A Day At The Beach… Alongside Some Cameras

If you caught this Instagram photo we posted back in July, you could likely tell it was not your average trip to the beach.

We were in fact participating in a photo and video shoot for Virginia is for Lovers, the fine folks who promote tourism in our home state. They were starting a new series featuring real Virginians taking new adventures in the state, and they in fact asked to feature us (!!). It is fairly obvious that we enjoy Virginia, so we could not wait to sing our home state’s praises and check out a few places we’d never been.

We were invited to explore Virginia’s Eastern Shore for the day with them, which, for those unfamiliar with the geography of this region, is a sliver of land that sits on a peninsula on the opposite side of the Chesapeake Bay from the rest of the state (it is only connected to mainland Virginia by the state of Maryland and a 23-mile long bridge). We’d driven through there several times on longer road trips, but admittedly never stopped to take it in.

But man did we fall in love with it. We were primarily in a town called Cape Charles, which had the most ideal beach for any Clara-aged kids. It is on the bay, so there were in short no waves and the bean could run and play in tons of shallow water. That Instagram pic was in fact taken on a sandbar, hence the shallow water that you can see rippling in the foreground. Sherry could not believe that we have previously traveled so far for calm kid-friendly beaches (to places like Hawaii & Florida) when there was one hiding simply 2.5 hours away from us. Note: Sherry said I was remiss not to point out her crazy hair in this shot, but I think she looks perfectly windblown.

Of course, being a photoshoot and all, we had to apply a bit more than simply sunscreen that day. Even me. Do not mind that half-eaten apple of Clara’s that I am clutching.

She had a strong time raiding the craft services table on her pointer toes. #kidtricks

The crew was truly lively to work with. The main photographer they hired (coincidentally) was our brother-in-law Todd, so it was pleasant having a family face behind one of the lenses, which Clara especially appreciated. And Kevin was the videographer who entertained Clara on the drive between the beach and lunch (do not worry, we already told him that he looks like Ed Helms). She was cracking up about two minutes into the ride. After giving him the stink eye that we captured here…

Lunch was at this charming waterside spot called Shanty. We ate seafood and grilled corn. They even photographed me holding a live blue crab here (not sure it got used though). It only tried to claw off my fingers once. Victory!

Of course, the biggest hit with us was the ice cream. I believe it was key lime flavored… and it was excellent.

My parents in fact joined us on the trip so that they could take Clara home after lunch (so she could rest from an already busy day). Sherry and I continued the tour by checking out some thrift and antique shops in the area, of which there were plenty to choose from. Considering I consistently enjoy an old wooden box, I hoped these. But we collectively chose that boxes of dynamite and embalming fluid did not necessarily scream “cozy” – although they would make for some fairly strong conversation starters.

After junk-tiquing, we did an excursion that we’d never heard of before. In short, a guide takes you in a kayak and you paddle to a winery, have a tasting, and then paddle back. I am a kayaking fan. Sherry’s a wine fan. It was a win-win all around.

After a long and sweaty day (it was July, after all) we made the drive home to get some rest before Day 2 of the shoot – which took place at our house. Time for more make-up, eh Burger?

Clara and the make-up artist Logan were besties by this time, so Logan kindly gave Clara a turn in the chair (with some pretend make-up of course).

It was kind of funny having a crew over, especially since their intention was to shoot some of the items that we brought back as souvenirs in the supposedly striking setting that was our home (we warned them that we had simply moved and our house was far from fairly yet). Fortunately we had simply wrapped up painting the foyer so it looked relatively presentable… if you did not swing the camera around to catch the blue stair balusters.

Since the schedule did not allow any time to truly “transform” anything that we found while junk-tuquing with things like paint or upholstery, we ended up simply grabbing some fairly items that we thought would look good together on a table or console. Sort of “not-your-average souvenirs of the day” if you will. So instead of shot glasses or key chains, we brought home a couple of cool old glass bottles (the milk bottle is my go-to) plus an old oyster can and even some vintage skeleton keys. We also purchased the mug that our Shanty ice cream came in and kept the corks from our wine tasting to commemorate those experiences.

Here is Sherry doing her best oyster spokesperson impression during a break from shooting a little clip about what we brought home.

The day wrapped up with a swift interview on the front porch (another area that was thankfully presentable sufficient at this point to be a backdrop). It was mainly shot for audio purposes, which is why no one minded that Burger slept like a wet noodle in my arms the whole time.

We are excited to go back to some of the spots we discovered on our little whirlwind tour – especially the beach at Cape Charles – simply to spend some more time exploring and relaxing. And perhaps this time we will simply bring our own camera…