Virginia won March Madness, and, as it happens, I won the office bracket pool. Aside from being the No. 1 seed in the division, I’m sure you agree they were somewhat of a long shot!

Irvington is a bit of a long shot in the sense that’s in the “Northern Neck” — an unspoiled area not many people outside of Washington, D.C., and Richmond are familiar with. It is, however, a wonderful place to visit in the summertime. We were just there, an hour east of Richmond, soaking up the sun, enjoying the warm weather and having a delicious dinner with friends on the water.

This area of the Chesapeake Bay is surrounded by unspoiled beaches and coastal waterways and offers plenty of oysters (or as they say, “Orsters”), warm weather, friendly people and nothing but calm and happy times. It’s a fantastic place for sailing, fishing and crabbing off your dock. Delightful restaurants and boutiques, antiquing and, for some super fun times, opti-racing await!

Next time you’re ready for some R&R, check out Irvington for a long weekend of wine tasting, bird-watching, golfing, sailing, crabbing, hiking, biking or whatever you’re into — it’s a terrific place to spend some time getting re-acquainted with your outdoorsy self.

— Marie Edwards, director of sales