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Too Early To Book Your Beach Vacation Rental Home In Cape Charles, Virginia ?

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Fun, sun and sand on the beach in Cape Charles, Virginia

No,  it’s never too early to book a beach vacation rental home in quaint Cape Charles or anywhere on the Eastern Shore of Virginia for that matter !   I personally believe that the anticipation of a fun event is actually half the pleasure  ( or if not half,  at least a  lot ).  Part of the fun, of course, is perusing the options.  How many people are going to be in our  group  ?   How big of a house  ?  Is overlooking the beach important or  is  being  a block or two away fine ?  Figuring all this out really gets the ole neurons firing and a lot of exciting conversation going.  Once all that is figured out,  time to start looking at the pretty pictures— pictures of the house,  the bedrooms, the kitchen, the great room and of course, critically, the  beach and, of course,  the location, the state and town.  And making summertime plans now helps chase away some of the winter blahs  !  Definitely I  am not an impartial observer, but I do think that Cape Charles offers everything that a coastal vacation should include: beach,  boating,  golf,  shopping, restaurants, entertainment,  all at a peaceful pace  in a quaint, small coastal town setting,  your launch point for great  vacation adventures and memories.   (  Certainly many a person has  liked  Cape Charles so much they decided  to buy a home of  their  own there and join  our vacation rental program.)  

 Once you’ve made your selection,  then let the fun really start as the  “Countdown to Summer”  begins.   I know a lot of people likely agree with this because many of our beach vacation weekly rental homes are currently getting lots of inquiries and it’s only mid-February.  Because of our moderate year-round climate,  on the Eastern Shore of Virginia,  the temperates all week are  going to be 50+ degrees under sunny blue skies.  In a week or two,  our  first camellias will be bursting  into bloom,  bringing glorious shades of pinks, violets, reds,  even variegated reds and whites to winter weary yards.    But in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and points further north,  it’s still very cold outside and many  folks are probably staring out the window at a couple feet of unmelted snow and stark bare trees.  ( I had a customer tell me the other day that his Christmas yard decorations are frozen fast to the ground, no idea when he’ll be able to wrestle them out. )  So I think there is something really cheery about planning a beach vacation,  anticipating relaxing in the warm golden sun, reading  your book, listening to music,  musing  what to BBQ  for dinner after everyone gets back from the beach as all the while  outside the winds are howling and the snow drifts are practically up to the eves !

This year Blue Heron Realty Co. is  offering 3 homes which overlook  the beach in the town of  Cape Charles, Virginia Historic District.  More details for each can be found on our website, www.blueheronva.com , click on the vacation rentals  tab in the top navigation bar but here are the basics for those 3 beach  homes:

  • Bay Breeze: Overlooks the beach, sleeps 10 in 5 bedrooms, huge front porch. $2250/week in season. Contact Heather Brady, heatherblueheron@esva.net , 757-678-6099
  • Chesapeake Sunset Beauty: Overlooks beach, sleeps 10  in 4 bedrooms,  front porch and upstairs veranda. $2500/week in season.  Contact Eva Noonan, eva.noonan@yahoo.com ,  757-615-8700.
  • Bay Cottage: Overlooks beach, sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms, front porch. $1200/week in season. Contact Jennifer Ingram, jenning5@yahoo.com ,  757-615-0231. 

So it’s time to get some neurons crackling making the early decisions about a vacation rental this year and begin the Countdown to all the fun in the sun to be had  this summer in the quaint historic town of Cape Charles, Virginia.

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Spend Valentine’s Week-end Looking For Your Dream Home In The Romantic Victorian Town Of Cape Charles, Virginia

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

What better week-end to start to look for your dream home than Valentine’s weekend ?  And what better place to start your search than in the romantic  little Victorian town of Cape Charles, Virginia ?   Many times when customers plan to visit the Eastern Shore of Virginia to look for real estate they often would like to slip in a little personal down time as well.  Fortunately,  Cape Charles offers not only a variety of historic homes and lots for sale but it also offers some delightful Bed and Breakfast accommodations as well,  a great combination making for for a terrific week-end.  Right now the Sterling House B&B,  located on Monroe Avenue in the Cape Charles Historic District,   is offering a special promotional rate for Valentine’s week-end guests.

View of the beautiful Sterling House B&B dining room

A spectacular Valentine's breakfast awaits you at Sterling House B&B in Cape Charles, Virginia

Check with them about reserving  the luxurious Jeanette Laverne room, decorated with beautiful Eastern Shore coastal artwork  and  featuring an oversized German antique king-sized bed and separate bathroom with jacuzzi tub.   Or try the Wilma Ashley room,  offering  a queen sized bed and a deep jacuzzi tub, ever so relaxing.  For his Valentine’s promotion,  Steve Hairfield,  proprietor, is offering the second night for 1/2 price.  To  add to the romantic ambiance,  for the ladies,  a  fragrant red rose.   Steve has also  promised a truly spectacular breakfast accompanied by bottomless cups of his delicious steaming hot signature coffee, all  served in the  elegant dining room.  Since Sterling House is just a few steps from the beach, it’s perfect for an invigorating  after-breakfast stroll along the boardwalk,  enjoying just being alive as the waves roll in and seabirds call overhead.  Evening brings dazzling sunsets over the Chesapeake Bay which can be viewed from the B&B’s cozy front porch.  Relax a bit by the fireplace,  then later slip out for a luscious dinner at Aqua’s,  a fine dining restaurant overlooking the Chesapeake Bay,  located only about 5 minutes away. ( www.sterlinghousecapecharles.com )

View of elegant foyer in Victorian Revival home for sale in Cape Charles, VA

Beautifully restored, this historic Victorian home for sale in Cape Charles, VA is perfect for a B&B or personal residence.

