Book Hotels in Chesapeake, Virginia

Wander amid swamps, forests, and farms, or paddle miles upon miles of waterways, both saltwater and freshwater, in one of Virginia's most beautifully diverse cities. There is no balm better for the spirit than exposure to scenes of natural beauty. With so much to do, you'll surely want to delay your return to your choice of hotels in Chesapeake, VA. As Edgar Allan Poe once asserted, "That pleasure which is at once the most pure, the most elevating and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful."

Visiting Chesapeake

Once you've stowed your bags in one of the hotels near Chesapeake, VA, rent a kayak or a canoe on the shores of the Dismal Swamp Canal, the nation's oldest hand-dug waterway in continuous operation. Gently propel yourself down the tree-lined canal toward Lake Drummond in the heart of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. It is said that these environs inspired Edgar Allan Poe to pen his famous poem "The Raven." Contemplate his words, or perhaps recite them from memory, as you move through the wilderness.

If you start to feel spooked, turn your attention instead to the diverse local wildlife. You're likely to see a white-tailed deer or two grazing amid the trees, and the keen-eyed wanderer may even spot a black bear or bobcat amid the forest growth. Don't forget to look down for river otter, and up for a variety of rare warblers. By the time you return to Chesapeake hotels, you'll have enough scenic memories to last you through to your next adventure, whenever that may be.

The allure of which Edgar Allan Poe spoke is not limited to the natural. To enjoy beauty of a more architectural variety, book one of Travelocity's Chesapeake rental cars and make your way north to explore historic buildings in the state capital. Travelocity can find you great hotels in Richmond for your stay, so you can plan your sightseeing route.