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By
Patrick Gilsenan
 With
the Chesapeake Bay lapping at the shore, pleasure boats swaying
in the marina, and 36 championship-caliber golf holes winding
through majestic pines, the beauty of the Bay Creek Resort
& Club is abundant. The almost 2,000-acre state-of-the-art
golf and boating haven nestled along a nature-filled peninsula
is just across the bay from Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA. The
six-year-old resort and year-round planned community offers a
marina, shopping, beach, and water sports, but is best known for
two intersecting golf courses designed by golf legends Jack Nicklaus
and Arnold Palmer.
 The
resort and Nicklaus-Palmer golf courses were the vision of Virginia
native and developer, Richard "Dickie" Foster, who has taken great
care to preserve the 19th century seaport character and natural
beauty of the peninsula. Foster has preserved much of the peninsula's
native vegetation and wildlife --which now stretches along 3.3
miles of Chesapeake Bay shoreline on one side of the resort and
the Old Plantation Creek on the other. Foxes and sea birds nest
along the golf courses, which are lined with old growth woods,
magnolias, roses and native beach grasses.
Many of Bay Creek's home styles (left) also preserve the
region's unique character with designs inspired by the front porches
and Victorian homes of the adjacent and quaint historic seaport
town of Cape Charles. Cape Charles City, as the one-square mile
town was originally known, was incorporated in 1886. It quickly
became a hub of turn of the century activity, offering the largest
harbor between Norfolk, Virginia and Maryland, a rail line clear
up to NYC and two daily round trip ferry boat rides across the
Bay.
By
the middle of the 20th century, however, the ferry had relocated,
the railway stopped carrying passengers and the bustling little
seaport fell on hard times.
With
the 1996 purchase of the nearly 2,000 acres surrounding Cape Charles
on which Bay Creek now sits, the little town has been reborn
with renovations of its Victorian homes, the opening of a beautiful
European-style coffee house and a burgeoning eco-tourism industry.
The town and the resort can be enjoyed through Bay Creek's
long and short-term condominium and privately-owned, single family
home rentals.
Boaters can also stay aboard their boats in Bay Creek's 124-slip,
protected marina which provides access to the Intra-coastal Waterway,
the bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The marina can accommodate boats
up to 150-feet long and has a seven-foot deep low tide channel.
Marina guests also have full access to the resort's golf course,
pools, art gallery and elegant waterfront restaurant.
With relatively non-crowded world-class golf at your door, deserted
barrier islands a short boat ride away, and a quaint waterfront
town to stroll as the sun goes down, there is plenty to enjoy
at Bay Creek!
For
reservations and more info:
757-331-8750 or 800-501-7141
3335 Stone Road, Cape Charles, VA 23310
http://www.baycreekresortrentals.com
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THINGS
TO DO
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 Besides
enjoying the great community center for its tennis courts
and pool (left), most agree first and foremost, the thing
to do is golf! Bay Creek legend has it that when
developer Dickie Foster devised the idea of a world class
golf facility, he simply called Arnold Palmer and asked
what he thought of sharing space with Nicklaus. Palmer said
it sounded like a good idea but he'd have to check with
Jack. So Palmer got on the phone with Nicklaus and Bay
Creek became the first resort in the country to develop
Nicklaus-Palmer courses in the same location.
The Palmer course, opened July 2001, stretches just over
7,200 yards and, according to Golf Magazine, "may
just become one of the most stunning visual experiences
anywhere along the East Coast." Four of its holes meander
along the dunes and beaches of the Chesapeake Bay, eight
holes follow the waters of Old Plantation Creek, and the
rest mingle with 110 acres of lakes. The Nicklaus course
stretches 7,216 yards with natural, rolling hills and large,
natural hazards evoking images of the links courses of old.
The Nicklaus course also includes numerous water-view holes
and is dotted with more than 100 bunkers. Both courses offer
Tifsport Bermuda grass fairways and A-4 Bent grass greens
from five different tee box distances. Golfers can also
loosen up at Bay Creek's 425-yard driving range offering
five target greens and a chipping and putting area. The
Nicklaus course opened May 2006.
Current April 1-through-Oct. 30 green fees are $100 dollars
including GPS-equipped carts. In November and December,
the price drops to $70 with similar year-round discounts
for juniors under 17, seniors and military members. Reservations
can be made up to seven days in advance. For tee times or
more information, call (757) 331-9000 or visit
www.baycreek.net.
 Another
main attraction is the full-size, detailed replica of a
historic 19th-century Chesapeake Bay lighthouse which sits
in a lake just off the beach (left). In addition, Bay
Creek's 124-slip deep water marina
is situated in a protected harbor immediately off the intra-coastal
waterway with easy access to the Chesapeake Bay and the
near-by barrier islands of the Atlantic. The single-loaded
slips range from 30 to 70 feet and can accommodate boats
up to 150 feet. Daily slip rentals are $2.00 per foot per
day. Annual, semi-annual, quarterly, and monthly boat leases
are available. Marina amenities include beach access, WiFi/cable
TV, electric, water, sewer pump out, fuel, laundry service,
equipment rental, bathroom and showers, lockers and swimming
pool.
The marina (below) which will eventually include 224 slips,
also boasts a fully stocked marine store - The Complete
Angler, and a restaurant. For more information about the
marina call 757-331-8640. For slip reservations, call the
harbor master at 757-331-8648.
No need to bring your own boat or bike, the marina offers
bike and kayak rentals. The Bay Creek marina also
offers an array of charter fishing and sight-seeing options.