As for the real estate part of the week-end,  among our interesting historic homes for sale in  Cape Charles is a  very special  Victorian Revival home.  This 4200 square foot,   7 bedroom,  8 bath home with  detached office/guest house and back garden with hot tub,  is perfect for use as a B&B  ( which it once was)  or simply as a personal residence.  Definitely plenty of room for friends and family !  Numerous windows  create a light-filled home with a very pleasant feel.    Beautifully restored,  this elegant home reflects the best of gracious Virginia living including a stunning front porch,  with columns,  which wraps around the house on three sides.   All the Victorian bells and whistles are evident here,  the painstaking craftsmanship of yesteryear,  intricate moldings, distinctive fireplace and newly refinished hardwood and pine floors.  The chef’s kitchen features a Wolf range with Viking hood plus a large butler’s pantry, making it a snap to whip up anything from a sandwich to a 5 course meal !  (Well, maybe not exactly a snap but easier anyhow…)

And what about available lifestyle amenites ?  This home is located only a few  blocks from the town of Cape Charles’  sparkling sand beach,  wonderful year round.  A boater ?  Access the new state-of-the-art marina or boat launch ramps  only 5 minutes away.   A golfer ?  Two of the top golf courses on the East Coast, an 18 hole  Palmer Signature course and an 18 hole  Nicklaus  Signature course,  stand ready to challenge you year round, located less than 10 minutes away.  Enjoy eating  out ?   Choose from the 7  in-town restaurants, with offerings from fine dining to casual fare,  all  just a  golf cart ride away,  zip, zip, zip !  ( Cape Charles is one of the few towns in Virginia where electric golf carts are “street-legal”. )  Guys and gals,  call Sterling House for your reservation, grab your honey and come on down to the Eastern Shore of Virginia to spend Valentine’s week-end in Cape Charles, one of the most romantic Victorian coastal towns in all of Virginia.  P.S.  Don’t  forget to call Blue Heron Realty Co. to set up your appointment to see our historic homes or other real estate listings. Check out our website  www.blueheronva.com to see our beachfront, boating, town & country and farm listings.  Come on down, Valentine’s week-end definitely is the perfect time to begin the search for your dream home or lot.

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204 Bay Avenue, Cape Charles, Virginia — An Eastern Shore Virginia Home Renovation Journal

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

The Way We Were -- About 1920

Trying to find a  historic  home that was built well and that has maintained all the charm that only time and history can provide is not always  an easy task.  But  that was just exactly what Paul and Kim Chandler were looking for when they asked me to assist them in  locating and purchasing  a historic beach house in the charming waterfront town of Cape Charles, Virginia.  After several trips and eagle-eying a number of  great possibilities,  the Chandler’s ultimately selected 204 Bay Avenue, one of the true  “Grand Dames”  of  Cape Charles.  Built around 1920,  this is a home that had been in the same families for many years– in fact,  the Chandlers are only the third owners of this beautiful property.  

204 Bay Avenue, Cape Charles, VA Getting ready for a face-lift and other cosmetic surgery

Chances are if you have been to Cape Charles you have driven or walked down Bay Avenue.  This beautiful street is embraced on the west  by the Chesapeake Bay and on the east by a line of  the  spectacular historic homes,  the  Grand Dames of Cape Charles,  occupying the choice building spots in the town.  A house on Bay Avenue is the perfect spot for spectacular Chesapeake Bay sunsets and 30 second access to the Cape Charles glistening sand beach.  And one of these  impressive ladies is just about to undergo a much needed face lift.  As with many of the homes in Cape Charles, over the years additions have been made–  for example, on 204 Bay Avenue,   the  portico that is currently attached to the left of the house was not original to the home.  Otherwise, not much else has changed on Bay Avenue since then,  same serene Chesapeake Bay views, same  gorgeous sand beach, same relaxed,  small coastal town feel.

