Local Area

MILITARY MELDS INTO
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
You are about to take part in the evolution of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, formerly known as Langley Air Force Base and the Army's Fort Eustis. The uniform colors and garrison commands may have changed, but a rich tradition established in the early years of the 20th Century—on both installations and within nearby communities—remains. The transition commenced in January 2010 as part of a congressionally authorized process directing the Department of Defense to reorganize and combine military bases to operate and defend the country more efficiently, and save money—upwards of $184 million a year.

Under the Base Realignment and Closure guidelines, DoD officials designated this pair because of their close proximity: Eustis is in Newport News, about 19 miles from Langley in Hampton. The joint base will share facility maintenance, security, services for military families and recreation, which in turn decreases management and overhead costs. Since the Army had already relocated several of Fort Eustis' associate units, DoD officials chose Langley AFB to assume the leadership role under the reactivated 633d Air Base Wing. But the missions of both installations will continue. The Air Force will still provide global mobility and combat support, and the Army will mobilize and train soldiers. Only more efficiently.

Joining the bases will initially cost more, but the savings will emerge over several years as the leaders of this single entity explore new efficiencies and consolidate contracts with such private company services as waste disposal, and grounds cleaning and maintenance.

In addition to saving scarce funds, this move will forge stronger ties between military branches—to live together, to train together and to fight together, if need be.

So welcome to a work-in-progress. Revel in the tradition while helping to create the world's most modern, mission-ready force of the 21st Century.

HAMPTON ROADS
TRAFFIC INFORMATION
The peninsula has only a few highways and they're frequently congested, so it's really important to plan before you travel. The Virginia Department of Transportation Traffic Information Hotline offers reports on traffic conditions and planned bridge openings through the Virginian-Pilot/Ledger Star's Info-Line System. Call any of the following numbers and follow the directions:

Peninsula (757) 640-5555, ext. 7874
Southside (757) 640-5555, ext. 7874
Statewide (800) 792-2800

CLIMATE
Moderate weather patterns keep summer temperatures in the 70s and winter in the 40s. July is the warmest with an average maximum temperature of 85.2 degrees, while January averages the coldest minimum temperature of 32 degrees. Annual average precipitation is 47.9 inches, with rainfall distributed evenly throughout the year. July is the wettest, with an average rainfall of 4.86 inches.

In winter, slow-moving cold fronts stall over the area, stirring up strong northeasterly winds and waves, with low ceilings and intermittent rain for several days. Spring brings pleasant warm days frequently interrupted by a thrust of cold polar air in which temperatures plunge 20 to 25 degrees, prompting strong thunderstorms with brisk northwesterly winds early in the season swirling to southerly late in the season. Thunder squalls pound the area in summer, with cloudy mornings clearing by early afternoon. June marks the beginning of the hurricane season, but usually no significant threat occurs till August or September. If severe weather occurs, tune-in to local radio or television stations for updates.

Sun Exposure
Sunny or overcast, especially in summer, slather on a broad-spectrum sunscreen—one that blocks UVA and UVB rays—with an SPF of 15 or more. Waterproof sunscreens protect up to 80 minutes in the water, water-resistant are good for only 40 minutes, and sweating and swimming rinses sunscreen off so reapplying is important. Seek shade. Also try sun-protective clothing or wear a hat, and protect your lips and ears. But remember: A typical cotton T-shirt only protects equal to about an SPF 15 sunscreen and when wet, it can drop to an SPF of 8.

Hurricane Season
During the Atlantic hurricane season, the eastern part of Virginia is especially at risk. Being prepared is the best defense against any danger and destruction. In addition to paying attention to storm warnings and keeping the proper supplies on hand, you should know your evacuation route. Local officials can order evacuations if they think an approaching storm will be a safety hazard or cause serious damage.

In the event of a hurricane, the joint-base commander or a designated representative will declare the following conditions and decide whether to evacuate or shelter people living in vulnerable areas:
• HURCON 4: 50 knot winds could arrive within 72 hours.
• HURCON 3: 50 knot winds could arrive within 48 hours.
• HURCON 2: 50 knot winds could arrive within 24 hours.
• HURCON 1: 50 knot winds could arrive within 12 hours.

