Travelers familiar with Maryland's Eastern Shore may not realize that the shoreline continues into Virginia for 70 mi/110 km. The area got its name because it forms the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay. Like the portion in Maryland, the Shore is a haven of windblown beaches, undisturbed wildlife and charming coastal villages (with numerous inns and bed-and-breakfasts). It's a perfect place to slow down and take it easy for a while. The best Virginia access to the Shore is by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel from Virginia Beach. At 18 mi/28 km, it is said to be one of the world's longest bridge-tunnel complexes.
Among the Shore's best-known attractions is the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which covers the southern third of Assateague Island. The northern part of the island belongs to Maryland and is protected as part of the Assateague Island National Seashore. Birds are a big part of the refuge's wildlife—including herons, egrets, swans and osprey—but the area is most famous for the herd of wild ponies that lives there.
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