The Vibe of a Luxury Playground for Adults (Idyllic Tides Inn)

Idyllic Tides Inn:

THE VIBE OF A LUXURY PLAYGROUND FOR ADULTS
Timeless. This word immediately comes to mind as you drive through the town of Irvington, Virginia, on the way to Tides Inn, a Preferred Boutique resort situated on its own peninsula overlooking Carter’s Creek.

Not much appears to have changed over the years since Tides Inn became a premier vacation spot, 60 years ago. The colorful Victorian homes and quaint town is unspoiled by modern urbanization. boutiques and small businesses dot the surrounding area. Watermen still ply their trade on the creeks and Chesapeake Bay; in fact, most of the food served at the resort is locally sourced. When guests arrive they are greeted with an array of pastel bicycles for use during their stay—a signal to slow down and enjoy a simpler pace. Inside the front entrance, near the valet’s station, there is a table with cookies and lemonade to enjoy while check-in is being handled.
The décor is tasteful yet comfortable. The style is British Colonial with sweeping views from almost every angle of the interior of the hotel that overlook the well-manicured lawns and marina. The View Room, located just off the lobby, is a favorite area for guests to enjoy a variety of activities each day, including board and parlor games, and the occasional movie. Relax and read a good book from the bookcase or a newspaper. Cookies and milk are served every night in this room.
There are a myriad of activities to enjoy while staying at Tides Inn: sailing, cove cruises, golf, paddle boarding, the luxury spa, kayaking, and two swimming pools—one beside the beach and the other a saltwater pool. During the summer, outdoor movies are shown at dusk on a 12-foot surround-sound screen by the main pool area.
Each week there are scheduled activities throughout the day. A sample schedule may include: creek and crabbing, a mixology class, bocce on the beach, and a golf clinic at The Golden Eagle. Each night guests can enjoy making their own s’mores on the Terrace over a fire pit.
Although Tides Inn has the vibe of a luxury playground for adults, it also offers a children’s program. “Crab Net Kids” ensures hours of supervised fun while parents enjoy their lux activities.
It is hard to imagine that anyone would want to venture off of the resort with so much to do but if you do, there are several wineries along the Chesapeake Wine Trail as well as boutiques, antique shops, and local art to explore in the surrounding area.
Tides Inn has superior dinning and offers regional Chesapeake Bay cuisine for breakfast and dinner in the East Dining Room. Chef TV, the Tides Inn chef, prepares amazing dishes using all local ingredients from the water and field as well as from the Tide’s own kitchen garden. “Must-tries” include Lancaster Lemonade, TV’s signature cocktail, Herb-Roasted Rockfish, and the “Virginia is for Chocolate Lovers” old-fashioned buttermilk chocolate cake.
Each wedding held at the resort is customized to fit a couple’s personality and style. The staff is very flexible and can accommodate anything from custom menus to spa parties. Carol Konrad, the wedding sales manager for the Tides, oversees the entire wedding process from beginning to end and offers suggestions for a memorable event.
Having a wedding here can mean starting off with an elegant ceremony held on the croquet lawn in front of the Tide’s “family tree,” a massive cedar tree overlooking the creek. Then guests move to the Terrace for cocktails, and the ballroom for dancing and the reception. And the perfect end to a perfect day? Change into comfortable clothes and meet on the beach for a bonfire.