About Northumberland County, VA

There was a large crowd at the annual Strawberry Festival in Heathsville, VA, on Sat., May 24, 2008. St. Stephen's Anglican Church hosts this event every year. The Strawberry Festival is held on Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend.

The tiny village of Heathsville nearly bursts at its seams as thousands of people from all around travel from distances up to 200 miles away to shop for arts and crafts, listen to the music, socialize, have lunch, and of course, EAT the famous strawberry shortcake.

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the event with my husband, his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. While I browsed through hand made jewlery, paintings, and baked goods, my husband spotted a beautiful hand carved heron made by a local artisan, Herb Lewis.

We are now the proud owners of this lovely art piece carved from wood, hand painted and set on a finished base. There is even a little hand carved turtle on on the wood pieces on the base. The grandkids had a wonderful time and were especially pleased to get their faces painted for free.

St. Stephen's Anglican Church in Heathsville, VA will host its annual Christmas Countdown Festival on the Sat. of Labor Day. To find out more about these festivals, click here.

Come explore all the delights that living in a rural, waterfront setting can offer you. Visit the Northern Neck of VA.

For information regarding real estate in the Northern Neck, email me at yvonne@NorthernNeckVA.com or visit my web site for up to date listings.

Yvonne Hurt, "Your Northern Neck of Va Real Estate Specialist"

The Northern Neck of VA is one of a few places that still have the quiet, country charm of yesteryear. We are blessed to be able to experience a more relaxed lifestyle where neighbors have time to chat with each other or share a slice of blueberry pie. This is especially true in Reedville, VA. Not only is Reedville a quaint waterside village; it is a state of mind, a lifestyle.

For such a small community, there is always something going on to enjoy. The Reedville Fishermen's Museum is a stop that you should not miss when you visit Reedville. The museum is full of Reedville's history and the history of the commercial fishing industry that is a large part of our past and present.

You can usually find a crowd at the museum on Friday evenings for Cocktails on Cockrell's Creek. This is a great time to see what's new in the museum and to connect with your friends and neighbors. Of course, it is informal and relaxed....it's a Reedville kind of thing. The RFM sponsors and/or participates in many events and workshops throughout the year. A favorite workshop is the boatbuilding classes and the Oyster Gardening Workshop in September.

There are several nice restaurants in Reedville; Tommy's and the Crazy Crab. Both offer delicious food, great atmosphere, and are waterfront. The Crazy Crab also has a marina so you can arrive by boat if you wish. The Fairport Marina, just outside of the "downtown" Reedville area, offers a full service marina and a restaurant. The beer is cold, the seafood is fresh, and the nautical, casual atmosphere is priceless. Chitterchats is our local ice cream and gossip parlour. The décor is retro, the conversation is lively, and the ice cream is wonderful. Chitterchats reminds me of what an ice cream parlour in Mayberry would have resembled.

There is always a big Independence Day Celebration in Reedville. The parade keeps growing and is anticipated by all. The children decorate their bikes, some people decorate their riding lawnmowers or golf carts for the parade, fire trucks from all around attend, sometimes there are tractors decorated, all types of floats, high school marching band, the American Legion, and much more. The entire day is full starting with a 5K run, vendors, bake sales, museum tours, boat rides, the parade, and then a wonderful fireworks display over the creek at night.

Almost any morning or afternoon you will see the Reedville residents out walking their dogs, bicycling, or jogging. I often stop in to chat with my neighbors while my dog begs for treats and is generally rewarded. It is not unusual for the locals to pull up alongside our dock and call out their greetings or to sound their boat horn as they glide past our home on Cockrell's Creek. Reedville's just that kind of place....a real hometown. Come for a visit, you might make Reedville your home, too.

For real estate information on Reedville and the Northern Neck of VA, be sure to ask for;

Yvonne Hurt, "Your Northern Neck Real Estate Specialist"

804-456-2144 or email: yvonne@NorthernNeckVA.com Visit my web Site

Come join in the fun at this year's Reedville Bluefish Derby presented by Smith Point Sea Rescue. Mark your calendar for June 13-14, 2008! Prior registration is required and you can find the registration form on line. Captain's meeting is Thursday evening, June 12. Fishing days are June 13-14. An awards ceremony will be held Sat. night, June 14. First prize for the largest bluefish and largest rockfish are $5,000!

