With temperatures starting to soar, it’s definitely time to Get Wet! There’s nothing like the feeling of splashing into that cool river water when the sun is high overhead and we are so fortunate here to have many ways to accomplish that. Run down to the end of the pier and jump into the water. Slide across the water while tubing, wake boarding or skiing. Wade out into the water from a variety of public access points and feel the sand between your toes. Windmill Point Public Beach, Bell Isle State Park, Westmoreland State Park and Hughlett Point Nature Preserve, just to name a few, are all accessible by car and provide easy access to the water. Children can wade through the water crab nets in hand, swim, splash and play. Westmoreland State Park is a great place to hunt for prehistoric shark teeth.
Then there are those off the beaten path spots that can be a little bit trickier to access but provide island like atmospheres. “The Cedars” is a massive beach island off of Fleets Bay in White Stone and while it is private property, the owners have been very generous with access over the last 50 years. The beaches here are magnificent and you will often see a large crowd there with several boats beached along its shores. If crowds aren’t your thing, try kayaking the water trail here. The Little Oyster Creek-Fleet Island Water Trail is located right here. You can actually paddle under the Fleet Island bridge to access the Rappahannock River side and hit even more isolated sand islands off of Mosquito Point. The Trail offer both beginners and expert routes.
Other cool sandbar destinations include Stove Point and Hole in the Wall both in Middlesex. The Stove Point bar is a great place to drop the anchor in waste deep water. Bring a raft or tube and relax as you watch the boats go by. If a castaway kind of trip is more your thing, you’ll love Hole in the Wall. This cool island like spot sits at the mouth of Milford Haven, a body of water separating Gwynns Island from the mainland. You can access it by boat from either the Piankatank River or directly from the Bay. This is a great spot to bring the whole family and explore. The Jackson Creek sandbar is another fun spot to raft up with friends in the summer time but it can get crowded. If seclusion and privacy are your thing, check out Dameron Marsh Preserve by boat. Dameron sticks out into the Chesapeake Bay just south of Reedville in Northumberland County. There is a “hand carry” boat launch area. Dameron encompasses 316 acres and contains one of the most significant wetlands on the Chesapeake Bay for marsh birds. The beaches here are pristine and home to the federally protected northeastern tiger beetle.
There are so many more secret spots from Coles Point on the Potomac to Gloucester Point on the York. We love talking about the lifestyle here on the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula so give us a call if you want to dial in that perfect destination to Get Wet! We would love to provide you some recommendations.
