Outdoor enthusiasts are invited to find inner peace in Chesapeake, Virginia. With some of the nation’s best natural resources and recreational opportunities, find that special outdoor enchantment that will ease the urban grind within this mid-Atlantic paradise. Find your perfect outdoor outlet with a variety of ways to enjoy the area. From sailing to birdwatching, enjoy Mother Nature’s playground in Chesapeake.
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Go Sailing on the Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is extraordinarily beautiful, stretching across six states and the District of Columbia. Rich with maritime history, it’s a famous destination for endless possibilities. Charter a crewed boat, and explore the easy-to-sail coves and anchorages, where a new adventure awaits around every corner.
Drop anchor at a classic bayside town such as Havre de Grace, and come ashore for lunch. Situated at the mouth of the Susquehanna River, at the head of the Bay, discover French and Creole-inspired dishes at Backfin Blues.
With 11,600 miles of glorious coastline, Chesapeake Bay is America’s largest estuary and offers cruisers so much to see and do. If you love fresh seafood, head from Baltimore to Rock Hall, a fisherman’s landing where you can order up the day’s catch, then float calm waters and secluded coves of Gray’s Inn Creek.
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Explore Chesapeake Arboretum
Located in the heart of Chesapeake, this 48-acre nature reserve is home to many varieties of trees and plants. The arboretum boasts one of the state’s most scenic trail systems that rambles 3 miles through a mature hardwood forest.
Discover eight bridges, the three-acre Lake Hughes, and the greenhouse where the Master Gardener works his magic. Tour the Caleb Williamson Farmhouse and the family’s ancient cemetery across the street.
Bring the kids along and explore the Nature Academy. Discover a variety of hands-on opportunities to learn about flora and fauna found in the area. Play forest games, make a craft, and Bug Out or Track Trees with one of the arboretum’s immersive educational programs.
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Discover the Great Dismal Swamp
If you’ve ever wondered where the wild things are, they’re awaiting your visit in Chesapeake’s Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. These forested wetlands in southeastern Virginia cover 112,684 acres and are one of the best-kept secrets of the East Coast. Home to a seemingly endless number of creatures, spot black bears, barred owls, and flying squirrels.
The refuge is a favorite spot for fishing, birding, and hunting. Journey to the center of the swamp and launch your rented canoe on Lake Drummond or hit the trails, open daily from sunrise to sunset for hiking and biking. The Great Dismal Swamp is an ideal location for year-round exploration, with 65 species of resident butterflies in the summer and visiting snow geese in the winter.
Nestled in the heart of coastal Virginia, the city of Chesapeake is home to some of the country’s most beautiful natural spots. Take your love of the outdoors to Chesapeake’s vast number of waterways, parklands, and local outdoor treasures for a wilderness adventure you won’t soon forget.
Image via naturenps | Public Domain Mark 1.0
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