Exploring the beauty of Virginia’s York River

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Along the shores of Eastern Virginia lies the York River, a 34-mile long estuary of brackish water that empties into the Chesapeake Bay. At the largest point near the entrance to the Bay, the York River stretches nearly 2.5 miles across bringing in Navy warships, sailboats and a large variety of marine life that thrive in the unique coast waters.

Sunset on the York River

My sister and her family live on the York River and I always love visiting them in the summer time. The views of the river from her home are gorgeous and the sweet smell of salt water and flowering trees always makes me feel like I’m on vacation.

Yesterday while we were on the pier, we saw dolphins feeding off in the distance so we jumped on my brother-in-laws boat and followed the pod while they splashed around the boat. At one point, a dolphin came so close to our boat, I could have reached in the water and touched it. My six-year-old daughter screamed with joy and said “Mama, this is so much better than the Zoo!”. Ospreys who migrate all the way from South America and come to build their nests along the York River, soared around us and dove for fish.

Here are some photos I took that show the beauty of this part of the world, often known most for its history in the US Civil War, and a launching off point to see Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown.

Today we are off to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia for some fresh cool air and more exploration. Stay tuned….

34 thoughts on “Exploring the beauty of Virginia’s York River”

  1. Welcome to the East Coast–we are fortunate to have some states that preserve open space for all of us to share as well as respect Mother Nature’s bounty. Enjoy your holiday, sounds like a terrific spot.

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    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! I just returned home and we had a great week. The weather was very nice but got a bit humid at the end. Now I’m back in MN and it is unseasonably cool with highs in the low 70s but it feels so nice! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! I just returned home and we had a great week. The weather was very nice but got a bit humid at the end. Now I’m back in MN and it is unseasonably cool with highs in the low 70s but it feels so nice! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes, it is really beautiful out there! The dolphins were a special treat. I’ve been there several times to visit but this was a first. The kids loved them!

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    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      You’re welcome and glad you enjoyed. There is so much history there too as it is by Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. Really cool place.

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    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! 🙂

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  5. The Wanderlust Gene – Sixtyish female, no attachments. Have been visiting and living in Paradise - Sri Lanka - for twenty years, but now it's almost time to go home to Australia.
    The Wanderlust Gene on said:

    Ah, Nicole – really, your “American” wilderness is something, isn’t it? Great pictures too, of course 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! I hope you are doing well! I really need to catch up on your blog. I’ve been so busy this summer that my reading time has slowed down. 🙂 Two more weeks until school and then I can play catch up!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      I didn’t get them in time! I was so bummed. But it was really special! I could have reached down and touched the dolphins they were so close!

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  7. viktoracrux – I am a person who works in the two fields at the same time, namely I am both a freelance composer and freelance translator (EN -> RU). I have been composing different music pieces since 2004.
    viktoracrux on said:

    Really Beautiful!!! ^_^

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks!

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  8. restlessjo – Hi! I’m Jo! Johanna when I’m feeling posh, Jan to my Dad, and Joasiu to my Polish family. A bit of a mix-up, that’s me. The one constant, however, is my restless nature. I love to travel and to explore our world. It doesn’t have to be the big wide world. I can be ridiculously happy not too far from home, so long as I’m seeking new horizons. Of course I have a wish list, and it was to help me fulfil my dreams that I started to write travel guides for a venture called Simonseeks. I’d always kept a travel diary, and it was hugely satisfying to share my experiences and to make new friends who shared my passion for travel. Alas, Simonseeks hit a few troubles, but I still find myself writing about my travels. I’ve become addicted. I’d love to share them, and to make more friends. So, it has to be a blog- right? Or do I mean- write?
    restlessjo on said:

    Oh but that first shot had me dreaming, Nicole. Cathy (Catbird in Europe), whom I met up with on my recent Algarve trip, currently lives in North Virginia. I keep meaning to Google for some images, but I probably don’t need to now. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      How cool! It is really beautiful, lush and green. Virginia is a very pretty state with so much history.

