About an hour’s drive from Camp Cardinal, start the day visiting the towns of Urbanna, Deltaville and Mathews County to explore museums that share the unique history of each locale.
Urbanna is home of Virginia’s official oyster festival. Fun fact: There are more boats than folks in this waterfront town.
- Breakfast starts the day in Urbanna at Where The Sidewalk Ends with coffee roasted and brewed on site. The homemade biscuits are a highlight with most ingredients coming from a local farm. Find it at 280 State Road 602.
- Explore the town on foot with Museum in the Streets heritage walking tour to discover Urbanna’s rich history. Colonial houses, museum, general store, mercantile shop, courthouse, church and the town marina are all included on the 350-year journey. Simply scan code to access app or get a printed guide in the town office. Start your tour at the first historical marker on the Cross Street side of R.S. Bristow’s Store on the corner of Virginia and Cross streets.
- Jump on the “The Pearl” trolley to tour the town – it’s free and takes about 30-minutes to do the loop! Runs July 1 through Labor Day.
- Urbanna Museum and Visitors Center is located in theJames Mill Scottish Factor Store, built in 1766. It is one of the oldest surviving mercantile structures in America associated with the sale of tobacco by the Urbanna Creek port. Brochures, maps and souvenirs are available. Find it at 140 Virginia St.
- Drive the Historic Marker Trail throughout the towns of Urbanna, Saluda and Deltaville
Deltaville is known the “Boating Capital of the Chesapeake,” as well as its boatbuilding and watermen heritage.
- Enjoy lunch at The Table where they source locally at every opportunity and use passed down recipes to create thoughtful dishes. Find it at 16273 General Puller Highway.
- Check out Stingray Lighthouse at Stingray Point. It’s an exact full-scale replica of the original Stringray Point screwpile lighthouse built in 1853 that stood watch over the shoal at Stingray Point, separating the Rappahannock River and Piankatank River. To get there, follow General Puller (Highway 33) and turn left to enter Stingray Point Marina.
- The Deltaville Maritime Museum & Holly Point Nature Park. The museum and grounds encompass 34 acres near Jackson Creek just off of Chesapeake Bay. With ample nature paths, a Children’s Garden, an indoor/outdoor pavilion and two outdoor gazebos. It’s here where you can hop on the historic 1920s-era buyboat, the 63-foot “F.D. Crockett” with its log bottom. Find it at 287 Jackson Creek Road.
The lovely coastal county of Mathews has flourished into a maritime paradise where visitors can take advantage of the beautiful Chesapeake Bay.
- The first stop on your journey in Mathews should be the Mathews County Visitor and Information Center in the old Sibley’s General Store at 239 Main St.
- See the historical New Point Comfort Lighthouse, The 3rd oldest lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay and The 10th oldest lighthouse in the United States.
- Check-in with the Mathews County Historical Society, headquartered in the Tompkins Cottage Museum circa 1820, one of the oldest wooden structures in the historic district. It’s open on Saturdays April through October from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., at 43 Brickbat Road.
- Top off the day with dinner at Richardson’s Café at 12 Church St. A nostalgic family fun dining in a ’50s style setting. Shakes, ice cream and all-American fresh seafood, burgers, sandwiches and wraps.
Head back to Camp Cardinal, about a 30-minute drive, and gaze upon the stars as so many sailors did to navigate their way home from the water.
