August, 2007
The accommodation at Shore Escape was everything we'd hoped for and anticipated. For a family get-together it was the ideal situation for relaxing, reading, napping, watching wildlife (scores of shore birds of all kinds, and deer grazing not many yards away) and in fact, we were so comfortable during a very hot and humid spell that we happily holed up indoors, with only a few excursions to visit beaches and some of the area sights and towns. Intending to use the time to bond with our six-month-old twin granddaughters that we hadn't seen since birth, we had little ambition to play tourist. Shore Escape was the ideal home away from home.
Michael & Judith James, Lincoln, Nebraska
July/August, 2007
Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our vacation at your home. It was so beautiful - inside and out! It was wonderful sitting on the sun porch and seeing the birds, deer, and that beautiful view! We kayaked over to the barrier island and I'm so glad that we did. I was a bit worried about going that perhaps we would be get swept out to the ocean, but my husband wanted to go so badly. So, the four of us went and it was amazing. No one else there except us and the wildlife. We got lots of shells and enjoyed the ocean. Returning, I was much more relaxed because I knew what to expect.
It's also so nice how you provide so many extra things in your home. You have it so beautifully decorated.
I can't say enough good things about Shore Escape. So many times we've gone on vacation and I've had high expectations for where we are staying, and they are not met. Shore Escape went beyond all my expectations - AMAZING!
Just wanted to say thanks and we hope to come again!
Debbie (and Todd) Baker, Wooster, Ohio
July, 2007
Shore Escape is a beautiful, relaxing place. We did not need to worry about anything. It is well stocked. We especially enjoyed the telescope and watching the deer and the barn swallows fledging off the roof. Kayaking on Kegotank Bay was lovely. The whole experience exceeded our expectations. We would highly recommend Shore Escape to couples who want to get away, enjoy nature and a taste some good wine.
Thanks again,
Dianna and John Cotterell, Baltimore, MD
July, 2007 Pony Swim Week Day-By-Day
Our vacation was super and we lucked out with the weather.
Monday: we tooled around Chincoteague and Assateague,saw the ponies in their
pens on Assateague,shopped a bit then stopped at Matthew's Market and bought steaks (which were excellent). The ladies took an early evening kayak trip which was super.
Tuesday: Lisa, Sara and I went back into Chincoteague for lunch and then took in the 9th birthday party for "Nightmist" (offspring of Misty) at theBeebe Ranch! This was definitely a unique experience..then we hit the Fireman's Carnival, yet another unique experience!
Wednesday: we were determined to join the throngs for the Pony Swim, so again Lisa, Sara, and I
(what grandmother's don't do for their grandchildren!) left the house at 4:30 a.m. and went back into Chincoteague to catch the first shuttle buses Sara was lucky to get hoisted on a man's shoulders, so she got a birds-eye view! It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime event. After this, we had to see the ponies come down Main St. to the Carnival .. and then waited for the pony raffle to see if Lisa and Sara would be taking a Chincoteague foal back to Portland (luckily no winning ticket for us) .. a long day but a fun one and one we hope Sara will remember always!
Suggestion: for next year, if any of your guests inquire about the Pony Swim ... we would urge them to pay the $95/pp to take one of the float boats
(and especially from the Snug Harbor Marina), as the boats do not leave until 15--30 minutes before the ponies swim, and best of all, get an
up-front view!
The rest of the week we relaxed, did more kayaking (Lisa Sara and some friends found the deserted beach at Marker 50), visited Crisfield for
Seafood Lunch; Onancock for some shopping and lunch; back over to Assateague for the loop drive (saw more ponies, deer, etc.); spent Saturday on the water with a rental skiff from Snug Harbor -- fished in the morning and found the beach in the afternoon. Most of the evenings were spent enjoying
your back porch with its great breezes, birds and deer.....
All in all a grand stay on the Eastern Shore at Shore Escape!
Thanks again,
Pat White, Portsmouth, NH
(Along with daughter & granddaughter from Portland, Oregon!)
