Things to Do in Onancock

What's there to do in Onancock? Our town is small but has some nice activities available.

ker placeBegin with a little history and architecture. Tour the Ker Place house museum, located at 69 Market Street. The elegant Federal-style home dates to the early 1800s. Details of the house have been painstakingly researched and restored. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm.

Take a walking tour of town. Free walking tour brochures are available to guide you on your way; pick one up at the visitor center at the wharf. Stroll past historic homes and beautiful gardens. It's a compact town and easy to walk.

Bring your bike or rent one from gardenART on King Street. The terrain in and around town is flat for easy pedaling. Traffic is light so riding is a joy. Be safe -- wear a helmet.

Have a boat, canoe or kayak? Bring it with you. The wharf is a great place to launch a tour of Onancock Creek. The best way to see the Eastern Shore is from the water. Guided kayak trips are also available with Mary and Bill Burnham -- experienced guides and travel writers.

Another way to get out on the water is to charter a boat. The James Gang Charters offers charter boats for fishing or sightseeing. They have two boats - a 29' Blackfin Flybridge Sportfisherman and 17' Boston Whaler. Whether you want to fish the Chesapeake Bay or just cruise the waterways of the Eastern Shore, James Gang Charters has comfortable, fast, safe vessels to meet your needs.

Take a cruise on the Tangier Island Ferry. The 4-mile voyage out Onancock Creek then on the Chesapeake Bay is beautiful, and tiny Tangier Island is quaint. Ferry operates in the warm weather months.

See a movie or a show. The Roseland is a classic old-time movie theater (built 1950) still showing new movies every weekend. It even hosts an international film series (second Thursday of each month). The North Street Playhouse has about a dozen productions each season. The organization is more than 20 years old.

And, of course, Onancock provides several fine places to shop or eat.

Onancock also makes a central base for a week-long Eastern Shore adventure. Explore from Chincoteague Island to Cape Charles. Enjoy the Shore.


Onancock VA