North of the James (Williamsburg Area)

Colonial Williamsburg A living history museum and private foundation representing the historic district of Virginia’s capital from 1699 to 1780. http://www.history.org/index.cfm

Yorktown Battlefield Site of the last major battle of the Revolutionary War, where Britain’s General Charles Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington and his American and French troops. Administered by the National Park Service at the eastern end of the Colonial Parkway. http://www.nps.gov/yonb/index.htm

Jamestown Settlement Administered by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an agency of the State of Virginia, the Settlement offers a complementary experience to the adjacent Historic Jamestowne with reconstructions of James Fort, a native village, and the three ships that brought the first settlers in 1607. https://www.historyisfun.org/jamestown-settlement

Colonial Parkway A 23-mile scenic roadway that connects Virginia's historic triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. Use this route to enjoy the natural and cultural beauty of Virginia. http://www.nps.gov/colo/parkway.htm

Busch Gardens & Water Country U.S.A Amusement park with roller coasters and family-friendly entertainment and a summertime water park just south of Williamsburg, just off I-64. http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg/

Freedom Park Mountain bike trails, a GoApe zip line, and a treetop adventure course can be found on the northwest side of the Williamsburg area. The Freedom Park Interpretive Center and recreated cabins tell the story of one of the nation's earliest settlements for free blacks. https://jamescitycountyva.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Freedom-Park-7

Crossing the James
Jamestown-Scotland Ferry The ferry connecting Williamsburg and Surry County is free and provides a beautiful way to see Jamestown Island from the river. http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/ferry-jamestown.asp
South of the James (Surry County)

Bacon’s Castle Built in 1665, Bacon’s Castle is the oldest brick dwelling in the United States and the nation’s only surviving High Jacobean structure. It features the oldest English formal garden in North America. Like the fort site at Historic Jamestowne, Bacon’s Castle is owned and administered by Preservation Virginia. http://preservationvirginia.org/visit/historic-properties/bacons-castle

Smith’s Fort Plantation Site of Captain John Smith’s planned “New Fort” in 1608. The site is also on land given by Chief Powhatan as a dowry for his daughter Pocahontas upon her marriage to John Rolfe in 1614. Administered by Preservation Virginia. http://preservationvirginia.org/visit/historic-properties/smiths-fort-plantation

Chippokes Plantation State Park One of the oldest continually farmed plantations in the country. The site features an antebellum mansion, a Farm and Forestry Museum, trails and a campground. http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/chippokes-plantation.shtml#general_information