The Grand Dames of Cape Charles overlooking the beach and the Chesapeake Bay

The Chandler’s were kind enough to agree to allow me to blog about the process as they move forward this spring with the actual renovations.  To date,  most of the work already done has involved landscaping.  The grounds,  which were quite overgrown at the time of purchase,  have been tidied,  trees and shrubs have been  pruned , giving a whole different feel to the property.  Vines  were removed which has allowed  sunlight to pour into the house,  making  a big difference to the feel inside.  Just knowing that the first steps have been taken to start this multi- phased project has brought  smiles to the faces of  neighboring property owners !   This Grand Dame is beginning to look quite grand once more.  As work inside starts  moving forward this spring,  I will be posting  some interesting renovation tips and some  “before and after”  photos as we proceed with the 204 Bay Avenue Renovation Journal blog.  And if you are thinking of trying to locate a historic  home  all your own to renovate,  please call  Blue Heron at 757-331-4885 and I will be happy to forward data sheets on some of the very interesting opportunities available at this time.  Or check out some of our  listings of  Victorian homes and historic homes on our website,  www.blueheronva.com .

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Swing Into This Luxury William E. Poole Designed Home Overlooking The Greens And The Chesapeake Bay In The Bay Creek Golf Resort at Cape Charles, Virginia

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

Homes  designed by renown architect William E. Poole are best known for two things– their warm and romantic living environments and the great attention paid to the myriad of  little design details that transform a house into a luxurious home.  I think  the Poole motto,  “Make The Place You Live The Place You Love”  really says it all.  And this exceptional Bay Creek Golf Resort home,  a classical   design  in the southern tradition,  certainly lives up to William Poole’s  fine  reputation as a remarkable  luxury home architect.

Front view of Heron Pointe luxury home at Bay Creek Golf Resort designed by William E. Poole

Located on an over-sized lot in the prestigeous  village of  Heron Pointe at Bay Creek in Cape Charles, Virginia,  this is a like-new home that boasts two excellent views.  To the east,  a stunning view of the  green on the sixth hole of the  Arnold Palmer Signature course.  ( Golf Digest has included   Bay Creek  on it’s “Best Places To Play”  list,  Golf Week on its “Best Courses You Can Play”  so overlooking a Palmer hole is a terrific location.)   The kitchen and breakfast room  are located on the eastern side of the house so you can imagine how beautiful it is at sunrise,  coffee in hand,  watching the sun peek over the  horizon,  pennant waving in the breeze,  green grass set against pink morning skies.  Or if you’re not an early riser,  how about the spectacular sunsets over the Chesapeake Bay from the western side of this beautiful home ?   The elegant full house length front porch is the perfect place for relaxing  with an iced tea,  refreshing breezes wafting by,  watching the setting sun paint the waters in shades of reds and golds.  Featuring 4 bedrooms and 3  1/2 baths,  this luxurious  home is one of the lucky few in Bay Creek Golf Resort that has both a golf course view and a Chesapeake Bay view,  truly a great  combination.

Spaciousness and natural light from the floor to ceiling windows make the great room so enjoyable

From the exterior brick to the interior five piece crown moldings, outside and inside,  top of the line materials and quality craftsmanship  were combined  with luxurious interior appointments  to make this a very special home.  The floor plan, open and airy,  with 10 foot ceilings on the first floor,  allows for casual  as well as formal areas — the formal dining room and library include lovely raised panel wainscoting.  I especially love the large  great room,  its amazing floor to ceiling windows really bring the outdoors in— the natural light is simply wonderful.  A  chef’s kitchen  ( with large center island features custom cherry cabinets,  built-in wine rack, granite counters and a very nice built-in wine cooler ),  stands ready for whipping up sumptuous feasts.  ( All appliances are GE Profile, the refrigerator front panel matches the cherry cabinets. )  Sugar and spice and everything nice plus much, much more can be stored in the huge walk-in pantry.  Spacious first floor master bedroom suite includes custom walk-in closet with built-in dresser, tray ceiling, custom windows with designer shades overlooking the golf course with double shower and double vanities in the bathroom.  Fireplace person ?   There are two.  Particular as to entry foyer  ?    A perfect size,  proceeded by an oversized door with leaded glass surround and overhead fan window.  Recessed lighting throughout.  And much, much more !

The state-of-the-art marina is just one of the many terrific amenities available to Bay Creek Golf Resort homeowners

And did I mention the other terrific Bay Creek amenities available to its homeowners in addition to the world class golf  ?    Miles of glistening sand beaches,  a new state-of-the-art marina,  multiple swimming pools, tennis courts,  amazing landscaping throughout,  shops, fine and casual dining, clubhouse, pro shop,  easy access by golf cart to all the shops, galleries, restaurants, etc.  in the historic town of Cape Charles, Virginia  ?   Truly,  for an alluring combination of  luxury and charm,  golf and water views,  sited on a large lot in one of the nation’s top 100 golf communities,  it would be very, very difficult to beat this elegant 4200 sq. ft. William Poole designed home in Heron Pointe village at Bay Creek Golf Resort  in historic Cape Charles, Virginia !  For more information and a personal tour,  give Blue Heron a call at 757-678-5200 or click  the link,  www.blueheronva.com/property.php?print=1&propid=841

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Start Your Coastal Lifestyle In This Like-New Condo At The Bay Creek Golf Resort In Cape Charles, Virginia Listed At Just $199,000

