Virginia has a rich history as one of the original 13 colonies, playing a major role in the history of the United States. One of the biggest reasons for that was Virginia’s proximity to the water. The eastern side of Virginia has a long coast that opens up to the Atlantic Ocean. In the past, this meant that Virginia was an important shipping port, but today, it means that Virginia has a great coastline that offers incredible waterfront lifestyles.
Virginia is filled with small towns, big cities, and stunning natural scenery. If you’re seeking a comfortable home located right on the water, Virginia can accommodate that too. There are numerous great locales on the water in Virginia that offer an incredible waterfront lifestyle. Let’s explore four of these great Virginia towns and cities right on the water.
Virginia Beach
If you’re an ocean lover, few places on the East Coast can bring the excitement that Virginia Beach provides. This city is an extremely popular tourism hotspot, known as a resort city. It has miles of beaches, a massive boardwalk, and countless hotels, resorts, and more. It is the biggest city in Virginia, with over 450,000 people living in this sandy paradise.
Virginia Beach has a lot of great activities on offer. For starters, the beach is top-notch. It is a great place to relax on a summer day, with surfing, sailing, and fishing options aplenty. Virginia Beach also has an incredible culinary scene, with top-notch restaurants and a premier aquarium. It is a major city with a rich history, as Europeans first colonized it at the start of the 1600s.
It is a relatively expensive real estate market, with RedFin listing the median cost of a home at $311,000. Still, compared to bigger cities across the country, that is a moderate price, especially for such a great beach town.
Hampton
Not to be confused with the Hamptons of New York, Hampton, Virginia, is a mid-sized city of just over 130,000 residents. It is located on a stretch of land right next to Newport News, another city, forming a bustling area right on the water. It is a coastal vacation destination for many, with a picturesque waterfront, numerous marinas, and perfect boating locales.
There is much to do in Hampton, as the city is a thriving cultural center. Hampton has a major arts community, numerous attractions, and seasonal festivals and shows. The Virginia Air and Space Center is a family-friendly, science-oriented museum and educational facility that children and parents love. The Hampton History Museum displays numerous relics of the area’s rich past. And, of course, there are tons of boating excursions, cruises, and more.
Hampton real estate is mostly inexpensive. RedFin has the median cost of a home in the area at a surprisingly affordable $230,000, so making a home in this family-friendly waterfront city is an achievable goal.
Colonial Beach
Further north, along the border with Maryland, you’ll find Colonial Beach, a small river and beach town located on the Northern Neck peninsula, home to the second-largest beachfront in the state, behind Virginia Beach. Colonial Beach is a tourism hotspot, but not to the degree of the southern parts of the state. With a permanent population just above 3,500, it is a quieter waterfront community.
Colonial Beach is a quaint resort town with a lot of fun things to get up to. For one, if you’re a birdwatching enthusiast, Colonial Beach is a common nesting ground for Bald Eagles, so you may just catch a glimpse of these incredible creatures. Colonial Beach is also a great place in the summer for beachfront lounging, pier fishing, or boating. With numerous marinas for bigger boats or kayak rentals, you can take to the Potomac much as the nation’s founders did.
RedFin has the median price of a home listed at $271,000, making Colonial Beach a mostly affordable town for those looking for a great coastal lifestyle.
Cape Charles
If you’re seeking a small coastal town in Virginia to make a home, Cape Charles makes for an intriguing option. Located across the water from bigger cities like Virginia Beach and Hampton, Cape Charles is a small waterfront town in Northampton County. The permanent population of this area is just over 1,000, but there are communities surrounding Cape Charles on the same peninsula that make it feel bigger.
Cape Charles is a quiet place on the water with some beautiful natural scenery nearby and tons to do and see. There is the Cape Charles Natural Area Preserve, a walkway through protected habitat overlooking the waters. There is a golf course in the town, museums, fishing piers, and more. The Cape Charles Historic District is the town’s old-fashioned, quaint downtown area filled with buildings, shops, and restaurants.
There aren’t many homes for sale in the Cape Charles area, considering it is a small town with a limited population. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find property available and at an affordable rate. RedFin has the median sales price in Cape Charles at $265,000, a rate similar to surrounding areas.
