The Northern Neck -- a decidedly unromantic name for a place so rich in natural beauty and small-town charm -- is the northernmost of three peninsulas jutting into the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, with the Potomac River as the northern border and the Rappahannock to the south. It's a playground for the affluent and the working man alike; large sailboats sit side-by-side with little john boats, and fish don't discriminate against worms purchased from Bass Pro Shop or those dug up in the front yard.
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| (c) Thrifty Gypsy |
The primary attraction in the Northern Neck is, of course, nature itself, particularly in the low-country, tidal part of the peninsula. Here all things water reigns supreme: boating, beaching, fishing, crabbing, and all kinds of water sports. If you don't own a boat, you can still enjoy nature at several public access locations such as
Belle Isle State Park, Dameron Marsh, or Hughlett Point. Bring a bathing suit and a good camera; you never know what wildlife you might spot! Osprey, herons, and bald eagles are regulars, and sometimes one might catch a glimpse of an otter, deer, or fox. For boaters, keep your eyes peeled for porpoises and stingrays swimming close to the surface!
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Us on Prentice Creek
(c) Heidi Dalton |
Life on the Northern Neck is savored, not rushed. Residents seek to keep the rat-race lifestyle at arm's length in the big city where it belongs. Although in recent years a WalMart has sprung up in the Kilmarnock area, thankfully it hasn't brought
too much development with it. In fact the town of
Kilmarnock is the perfect representation of Northern Neck life. Small boutiques, little bait shops, and family-owned restaurants line the town center and still outnumber "chain name" businesses. Here, Southern gentility meets salt-life casualness; one is just as likely to encounter someone in Country Club Prep as someone in flip-flops and swimming trunks.
What Kilmarnock and the Northern Neck lack in big name attractions (like Williamsburg, Virginia Beach or Richmond), it more than makes up for in relaxation and the beauty of the landscape. Sometimes the best trips aren't chasing monuments or viewing historical sites, but taking a moment to kick back and enjoy a sweet iced tea while a brackish creek flows lazily beside you.
Have you ever been to Kilmarnock or the Northern Neck?
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Dixie enjoys the "salt pup" life in Kilmarnock.
(c) Thrifty Gypsy
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