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

Bay Creek Golf Resort's Private Beach For Residents And Guests Only

If you are thinking of  starting your coastal lifestyle with a care-free Virginia condo,   “The Fairways”  at  Bay Creek Golf Resort in Cape Charles, Virginia may be just the place for you.   With Fairways Condos’  prime location  within the Resort,  just a hop, skip and jump from its  gorgeous  sand beaches or the clubhouse and within walking distance  to the tennis courts and swimming pools,   you could be enjoying the many great Bay Creek amenities without giving a  thought to lawn mowing,  leaf bagging,  landscape watering or unclogging the  blasted gutters !  Nestled between the up-scale single- family home villages of Plantation Pointe  located on Old Plantation inlet  and  Heron Pointe located along the Chesapeake Bay,  The Fairways Condominiums are a great opportunity to enjoy a vacation home,  retirement home or full-time living  without any responsibility for the actual maintenance outside your own four walls,  the  popular condo  “Lock It and Leave It”  concept.

Arnold Palmer Hole # 1, Overlooking The Chesapeake Bay And The Lighthouse At Bay Creek Golf Resort

And did I mention the exciting  Bay Creek waterfront golf,  the Arnold Palmer 18 hole Signature course  and its companion course,  the 18 hole Jack Nicklaus Signature  course,  listed by  Golf Week, Golf World and Golf Digest  as among the top US courses ?  A Fairways  condo is also a great way to begin Living Green and enjoying  the  “Golf Cart Life”.  In Cape Charles,  this  includes not only the cart paths within the  Bay Creek  community but also the town itself as Cape Charles is one of the very few towns in Virginia where electric golf carts are street-legal.   “Park the Car,  Use the Cart”  is the watch word of many residents– zip on over to the Marina,  zip to Aqua’s for lunch,  zip to Rayfield’s Pharmacy to pick up your prescription and maybe grab a milkshake at their old-fashioned soda fountain,  zip to Sullivan’s for some office supplies,  zip to Cape Charles Medical Center for an appointment with much loved Doc  Dalessio,  zip to Stage Door Gallery to see their latest art exhibits,  zip to Kelly’s Pub for a carry-out of their delicious  Fish&Chips dinner,  zip, zip, zip– no gas, no oil, no fumes,  just the quiet and relaxed electric  Cart Life.

Looking Across Lake To Fairways Condos

You can acquire this great Beach-Golf-Marina-Pool-Tennis-Clubhouse-Cart Life-Coastal Lifestyle  with this  3 bedroom, 2  bath condo listed at just $199,000, making it the most attractively priced condo at The Fairways.  In excellent condition,  this spacious 1500 sq. ft. home with 2 car garage features an open and airy floor plan.  Numerous upgrades including  fireplace,  corian counters, etc.  Being sold fully furnished,  just walk right in, sit right down, this condo truly is a terrific buy.  And as an added bonus,  with a purchase now you will be there  in time to enjoy the spring beauty of the incredible  landscaping installed throughout  Bay Creek Golf  Resort.   Featuring  literally thousands of  flowering plants and bulbs including camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, primroses, columbine, tulips, daffodils and hyacinths,  all of which  will  be putting on their showiest show of the year,  the Bay Creek Spring Bloomers are the  resident’s delight,  an amazing  profusion of  colors and shapes,  wonderful to behold.  So give Blue Heron Realty Co. a call at 757-678-5200 for more information on this terrific condo buy– and don’t miss  the 2011 Spring Bloomers show !   Be there or be square !

                                      

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A Jam Packed Day — The Victorian Stroll And The 1st Annual Grand Illumination In Cape Charles, Virginia

Friday, December 10th, 2010

It’s that time again,  the celebrations of  the holidays  are upon us !   This year,  three of the  Bed and Breakfasts  located in the historic area of  Cape Charles, Virginia offered a new afternoon event,  the Victorian  Stroll.  Entirely fitting of course,  because Cape Charles is Virginia’s prettiest  Victorian coastal town, especially during the holidays.  ( See our listings  of  Victorian historic homes for sale in Cape Charles at  www.blueheronva.com )  Throughout town,  eves,  gables and front porches are aglow with thousands of twinkling lights in reds and greens, blues and yellows.  I especially love the strings of  white lights,  they glitter and burn with such intensity.  Also scheduled for early  evening that same day was the 1st Annual Grand Illumination in the newly dedicated Cape Charles Central Park.  So my six year old granddaughter and I decided to do the town pink and go to both events.

Seagate B&B

First off  on our tour was  Seagate B&B,  located just a stone’s throw from Cape Charles’ excellent sand beach. ( www.seagatebb.com ) Proprietor Chris Bannon gave us the grand tour of his lovely home which has the notable distinction of being the  longest continuously operating  B&B  in Cape Charles.  Chris had his entire home dressed to the T  for the holidays but our favorite room was the formal dining room.  Featuring  a library area and lots of antiques, the beautiful  dining room looked as it must have looked in yesteryear,  mantel decorated with pine roping and other greenery, elaborate stockings hung  for Santa to fill,  sideboard festive , classic table set with holiday candles,  plush oriental rug in deep reds gracing the hardwood floor.  And presiding over it all, lounging in her antique chair with soft  red velvet cushions, was Raggedy Ann,  large as life and awfully cute,  keeping a close eye on the nearby Christmas tree, watching for more presents to appear.  Then we said goodbye to Chris,  who was off  to Central Park to help get ready for  the 6:30 Grand  Illumination.

