Relax & recharge at The Salt Box, a charming historic getaway one block from the beach. This Airbnb is one side of a duplex on a quiet, leafy street in the Historic District - a short walk to the beach, shops, restaurants, the pier, the harbor and central park. Refer to our Guidebooks for our very favorite things to eat, see and do! We're always just a text away if you'd like additional recommendations before or during your stay.
You can also Airbnb the other side of our duplex, Salt Box II!
The Salt Box is one side of an historic 1915 duplex. This two-story home is entirely private, with its own front and back door. Your side of the front porch is outfitted with rocking chairs, an important part of the laid back Cape Charles lifestyle, and your side of the back deck is outfitted with a gas grill.
Downstairs: The first floor of The Salt Box has original hardwood floors and an open layout with the dining room in the front of the house, the den/tv room in the middle and the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room in the back. The den can be closed off from the dining room and upstairs, which is great if part of your group goes to bed and others want to hang out downstairs. The smart TV streams Netflix, Hulu Live, Amazon Prime and more. The kitchen is outfitted with stainless appliances and is fully stocked with utensils, pots/pans, dishes and glasses. You'll also find a bar area complete with stemware, highball glasses, wine opener, etc.
**PLEASE NOTE** The first floor bathroom shower is located in the separate laundry room right next to it (we assume prior owners wanted to come in the back and shower without tracking sand through the house). The laundry room door has a privacy latch.
Upstairs: The upstairs primary bedroom on the front of the house features an upholstered California king bed with a plush 14" memory foam mattress, a middle bedroom with a queen bed and a smaller back bedroom with two single beds. All bedrooms have blackout curtains to ensure that you and your little ones get a great night's sleep. The upstairs bathroom has been recently renovated with shiplap and marble tile floor and shower. Cape Charles is very quiet at night so you're sure to wake up feeling refreshed.
The house has two separate HVAC zones, one downstairs and one upstairs.
Your Duplex Neighbors - Us! We live right next door in the other side of the duplex, so we're very responsive if you need anything. We respect your privacy, so you're unlikely to see much of us unless you've contacted us. We have a sweet hound dog named Hali who loves to fulfill her guard dog duties by barking at the mailman but otherwise she's typically quiet.
Guests have access to the entire private rental, plus their side of the front porch, back deck and back yard.
We're available immediately via text - just let us know how we can help! We love welcoming guests to Cape Charles and are always happy to share our knowledge of the area.
Cape Charles has been described as a 'hidden gem' on the Chesapeake Bay and as Mayberry - both are correct! Our home is in the Historic District, which is brimming with beautifully restored Victorian homes. Walk a block to the beach for the most beautiful sunsets you've ever seen - we promise. We have a microbrewery, a cidery, two cozy pubs, a seafood shanty, a neighborhood pizza parlor, bakeries and coffeehouses, plus a wonderful new & used book shop just to name a few. If you want a super simple, laid back beach getaway with lots of parking and no crowds, this is it!
It couldn't be easier! Park your car right out front on the street and put the keys away because you won't need them until you head home. You can walk, bike (if you bring your own) or rent a golf cart and get anywhere you'd like to go in town in five minutes or less.
Please check out the guides in our listing for recommendations on local restaurants & fun activities! We're happy to provide any additional information you need at any time before or during your stay. No pets of any type are allowed to visit or stay anywhere in the house or on the property. A $250 cleaning fee will apply if this rule is broken and guests will be required to vacate the property.
The person who booked the trip must be present for the stay or the reservation will be cancelled.
Furniture should not be rearranged. Please request assistance for any special requirements.
No smoking or vaping is permitted inside the house or outside the house on the porch, deck or property.
No crab/seafood boils or seafood deep fryers inside the house. A $250 cleaning fee will apply if this rule is broken.
Range hood exhaust fan must be used for all cooking.
No candles or other open flames (other than the grill provided) allowed on property.
No fireworks, sparklers, etc., allowed on the property.
Beach gear and other personal items (shoes, towels, strollers, etc.) should not be stored on the front porch in order to maintain the appearance of the historic district. Please use back deck or back yard.
Back yard can be used for lawn games (not front yard).
We live in a quiet neighborhood with full time residents and ask that our guests keep noise to a minimum, particularly after dark.
Thank you!!
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
About the area
Cape Charles
Located near the beach, this holiday home is in Historic Downtown Cape Charles, a neighbourhood in Cape Charles. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Chesapeake Bay and Cape Charles Beach.
Cape Charles Museum & Welcome Center - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
Oyster Farm Marina - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
Kiptopeke State Park - 16 min drive - 20.8 km
Getting around
Norfolk, VA (ORF-Norfolk Intl.) - 50 min drive
Restaurants
Small’s Smokehouse - 5 min drive
Hardee's - 6 min drive
McDonald's - 5 min drive
Top China - 5 min drive
Sting-Ray's Restaurant - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Salt Box, One Block to the Beach pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Salt Box, One Block to the Beach?
