A fine time on the river
Submitted: August 31, 2010
Stayed: August 2010
Chilton House is terrific, the pictures do not quite do it justice. It is a lovely up to date house and was a wonderful place for our family to gather this past August. Ten of us were able to stay there in comfort, it might be a squeeze for more, but possible... plenty of couches. The rambling layout on the ground floor is well suited for large groups. There is a great open kitchen and plenty of space for people to spread out. The location is remote but wonderful with the river just down the wide grassy bank in front of the house and a small dock for fishing or launching the small fleet of available water toys (3 kayaks, numerous large floats). For nature lovers and those who enjoy their own company this is an ideal getaway, birds and fish abound, on a couple of occasions we were able to kayak right amongst dolphin! For those who want more in the way of evening entertainment than fabulous sunsets and herons headed home to roost, this might not be a good fit as the small surrounding towns are a good ways off and there didn't seem to be much going on in them. There is history on the peninsula, though, and wonderful old churches, the birthplaces of George Washington, Robert E. Lee, and James Monroe, picturesque farms and villages, and a growing vineyard scene (not to mention nearly empty roads) making daytime exploration of the area, by car or bike, a pleasure.We brought our own canoe and the mild nature of the river was ideal for paddling, bird watching (Osprey, Eagles, Herons), and fishing. We fed the whole family one night on croaker pulled that day from the river and grilled whole on the available gas grill. Delicious! The nearest shopping is about 15 miles away so it is a good idea to stock up when you shop or bring food with you. There are farm stands in the area for fresh produce and be sure to try boiling or steaming blue crabs. A local delicacy that is well worth the effort in the eating. Drawbacks? When the winds drop or shift from landward there can be a lot of biting flies to contend with. If it were my house I would screen in either the area under the portico or the deck outside the kitchen. Skeeters, flies, and other nibblers were my family's main complaint, and with the sweet evening breezes it was frustrating to have to stay inside. We were also concerned about stinging nettles in the water, but it seems that in late August they die off. We saw few. In all, Chilton House provided my family a great place for an active summer get together.
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Pet-friendly,
Adventure Seekers,
Girls Getaway,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
Romantic Getaway
Helpful votes: 6/6
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