Home to the third oldest lighthouse on the Bay, a cultural arts center, Virginia's Lil' Ole Opry, two museums, nature preserves, and an active artisan community, Mathews County offers something for everyone.

Start your tour of the Historic Courthouse District on Main Street at the Mathews County Visitor & Information Center, located in the historic c. 1898 Sibley's General Store, where you'll find maps, guides, brochures and local knowledge to guide you through the county. McVIC is also home to the Made in Mathews Showcase and Bay-related and historical exhibits. Over 60 artists display their craft offering a wide variety of items.

Kayakers and canoers alike enjoy The Mathews Maritime Heritage Trail.The Heritage Trail is a partnership project initiated in January 2009 to preserve the valued coastal landscape, and tell the colorful history of Mathews County’s nautical heritage.  Phase I of the project will focus on water routes, and will follow the 90 mile Blueways Water Trail, a component of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.  Later phases will include bicycle routes and scenic drives to allow local citizens and tourists a chance to explore and learnabout the county’s natural and cultural assets.

Mathews County is home to the Bay School Cultural Arts Center providing students a unique opportunity to explore the arts. Year-round classes are offered in painting, sculpting, rug hooking, glass blowing, bead working, papermaking, basket weaving and more. The Center also hosts special exhibits, lectures and live performances throughout the year.

The Mathews Art Gallery, a cooperative effort of more than 50 local artists, is the showplace for a wonderful collection of art in every medium--fine art, photography, fabric art, basketry, carving, pottery, jewelry. Working artists demonstrate their craft on site during gallery hours.  

Whether you're a country music fan or just want to spend an evening with down-home-hootin'-hollerin'-toe-tappin'-hand-clappin' fun, you won't want to miss Donk's--Virginia's Lil Ole Opry. Lively country music shows every other Saturday night, often featuring Mathews' own country music star, Lynda Smith.

While you're in the county, plan to visit The Poddery. Weekly kiln firings produce the largest selection of handmade stoneware, and  tiles in the area. Original pottery, outdoor sculptures, Chesapeake Bay inspired designs may be seen at this unique pottery showroom, open daily.

The third oldest lighthouse on the Bay, New Point Comfort Lighthouse was commissioned in 1804 by Thomas Jefferson. The 55-foot octagonal sandstone lighthouse sits on an island, separated from the mainland by the Hurricane of 1933. View by boat or from the New Point Comfort Preserve Observation Walkway.

Originally established as a community project, the Gwynn's Island Museum started out on a small scale. From the beginning it was obvious that there was a great deal of interest in preserving the long and colorful history of Gwynn's Island and Mathews County. The Museum grew rapidly and by the end of the first year space for the many exhibits and artifacts had become limited, so plans were made to look for a new home on the Island. A 100-year-old building, originally serving as the Odd Fellows Lodge and later the Island's first public school, was donated in 1992 and restored by dedicated volunteers to what you see today.

Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve, 83-acres of sandy beach, low dunes and salt marshes on the Chesapeake Bay, is home to rare plants, nesting birds and the endangered Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle. Visitors are welcome, but please tread lightly and respect the restrictions.