Top Dog charters offer bay and ocean fishing, sunset
and sightseeing trips aboard a 35-foot Bertram Sportfishing
boat. Call (757) 647-3017. If you'd prefer to sip wine than
bait a hook, you'll want to try the 65-foot Schooner
Serenity which offers daily sunset cruises along the
Chesapeake Bay. You can help set the sail, take the helm
of the two-masted sailing vessel or just sit and keep an
eye out for pelicans, dolphins and other wildlife. Reservations
required. Call 757-710-1233.
Outside of the resort in Cape Charles, Southeast Expeditions,
offers a range of kayaking adventures and a three-day kite
surfing school. Southeast Expeditions offers experienced
and inexperienced kayakers the opportunity to glide through
Chesapeake Bay marshes at sunset, spend half days exploring
the bay, or full days dolphin spotting and island hopping
among the Atlantic's numerous barrier islands. The small
size and silence of the kayak often allows paddlers to spot
eagles, hawks, ospreys and the occasional sea turtle. Southeast
Expeditions also offers one of the Mid-Atlantic's only
kite surfing schools. According to Expeditions co-owner
David Burden, kite surfing is easier and more quickly learned
than wind surfing and the bay's relatively calm and protected
waters provide an ideal learning environment. Call 757-331-2660.
Bay Creek guests may also want to visit the near-by
Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge which is billed
as a "bird-lovers paradise" with walking trails and observational
platforms. Call 757-331-2760.
Occasionally
the resort holds special events,
check here.
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LODGING
& RENTALS
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Rent for the weekend or purchase a vacation home -- the
choice is yours! Bay Creek offers a wide variety
of lodging options from pastel-colored West Indies-style
cottages overlooking the bay, to traditional Victorians
with fairway-view porches, to more affordable condominiums.
Homes within Bay Creek are individually owned and
each reflect the character of its owner. All of the homes,
however, are less than six years-old and were designed for
open, modern and easy living. A quick tour of a few Bay
Creek rental houses turned up large, open, living room-kitchen
combinations, plasma TVs, Jacuzzis, fireplaces and plenty
of outdoor entertaining space.
Most of the homes are three to four bedrooms and sleep up
to 10. Rental rates vary. Visit
www.baycreek.net to view the inventory
of rental homes and condominiums.
Click here for more info
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DINING
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Bay Creek currently offers two main dining options,
the casual fine dining Aqua Restaurant, and a links-side
restaurant, the Coach House Tavern. AQUA is
a sleek, modern space with windowed walls overlooking the
Chesapeake Bay, deep, brown leather booths and outdoor seating.
The menu is local and seasonal. The Coach House
Tavern takes pride in serving great food and drink
at reasonable prices. For information about any of Bay Creek's
dining options call 757-331-8660 or visit www.baycreek.net
to view AQUA's and Coach House Taverns' menus.
Click here for more info
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NIGHTLIFE
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Bay
Creek and Cape Charles are admittedly more about nature than
nightlife. There are some bars in historical Cape Charles for
those looking for late night cocktails and social-life.
Click here for more info
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TRANSPORTATION
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CAR:
From
Washington, D.C. -
Follow Highway-50 east to Highway-13 south. Take Highway-13
south through Salisbury and into Virginia. Highway-13 is
the main road through the Eastern Shore. Follow Highway-13
to the traffic light at Route -84 in Cape Charles. Turn
right onto Route-184. The Bay Creek informaton center
is the second building on the right. Travel time: 4 hours
From New York -
Take the New Jersey Turnpike South across the Delaware Memorial
Bridge. As you come off the bridge, go straight, following
the signs to Baltimore. Exit onto Route-1 south Stay on
Route-1 past Dover Airforce Base to Highway-113 South. Take
Highway -13 30 miles to the town of Pokomoke. Turn left
in Pokomoke onto Highway-13 south into Virginia. Follow
Highway-13 South to Route-184 in Cape Charles. Turn right
onto Route-184 and the Bay Creek informaton center
is the second building on the right. Travel time: 6 hours
From
Norfolk International Airport -
To
reach the resort by air, fly into the Norfolk International
Airport which is 45 miles south of Bay Creek.
The resort provides shuttle service from the airport. For
more information about the Norfolk Airport, call 757-857-3351.
Take Norview Avenue one mile west to Interstate-64. Follow
Interstate-64 East to Northampton Blvd / Highway-13 north
on the right. Stay on Highway-13 north across the $12 toll
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Follow Highway-13 north out
of the tunnel 10 miles to Route-184. Turn left onto Route-184.
The informaton center is the second building on the right.
BUS: Take Greyhound to Norfolk, then rent a car or hire
a taxi.
TRAIN:
Take Amtrak to Norfolk, then rent a car or hire a taxi.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION:
Transportation within Bay Creek can be arranged
via resort shuttles or guests can rent bicycles and golf
carts to explore the resort and Cape Charles. Call 757-331-8601
to arrange shuttles or rentals. Local public bus service
outside of the resort is provided by Star Transit.
Visit their website at
www.easternshorevirginiaportal.com for bus stops and
schedules.
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TRAVEL
TIPS
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Between
the golf, the charter boats, the kayaks, the barrier islands,
the kite surfing, strolling Cape Charles and visiting the
nature preserve, there's a lot to do in and around Bay
Creek. Take some time to plan and make reservations before
your trip to get the most out of your stay. And if you'll
going to play a lot of golf, bring plenty of golf balls. There's
a lot of water on those courses!
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MAP
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Click
here for a map of area
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WEATHER
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Photos
courtesy of the Bay Creek Resort & Club
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