The public is invited to attend the festivities and watch the weigh-ins. Live entertainment includes a DJ on Thursday night, the band Casper on Friday night with the Ray Pittman Project band on Sat. night. There will be a Fish Fry Plus on Friday and Saturday nights...fried fish, chicken, and ribs dinner...sounds good! Awards include a female angler award, youth award, and daily prizes as well as the overall prizes for largest bluefish and rockfish. Come out, enjoy the Northern Neck hospitality, walk along the marina docks and see some gorgeous fishing boats, enjoy the music, dance, and dive into the fish fry plus! Activities will be held at Buzzards Point Marina in Reedville, VA.

Smith Point Sea Rescue is the last remaining volunteer sea rescue service on the Chesapeake Bay. The Smith Point Sea Rescue Unit was officially organized around 1974. It began out of a need to provide emergency rescue services for boaters that were in distress. They still provide this service today and are a non-profit group raising operating funds primarily through donations and the Bluefish Derby. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some of the finest fishing, food, and music around while benefiting a worthwhile organization. For more information on the Smith Point Sea Rescue Unit and their activities, Click here.

For information about Northern Neck of VA Real Estate, please visit my web site, email me, Yvonne@NorthernNeckVA.com , or give me a call at 804-456-2144.

Call on, Yvonne Hurt, "Your Northern Neck Real Estate Specialist" for up to date real estate market information.

The Northern Neck is home to many historic sites. Stratford Hall is one of my favorites. Stratford Hall is the birthplace of Robert E. Lee. It is one of America's great historic homes. The plantation encompasses about 1670 acres and is still managed as a farm. Stratford is located on a bluff overlooking the Potomac River in Westmoreland County. There are farm animals on the plantation including cattle, sheep, and goats. It's worth spending the day visiting Stratford Hall as there are lots of things to see and do.

Take the tour of the historic home, walk the beautiful grounds and gardens, and visit the mill. They still grind corn, wheat, oats, and barley at the mill today. The millstones are powered by wooden gears driven by a waterwheel. Enjoy lunch in the log cabin dining room. The country ham biscuits and crab cakes are outstanding!

Stratford Hall hosts special events throughout the year. The next event is Coaching Day, Sun., April 27, 2008. This is sure to be an unforgettable event. Some of the activities include a parade of 19th Century road coaches and carriages, Jack Russell Terrier races, pony rides for the children, gymnastics on horseback demonstration and much more. Coaching Day is held every three years and it is a big fund raiser to benefit Stratford Hall. It is sure to be a fun time for all. Click the link for more information on Coaching Day. For more information on Stratford Hall click here.

For real estate information on VA Waterfront Homes and Waterfront Land, Equestrian Properties, and Historic Properties, call Yvonne Hurt, "Your Northern Neck Real Estate Specialist" @ 804-456-2144. Email: Yvonne@NorthernNeckVA.com or visit my website.

As a native of Northumberland County, VA, I grew up not understanding how fortunate I was to live in such a special place. Northumberland County encompasses about 222 square miles and is home to approximately 12,000 people. Northumberland was actually the Mother County for what later became the Northern Neck of VA.

The Northern Neck lies between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers and tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay. We are basically an island connected to the rest of Virginia by bridges. Due to the lack of ability for us "Neckers" to access other areas of Virginia until the bridge to Essex County came in 1926, development occurred at a slower more relaxed pace. We still are a gentler, slower, more relaxed place today. If you are searching for a simpler lifestyle, the Northern Neck may be the right place for you!

Check out this fun to use map and waterfront resource guide to locate the rivers and creeks in this area:

Northern Neck Waterfront Locator, primary resource, Virginia's Northern Neck

A few interesting tidbits about this "Land of Pleasant Living";

It is often said that the only traffic jam around here is when you get behind a tractor or combine.

You know you are in the Neck when you enter a little waterfront village and read a sign that says the population is 89 people and 10 dogs.

It has only been in the last few years that a traffic light was installed in Northumberland County. A second traffic light was installed only a few months ago.

True, this may not be the place for everyone. However, if you value open spaces, a relaxed lifestyle, like fishing, boating, swimming, golfing, and hunting, take a look at what the Northern Neck of VA has to offer.Abundant wildlife Incredible Waterfront and Unsurpassed Water Views

Your closest neighbors might be the local wildlife.

For more information about real estate opportunities in the Northern Neck of VA, please email me Yvonne@NorthernNeckVA.com or Click Here to visit my website to search for waterfront homes, waterfront land, farms, and equestrian properties.