Onancock

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Ideally, a road trip carries spontaneous exploration as part of the baggage. Unfortunately it’s easy to resist cute historic villages, church suppers, and oddly named fests in favor of getting to the designated destination on time. Such was not the case one Saturday when we were attracted to a sign for the “Water Shed Festival” pointing to Onancock, Virginia.



Onancock, voted “coolest small town in the US" by Budget Travel magazine, is situated on a petite harbor on Chesapeake Bay along the Eastern Shore of Virginia. We drove along Market Street toward the harbor as children waved their cotton candy at us. The RV must have looked HUGE on the narrow street.



We had actually been to this harbor, which is the home port of the Tangier Island Ferry, on a previous trip. We were too early for dinner at the gallery/restaurant that we ate in on the last tript; so we went to the newest business in town – a charming coffee shop in a former bank with the appropriate name, "The Bank." We met some locals – mostly transplants from further north who had retired to this cool community.



We picked up a copy of the fall 2013 edition of the Onancock News. This town has the coolest happenings … a “Paint Plein Air” event, “Progressive Porch Party,” Reenactments including an audience with Queen Elizabeth I, Christmas Homes Tour & Music Festival, and tours of the frigate Godspeed.

Time put the kybosh on taking a tour of Ker Place, a historic mansion operated by the Eastern Shores of Virginia Historical Society. Market Street seems in revitalization mode, boasting a of very appealing collection of restaurants, galleries, boutiques, antique shops, and a movie theatre.


That Tangier Island Ferry might be fun some time. AAA describes the island this way: "1.5 hour trip crosses Chesapeake Bay to the tiny island of Tangier where visitors can stroll the streets of the tiny town. Departs daily at 10am and returns at 3:30 - Memorial Day - Oct. 15.



Please forgive the lack of photos. It was drizzling and I didn't want to spot my lens.

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Photos

Wes & Joanne
Latte & Hot Chai!

Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Our list is getting longer
So many places, so little time.

[Silver Back Cuda]

Mutual
We are also learning from you! The list is enormous!