July, 2007
We had a GREAT time!
Bottle of wine was great! - we chose the A.S. Kiken Red. We have a wine fridge at home and hadn't tried this. Now we are going to stock it! thanks.
Kayaking was great. The barrier island was awesome. It will be an adventure we will remember. We cleaned up the welk shells today and are putting them in our pool area here in Missouri to remind us of the island and how beautiful it was.
The fireworks - Great. Crowded at the fair but we sat down in the street and enjoyed the show.
Pony Island - Little more touristy than we expected but glad we went. Made us happy we chose to stay at your house away from it all. Went to the beach and walked to the north side. Very enjoyable day.
House - Great. Very well stocked kitchen, sunroom, game room, etc.
More than anything it was interesting to learn about the area. A lot of history. We drove through the graveyard by the church. A lot of names of towns in the area. Plus the books you have explain a lot of the area.
Thanks for allowing us a week at your house.
Ken, Beth, Lindsey (12) and Alison (9) Cook, St. Charles, Missouri
June, 2007
We had a great trip to Shore Escape. It is a really great house and a great, peaceful area, with many interesting things to do in the surrounding towns, beaches and parks. We wouldn't have changed a thing about the house, it worked out really well for us.
All the best to you,
David Frey, Philadelphia PA
June 2007
We sure did enjoy every minute of our vacation! The house is outstanding, the view sensational and every amenity was enjoyed. The girls and I took out the kayaks and carefully plied the Kegotank Bay. We all went to Tangier Island, and visited Assateague Lighthouse and beach. We went sailing with Captain Doug and he allowed each of us to man the tiller, haul lines, etc. I found the book (White & Black cover) about the Eastern Shore to be very helpful. The weather was great and we really enjoyed all we did away from the house as well as in the house. Thanks so much for letting us vacation there.
Debora Warner, Farmville, VA
April 2007
Anne and I just wanted to say how much we thoroughly enjoyed staying at your house. We did a ton of stuff, and visited virtually every small town and hamlet in Accomac County. We concluded that the setting of your home was the nicest of all we'd seen. The house is lovely and the view is spectacular. Despite the colder-than-normal temps (we actually got 3" of snow Saturday) we got into the bays a few times. First we rented a skiff at Wachapreague and took it to Cedar Island. We rented the boats from Captain Zeds, which is adjacent to the Wachpreague House. The rate was $99 a day and the folks there provided us with all kinds of great info as to where to clam, fish and land the boats on Cedar Island. They even made us some huge box lunches, which we ate on the beach. After our picnic we went shell hunting (we took in a nice haul of whelks) and built sandcastles. We also hiked, saw great birds and visited Assateague. We are thinking of coming back perhaps in the fall. We'll be in touch. Thanks so much.
Patrick Harney, Glenn Arm MD
Oct, 2006 (Repeat visitors)
Our second stay at Shore Escape was in a lot of ways even better than the first - which is hard to believe. This trip we knew what we liked, where we wanted to go again, where we didn't and what new things we wanted to do. We were truly able to relax and enjoy this wonderfully appointed home. We spent many days just hanging out at the house, bird watching, deer watching, reading, kayaking. We made trips to the Metompkin Seafood house for wonderful seafood, The North Market Street Cheese & Wine Shop for wonderful cheeses and wine, Matthews Market for a great steak, Onancock for the Artist Guild Show. Plus its just a short ride to the wildlife refuge on Chincoteague - thousands of snow geese! We are already planning our Escape to the Shore for next year.
Betty Farley & Victor Klein
Frederick, MD
August 2006
We had a marvelous time in spite of the heat wave.
We really enjoyed the house and the way you have provided detailed and careful provisions and accoutrements for your guests enjoyment. It's the best-furnished "beach" house that I have encountered.
We especially enjoyed the telescope and binoculars. Patty is a nature lover, so she especially enjoyed watching the birds and deer play in the environs. I did so enjoy sitting on the porch in the terry cloth robe (nice touch) enjoying a cup of coffee while the sun rose over the ocean.
