Romantic Getaway
Fall in LOVE with Virginia’s River Realm. Gorgeous, waterfront sunsets, cozy nights by a bonfire, romantic winery tours, and delicious oysters are all the right ingredients for a Romantic Getaway.
What is Virginia’s River Realm?
Full of delightful surprises, hidden gems, and friendly, small-town spirit. The 465 miles of shoreline, eight great small towns, and hundreds of unique attractions invite visitors to enjoy the wonder of a perfect oyster, the promise of a back road or secret cove and the pleasure of sharing a table with friends. A place where you can catch your breath, calm your mind and live your dreams.
Experiences
Waterfront Restaurants
River Realm has destination worthy restaurants with gorgeous views and scrumptious food to create those special memories with your true love. Sunsets on the water begs for romance to come alive. Book a charter and boat up for a new experience or cheer your cocktails while watching the boats sail by. Merroir, Deltaville Tap and Raw Bar, Portside Grill, Urbanna Seafood, Willaby’s Cafe, and Tides Inn.
Long Walks on The Beach
Walk hand-in-hand on a sandy stretch of our 465 Miles of shoreline in Virginia’s River Realm. Enjoy the salty air and the company of your loved one as you walk along our quiet, pristine beaches and natural parks like Belle Isle State Park, Hughlett Point Natural Preserve, Holly Point Nature Park, and Baylor Park Nature Trail.
Connect with the River
And connect with each other on a sunset cruise, sailboat charter, or eco tour of the River Realm. Nothing brings couples together quite like a romantic experience on the water. See the River Realm from a different point of view and get out on the water with your partner.
Calm Your Mind Spa Time
Want a zero pressure weekend? Start by making the Tides Inn Spa you’re first stop. From Himalayan Hot Stone massages to the Tide and Thyme body polish, you’ll feel like a new person once you hand yourself over to the talented staff.
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP
The River Realm is home to many unique boutiques whether for you, your BFF’s or for your homestead. No chain stores here, just friendly merchants who will help you find that special something. Head out to Kilmarnock, Irvington, White Stone, Lively, Saluda, Urbanna or Deltaville- and go fashion hunting.
OUTDOOR FITNESS FUN
Get a great core workout without the bore. Kayaking or paddle board on quiet coves for your zen side or ride the ripple of the tide for the adventurer in you. Hike the nature trails at Belle Isle State Park and soar like the eagle you are.
Merroir Tasting Room
A casual, relaxing outdoor atmosphere with surrounding river views, offering a small plate menu. Home of the famous Rappahannock Oyster Company. Their oysters are served fresh out of the river from their aquaculture farm. Sit at the deadrise boat, Ruby, converted as an summer outdoor bar.
Tides Inn
Dine al fresco beneath the trees and sparkling starlit sky or on the patio overlooking Carter’s Creek. Pull up a chair at any of our 5 restaurants for a causal to fine dining experience. Fish Hawk Oyster Bar is a coastal eatery offering outdoor seating on the beach along the Creek. The heritage rich Eagle Room has all the grandeur a special occasion requires. Closed through February. Re-opens 3/15.
Portside Grill
Nestled in the Urbanna Port Marina, Portside Grill has inside and waterfront seating. Sip your cocktails together as you watch the boats drift by. Portside’s menu offers local seafood and American favorites. Try their crab tots, Bay Dream oysters, crab cakes, burgers topped with crab, oyster fritters or sea spouts.
Urbanna Seafood & Raw Bar
Tucked away on Robinson Creek you’ll find a hidden local secret, where you’ll experience the most beautiful sunsets in Urbanna. Urbanna Seafood catches their own oysters and crabs locally. Share an Urbanna Bucket that’s hearty enough for two or nibble on specialties like crab balls with a zesty remoulade sauce.
Deltaville Tap & Raw Bar
Where the river meets the Bay at the tip of the Middle Peninsula, you’ll find the best waterfront restaurant in Deltaville. Craft brews, wines and cocktails go superbly with low country boils, wings 5 ways, sushi bombs and crab cakes, pasta and burgers. Watch for live music events on holiday weekends.
Chesapeake Inn
13 Sophisticated boutique suites are located in downtown Urbanna. Shopping and dining are just footsteps away. Included in your overnight stay, are bikes to ride around town or try their two person surrey carriages – a photo worthy moment! Borrow a kayak and paddle the Urbanna Harbor or to the Rosegill Beach.