Cape Charles House B&B

Next stop,  Cape Charles House. ( www.capecharleshouse.com )  Walking into the wide foyer area, we were greeted by Carol Evans, who together with her husband Bruce, operates  this elegant  B&B,  a recipient of the coveted Governor’s Hospitality Award.  Carol said that Bruce had been a bit short of time and hadn’t finished all the planned decorating but the house looked lovely to us,  festive garland strung around the doors, stockings hung beneath the mantel.   The large dining room table featured a luxurious arrangement of magnolia cuttings, the deep green shiny leaves perfect for the season,  tastefully complementing the green wall color.   Upstairs, I especially loved the decor of the   “Thomas Dixon Room”, with its spinning wheel,  dressmaker’s form hung with a 1900’s silk dress  and  ladies’ old fashioned high boot hung from the mantel.   However, the hit of  Cape Charles House  for  my granddaughter was not the great decor or the festive Christmas greenery– no,  it was a huge,  fat and furry white cat asleep on the bed, completely undisturbed by the swirl of people  touring thorough.  When  she decided to pet it,  kitty  just raised his head,  stared at her,  then lay back down again,  completely bored by it all— until suddenly up he jumped,  making  a beeline for the back stairs to the kitchen,  leaving all his admirers behind !

Sterling House B&B

Final stop on the Victorian Stroll tour,  Sterling House  ( www.sterlinghousecapecharles.com ),  run by proprietor Steve Hairfield with  his rescued greyhound, Duelin,  as the second in command.  When we entered the long foyer with its gorgeous  hardwood floors,  Steve was kind enough to ask Duelin to come downstairs to greet my granddaughter.  Definitely it was love at first sight !   Child and dog settled on the sofa to discuss secrets of the season,  lights from the beautifully decorated tree glowing softly beside them.    Steve has a great deal of  Cape Charles artwork displayed and the paintings of scenes from the beach and marina really add to the flavor of  this home where the Chesapeake Bay can be seen from the front porch.  Like Seagate and Cape Charles House,  the dining room at Sterling House was dressed in its best,  decorated for the season and looking  picture perfect,  with greenery, candles, mantel pieces, striking  red tablecloth and poinsettias.  Dusk was well settled as we were leaving about 5:30.  Outside,  the long strings of  bright white lights  sparkled and glowed,  illuminating this striking home and the be-ribboned wreathes hanging from its windows,  a dazzling holiday sight.   And more festivities yet to come at the Grand Illumination later !

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The 18th Annual Harvest Festival on The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, Coming Tomorrow

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

Food, Music & Fun On The Beach At Virginia Eastern Shore's Harvest Festival

I’ve been dieting for about a week in anticipation of the annual Virginia’s Eastern Shore Harvest Festival held each year in  early October.  Where else can you find such an exciting array of traditional seafood dishes ( plus some land lubber foods as well)  in an open air beachfront setting with music,  an artist’s pavilion  and inevitably,  politicians.    No where that I know of except at the Sunset Beach Resort located on the Chesapeake Bay near Cape Charles, Virginia ,  the traditional home of the Harvest Festival,  held there on the first Wednesday in October since 1992.

We Used To Tent, Now We're Just Foodies

Entering the Festival grounds,  it’s always fun to see all the little food tents with a few business tents interspersed. ( We used to have a tent to give out business cards and catalogues  but everybody on staff really wanted to be out and about with friends and food so a few years ago we decided to consider the Harvest Festival strictly as a  “Food and Friends”  event and forget about a more formal  business approach.)   Once inside,  my daughters  usually head straight for the soft shell crab sandwich tent and  my husband maneuvers towards  the crabcake  tent.  But I head straight for  the devils-on-horseback.  ( If you’ve never had a “devil-on-horseback”,  it is a shucked, seasoned oyster wrapped in bacon and roasted  to pure perfection.  Topped with a little hot sauce it is more like angel- on- horseback.)  Harvest Fest is all about the  various foods from our pristine Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean saltwaters  including fish,  shrimp and clams as well as oysters and crab.   A perennial favorite is the “Eastern Shore style”  clam chowder,  made in huge kettles and thick with clams,  onions,  potatoes and salt pork,  all cooked in a clear broth,  served up steaming and fragrant.  It’s quite different than the more traditional cream- based New England clam chowder or the tomato-based Manhattan clam chowder–  very simple yet delicious.

Land-lubbers enjoy the country ham served on traditional sweet potato biscuits or thinly sliced roast beef on yeast rolls.   And who can resist Sting Ray’s famous spicy chili,  lots of heat and not too many beans.   And  those who are  “all hat and no cattle”  with regard to spicyness  join in the stampede for the  Buffalo but mild chicken wings.   Add in the Carolina- style shredded BBQ and we-all have got us-all  a really fine southern-style feast !   Last but not least is the scrumptious sweet potato pie from Kate’s Kupboard Bakery– it’s the best ever,  with a just a hint of lemon and a little coconut,  served with or without some smooth whipped cream,  just melts in your mouth.   So now it’s easy to see why it’s necessary for me to diet for a week before the Harvest Festival— too much great food to resist and too many calories to ignore.  So —  it’s rice cakes and cottage cheese for lunch on Thursday !

