread, lemon, and French butter, while your partner gets the lamb with African rice and mint chimichurri; any combination will do. With a menu of delectable delicacies such as these, a romantic meal for two doubles as a culinary affair.
Romantic Excursions in Eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland
There happen to be plenty of romance-tinged activities on Maryland's coast, and most are not at all far from Mansion House. For the more outdoors-oriented, kayaking on Assateague Bay is gentle and rewarding, with all the wildlife to observe. Otherwise, there are a number of good places to go antiquing in the area. Just walking along the coast, though, is enough for many people.
Walk outside along the oak-lined streets of Norfolk's Ghent District, make your way to the ever-busy harbor, or partake in one of the city's fantastic seafood restaurants. You're lucky to be in this city, so generous with the romantically-inclined.
North Carolina boasts a number of historic districts, as well as beautiful beaches on which to stroll. The picturesque city of Wilmington, nestled happily between the Cape Fear River and the beaches along the Intracoastal Waterway, is one place that can boast both these romantic draws.
Eastern North Carolina is the site for one of the East Coast's most romantic spots: the runaway barrier islands of Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke Island. They're mile after mile of seashore in both directions, and the latter is home to a beautiful lighthouse and a small village of less than 1,000 inhabitants. There's a seafood joint, of course, and the locals are happy to receive visitors.
The shores and tidewaters of eastern North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland are home to some of the most romantic locations on the entire East Coast. This region is one of inlets and barrier islands, historic cities along gentle rivers and estuaries; there are an abundance of niches to explore in your search for your spot, the one place, city, or town where the two of you are able to relax and fill your thoughts with only each other. It's a great region for a romantic getaway.
Romantic Vacation Ideas in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, North Carolina's Outer Banks
Romantic-Vacations-Getaways
Colonial Williamsburg - Virginia
Assateague Island National Seashore Beach - Maryland
North Carolina's Outer Banks
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