Best Bed and Breakfast
First place: Hope and Glory Inn, Irvington, HopeAndGlory.com, 804-438-6053
Built in the 1890s as a boarding school, the Hope and Glory Inn no longer teaches reading, writing and ‘rithmetic, but the B&B does pay homage to its former occupants. Head to Recess (the spa) for a massage, take in a gourmet meal at the Dining Hall, or drink a few cocktails at Detention, the inn’s bar.
Second place: The Inn at Tabbs Creek, Port Haywood, InnAtTabbsCreek.com, 804-725-5136
Third place: Belle Grove Plantation, King George, BelleGrovePlantation.com, 540-621-7340
Best “Do Not Miss” Tourist Attraction
First place: Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, ColonialWilliamsburg.com, 855-296-6627
History is the number one draw for guests of Colonial Williamsburg. Historical re-enactments, such as colonial dance and music performances as well as pirate and witch trials, bring the past to life, but more modern experiences are in the offing too, including a golf club, spa, and more than 40 stores in Merchants Square.
Second place: Belle Grove Plantation, King George, BelleGrovePlantation.com, 540-621-7340
Third place: Virginia Beach, VisitVirginiaBeach.com, 757-385-4700
Best Equestrian Event
First place: Pony Round-Up and Swim, Chincoteague Island, ChincoteagueChamber.com, 757-336-6161
On the morning of July 27, nearly 200 ponies will swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island, where they will appear as the star guests of the town’s annual carnival and horse auction. This year marks the 91st anniversary of the event, which draws reporters and prospective buyers from as far as Japan and Australia.
Second place: Equi-Kids Programs, Virginia Beach, EquiKids.org, 757-721-7350
Third place: Dream Catchers at the Cori Sikich Therapeutic Riding Center, Toano, DreamCatchers.org, 757-566-1775
Best Fishing Guide Company
First place: Midnight Sun Charters, Heathsville, FishingMidnightSun.com, 804-580-0245
Red drum, bluefish, mackerel and trout. These are just a few of the fish Midnight Sun Charters angles for during trips on its 50-foot boat from Reedville’s Smith Point Marina—a launching point for groups fishing the Potomac as well as parts of the Chesapeake Bay—and Virginia Beach’s Inlet Station Marina.
Second place: Capt. Billy’s Charters Best Fishing Guide Company, Heathsville, CaptBillysCharters.com, 804-580-7292
Third place: Mathews Deadrise Charters (Chapel Creek Oyster Company), Port Haywood, ChesapeakeBayBoatTours.com, 804-815-6132
Best Fishing Outfitter
First place: Bass Pro Shops, Hampton, BassPro.com, 757-262-5200
If your fishing trip is taking you to colder climes, Bass Pro Shops has what you need. In addition to equipment for fly-fishing, Bass Pro stocks supplies for ice fishing, including insulated bibs, thermal ice shelters and special hooks and lines for saltwater fishing. Don’t forget the hand and toe warmers.
Second place: RW’s Sports Shop, Callao, RWSports.com, 804-529-5634
Third place: Bishop’s Fishing Supply, Yorktown, BishopFishingSupply.net, 757-591-9300
Best Fitness Program
First place: Santosa Studio, LLC, Kilmarnock, SantosaStudio.com, 804-435-9078
At Santosa Studio, power yoga, strength circuit training, belly dancing classes and more help build endurance, balance, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. And newcomers, fear not: with 20 years of experience and more than 10 certifications, owner and instructor Suzanne M. Best will make sure you don’t throw anything out while you’re trying to find your inner om.
Second place: InsideOut Yoga, White Stone, InsideOutYoga.org, 804-436-2204
Third place: FIT4MOM, Norfolk, Norfolk.Fit4Mom.com, 757-478-6375
Best Golf Course
First place: Golden Eagle Golf Course, Irvington, TidesInn.com, 804-438-4460
Since opening 40 years ago, the 7,025-yard Golden Eagle Golf Course at the Tides Inn, which has an impressive USGA rating of 74.4, has hosted three Virginia State Amateur Championships. Want to check out the course before you play? The Tides Inn website features a detailed breakdown of every hole.