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  9. Thats awesome that you found some dolphins in Virginia. I never knew they frequented that part of the world. Nice pictures of the sun on the water!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes it was so cool! They swim in to the york river through the Chesapeake Bay which feeds into the ocean. It is pretty wild. They were huge too and so playful.

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes, summer is fabulous and hard to leave!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much for the reblog! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yeah!

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  13. Sunil – Hala I am from Wayanad, North Kerala in India. I’m from an agriculturalist family and we have plantations in Wayanad that consists of Coffee, Pepper, and other spices. My profession: Software Industry (Asst.Manager. Product Communication) After my graduation I moved between Mumbai, Doha, Dubai, and Bangalore taking up different jobs as a software support personnel and Product Communication specialist and finally landed up in Cochin. In between I ventured into a spiritual path and sank deep into it, and was lucky enough to have a sweet spiritual guru who guides me at times of distress. I taught yoga, meditation, pranayama and breathing techniques for a fairly long period, but gradually started keeping a low profile. It was not because I was enlightened, but due to family responsibilities and commitments. I have a family consisting of my wife, two kids and mom to support. Still I practice yoga and meditation but very irregular in my practices. I have been working at Cochin for almost 9 years and I am not sure how long will I stick to this place, because this is not exactly the place I want to be. I’m also a hospitality entrepreneur and own eco-friendly cottages (www.treasuretrovewayanad.com) in Wayanad. Wandering along the wildlife sanctuaries and spotting wild elephants is my favourite pastime. I enjoy travelling, trekking, photography, music and reading. I love to meet people and be connected with all of you around the globe.
    Sunil on said:

    Lovely pictures….Your sister and family are lucky to live at this place…

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! Yes, it is really beautiful there! 🙂

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  14. Love the sky in the first couple of images. Pretty amazing, my friend.

    Hope you’re doing well, Nicole. Sorry to have been away. Been busy working on my memoir. Excuses, excuses! Right? I’ve missed you.

    Hugs from Ecuador,
    Kathy

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      No worries Kathy! I see I have a post of yours to read in my inbox! Can’t wait to see what you are up to! 🙂

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  15. Harold Green – San Miguel de Allende, Mexico – I love exploring different cultures of our world with my wife Rita and my Nikon SLR camera. I try to bring back the overlaying rich textures of a different country’s lifestyle. To capture a moment in time as I float down a river, walk a mud-street village, hike a sand dune at sunrise, stroll up a jungle trail or cruise through the workshop of a regional craftsman, is a pleasure and a dream. It is a joy of mine to share these images with children and young students in hopes that my images will inspire a few of them to travel and explore in-depth other cultures of the world with an open mind. I am a professional photographer with a host of digital SLR gear. I am retired and live in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico with my wife Rita. In my previous life I owned an advertising/public relations agency in Houston, Texas where I launched my 25-year career as the agency’s Creative Director. Upon retirement, in 1989, I moved full-time to the island of Martha’s Vineyard before moving to Mexico in 2001. I was born in upstate New York in the small town of Auburn on the Finger Lakes. I attended The Northwood Preparatory School in Lake Placid, New York. After graduation I received a degree in advertising and marketing from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The inspiration for my love of photography came from my father, who was an amateur photographer. As a young child, I spent many hours in his darkroom helping him hang black & white prints with a clothes pin.
    Harold Green on said:

    Thank you for exposing me to another beauty of our world that I had not discovered or knew anything about except for the Civil War. Looking forward to your Blue Ridge journey which I have cruised many times in my cross-country motorcycling days. Best, Harold, and my trusty sidekick Mr. SLR Nikon. http://www.throughharoldslens.com

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Glad you enjoyed! How cool you road your bikes along the Blue Ridge parkway! Must have been so amazing. Hair blowing in the wind, tunes blasted, feeling of freedom and youth!

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  16. Your River looks like a beautiful place, judging by your photos. Great images, you have captured some gorgeous light in them all.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! 🙂

      Reply ↓

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