A cozy waterside hotel is a great find and a wonderful place to spend a long weekend. Add in an exceptional gourmet restaurant, and a charming small town nearby, and you’re really talking. The amazing thing about The Tides Inn in Irvington, Virginia is that it’s all that plus a whole lot more.
The 70-room Tides Inn is a luxury getaway set on its own peninsula on Virginia’s Northern Neck. And what exactly is a Northern Neck?
Well, it’s the northernmost of three peninsulas on Virginia’s western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, bordered by the Potomac River to the north and the Rappahanock River to the south. The “neck” part of its name refers to the geographical shape of the region.
It’s also where three U.S. presidents were born (Washington, Madison and Monroe) and is known as one of the best-kept travel secrets in the eastern part of the country.
Upon arrival at the inn’s grounds you immediately feel at ease, as if you’ve entered the set of a movie titled “A Peaceful, Private Getaway.”
The inn was completely remodeled in 2021 and lives up to its reputation as the “jewel of the Northern Neck.” Among other updates to the historic property was the addition of a living boardwalk bordering the shoreline, allowing guests to quietly meander along the water. Comfortable adirondack chairs placed at intervals along the boardwalk invite you to stop for a quiet respite.
Many of the guestrooms and suites offer a water view via picture windows or private patios.
Each room is comfortably situated and decorated with a tranquil color palette and patterns inspired by the waterfront setting and are ideally suited for rest and relaxation.
Speaking of relaxation, did we mention that Tides Inn has an onsite spa, offering massages, facials, body treatments and more to help you rejuvenate during your stay?
The inn’s restaurant, Salt & Meadow, remodeled and renamed in 2024, is a treasure, with a modern interior and stunning bar and lounge area. Elegant meals created by Chef de Cuisine Kyle Perkins feature seasonal fare, some of it sourced at the inn’s expanding gardens, lovingly tended by staff horticulturalist Matt Little.
You could spend an extremely satisfying few days at Tides Inn simply enjoying the property, your beautiful, comfortable room, and the delicious foods and drinks offered onsite.
But if you only did that you’d be missing out on something that makes the inn incredibly unique and a whole lot of fun.
You see, Tides Inn also offers a wide array of signature experiences — a series of only-at-the-Tides opportunities to explore, learn and create.
The inn’s Makerspace plays host to several of these experiences. Have you always wanted to get your hands into some clay and explore handbuilding or throwing pottery? This is the place to do it! Expert artists will instruct you on how to create a mug or planter, help you select glazes and then fire your work for you. Your masterpieces will arrive at your doorstep weeks later, for you to reminisce about your trip long after you’ve arrived back home. Several other kinds of art classes are available in any given month; check the inn’s calendar to sign up prior to your arrival.
Owing to the inn’s location on Carter’s Creek, which feeds into the Rappahannock River, many of the most satisfying experiences at Tides Inn involve the water. Experience a variety of cruises at sunrise or sunset, with a custom picnic or while wine-tasting. Fishing or sailing charter cruises are available, too.
But possibly the most popular experience, and the one most worth choosing, is the Chesapeake Gold Oyster Experience. Offered only during prime oyster season, this experience takes guests on a two-hour escape around Carter’s Creek where you’ll learn all about the area’s most precious commodity, oysters, and efforts to repopulate the bay with them.
Guided by the Tides Inn ecologist, William Smiley, you’ll learn why oysters are the keystone species of the Chesapeake Bay and are ecologically essential for its health. You’ll help seed the shoreline with oyster shells and then enjoy a cold beer or glass of prosecco as Smiley shows you how to correctly open a fresh oyster, how and why to eat one raw, then grills up dozens for you and your fellow guests to enjoy. You’ll learn, you’ll laugh, and you’ll leave with a belly full of delicious oysters. It’s an experience not to be missed.
The inn’s experience offerings change seasonally. But no matter which season you visit, you’ll find the Tides Inn worth the trip.
The Tides Inn – 480 King Carter Drive, Irvington, Virginia | 804.438.5000 | tidesinn.com | IG: @tidesinn
By: Molly Fellin Spence
Images courtesy of Tides Inn