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Cape Charles, Virginia Is A Great Place To Buy A Historic Home In A Victorian, Queen Anne or Gothic Style

Friday, September 24th, 2010

Looking to buy a  historic property  in Virginia ?   Consider purchasing real estate  on Virginia’s Eastern Shore in the quaint  historic  town of Cape Charles,  perched along the sandy shores of the Chesapeake Bay.  Cape Charles today continues in its historic coastal traditions and many of the town’s activities center around its deep water  harbor,  marinas  and its beautiful sand beach.  Most of  the 500 buildings in the original part of town date back to the late 1890’s and this section of town has been designed as a  “Historic District” .  In addition,  about 10 years ago,   the acreage which now comprises  the golf resort  were annexed by the town and now form its northern and southern boundaries.  Most of the new  homes built there are of a traditional style and blend well with the homes in the Historic District,  creating a harmonious whole from the sum of  several  parts.

Cape Charles has an interesting history– it was actually created from scratch by a Pennsylvania Congressman,  Wm. Scott,  who purchased the land which is now Cape Charles after learning that its deepwater  harbor was to become  the southern terminus of  the railroad.  ( Obviously,  insider trading is not a new phenomena ! )  In 1883,  Scott  began the process of development,  laying out the town as a square,  creating a five acre space for a future central park  (see the Sept. 11th post on the dedication of the beautiful new Cape Charles Central Park),  naming  the avenues  for famous Virginians  (Washington,  Jefferson,  Madison, etc., )  and the streets for what I’m assuming were his favorite fruits  ( Fig,  Strawberry,  Peach, etc.)  and then proceeded to sell  building lots.  Between the strong economy generated by the new railroad,  which ran from Manhattan to the Eastern Shore,  and the busy ferry service from the harbor ( which took both rail passengers and cars across the Chesapeake Bay,  landing  in Norfolk ),  Cape Charles quickly became a busy and prosperous  waterfront town.  Grand homes were built along the beachfront and in the beach blocks,  more modest homes further back.  By the early 1900’s,   most of the lots had been built out,  in a potpourri of architectural styles ranging from Victorian,  Queen Anne  and Georgian  to Sears Craftsman cottage style homes, with  Gothic and  American four square as well.  Sadly for Cape Charles,  by the mid-1950’s,  the railroad retained freight service but terminated passenger service and postal service  to Cape Charles.  And in the cruelest cut of all,  the ferry company moved to a new terminal at what is now part of  Kiptopeake  State Park,  nearly  five  miles away.   Adios,  so long,  sayonara  to Cape Charles, which sank into a slow decline with the loss of its two economic engines.

Circa 1906 Georgian Revival Home For Sale In Cape Charles, Virginia

Fast forwarding to 2010….   With the completion of much of  the golf  resort and the revival of interest in buying and restoring historic homes in coastal towns,  the renaissance of  Cape Charles and restoration to its intended glory is nearly complete.   And it’s exciting to see  a variety of opportunities for people to be able to purchase  real estate  in the historic area of Cape Charles  and to be able to enjoy  the ambiance of  yesterday in a home which has been restored  to its original elegance.  This post will feature a lovely restored historic home  listed by Blue Heron Realty Co.,  a  marvelous Georgian Revival.   Interestingly enough,  this home  was previously a B&B  so the  restoration  fortunately included adding a  private bathroom to each  bedroom,  the acute  shortage of bathrooms  being to my mind one of the thorny issues that always has to be dealt with in restorations of historic homes. 

Entry Foyer With Fireplace, Ceiling Medalion, Antique Chandelier and Columns

Built in 1906,  this 4200 square foot Georgian Revival home has been fully restored to its former  glory !  Located just two blocks from the beautiful Cape Charles town beach,  this home reflects the best traditions of gracious Virginia living.  With spacious formal rooms and seven bedrooms plus eight and a half baths,  there is plenty of room for private entertaining or it could be returned to its  B&B status.  The stately entry foyer features the original ceiling medallion with light fixture and original leaded glass windows.  Wood floors have been beautifully restored and the 12 inch baseboards have top and bottom shoe molding.  The large dining room is light -filled and simply spectacular with four floor-to-ceiling windows,  original ceiling medallion and gasolier chandelier.   Original carved  fireplace mantel adorns the gas-converted  fireplace in the spacious living room which also features pocket doors.   Warm and cheerful,  the   gourmet kitchen features  Wolf range, Viking hood and  side by side refrigerator– everything you would need to fix a fabulous crab au gratin with your fresh- from- the- Chesapeake-  Bay lump blue crab.   Large Butler’s Pantry,  plenty of  storage.  

