Island Getaway with a Private Beach

Welcome to Nabors on The Bay, a wonderful beach cottage with its very own private beach and dock. Need to get away for a while? You've come to the perfect place.

Our beach bungalow is outfitted in a charming and nostalgic bohemian style that takes away the stresses of land life the moment you walk through the door.

The minute you cross the historic drawbridge onto Gwynn's Island, you know you've arrived in a special place. Driving past the island marina, taking in the charming homes, large plots of land, and the island museum will only add to your excitement as you approach our seaside cottage.

You’ll love sitting on the beach spotting the Chesapeake Bay wildlife: dolphins, ospreys, bald eagles, herons, pelicans, and more. The sandy-bottomed beach is perfect for relaxing, splashing, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and of course fishing! After enjoying a watercolor-perfect sunset (or sunrise), the firepit facing the water will only enhance the relaxation the sound of the waves will bring you. Even the fall and winter months bring a special beauty to the island.

Our home is located on a private shell and gravel-lined road, with a posted speed limit of 7mph. This lends itself wonderfully to an stress-free, relaxing stay in this quiet beach community. The slow lane makes leisurely walks or bike rides safe and enjoyable for the entire family.

The cottage is set up to sleep up to six people in three bedrooms. The two bedrooms on the first floor are each outfitted with king-sized beds. The loft bedroom on the second floor has a pair of green tea-infused memory foam full-sized beds.

The enclosed front porch, lined with windows on three sides, includes a beautiful antique dining table with seating for six. You can enjoy the view of the Bay right out the front windows. On the other side of the same Bay-facing room, you’ll find a cozy sitting area with seating that includes a modern record player with a fun collection of records from the 1940s-today. This is our favorite place to listen to old tunes or cozy up with a well-loved book.
The living room enjoys a new 55” ROKU smart TV. Log in to your favorite streaming apps and enjoy the views of the Chesapeake Bay in the background in addition to your favorite program. A Blu-ray player with surround sound compliments the TV perfectly for those must-have movie nights. The three bedrooms also have flat screen ROKU TVs.
High-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the cottage and ensures strong coverage and connection for all your connectivity and streaming needs. Throughout the cottage you’ll find games, a selection of movies, and even coloring books for both the adults and children enjoying their stay. Also, located throughout the entire cottage you will find an enormous lending library of books of all genres and for all age groups. We encourage the “take a book, leave a book” practice. Haven’t finished the book you started during your stay? That’s quite alright, we understand. Take it with you.

The adorable kitchen is equipped with a chef’s electric range, a large-capacity microwave, and a full-sized refrigerator. Other useful appliances include a toaster, a kettle, as well as a single-cup coffee maker that takes grounds or kcups. The kitchen is outfitted with almost anything you need to make a family meal- dinnerware, pots/pans, colander, mixings bowls, and baking sheets as well. An island for additional prep completes the kitchen and offers a wonderful place to enjoy a cup of coffee or a workspace to inspect the day’s beach finds. A charcoal grill sits just outside the kitchen door ready to prepare the day’s catch or the fresh seafood you picked up from the nearby seafood market in Mathews.

A shed in the backyard is fully loaded with all the things you’ll need to make use of the private beach: beach chairs, kayaks, a paddleboard, bicycles, cornhole, fishing poles, crab traps, and more are available at no additional cost.

Attention boaters – do you have a low draft boat (sub-18”) that you may want to bring on vacation with you? Ask us to learn more about docking the boat in the inlets right in the backyard! That’s right – there’s water access both in front and behind the cottage. Go crabbing right off the back pier!

For the sightseers and adventurers alike, don’t worry – there are things for you to enjoy too. While the beach life may be quiet and serene, you’re not far from things to do. Take a trip into the town of Mathews, just voted in 2022 as “Most Charming Chesapeake Town”, sharing that title in a tie with historic Yorktown. It has rural charm, antique stores, an amazing library, and fantastic restaurants. This is also where you’ll find the Food Lion, the regional grocery store. From April through October, enjoy the Mathew’s Farm Market which boasts fresh produce, artisan goods, live music, and more. There’s even a Friends of the Library used bookstore open every Saturday, 10-2, year-round.

Looking for more adventure? Wander any of the side roads and end up at a beach, come across an old cemetery, or even sightsee the glorious old southern homes. Make a pit stop at any of the antique stores along the way. Take an afternoon and drive down to Yorktown (a mere 45-minute drive), farther south to Virginia Beach, or for a full day adventure, drive around the Bay (or take your boat across!) to Cape Charles, even up to Chincoteague & Assateague to see the wild ponies and all the little seaside towns in between.

Need a little more of an adrenaline rush before heading back to island life? No need to worry. Historic Williamsburg and Busch Gardens is barely an hour away. Take in all the rides, coasters, and carnival food before coming back to island time.

Nabors on the Bay has something for everyone. It’s the perfect getaway.

For your stay, there is a self-check-in with a combination lock box. There is no need for you to meet anyone or coordinate schedules for access. You can come at your leisure – the true island way.

Smoking is prohibited.

Monthly discounts are available.