Second place: King Carter Golf Club, Irvington, KingCarterGolfClub.com, 804-435-7842
Third place: Indian Creek Country Club, Kilmarnock, ICYCC.com, 804-435-2470
Best Gym
First place: Northern Neck Family YMCA, Kilmarnock, PeninsulaYMCA.org, 804-435-0223
If you’re ready to take your workout beyond the elliptical and treadmill, membership at the Northern Neck YMCA also includes access to fitness classes like cycling, aqua aerobics and Zumba. The facility also includes two racquetball courts, a full size court gymnasium, an indoor heated 25-yard pool and an outdoor pool open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Second place: iNLeT Fitness, Virginia Beach, InletFitness.com, 757-412-0600
Third place: OneLife Fitness, Chesapeake, OneLifeFitness.com, 757-465-6900
Best Historic Site
First place: Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, ColonialWilliamsburg.com, 757-229-1000
Talk about starting off your vacation with a bang: last March, Colonial Williamsburg introduced its new educational musket range. Costumed interpreters offer information about the history and mechanics of Revolutionary-era weapons, and those age 14 and up can fire replica “Brown Bess” muskets and muzzle-loaded fowling pieces (guests under 18 require a chaperone).
Second place: Historic Christ Church, Weems, ChristChurch1735.org, 804-438-6855
Third place: Historic Jamestowne, HistoricJamestowne.org, 757-856-1250
Best Hotel
First place: The Tides Inn, Irvington, TidesInn.com, 804-438-5000
With so much going on at the Tides Inn—from paddleboarding and croquet to fresh-water crabbing and cruising on Carter’s Creek—you could spend all your time here outdoors. But if you did, you would miss the resort’s 106 rooms, decorated in the style of the British Colonial era and featuring luxuries like deep soaking tubs and soft Egyptian linens.
Second place: Williamsburg Inn, ColonialWilliamsburg.com, 757-220-7978
Third place: Hilton Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, HiltonVB.com, 757-213-3001
Best Hunting Outfitter
First place: Bass Pro Shop, Hampton, BassPro.com, 757-262-5200
Trying your hand at big game hunting for the first time? Not sure what you’ll need for tracking caribou or quail? Bass Pro Shops’ Pro 1Source—an online reference for all things outdoors—offers articles and tips for hunters, fishermen and campers for everything from setting up your first fly fishing trip to jig fishing in deep water.
Second place: RW’s Sports Shop, Callao, RWSports.com, 804-529-5634
Third place: Wilcox Bait & Tackle, Inc., Newport News, WilcoxBaitAndTackle.com, 757-595-5537
Best Hunting Preserve
First place: Mount Airy Plantation, Warsaw, MountAiry.farm, 804-313-0815
Who says you have to be POTUS to hang out in the West Wing? Hunting waterfowl at Mount Airy Plantation (where marshy land creates excellent bird hunting conditions) can include dinner in the manor house with the owners before turning in for a night in the 258-year-old plantation’s West Wing guest rooms, which have been recently renovated.
Second place: Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia Beach, FWS.gov/refuge/back_bay, 757-301-7329
Third place: Blandfield Plantation, Caret, BlandfieldPlantation.com
Best Outdoor Adventure
First place: The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach, VirginiaBeachTrees.com, 757-385-4947
Channel your inner Tarzan at the Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium, where kids and adults ages 5 and up can take to the trees with 13 ropes courses. The trails, spread over five acres, create a network of bridges, platforms and zip lines—open year-round.
Second place: Go Ape Zipline & Treetop Adventure, Williamsburg, GoApe.com, 800-971-8271
Third place: Virginia Beach, VisitVirginiaBeach.com, 757-385-4700
Best Resort
First place: The Tides Inn, Irvington, TidesInn.com, 804-438-5000
A great resort experience is equal parts excitement and relaxation—guests at the Tides Inn get both. Stay active on one of its four tennis courts, go crabbing or fresh water fishing, or take a bike tour of Irvington. Then put your feet up at the Journey Spa for a host of well-earned body treatments and massages.
Second place: Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg, Kingsmill.com, 800-832-5665
Third place: Great Wolf Lodge, Williamsburg, GreatWolf.com/Williamsburg, 757-229-9700
Best Retirement Community
First place: Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury, Irvington, EmbraceLifeAtRWC.org, 804-438-4000
Last year, the community added a concert series and formed a Crafts for a Cause group that creates blankets for animals at the local welfare league awaiting adoption. Other programs include dinner and dance parties, watercolor classes and a current events discussion group.
Second place: Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach, WCBay.com, 757-496-1785
Third place: Atlantic Shores Retirement Community, Virginia Beach, AtlanticShoresLiving.com, 757-716-2000
Best Summer Camp
First place: Chanco on the James, Spring Grove, Chanco.org, 888-7-CHANCO
Along with camps for children, Chanco on the James offers a four-day, three-night all inclusive Christian summer camp for families in August. Along with campfires and kayaking, future campers get a taste of the experience before packing up for a full week next summer, and alumni get the chance to run into old friends.
Second place: Norfolk Collegiate Summer Under the Oak, Norfolk, NorfolkCollegiate.org/SummerPrograms, 757-626-1820
Third place: Chesapeake Academy Summer Camp, Irvington, ChesapeakeAcademy.org, 804-438-5575