"Playground on the Potomac"

Less than a month ago, I was blissfully ignorant to Colonial Beach, Virginia's existence. Shame on me.

Thanks to a Facebook video popping up in my feed, my shameful ignorance was corrected. Learning that a "secret" beach town was located just a little over two hours from my home (or 90 minutes from Washington, DC) had me intrigued. The videos looked amazing, but the skeptic is me was, well, skeptical, because you can make anything look appealing in a video these days.

Before we go much further, I suppose I should give you a little information on Colonial Beach. It's not a beach in the traditional sense, in that it's on a river, the Potomac River, as you may have guessed by the title of this post, as opposed to being on an ocean or a gulf. It was nicknamed the "Playground of the Potomac" in the 1800's due to being a popular recreational spot for the Washington, DC crowd. Colonial Beach sits on a peninsula surrounded by the Potomac River and Monroe Bay, making the water brackish. Colonial Beach is the second longest stretch of beach in the state of Virginia.

I decided a trip was in order to see Colonial Beach for myself. Two hours and change each way could be day trip, but after doing a little research, Miss B decided that an overnight stay was in order. I did a little research of my own and decided to book a room at the Riverview Inn, a 21-room, cotton candy- colored motel with a vintage 1950's vibe. Each room has a different name, and we drew the Fish Room, and it was a nice room for the price. We didn't spend much time in it but will likely stay there again on our next trip. (A little foreshadowing on how the trip went.)

In the interest of full disclosure, my planned itinerary for this weekend was as follows: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry. There would be no dietary restrictions or alcohol limitations. The information I had found on Colonial Beach was that it had an embarrassment of riches when it comes to bars and restaurants. It did.

We stopped at a place called Lenny's on our way into town. There was a short wait, but we were seated quickly and had an enjoyable breakfast. I believe that one reason there was a slight wait was that, while there are a lot of great restaurants in Colonial Beach, most don't open until 10:30 or 11. If you want to eat breakfast early, Lenny's is the best bet. Most places also close relatively early. I would soon learn that CBVA, an abbreviation I picked up quickly, runs at a much slower, relaxed pace than even my little town in West Virginia. That's one checkmark in the "Pros" column for me.

Before we even checked into the motel, we took a stroll along the boardwalk, which is a wide, concrete sidewalk that runs along the beach for just a few blocks. We quickly found ourselves at the Riverboat on the Potomac, which is a big Off Track Betting joint built out on the water. One interesting fact is that the state of Virginia ends at the water's edge and Maryland begins, so you walk into the Riverboat (which isn't actually a boat) in Virginia and quickly cross into Maryland. I'm sure the construction and placement has to do with favorable gambling laws in Maryland. Beside dozens of TV's simulcasting horse races and sporting events, the Riverboat has a bar, restaurant, and amazing views. I had a Hurricane on the deck overlooking the water and made a mental note to return when I have more time.

Our next stop was The Black Pearl, a tiki bar, complete with sand, live music, a wood-fire brick pizza oven, and more amazing views. It is part of High Tides on the Potomac, which is a restaurant. This combo quickly became one of my favorite places, a place that I plan to while away a future weekend at. Great food, fantastic drinks (with generous pours), and a fun, laidback vibe.

For the craft beer crowd, CBVA has Colonial Beach Brewing and Ice House Brewery. I'm told there also some wineries in the area, as well, if that is your thing.

Aside from my mission for epicurean delights, Colonial Beach has an awesome municipal pier, perfect for fishing. On my next trip, I plan to bring the kayaks along. I woke up early Sunday morning to find that the beach and water were practically empty except for the seagulls and ospreys. It would have been a great time to paddle out into the quiet waters.

If you're a history buff and want to do a side trip, the birthplaces of Presidents George Washington and James Monroe are within a half hour drive of CBVA.

While Colonial Beach is right up my alley, it is likely too slow and relaxed for teenagers and small children. There isn't much of an arcade or a putt putt golf course (yet). For the most part, it has avoided the commerciality and overdevelopment of other beach towns. CBVA hosts several festivals -the Osprey Festival and Colonial Beach Bike Fest- during the year that apparently attract tens of thousands of visitors. I have no idea where they put them all.

Getting around Colonial Beach is a snap. Most places are within easy walking distance, but there is also a free trolley. However, most residents and visitors travel around town on golf carts. If you're going to be around town for a few days, renting a golf cart is probably the way to go.

There are a couple of "Cons" to Colonial Beach.

As I have mentioned, it is a small, slow-paced place. This is a "Pro" in my book, but if you're go expecting Myrtle Beach, SC or Ocean City, MD, you will likely be disappointed.

While walking the "southern" section of the beach, we saw some fish washed up on the sand. I believe there was recently some fuel leak up the river at Andrews. Whether that is the cause or not, I am not sure. It is something to keep in mind, if you plan to fish or swim.

Colonial Beach attracts an eclectic crowd. That said, I spotted several unsavory individuals. Then again, I see unsavory individuals in church. As Mr. Monk might say, "it's a blessing and a curse."

In conclusion, Colonial Beach is a great spot to visit. The perfect place is put a chair and umbrella in the sand, spend the day reading a book, then eat dinner at any one of a dozen great restaurants. After dinner, head to the Black Pearl for a drink or two and listen to live music in the evening air.

One more thing: Colonial Beach is supposed to be a "secret" hidden gem, so don't tell anyone, Ok?,