Go Green- Slip Over To The Marina Just Five Minutes Away In An Electric Golf Cart

Outside,  a lovely wisteria-covered pergola and a hot tub as well as a  detached office with a sleeping loft create private spaces for work and leisure.   Located on a corner lot in the Cape Charles Historic District,  this gracious, lovingly restored home is but a short stroll to the beach and a quick golf cart ride to the two marinas,  Palmer or Nicklaus  golf, little  shops,  art galleries,  the Palace Theatre and fine and casual dining.  Could it get any better ?  So  get ready to live the sweet beach life in the romantic ambience of  yesteryear.  Priced at $599,995.  ( For more information on real estate and historic homes for sale on Virginia’s Eastern Shore,  click on the  “historic home  listings”  section of  the  Blue Heron Realty Co.  website   www.blueheronva.com  .

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The Fun-Filled Cape Charles, Virginia Annual Tomato Festival ! It’s Right Around The Corner, Don’t Miss It !

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

Putting on the Ritz at the Tomato Ball

When is the only time of year when dressing up like a tomato is not only acceptable,  it’s  de rigueur  ?    Tomato Festival time,  of course,   that wacky,  fun time of year in Cape Charles, Virginia when marinara  sauce meets  “Beautiful Baby”  contest.   And where you must  wear red  ( and preferably a tomato-like Mardi Gras style costume )  in order to get into the   annual Tomato Ball.  Talk about putting on the Ritz,  it’s definitely  time to dust off  those zippy red slingback heels and get ready to step out with your baby tonight !!   

Second only to the fun events scheduled for the 4th of July week-end,  Cape Charles’    Tomato Festival  week-ends  offer  a wide variety of  events,  something for everyone.  For art aficionados,  there is the  Mason Avenue ArtWalk  where many of the best artisans on the Eastern Shore of Virginia will  have  booths to show their latest work.  The  ArtWalk  exhibits  in  many mediums including watercolors,  oils,  pottery,  mosaics,  photography and carvings and features many fine .  Several categories will be judged and winners selected by a regionally recognized art professional.  (  One of the art booths is always set up outside Blue Heron Realty’s office at 113 Mason Avenue.  So if you are thinking about buying real estate on the Eastern Shore of Virginia,   please stop in to say hello and  pick up our free property catalogue. )

Into the hole on the next shot

On Friday, September 24th,  the 3 rd  Annual Cape Charles Open golf tournament will be held at Bay Creek, with a portion of the proceeds  benefiting the United Way of the Eastern Shore.   This event is open to the public and is a great chance for non-member golf enthusiasts to strut their stuff on the incredible Arnold Palmer Signature course, which was designated last year by Golf Digest as one of its  “Best Places To Play”.    This 7204 yard beautiful waterfront course,  with perfectly manicured greens and fairways,  is built along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and Old Plantation Creek, a bay inlet.  Most golfers say that it’s  hard to keep their eyes off the scenery and on the ball, so participants in this event will just have to try to ignore the  sparkling waters,  soaring  ospreys and gorgeous landscaping  to  focus instead on less interesting matters like stance and swing.   A golfer’s life is hard but someone has to do it …..

Marinara Sauce In The Round

For foodies,  there are mouth watering tomato pies,  bubbling, wonderful   fragrant aromas for as far as the nose can smell.  I’m sure the local tomato pie champions  ( who actually were  invited to Washington DC to cater an Inaugural event in 2008 ) will be there,  holding forth with  their ambrosial offerings.  ( If you’ve never had tomato pie,  think a perfection blend of tomatos,  cheeses,  herbs and spices in a rich, rich crust. )   Other food vendors will be there preparing regional specialties plus wine and beer tastings usually are held as well.  Definitely no fear of  hunger at the Tomato Festival.   And of course the week-end  “Pizza Train”  luncheon ride and evening gourmet dinner trip will be running  on the  usual schedule,  as always, advance tickets required.  All aboard,  all aboard,  train buffs.

Grand Finale And Perfect End To A Fun-filled Day In Historic Cape Charles, Virginia

For kids,  special contests and events are scheduled including  the always fun  Face Painting booth.   Also  for  kids and kids at heart,  there will be an antique and classic car show, always a great hit.  For the girls there will be a no-swimsuit   “Miss Hot Tomato”  contest  as well as a pre-teen tomato contest.  The demands of  the baby lobby  are  covered by the “Beautiful Baby” contest.  Last year music lovers were entertained by the Pop, Rhythm and Blues concert featuring Clarance Smith,  presented by Art’s Enter at the Palace Theatre.  So I think that just about covers everyone — foodies,  golfers,  music lovers,  babies,  teens and pre-teens,  kids,  car enthusiasts,  art aficionados,  train buffs,  tomato costumes,  dancing the night away at the Tomato Ball….. is there  anything else that can be piled into this fun,  wacky, tomato week-end ?   Just one more thing ?     Yes, of course…. for everyone out there who loves a parade,  the Tomato Festival Parade kicks off on Mason Avenue at 10 AM.   Last call,  anything else ?   Yes, the fireworks !   High in the sky above  the Cape Charles beach and reflected in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay,  the brilliant flares  and ka-booms of  the fireworks  show brought the 2009  Tomato Festival to a   ( http://www.capecharles.biz/fallfestival.html )  to a dramatic close.  Yep,  with the parade and the fireworks,  there  truly is something for everyone.    So,  everyone,  remember,  it’s coming,  it’s right around the corner.   Get ready,  get set,  mark your calenders,  it’s  tomato time  in Cape Charles on Virginia’s Eastern Shore !

