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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
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At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
Just a three-hour drive from Alexandria, The Tides Inn in Irvington, Va. got its start back in the 1940s, when the Stephens family opened their inn on the banks of Carter's Creek, a tributary of the Rappahannock River.
For years, the gracious four-star inn run by "Big Steve" and "Miss Ann" has welcomed families near and far to come relax and enjoy swimming, boating, fine dining, bicycling, golfing, sailing, tennis, spa treatments and much more.
Fast forward to today — while the relaxed essence of the inn continues, there are ambitious plans afoot.
At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
Under the new ownership of the Tang sisters, Tracy Tang Limpe and Dana Tang, a $3.6 million restoration of the inn's shoreline that includes a 1,300 foot-long wooden boardwalk along the water's edge is in the works. The project also includes the addition of 18,000 square feet of living shoreline, nearly 11,000 additional shoreline and upland plants along the upper bank, 42 new trees, 30 old-growth trees preserved, 150 linear feet of oyster reef and more.
Eventual plans also call for new nature trails and a new state-of-the-art spa and more. (We're especially excited to see the completed spa, as the Tangs are also owners of the renowned Enchantment Resort and Mii Amo Spa in Sedona, Ariz.)
The Tides Inn plans to celebrate its shoreline restoration Friday, June 18. Here's a look at the planned festivities:
12 p.m.: Community Planting - An opportunity to get your hands dirty and create a living shoreline for generations to enjoy. You will help plant the new wetlands area – along with community members and Friends of the Rappahannock representatives. Boats will be available for small groups to view the oyster reef and living shoreline.
5 p.m.: Live Music on the Beach - Featuring a visit from Rosie, the resort’s vintage bar cart.
5:30 p.m.: Ribbon Cutting and Presentation
6 p.m. Oyster Roast: Executive Chef Truman Jones and team will present the best from the coast and local farmers at a “low-country boil” dinner, including Rappahannock River oysters, cocktail stations and musical entertainment.
You can reserve your ticket for the celebration. Tickets are $100 for adults, $50 for ages 18 and younger. The ticket price includes:
- Community Planting: 12 noon - 5 p.m., snacks and beverages provided
- Celebration: 5-8 p.m., live music and oyster roast
- Commemorative T-shirt
If you can't make the celebration, be sure to make plans to visit Irvington soon.
Activities in Irvington
While these ambitious plans are quietly underway, the inn continues to welcome guests with open arms, especially during the popular summer season. There are plenty of activities to keep guests as busy (or not) as they want to be. Each day features nearly a dozen activities including yoga, kids' crafts, bike tours, bonfires on the beach and wine and cheese sunset cruises. The inn also has golf, guided nature hikes, bee keeping education and much more.
Spa: At the spa, guests have options that include massages, skin care, body treatments and nail care. A top-notch fitness center is also on the property.
At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
Boating: At the inn's Chesapeake Bay Marina, guests can rent paddleboards, kayaks, paddle boats and canoes. Guests can also go on a guided tour of Carter's Creek or a sunset river cruise with a seasoned marina crew member on an eight-passenger electric Duffy boat, which are also available for rental. Sailing lessons and camps are also available. (We tried a cruise on the Duffy boat and the electric motor makes cruising very relaxing - no loud moters, just the nature sounds of the water and birds and added bonus: You can hear the other guests on the boat).
Art gallery: At Objects art gallery in the center of town, you'll find more than 200 artists from around the world in a variety of mediums including pottery, jewelry, sculpture, wood and paintings. Located at 4462 Irvington Road. (The owners are originally from Alexandria. The manager is also a former Alexandrian and is a fount of information about art and Irvington.)
Compass Entertainment Complex: If it's a rainy day or you're just looking for some more fun activities for the young at heart, check out Compass. This new entertainment complex includes a six-screen movie theater, bumper cars, climbing walls, an arcade, ropes course, batting cages, go-karts, mini golf and a bar and grill. Located at 100 Entertainment Dr. in Irvington.
Dining
Fish Hawk: Tides Inn guests have plenty of options when it comes to dining. Guests can lounge by the inviting pool, with a view of the inn's sandy beach on Carter's Creek, and dine poolside with offerings from Fish Hawk Oyster Bar (or dine at Fish Hawk's covered tables al fresco or indoors). We tried the Crab Cake BLT and Salmon Sandwich and both were delicious. The wait staff was super friendly and helpful.
Chesapeake Restaurant & Terrace: The inn also offers fine dining at Chesapeake Restaurant & Terrace, where there is a full bar, white tablecloth dining or dining under the stars with beautiful views of Carter's Creek and the expansive lawns and trees on the property. It's also a great place to start your day with an outdoor breakfast and views of the water.
The Local: Also in Irvington, be sure to stop by The Local, 4337 Irvington Road, where the entire town (dogs in tow) shows up for coffee, breakfast, newspapers and gossip grabbing a cozy booth inside or a spot on the patio out front. You can walk, ride a bike or hop in your car. It's just down the road from the inn and a great place to grab a latte, soak up the local scene and get a copy of the local newspaper, The Rappahannock Record, which has been around since 1916.
At The Tides Inn in Irvington, VA. Photos by Alexandria Living Magazine
Vine: Just down the street from The Tides Inn is a charming bistro, dubbed Vine, which as its name implies, features an extensive wine list. If you're going for dinner, be sure to make a reservation, it gets packed. Menu items include Crab Louie Salad, Chicken Empanadas and Banh Mi Brisket. Located at 77 King Carter Dr.
There's also a winery in Irvington — the Dog and Oyster Vineyard — to explore.
If you can't get a room at The Tides Inn, there are other places to stay in Irvington, including the Hope and Glory Inn, located at 65 Tavern Road and the Kilmarnock Inn, 34 E. Church St., in nearby Kilmarnock.
