Mathews County: Coast, History and Nature

Mathews County combines maritime landscapes with an unusually rich history. Between salt marshes, forests, sandy shores and the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, you will find historic townscapes, museums, former fortifications and routes for tours on land and water. When choosing a vacation rental, it is therefore worth first deciding what you would most like to focus on: coast and nature, cultural history or active days on cycling and water routes.

Maritime Landscapes and Beaches

The New Point Comfort Natural Area Preserve encompasses three central habitats: tidal salt marshes, maritime forests and sandy shoreline areas. A wheelchair-accessible boardwalk with an observation platform leads across the salt marsh. From Horn Harbor Landing, you can look out over salt marshes, tidal creeks, tidal flats and the open waters of the bay; limited habitats for land birds are also part of this landscape.

At the Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve, 83 acres of sandy beach, low dunes and salt marshes stretch along the Chesapeake Bay. Haven Beach has a shoreline with a sandy bottom and designated swimming areas. The New Point Comfort Lighthouse was commissioned by Thomas Jefferson in 1804. It stands on an island that has been separated from the mainland since the hurricane of 1933. These different coastal locations each offer their own themes for an excursion, so you do not have to limit your trip to just one type of landscape.

History in the Townscape and Museums

The historic character of the Mathews Downtown Historic District has been preserved. On the landscaped Mathews County Courthouse Square stand a T-shaped brick courthouse dating from around 1830, the former sheriff’s office, a clerk’s office dating from 1827 and a mid-19th-century jail. Sibley’s General Store is considered the only surviving example from its era of a vernacular Victorian commercial building in downtown Mathews and now houses the Mathews County Visitors and Information Center.

The Mathews Maritime Museum preserves artifacts, documents and photographs relating to the history of Mathews County and Virginia’s Middle Peninsula. Its collection includes more than 2,600 local objects, including artifacts from watermen, boatbuilding tools and model boats. The museum is regularly open on Fridays and Saturdays from May through November, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; tours are available by appointment. The Bay School Gallery is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Other notable stops include the Tompkins Cottage Museum, dating from around 1820, the Thomas James Store, dating from around 1810 to 1815, and Fort Nonsense Historical Park, with trails through Civil War earthworks, a raised boardwalk and interpretive signage. Fort Cricket Hill commemorates an event that ended the last remnant of British rule in the colony of Virginia. On Gwynn’s Island, the Historic District points to a 380-year tradition of farming and maritime trade shaped by the Chesapeake Bay. Gwynn can also be added as another destination in this selection.Gwynn can also be added as another destination in this selection.

Waterways, Cycling Tours and Local Experiences

The Mathews Blueways Water Trail System has more than 15 public access points and over 100 miles of waterways. The East River Water Trail offers views of historic shipyard sites, tide mills, homes and estates, as well as protected coves, salt marshes and tributaries. The East River Trail maps historic, ecological and publicly accessible sites along the maritime landscape of Mathews County. Those who prefer to travel on land will find flat, level cycling routes on quiet country roads with views of the water. The Tour de Chesapeake includes more than 100 miles of routes for different riding levels and is scheduled for the third weekend in May.

When planning a trip with children or a mixed group, you can combine active and more relaxed days: for example, a museum visit, a trip along a waterway and a coastal excursion. Tours of historic sites as well as bird- and wildlife-watching tours are also offered in Mathews. The Mathews Market Days program includes local food vendors, live music and performances. Your choice of vacation rental may therefore depend on whether you primarily want to explore museums and historic townscapes, experience water landscapes or combine cycling tours with days at the beach.

Other destinations in this selection: Winchester, Henry County, Danville, Petersburg, York County, Bedford County, Fairfax City.

For the overarching travel overview: Virginia.