Each year residents of the Town of Colonial Beach, VA, eagerly anticipate the return of the osprey, the Official Town Bird. This raptor has a chocolate brown back, a white chest and a black eye stripe.  They make their home near bodies of water as their diet consists of 99% fresh fish!   The Town celebrates the return of this amazing hawk with an annual festival on Town Hill.  This festival will be held on  April 13, 2024 and It is hosted by the Virginia Osprey Foundation based in Colonial Beach. As part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation‘s WanderLove campai ..read more

Excerpt: COLONIAL BEACH, Va. — In the first ever viewer recommendation, Dave Parker travels to a different state and a different time by walking around Colonial Beach 45 minutes outside of Fredericksburg, VA. Click here to read the entire article ..read more

Excerpt: Nothing says “I’m on vacation” quite like a beach bar. And often D.C. residents don’t have the time or resources to head all the way to Turks and Caicos (or even the Outer Banks) to get their fix. A few bars fall into this category inside the Beltway (think everyone-is-welcome Arlington gay bar Freddie’s Beach Bar, boater’s paradise Island Time Bar & Grill at Columbia Island Marina, or Falls Church surf-y stalwart Clare & Don’s), and some arguably in the metro area, like MacDowell’s Beach in Leesburg. But realistically, you’re going to have t ..read more

Excerpt: Once called the “Playground on the Potomac,” Colonial Beach is an eclectic small town of fewer than 4,000 residents that is known for its sandy beaches, osprey, murals, and palm trees. Yes, palm trees, which are donated each year and are the calling card of Colonial Beach. It’s also the birthplace of two U.S. presidents: George Washington and James Monroe. You’ll even find Bell House, a summer residence of Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. This one-time resort town sits quietly on a small peninsula, boasting warm sunrise views over the Potomac River and v ..read more

Excerpt: VIRGINIA — Virginia, the site of the first English settlement, is known as the “birthplace of a nation” and, with eight U.S. presidents among its native sons, the commonwealth is also as “the mother of presidents. Naturally, many of Virginia’s attractions center on the historical significance of the state, but it’s not the only reason to take a road trip. Click here to read the entire article ..read more

Excerpt: COLONIAL BEACH — From the rooftop of his new town house, Duke Dodson certainly does not mind the fine view of both the Potomac River, a few blocks to the east and, in another direction, Monroe Bay, where he and many other locals keep their boats. From his bird’s-eye vantage point, he also can see his complex’s swimming pool and putting green — as well as the work crews and heavy machinery constructing another 10 town homes. The development, School Hill Townes, is a work in progress — part of a major, $25 million development in various locations around Colonial Beach&nbs ..read more

Excerpt: It takes time for anything to sink into the public’s consciousness. That has been the case of Juneteenth, which went from being an unofficial holiday to a federal holiday in June 2021. Juneteenth is the celebration of the day when Union Major General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston Bay and proclaimed slaves in the state of Texas were free although Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had already declared slaves free in Confederate-held territory two years before Granger’s announcement. Since it became an official holiday, the Town of Colonial Beach has been working on celebrating it ..read more

Excerpt: While Washington, DC is certainly not a beach town, there are plenty of family-friendly beaches near DC to spend the day or a weekend if you’re willing to make the drive. These range from smaller beaches on the Potomac River or the Chesapeake Bay that are not too far away, all the way to farther locales like the Delaware beaches, Virginia Beach, and even North Carolina’s Outer Banks. So pack the car (and the kids) for a day trip, a weekend, or a longer vacation at one of these 10 family-friendly beaches near DC that are most certainly worth the drive. If you’re looking ..read more

Excerpt: Virginia offers a wealth of popular tourism destinations such as Virginia Beach and Shenandoah National Park.  While both are incredible places for a holiday, they tend to get booked early during high season.  But no worries, Virginia has you covered.  All around the state you will find, lesser-known hidden gems perfect for new adventure.  Take some advice from the locals and check out these low-key, yet idyllic destinations for your next U.S. holiday. Craving some water-time fun in the sun?  The small beach towns of the Chesapeake Bay are calling your name.&n ..read more

By Barbara Noe Kennedy. Cover photo by Tom Saunders via Flickr Excerpt: Admittedly, beaches aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Virginia, the land of Civil War battles, country villages, and the hazy Blue Ridge. But with more than 7,000 miles of coastline—including a scenic network of rivers and estuaries, the formidable Chesapeake Bay, and the meandering Atlantic coastline—Virginia offers an amazing number of sandy escapes to enjoy. From popular Virginia Beach to the remote Tangier Island, reachable only by ferry, here are seven of the best beaches in Virgini ..read more