About 42 miles of shoreline along the Rappahannock River and more than 300 miles along the many creeks shape Essex County. The county is part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Water Trail, a National Park Service program. Several scenic creeks offer opportunities for fishing and kayaking. Other activities include nature watching and enjoying riverside beaches, while historic sites tell stories of both river traditions and Tappahannock’s architectural history.
Water and Nature from Different Perspectives
The Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge adds trails and wildlife-watching opportunities to the water-based experiences. In the Hutchinson Unit, two miles of trails wind through meadows and deciduous and coniferous forests. An observation platform overlooks the grassland, where you can spot migratory and grassland birds, butterflies, white-tailed deer, rabbits, and woodland birds.
A boat ramp beside the pier provides access for canoes and kayaks to explore the marshes of Mount Landing Creek. Visiting the Hutchinson Unit is free; it is open year-round from sunrise to sunset, including holidays. Visitor restrictions apply during hunting season.
Tappahannock’s beaches each have their own character: swimming and riverside picnicking are possible at both. Duke Street Beach has a sandy shoreline and self-service kayak rentals. Marsh Street Beach also offers sunbathing and views of the waters of the Rappahannock River. You can choose between kayak rentals and a sandy shoreline at Duke Street Beach, or river views at Marsh Street Beach.
Tappahannock’s History in the Cityscape
Tappahannock’s historic walking tour takes you past buildings from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, all within three blocks in the central downtown area. The Scots Arms Tavern, dating to around 1680, is the oldest building on the tour. It is now privately owned and used as a residence. The Tappahannock Historic District preserves a significant collection of 18th- and 19th-century buildings, centered on the courthouse, built in 1848 in the Romanesque Revival style.
The 1710 Tavern, also in the Tappahannock Historic District, serves regionally inspired cuisine. It is one of Virginia’s oldest taverns. The Essex County Museum complements the architectural history with the history and culture of the Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake Bay watershed, interpreted through exhibits and educational programs. Its collections span from prehistory to the present; the Carl D. Silver Gallery focuses in depth on river traditions. Exhibit topics include Chesapeake Bay pirates and the history of oysters—from a 50-million-year-old oyster fossil to 20th-century oyster piracy.
Art, Performance, and Historic Landscapes
The Tappahannock Artists’ Guild operates an art center downtown with a gallery, exhibition space, classroom, and open studio. The Essex County Mural Trail features public artworks by Hamilton Glass that celebrate the people, history, and cultural heritage of Tappahannock and Essex County. The DAW Theatre is a Colonial Revival-style movie theater and event venue. It was built in 1938–1939 and rebuilt after a fire in 1949.
Tappahannock Central Park has smooth, accessible concrete paths. The Occupacia-Rappahannock Rural Historic District offers a different perspective on the county’s history: it encompasses more than 44,884 acres of rural Tidewater landscape, including buildings, structures, landscape features, and historic sites. Many of these places are associated with Essex County’s African American population.
At Blandfield, the landscape unfolds on the scale of a single estate. It covers about 4,000 acres along the Rappahannock River, including 600 acres of marshland and 700 acres of open farmland; the rest consists of woodland and open pine stands. The estate offers waterfowl and small-game hunting. Special events can be booked in the elegant manor house or rustic lodge.
Explore more destinations: Tappahannock, Alexandria, Campbell, Accomack County, Chesapeake, Washington County, Rockbridge County, Brunswick County.
For the main travel overview: Virginia.