Hope and Glory Inn
It’s a former school house but no strict teachers here. Only shabby chic, glorious garden rooms and an outdoor claw foot tub for the most decadent experience. (Yes, it’s enclosed.) Recognized as one of “The South’s Best Inns” by Southern Living Magazine. Stroll adorable small town Irvington for shopping and dining.
Tides Inn
Beautifully located on its own peninsula, these 4 star luxury accommodations are sure to please. Whether you order breakfast-in-bed or de-stress at the spa, play golf, ride bikes, charter a boat tour or go kayaking, you and your true love will not need to leave this resort with all of it’s amenities and unique things-to-do.
Bethpage Camp Resort
If you have a fondness for the outdoors, try our 3 Time winner Best RV Resort in the nation! Rent a cottage or a RV site with full hook-up that includes incredible amenities such as a water park, playgrounds, fishing docks, lake beach, and daily themed activities. You will be infatuated with the funny COWTOPIA miniature golf and an ice cream treat! Open April through November.
Kilmarnock Inn
The main house is a charming Victorian era house along with courtyard cottages with vibrant gardens and a charming patio. Seven cottages surrounding a beautifully landscaped courtyard are named for the remaining Virginia born presidents.
Dockside Inn
Recently updated with a fresh, coastal cozy choice for couples. This dog-friendly inn is close to loads of fun things to do at the Deltaville Maritime Museum, Holly Point Nature Park, Deltaville Tap and Raw Bar and Jackson Creek Outfitters.
Southern Sighs
This plantation home was originally built in 1913 by the Northam family who were engaged in the lumber industry. Renovated in 2016, you will find this stately bed and breakfast to be a beautiful refuge from your stressful obligations.
Vacation Cottages
Our vacation rentals can feel like that dream of owning a waterfront home has come true! Live the river lifestyle like a local and enjoy amenities like, beaches, kayaks, docks, water views, all at your backdoor. Most are just as affordable as a hotel.
Duffy Boat Rentals
Tides Inn
Nothing say Amore like a romantic boat ride with a surrey on top to cruise Carter’s Creek. The Tides Inn marina has environmentally friendly, electric Duffy boats for rent to enjoy a self-guided 90 minute tour on the Bay or a 90 minute guided sunset cruise by one of our experienced Captains. Complete your cruise with a locally-sourced brunch or picnic basket upon request. Closed through February. Reopens 3/15.
Art Together
Create a masterpiece together at one of the workshops at River House Creations , RAL Art Center and Allure Art Center. Let the artist in you have fun using that free-spirited right side of the brain. Walk through the galleries and just marvel at the distinctive creations.
Museum In The Streets Urbanna
Walk back into a 3-century year-old journey through time. Pick up a brochure outside the Bristow’s Store and tour 14 historical sites around the small town of Urbanna, founded in 1680. You’ll visit a museum, general store, mercantile shop, courthouse, church, Colonial houses and the town marina.
Airplane Rides
Love is in the air! Take a scenic aerial tour of the beautiful Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and tributaries. Coastal Sky Taxi and Bay Aviation will take you to the sky from Hummel Airfield. If a little more adventure is needed, sign up for an open air cockpit ride in the Warbird PT-19 or an aerobatic thrill ride.
Kayak/SUP Rentals
Bond together while feeling sublime oneness with the environment and each other. Windswept or Jackson Creek Outfitters can set you up with paddleboard, kayaks rentals and other water gear to see River Realm’s flora and fauna. Sign up for fun events like the Moon Paddles.
Waterman’s Heritage Tours
An authentic working waterman will give you an intimate tour of the Chesapeake Bay and it’s eco-system. This life changing experience is an on-water deadrise boat tour that demonstrates harvesting oysters and pulling-crab pots, that encourages hands-on involvement. Learn about River Realm’s boating culture and seafood heritage.
Find LOVE in the River Realm
Up for a scavenger hunt of our LoveWorks signs? Take your beloved to all the Love signs for a great photo memory of your getaway to the River Realm. You’ll find them located at Deltaville Maritime Museum, Middlesex County Museum, Urbanna Love Sign, Allure Art Center and downtown Kilmarnock during holidays. Soon to come at Kilmarnock Town Centre Park!
Sunset Charters
Grab your soulmate and get out on the water. River Realm’s boat captains will tour the majestic waters and beautiful vistas where the Rappahannock River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Reunite your affections for each other over the ripples of the water and the salty breezes. Charters can dock at many waterfront restaurants or by wildlife preserves.