Military personnel may not leave the local area until released by their commander. Unit commanders will release assigned personnel as soon as the mission allows, but not all at the same time. Once released, keep your supervisor, orderly room or unit control center informed of your location, status and any special problems or needs.

COMMUNITIES
Hampton Roads
The Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel links these two areas in the prime mid-Atlantic region of Southeastern Virginia. South Hampton Roads— "the Southside"—encompasses the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach. And the Peninsula consists of the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg and the counties of Gloucester, James City, York, Isle of Wight and Currituck County, N.C.

Hampton Roads actually refers to a struggling British outpost in the area nearly 400 years ago. By the 17th century the name announced the largest natural harbor where the James, Nansemond and Elizabeth rivers pour into the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. In nautical terminology, "roads" also signifies the safety of a port or "a place less sheltered than a harbor where ships may ride at anchor."

Since 1983, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget has recognized Hampton Roads as a group of economic and socially integrated communities that constitute South Hampton Roads and the Virginia Peninsula as the nation's 34th largest market with more than a million residents. Today the 28th largest metro area boasts a population of nearly 1.6 million.

Unlike many large metropolitan areas with a population nucleus confined to one central city, these folks are spread among several growing cities of significant size. That's why Hampton Roads has come to refer to all the contiguous communities under a single moniker.

Hampton
The city sits in the geographic center of Hampton Roads, with more than 100 attractions within an easy commute. Ironically, that easy accessibility once served as a hub for New World traders and pirates. In 1718, the severed head of Blackbeard the Pirate even greeted new arrivals at the harbor entrance.

During the Civil War, the iron-clad Merrimac and Monitor exchanged cannon fire over this Union-held town in the middle of a Confederate south. And nearby Fort Monroe became known as Freedom's Fortress when thousands of slaves fled to this still-active Union fort.

A city of "Firsts," Hampton was also the site of the country's first Christmas, first continuously operating Anglican parish, first custom's house and the first site for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the precursor of National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In fact, the first astronauts, the Mercury Seven, trained in Hampton.

These days the 146,000-plus inhabitants and visitors alike enjoy a bustling waterfront city with plenty of shopping, dining, attractions and such industry as shipbuilding, shipping—imports: crude oil, exports: coal—and rail transport, seafood production, military, tourism and manufacturing.

LIBRARY
Hampton has several libraries but you'll need to become a member before you can check out any of the books, DVDs and CDs that are readily available. Any Virginia resident may obtain a library card. Applications for everyone under 18 years of age must have the signature of a parent or guardian. All adult applicants must provide a photo ID and address verification, which can include a license, a check, a bill or an envelope from a piece of mail delivered to your home.

George Wythe Law Library
101 Kings Way, Second Floor (757) 728-2065

Hampton Public Library
4207 Victoria Blvd. (757) 727-1154

Northhampton Branch Library
936 Big Bethel Road (757) 825-4558

Phoebus Branch Library
1 South Mallory St. (757) 727-1149

Willow Oaks Branch Library
227 Fox Hill Road (757) 850-5114

PARKS AND ATTRACTIONS
The city maintains several parks that for public use.

Aberdeen Neighborhood Park
and Elementary School
1424 Aberdeen Road (757) 850-5116
Open daily:
When school is in session, 3:30 p.m. to sunset.
When school is not in session, 7 a.m. to sunset.
The park features two picnic shelters, a playground, a basketball court, softball fields and open play areas.

Air Power Park
413 West Mercury Blvd.
This 15-acre park and museum features 50 indoor and outdoor exhibits, including real fighter aircraft, missiles and rockets, and a children's playground.

Armstrong Neighborhood Park
and Elementary School
3401 Matoaka Road (757) 850-5116
Open daily:
When school is in session, 3:30 p.m. to sunset.
When school is not in session, 7 a.m. to sunset.
The park features two-lighted tennis courts, a playground, a little league baseball field and an asphalt-walking trail.

Bluebird Gap Farm
60 Pine Chapel Road
Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The 60-acre farm has one picnic shelter and is a favorite place to view ducks. Please do not feed the wildlife as they should remain wild. Admission is free.

Booker Neighborhood Park
and Elementary School
160 Apollo Drive (757) 850-5116
Open daily:
When school is in session, 3:30 p.m. to sunset.
When school is not in session, 7 a.m. to sunset.
The park features a playground, an asphalt walking trail, a soccer field and half-court basketball.

Briarfield Park
1560 Briarfield Road (757) 850-5116
The regional 49-acre athletic park features four lighted softball fields, five lighted tennis courts, four large picnic shelters that can be reserved, a fitness trail and a large playground. There is a concession stand during softball league games and tournaments, as well as restroom facilities.

Buckroe Beach and Park
North First Street
This Bay front park boasts three-fourths mile of clean beach and such amenities as kayaks and paddleboats for rental, two picnic shelters with tables and grills, a children's playground, a stage pavilion for community events and ample open space, and restroom facilities May 15 through Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dogs prohibited May 15 through Sept. 15. Park Rangers are on site year-round.

Burbank Neighborhood Park
and Elementary School
40 Tide Mill Lane
Open daily:
When school is in session, 3:30 p.m. to sunset.
When school is not in session, 7 a.m. to sunset.
The park features a basketball court, a youth baseball field, a playground and an asphalt-walking trial.

Carousel Park
602 Settlers Landing Road (757) 727-0900
Ride a 1920 wooden carousel with 48 horses and two chariots for $1 when purchased at carousel, $0.50 with the purchase of a Virginia Air and Space Center ticket or 25 rides for $12.50.

Cary Neighborhood Park
and Elementary School
2009 Andrews Blvd. (757) 850-5116
Open daily:
When school is in session, 3:30 p.m. to sunset.
When school is not in session, 7 a.m. to sunset.
The park features basketball courts, a youth baseball field, a football field, a playground and an asphalt walking trail.

Hampton Visitor Center
120 Old Hampton Lane (757) 727-1102
(800) 800-2202
http://www.visithampton.com  
Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
The downtown center features a variety of maps, area attraction brochures, coupons, upcoming events and knowledgeable Information specialists ready to answer any questions.

Aberdeen Gardens Historic Museum
57 N. Mary Peake Blvd. (757) 722-1183
(757) 826-1281/7349
http://www.hfag.org
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For other times, call for appointment.
Built for and by African Americans in 1935 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal Settlement, the museum celebrates the history, heritage and future of the historic gardens.

The American Theatre
125 E. Mellen St. (757) 722-ARTS
http://www.HamptonArts.net  
This restored 1908 vaudeville house thrives as a performing arts center with year-round live performances ranging from family fun, dance, cabaret, jazz and world music to classical, symphony and theater.

Bass Pro Shops® Outdoor World®
1972 Power Plant Parkway (757) 262-5200
http://www.basspro.com
Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The outdoorsy facility features museum-quality wildlife dioramas, huge murals and chandeliers depicting outdoor scenes, massive log and rock work and climbing wall, waterfalls and a 19,000 gallon aquarium stocked with native fish species.

Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe
Bernard Road, Casemate 20
Fort Monroe, VA (757) 788-3391
http://www.tradoc.army.mil/museum
Open year-round, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The headquarters for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command is the largest stone fort ever built in the U.S. Within the historic fort's stone walls, the Casemate Museum, chronicles the history of the fort and the Coast Artillery Corps. During the Civil War, Fort Monroe was a Union-held bastion and helped shelter thousands of slave refugees. Also, visit the cell where Confederate President Jefferson Davis was imprisoned. Free admission.

The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center
4205 Victoria Blvd. (757) 727-1490
http://www.HamptonArts.net
Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday through Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Closed Monday and major holidays.
This neoclassical building, constructed in 1925 and renovated in 1989 as an arts center, plays host to 10 different art exhibitions each year, featuring drawing, painting, sculpture, crafts and photography, and the best regional and national artists. Free admission.

Cousteau Society
710 Settlers Landing Road (757) 722-9300
(800) 441-4395
http://www.cousteausociety.org
Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The downtown gallery and gift shop serves as the U.S. headquarters for the Cousteau Society and displays world-renowned photography, models of Alcyone and Calypso, artifacts from past Cousteau expeditions, and some of Jacques Cousteau's inventions. Free admission.

Fort Wool
Hampton Roads Harbor (757) 727-1102
(800) 800-2202
http://www.hampton.gov/parks
Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This island fortress played important roles in the Civil War and in both World Wars, bearing witness to the battle of the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia. The fort was also a favorite escape of Andrew Jackson. Although not accessible by car, it is featured and accessible during the Miss Hampton II harbor tour. Private boats are welcomed to dock from May through September.

Grandview Nature Preserve
Beach Road and State Park Drive
(757) 850-5134
http://www.hampton.gov/parks
This 578-acre preserve and estuary on the Chesapeake Bay with 2 1/2 miles of tranquil bay-front beach is ideal for observing wildlife, kayaking, hiking and fishing, and year-round environmental programs. Free admission. Take Interstate-64 exit 267 to Woodland Road. Turn right on Fox Hill Road and left on Beach Road to State Park Drive.

Hampton History Museum
120 Old Hampton Lane (757) 727-1610
http://www.hampton1610.com
Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Closed major holidays.
The museum and visitor center covers four centuries of Hampton history in 10 downtown galleries. Meet a lurking Blackbeard the Pirate, experience the burning of Hampton during the Civil War and see how the Contraband decision was the first step toward freedom for millions of African-Americans. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, active military, active NASA, AAA, children 4 to 12. Under 4 free.

Hampton Roads Charters-The Ocean
Eagle Downtown Public Piers
(Adjacent to the Cousteau Society)
(757) 868-3474
http://www.hamptonroadscharter.com
Daily in spring/summer, 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., night-fishing Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Concession on board. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Fish with Captain Howard Wainwright and his crew aboard this 65-foot, 70-passenger head boat. Cost is $30 per person and includes rod, reel, bait and tax. Rockfish season starts October 4th. Call for schedule, rates and reservations.

Hampton University Museum
(757) 727-5308
http://www.hamptonu.edu/museum
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Closed Sunday and major and campus holidays.
The oldest African-American museum in the country features a 9,000-piece collection containing examples of traditional and contemporary African, American-Indian, African-American and Pacific Island art. Free admission.

Langley Speedway
11 Dale Lemonds Drive (757) 865-7223
http://www.langley-speedway.com  
Voted one of the top five NASCAR Weekly Racing Series tracks, Langley is the only Weekly Racing Series track in Hampton Roads. Late Model, Grand Stocks, Modifieds, Legends, Wolf Trucks, Super Trucks, UCARS, Super Street, Pro Wing Champ Karts and Pro 6 racing. Open most Saturdays April through October. Gates open at noon, qualifying for all divisions 4:30 p.m., with racing at 7 p.m. Admission fee.

Little England Chapel
4100 Kecoughtan Road (757) 722-4249
Open year-round, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; open other days by appointment. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Built circa 1879, this is Virginia's only known African American missionary chapel. Exhibits interpret the religious lives of post-Civil War African-Americans in Virginia and include handwritten Sunday school lessons, photographs, a 12-minute video, and 19th-century religious books. A State and National Historic Landmark. Call for church tour. Free admission; donations accepted.

Miss Hampton II Harbor Cruises
710 Settlers Landing Road (888) 757-BOAT
(757) 722-9102
http://www.misshamptoncruises.com
Tour schedule:
April through October, daily at 10 a.m.
Memorial Day through Labor Day,
daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Closed November through March.
This double-decked downtown tour boat offers daily narrated cruises of the Hampton Roads harbor and Chesapeake Bay, featuring Hampton's seafaring culture, local fishing boats, mighty commercial cargo ships, Blackbeard's Point, Old Point Comfort, Fort Wool and the awesome gray fleet at the world's largest naval installation, Norfolk Naval Base. Tour length: 3 hours. Special tours, programs and all-day cruises available. Purchase tickets in the Cousteau Society. Admission: Adults $22, Children 7-12 $11, Seniors/Military $20, Children under 6 Free. Admission includes tax.

Peninsula Pilots
War Memorial Stadium
1889 West Pembroke Ave. (757) 245-2222
http://www.peninsulapilots.com
All home games begin at 7:05 p.m.
The Peninsula Pilots compete with 14 other teams in the Coastal Plain League from the end of May through the middle of August. Admission fee. Take Interstate 64, exit 265.

Sandy Bottom Nature Park
1255 Big Bethel Road (757) 825-4657
http://www.hampton.gov/parks
Open daily, sunrise to sunset.
Nature center hours: May through September,
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; October through April, 9 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Closed Christmas.
This 456-acre recreation area features two lakes, wetlands areas, trails for hiking and biking, fishing, non-motorized boating, picnic areas, a children's playground, a campground, tent cabins for rent, and a nature center with special programs or tours. Free admission; fees for rental items.

St. George Brewing Co.
204 Challenger Way (757) 865-7781
http://www.stgeorgebrewingco.com
Winter hours:
Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, appointment only.
Summer hours:
Monday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Closed holidays.
The award-winning microbrewery offers tours, a Hospitality room and gift shop.

St. John's Church
100 W. Queens Way (757) 722-2567
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.
Guided tours by appointment; no tours Sunday or Thursday morning. Closed on major holidays. Established in 1610, St. John's is the oldest continuous English-speaking parish in the U.S. at its present site on Queens Way since 1728. See the stained-glass window depicting the baptism of Pocahontas. Free admission.

Virginia Air & Space Center and
Riverside 3D IMAX Theater
600 Settlers Landing Road (757) 727-0900
(800) 296-0800
http://www.vasc.org
Open daily year-round.
The visitor center for NASA Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base features the Adventures in Flight and new Space Quest galleries and more than 100 hands-on exhibits that tell the story of air and space exploration. See the Apollo 12 Command Module, a Mars meteorite and a three-billion year-old moon rock. Make a crater, travel to Mars and fly an airplane. Watch a 3D IMAX® film on a giant five-story screen with 16,000 watts of digital-sound. Admission fee.

Newport News
The city's 186,000-plus residents live on the peninsula side of Hampton Roads in the tidewater region of Virginia, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Plantations and a fishing village speckled the area until after the Civil War, development of the railroad terminal, with its coal piers and other harbor-related facilities, and the shipyard enticed thousands of new workers. The original downtown area on the James River waterfront also changed rapidly from a farm trading town to a new city in the last quarter of the 19th century.

Although fashionable housing and businesses developed in downtown, the increase in industry and the development of new suburbs both pushed and pulled retail and residential development to the west and north after World War II. National subsidized highway construction later spurred urban sprawl.

In the late 1990s through 2005, city officials invested $82 million in a new midtown business district and port. Despite the efforts at large-scale revitalization, the downtown area consists largely of the coal export facilities, the shipyard and municipal offices, bordered by some harbor-related smaller businesses and lower-income housing.

LIBRARY
You will be required to become a member before you can check out any of the books, DVDs and CDs.

Grissom Library
366 DeShazor Drive (757) 369-3190

Library for the Blind
110 Main St. (757) 591-4858

Pearl Bailey Library
2510 Wickham Ave. (757) 247-8677

Public Law Library
2501 Washington Ave. (757) 926-8678

West Avenue Library
30th and West Ave. (757) 247-8505

PARKS
The city's 31 parks vary in size from 0.3 acres to more than 8,000 acres. At 8,065 acres, Newport News Park is the largest in the city and second largest municipal park in the country.

Anderson Park and Peterson's Yacht Basin
16th Street and Oak Avenue
Amenities include ball fields, a basketball court, a beach, a boat ramp, historical features, saltwater fishing, picnic shelters, a playground, restrooms and a tennis court.

Beechlake Park
Longmeadow Drive
Amenities include basketball, freshwater fishing, trails and a playground.

Christopher Newport Park
26th Street and West Avenue
Amenities include floral gardening and several historical features.

Denbigh Park Boat Ramp
Denbigh Boulevard
The public boat ramp also offers hiking/jogging trails and saltwater fishing.

Highland Court Park
Highland Avenue
This park features a playground and tennis courts.

Lee's Mill Park
180 River's Ridge Circle
Features include historical markers and a nature trail.

Potters Field Park
14747 Warwick Blvd.
This park affords plenty of historic views.

Stoney Run Park
15110 Warwick Blvd.
Amenities include a five-field softball/athletic field complex.

Superblock Park
26th Street and West Avenue
This park features a large playground area for young and old.

SHOPPING
The city plays host to a variety of national stores and locally-owned businesses centered on a large mall.