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Looking To Buy Beachfront Property In Virginia ? The Eastern Shore of Virginia Has Some Great Beach Real Estate Deals !

Monday, September 13th, 2010

Who doesn’t love the beach ?   Duh, everyone  loves  the beach !   ( Well, everyone I know loves the beach and I know a fair number of people,  so let’s just extrapolate from there…..)   And the only thing better than sitting out on the sand,  under a huge beach umbrella,  reading the latest  Sara Gruen novel or maybe re-reading a Tony Hillerman mystery ( I so love Joe Leaphorn )  is sitting in your beach house in a chaise lounge,  out on your own deck,  overlooking the beach,  inhaling soft briny breezes,  maybe smiling through  “Sweetness At The Bottom Of  The Pie”  or  trying to unravel the latest Pynchon literary offering.   But the frosty iced tea pitcher,  the pantry and the CD changer are  sooo  much closer,  just reach out and touch someone.  Well,  what might be just as good,  or maybe even better,  is sitting on your beachfront deck,  wine glass in hand,  as the sun slips below the horizon and paints the sand and the water  in brilliant sunset colors.  Which, of course,  is why so many of  our real estate customers  contact  Blue Heron Realty Co.  with a request to help them find a great buy on a  beach lot or home. ( www.blueheronva.com )

Great news !    If you’re looking to purchase  beach real estate in Virginia,  the  Eastern Shore is the very best location in Virginia to find both beachfront and beach access property at affordable prices,  great prices that make the heart beat a little faster and fingers itch to grab a pen and sign some papers.  Sure they have beautiful beach property in Virginia Beach,  less than an hour away.   But who wants to pay about a million dollars for a 40 x  175  lot  and share with about a billion tourists ?   Fine  if your job places you there and you love the beach.   But if you’re looking for a leisure home,  a retirement home or just plain relaxed,  low key year-round living  and would prefer private and pristine  low density neighborhood beaches at  an actually affordable price,  then Virginia’s Eastern Shore  could be  the place for you !

In this blog post  I’m featuring  a beachfront home,  a waterfront cottage with deeded beach access  and  a beachfront  lot for sale.    All of these properties are great deals !    The beachfront home at $995,000 is a truly wonderful purchase opportunity.  It’s a lovely 3 bedroom home on nearly two acres, wooded, with  almost 200 feet of  magnificant beach shoreline in a small, very upscale beach neighborhood. ( Plenty of room to  add- on if more bedrooms are desirable. )  This intimate little  neighborhood offers  a swim &  tennis facility and access to a private freshwater lake,  nice  for those who like to canoe or kayak. 

The cozy 3 bedroom waterfront cottage with deeded beach access  for sale for $359,000 is located in a tiny  waterfront neighborhood of  only 50 homes.  The cottage is sited on a one acre waterfront lot on a small inlet from the Chesapeake Bay,  only a couple miles from Cape Charles and the Palmer and Nicklaus signature golf courses.   It’s less than a five minute walk to the neighborhood’s 10 acre private sand beach— the perfect place to build sand castles or do some surf fishing at sunset. Or enjoy catching some of our famous Chesapeake Bay blue crabs from the backyard dock.  If you are thinking of  buying a leisure home and would like to get some rental income to help off-set mortgage payments,  this could be a good property for doing some weekly summer rentals.  ( Blue Heron Realty Co.  has a vacation rental department and we can handle all the details for you.  Just call us at 757-678-5200 )

Last,  but not least,  is a one acre plus beachfront homesite located on a bluff overlooking 500 miles of sparking blue waters  at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay,  one of Mother Nature’s very best addresses !   Here is an opportunity  to purchase a sizable beachfront lot for just $429,000.   Pick custom home plans perfect for your particular needs,  get rolling with construction  and  be living in your dream beachfront home by Spring.  ( Blue Heron can help you find a contractor.)   So relaxing,  just sitting out on your deck,  golden sunshine,  listening to waves  lapping and seabirds calling,  feeling the soft salty breezes,  neck muscles totally loose,  some Dave Brubeck  playing in the background,  happily reading the National Electrical Code 2011 Handbook due out this winter.   No, no, sorry,  just a  bad  joke !   I meant reading Pat Conroy’s new book   “My Reading Life” ,  also due out this winter.   Anyway,  the point is that if you are looking to buy beachfront property in Virginia,  come take a look at the fabulous beach real estate for sale here on the Eastern Shore.  You’ll be amazed and delighted at what you’ll find,  I guarantee it  !!   ( Call us at 800-258-3437 for more particulars on these properties and don’t forget to check out our website for some other great buys– www.blueheronva.com  )

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