As of 9 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Salt Box, One Block to the Beach on 8 June 2026 start from AU$875, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Salt Box, One Block to the Beach?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Salt Box, One Block to the Beach?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Salt Box, One Block to the Beach?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Salt Box, One Block to the Beach located?
Located in Historic Downtown Cape Charles, this holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Central Park and Chesapeake Bay. Cape Charles Beach and Cape Charles Harbor are also within 10 minutes.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The house was perfect! Very close to the main street and restaurants. You can rent a golf cart or so close that you could walk. Hostess was very responsive and was clear on all the instructions for checking in and checking out. Will definitely rent again.
Two blocks to Mason Ave and two blocks to the beach, the location was a real highlight for us. The house was clean, and check-in/check-out could not be easier. I was a little nervous about having the owners right next-door, but they were so polite when we saw them, and that was very rare. We had a great time, and hope that it’s available for our Cape Charles trip next year.
This beautiful place was everything we hoped for… close to the beach, enough bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodate 5 people, clean and the host (Anna) went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable.
The home is beautiful, clean, and well stocked. The location is perfect, close to the beach and easy walking to shops/restaurants. Anna was wonderful! Quick communication and very helpful. We look forward to staying here again.
Sarah G.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 9 July 2023
I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay - we'd love to host you again!! Thank you for the kind words.
This wonderful duplex is in the historic district a few blocks from the beach, the downtown and the park. The home was much larger than we expected and had everything we needed. The owners have done a nice job of maintaining the integrity of this 1915 house while updating it into a comfortable rental property. Anna responded quickly to all correspondence and checked in with us on arrival.
Quick getaway for our anniversary. Hook and Harvey was booked but sat on porch and had a drink and then headed to Deadrise Pies. Perfect location for anything cape Charles has to offer.
Great location near the beach, the shops, all very walkable. The house was just what we expected from the descriptions. Very good communication, quick to respond to a very minor issue. Will definitely keep in mind for the next trip to Cape Charles.
We chose this property based on location and amenities at the house and it all exceeded our expectations. The proximity to the public beach enabled us to see a beautiful sunset every night. Plenty of things to see and do around Cape Charles but we enjoyed it being so central to several parks to go hiking in. Anna was super responsive to any questions we had before and during our stay. Love this place! Thank you for all the memories we were able to make! 😃
Verified traveller
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 June 2024
We're so glad you enjoyed your stay and hope to host you again!
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Athena
30 Oct 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The property was in an AMAZING location. It was quiet, quaint, and SO close the beach. We walked over to watch the sunset on the beach each night. We realized that alot of the locals did this and it was cool to chat with them during that time. Speaking of locals, everyone was SO friendly (we're not used to that here in Virginia, unfortunately). It was a nice change of pace and scenery for us. We were looking for a place to unwind and just connect with each other and this place gave us all of that and then some. The owners are really nice and communicates very well with the renters. I will be looking to rent here anytime we're in Cape Charles!
Athena
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Verified traveller
8 Apr 2026
Verified traveller
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Melanie G B.
30 Mar 2026
Melanie G B.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified
8/10 Good
angelina m.
26 Feb 2026
angelina m.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Mar 2026
Hi Angelina - Thank you for your review. If you have any comments (none were visible in your review) on how we could have improved your stay, feel free to message those to me. Based on our messaging during your stay it seemed as though you had a nice time. I provided timely assistance where you requested - making a VRBO payment, using the coffee maker and logging into netflix and I was available to help with anything else if requested.
About the host
Hosted by Anna Lee
I own The Salt Box in Cape Charles, VA with my husband, David, and our dog Hali. We travel often but always look forward to returning here to our home. We've lovingly restored it over many years and filled it with art and mementos from our travels. We rent one side of the duplex year round and the other side primarily during the summer months when we like to travel.
We're serial renovators and have also tackled a 6,500 square foot 1815 row home in Baltimore and a 1964 Texaco station in Cheriton VA, among others.
When we're not restoring homes or traveling, we make culinary sea salt! We own Barrier Islands Salt Co., where we make gourmet sea salts from the hand harvested, wild & pure Atlantic waters surrounding Virginia's Barrier Islands and ship them to chefs, customers and retail shops across the country. We're proud to be Virginia's only salt makers since the 1700s.
Why they chose this property
We both love historic homes and immediately fell in love with this one because it's on our favorite street in Cape Charles, only one block from the beach and a very stately home. We love that it's a duplex, allowing us to live in one side and share the other side, whether with family, friends or guests.
What makes this property unique
The Salt Box has porch with rockers that's perfect for enjoying with family & friends, or for alone time with your favorite book & beverage. When you're up for an adventure, you can just stroll a block and you'll have your toes in the sand, or walk two blocks to the heart of shops & restaurants.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests