Insider’s View

For many pet owners, going on vacation isn’t the same without bringing along your furry companion. Whether you enjoy running wildlife trails, doing some window shopping, or simply relaxing on a dock together, the Chesapeake Bay region has plenty of pawfect activities for both you and Fido (or Spot, or Mr. Snuggles, or Dr. Perfect!)

If you plan to be in the Northern Neck with your dog, Kilmarnock is a great place to visit. Aside from the many shops, historical sites, and restaurants that Kilmarnock offers, it is also home to the first dog park in the Northern Neck, Scottie Yard. Located at Towne Centre Park, Scottie Yard boasts off-leash play areas for both small and large dogs. For rules and hours, check out the dog park’s Facebook page.

There are several wineries along the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail that welcome four-legged friends. Located in Irvington, The Dog and Oyster Vineyard is the only one of its kind in America, specifically crafting its wines to be paired with oysters. Vault Field Vineyards is nestled in the heart of the Northern Neck and has won several awards since it first opened in 2010. Oak Crest Vineyard and Winery is another wonderful stop where you can bring your own lunch and enjoy an afternoon of wine-tasting. All three vineyards have been recognized for their dedication to being pet-friendly spots in Virginia.

GoPetFriendly.com recently conducted the ‘Ultimate Pet Friendly Road Trip,’ choosing the #1 pet friendly destination in each state. The winner for Virginia? Colonial Williamsburg.

Aside from being a living time machine, Colonial Williamsburg welcomes pets with open arms — it even has a doggy mascot named Liberty! To ensure everyone enjoys their experience, Colonial Williamsburg has a few Pet Rules to follow:

1. Pets must be kept on a leash
2. Owners must pick up after pets
3. Pets are not allowed inside buildings

Whether you’re bringing along a dog, a cat, or even a pot-bellied pig, just be sure to follow protocol and we promise you’ll have a great time! There are also several dog friendly hotels located on-site:

1. Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites
2. Williamsburg Inn
3. Griffin Hotel
4. The Williamsburg Lodge

Be sure to call ahead or check out their websites for rates and details!

So you want to know how to find the greatest deals on the market? Follow our lead…

Use All of the Tools

Arguably the greatest feature MLS offers is the power to combine search fields. And in the hands of an experienced agent, the results are pretty remarkable. It’s like giving an artist the best set of supplies or a chef the best ingredients.

It’s been said that, at any given time, the average MLS has roughly $6M in incorrectly priced property and with over $1B of active property in the Chesapeake Bay/Central Virginia MLS, it could be far higher. The source of that statistic has yet to be identified, but if you know how to look, finding hidden value or opportunities can be easy.

Finding a Good Deal Means Finding the Right Deal

A property that is considered a ‘good deal’ is not necessarily the cheapest option. Sometimes a good deal is a home that can be bargained into a better price for the buyer. Sometimes it might be a home with a divisible lot, and sometimes it might be short sale or relocation property.

When you search on our site, you are searching through a tool called IDX — which only approximates MLS. When one of the agents at Bay Properties creates your Client Gateway (which is a direct link to MLS), we can do a much better job of using multiple search fields to find value. So if you allow us to customize your gateway, then we can really have the system go to work for you.

Call us when you are ready to make your dream of owning a Chesapeake Bay home a reality and we will help you find the best deals that meet your needs.

Mathews County, known as the ‘Pearl of the Chesapeake,’ has become a hotspot for artists and art-enthusiasts alike.

There are several art galleries and studios in the area where visitors can make their own work or browse the local creations. Bay School Community Arts Center offers a variety of workshops from mommy-and-me classes and beginner wheel throwing to acrylic lessons and even pasta making! It is also home to the Art Speaks Gallery that displays a wonderful array of arts and crafts that are available for purchase. You can check out some of the work here. With over 100 different classes offered throughout the year, Bay School is guaranteed to have something for everyone.

If you are looking for vibrant paintings of Mathews’ scenery to decorate the walls of your home, you won’t want to miss out on Dorothy Fagan’s work. Tucked away by a pond where she does most of her painting, Dorothy’s studio is home to her most breathtaking works. Her pieces are illustrated in oil, watercolor, pastel, and mixed media.

Put-In Creek Carvings is another prominent Mathews gallery that features regional artisans and a variety of mediums including: sculpture, wood carvings, glass, paintings, abstract works, and Native American art. The owner of Put-in-Creek, Ben Richardson, originally started carving duck decoys as a hobby during his years working on tugboats before becoming a full-time artist and gallery owner. If you are interested in something more contemporary, be sure to check out #FFFHEX Contemporary Art Gallery. This local gem features rotating exhibitions of local, national and international artists.

Last but not least is The Poddery. For over 30 years, the pottery studio and showroom has welcomed visitors to see the area’s largest selection of handmade pottery. The showroom is brimming with decorative tiles, functional pottery, sculptures, and Chesapeake Bay themed pieces, and The Poddery’s weekly kiln firings keep new work flowing.

If all of these galleries and studios sound amazing to you (and trust us, they are), be sure to check out the Made in Mathews Open Studio Tour held annually in November. The showcase offers self-guided tours featuring over 60 local artists. It is a unique opportunity for the public to go behind the scenes and experience the creative process that goes into many of the works.