The suggestions about the restaurants were very helpful. We especially enjoyed Bill's in Chincoteague, but the best "local" seafood that we encountered was at the Chesapeake House on Tangiers Island.
Again, we enjoyed every minute of our time at the shore, but it was too short. Maybe next time we will be able to stay longer.
Thank you again.
Steve Thompson, Blacksburg VA
July, 2006 Honeymoon Couple
It was a pleasure to stay at your Shore Escape! Feel free to use this as a
testimonial from my new wife Beverly and me, John McCord, that
your house was just perfect for our honeymoon week at the shore!
We loved the wine selection, the serene setting, silence, kayaking, deserted
ocean beaches, local towns, pony swim and more. Your furnishings were very
comfortable and Beverly especially loved the large bed. We spent most of our
time on the porch even though it was hot most of the time.We really could not
have chosen a better spot for our honeymoon.
Thank you so much and we will be back soon.
John & Beverly McCord
Linden, VA
July, 2006
Shore Escape is a relaxing getaway destination. So relaxing
that my husband took a 5 hour nap on day one of our vacation!
Luckily we had plenty of time to enjoy the local sites. Our
favorites were watching the wildlife from the sun porch,
Metompkin Seafood for scallops and shrimp,
Onancock shopping at the unique GardenART gallery, and lots of
trips to the beach at Chincoteague. The dock allowed us to
catch a dozen blue crabs overnight which we prepared in the
kitchen at Shore Escape and enjoyed with some delicious wine.
We look forward to future visits so we can explore the bay in
the kayaks. Thanks for a refreshing Eastern Shore experience.
Carl and Merrilee Anderson
Portage, PA
July, 2006
Our stay at the Shore Escape was a wonderful escape for a week from the
hustle & bustle of our daily lives. The house is such an open and airy place
with the perfect set-up for many visitors or just a couple. It is so
well-stocked with everything we needed and much, much more -- stuff for
entertainment, sports, and cooking! We enjoyed lazy mornings watching the
birds at breakfast on the screened-in back porch and relaxing evenings
watching the setting sun on the wide-front porch. Our days were filled with
kayaking, sunning on the Assateague beach, and enjoying strolls through
quiet waterfront towns up and down the Eastern Shore of VA. One very special
touch was the welcome bag of goodies and a complimentary bottle of wine -- a
nice surprise to our arrival. Thank you for a great visit!
The Cloughs of Ridgefield, Connecticut
October, 2005 (Betty has rebooked for 2006)
"Shore Escape" provided us with one of the best vacations we have ever had. First of all the accommodations are truly wonderful. It is tastefully decorated, which we really appreciated, and stocked well beyond what I have ever experienced; movies, music, books, kayaks, bikes, information and last but not least - the wine cooler. When have you ever stayed anywhere where they let you choose a bottle of wine from their collection as a welcoming gift? What fun! But we especially loved learning to kayak from the communities own little dock and this year we are looking forward to kayaking out to the barrier reefs. Stress free, peaceful and beautiful - a grand escape, for shore!
Betty Farley, Frederick, MD
October, 2005
We had a lovely stay at Shore Escape. The house was spacious, beautifully furnished and very well equiped. The location was beautiful and near to such delights as Chincoteague and Assateague Island Refuge. We would certainly be very happy to return. Many thanks and our very best wishes for the new year,
Peter and Sylvia Savage, Kidderminister, England
October, 2005
Nancy and I enjoyed our time at your house despite the weather. We
particularly enjoyed watching from the porch the tides and birds coming and
going in the marsh. The great room is a pleasure for reading, cooking and
eating. There is great sense of space that is pleasing to the eye and very
livable. Also, we appreciated the amenities: the bottle of wine, the
chocolate, the bath robe. These extras made the experience special. Thanks
for your care in providing for us as guests.
Ray and Nancy Gray, Doylestown, PA
September, 2005
The trip was great, and the weather was also perfect. We spent several days at the beach, did some short hikes in the wildlife refuge in Chincoteague, and went to Crisfield and Onancock. Your home is beautiful, and not only is the house well stocked as others have said, it is very welcoming and comfortable. From
the minute we walked in the front door, we were able to relax and unwind.
The information on local events and sites was also very helpful and well organized.
Thanks, Pam French, Manchester, Michigan
September, 2005
We told some of our friends back home about your retreat, though I'm hesitant to let the word out. It may make it more difficult for us to reserve your home for ourselves. Staying a week in a home that equates to the anithesis of our 'normal' life, was the best tonic for all of us. A 180 degree view of the bay and ocean beyond, a great kitchen, beautiful furnishing throughout, no computer, no traffic other than the migrating birds, and surroundings so unhindered by ambient light that the milky way was as clear as a nightlight. We can't wait til we can find both the time and an opening to make it back again.
Hopefully we be speaking about another stay soon.
Ron and Mary, Brooklyn, NY
August, 2005
Pete and I wanted to thank you again for an amazing
time! Other than kayaking to that beautiful beach and
spending a few days in Assateague, we stayed in and
enjoyed the fabulous view and the warm, comfortable
home. It was really like a second honeymoon,
especially when we saw, much to our delight, that you
had our wedding wine (the Rex Goliath "Free Range"
Pinot Noir) in your collection!
We'll certainly return!
Best, Ruth Friedman and Peter Tsai, Brooklyn, NY
August, 2005
We had a wonderful time at your beautiful house. Our children loved what we called the princess and prince rooms! We had great weather, and got to the secret beach three times by kayak. Ted left a new map of the location. (You turn off toward the beach through the grass at marker 50.) We really appreciated how thoughtfully you equipped your house and enjoyed the kayaks, croquet set, videos/DVDs, CDs, variety of seating arrangements, etc.
Thanks again, Fiona James, Ted Alden and Callum and Charlotte, Bethesda, MD
July, 2005
You have a wonderful home! We loved the beautiful furnishings, the setting, the open, bright, airiness of it and it was most definitely the most well-stocked home we've ever rented. We enjoyed kayaking as well as your recommendation of AJ's and for Bizzotos' for dinner. Thank you for the opportunity to rent your lovely "Shore Escape"
Thanks again, Patt Osborne, Medford Lakes, NJ
Life Coach / Outdoor Retreat Leader, www.adventurecoach.com
July, 2005
Just wanted to take a minute to thank you for allowing us to share your wonderful house. It was a true escape from the hectic pace of life in the big city. Your house was squeaky clean and the furnishings made us feel like a million bucks. I've never had such a comfortable night's sleep! We had a great time at the beach in Assateague and saw ponies close up there. The kids loved the plny center and show in town, and Stellas in Onacock was a real treat. What a wonderful area of the country! Again, we had a relaxing and comfortable stay.
Thank you! Fritz Galt, Shanghai, China
Enjoy Fritz Galt's latest spy thriller: The Trap. "Just the thing I want to be reading right now!" Visit Fritz's web sites: Spythrillers.com / Talesmag.com
December, 2004
To anyone looking for the perfect getaway, my wife and I had one of the most relaxing and enjoyable weeks of our lives. It started with our arrival to a beautiful retreat with the backdrop from a rear screened deck only nature could paint. The entire home is designed for your enjoyment, relaxation, and forgetting your troubles. John and Ginger put a lot of thought and effort into making this great vacation any time of the year. A telescope positioned in the glass walled great-room presents an opportunity to observe some great sights of the ocean and inland waters along with an abundance of waterfowl and wildlife. Taking the time to walk the property and nearby boat ramp was an adventure itself. Everything the owners promised was there, including that great wine. The list of restaurants and shops are well worth your ride. It’s hard to believe that these places exist in the small towns surrounding this oasis.
Thanks, Gary and Schatzi Rafter, Virginia Beach, VA