Jefferson Commons
Jefferson Avenue (Route 143) and Bland Boulevard, Exit from I-64: 255B
(757) 988-8887
The 400,000 square-foot shopping center features such shops as Kohl's, Off Broadway Shoes, T.J. Maxx and Ross Dress for Less, Shoe Carnival, Panera Bread, Starbucks, Game Stop/Movie Stop, Haagen-Dazs, Texas Steakhouse, Chili's, Smokey Bones BBQ and Silver Diner.

Newport Marketplace
Chatham Drive (757) 833-0466
Home Depot, Lowe's, Farm Fresh, Michael's Arts and Crafts anchor this 452,860 square-foot mall.

Newport News/Williamsburg
International Airport Area
Jefferson Avenue (Route 143) and Bland Boulevard, Exit from I-64: 255B
This ever-growing area of shops and restaurants includes The Home Depot, Linens & Things, Lowe's, Michaels, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Sam's Club, Tuscany Ristorante Italiano, Wal-Mart and more.

Patrick Henry Mall
12300 Jefferson Ave.
Newport News, VA 23602 (757) 249-4305
Macy's, JCPenney's and Dillard's anchor this 120-store single-level, enclosed mall.

Poquoson
The oldest continuously named city in the state rests between the Poquoson River on the north, Back River and Wythe Creek (the Old Poquoson River) on the south, the Chesapeake Bay on the east and York County on the west. Traditionally, the term "poquoson" describes a boundary line that contained a stream, river or creek with an adjoining marsh between two tracts of higher ground. Though one of the smallest cities in Hampton Roads, it still boasts large areas of undeveloped and protected wetlands and 84 miles of shoreline.

All that water plus an easy job commute to nearby military bases, NASA, the Newport News Shipyard and a low crime rate enhance the small town atmosphere for the 12,000 residents.

LIBRARY
You must become a member before you can check out any of the books, DVDs and CDs from the city's sole library.

Poquoson Public Library
500 City Hall Ave. (757) 868-3060

PARKS
Municipal Park
830 Poquoson Ave.
Amenities at this small park include a baseball field, a picnic shelter, a pool, a soccer field, swing sets and a walking trail.

Phillips Park
51 Odd Road
This park features a baseball field, the Kids Island Playground, soccer fields and tennis courts.

Williamsburg
This modern city is best known for the restored and reconstructed buildings of Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area, part the "historic triangle" that includes nearby Yorktown and Jamestown. Colonists from the latter founded the city in 1633 as Middle Plantation, but the name changed to Williamsburg in 1699 when it became Virginia's capital.

The College of William and Mary, named for King William and Queen Mary of England, received its charter in 1693. After the Revolution, Williamsburg remained the political, social and cultural center of the entire colony until the capital moved to Richmond in 1780. Thereafter the city became a small college town. During the Civil War it briefly became the headquarters for both sides. In 1926, John D. Rockefeller Jr. began to restore, reconstruct and preserve what is now the Historic Area.

Today, the 13,000 residents of the small college town enjoy all the latest conveniences, including parks and recreation activities, libraries, shopping centers and, in many areas, underground wiring.

LIBRARY
You will be required to become a member before you can check out any of the books, DVDs and CDs from the city's two libraries.

The James City County Library
7770 Croaker Road (757) 259-7777
The Williamsburg Library
515 Scotland St. (757) 259-7777

PARKS
Bicentennial Park
Court Street
Relax at this small park near the National Center of State Courts after a long day at the office.
College Landing Park
South Henry Street
This park offers a lookout tower and a marsh walkway.

Highland Park Community Park
North Henry Street
This two-acre mini-park has playground equipment, half-court basketball and a picnic shelter with grills.

Kiwanis Municipal Park
Longhill Road adjacent to
James Blair Middle School
This 27-acre park features two lighted ball fields for the Recreation Department's youth coach pitch, slow pitch and fast pitch softball programs, numerous pieces of playground equipment, a shelter with picnic tables and seven lighted all-weather tennis courts.

Quarterpath Park
Quarterpath Road, off Route 60 East
(757) 259-3760
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 8 p.m.
This 23-acre facility includes three lighted softball fields, a 25-meter, six-lane, z-shaped outdoor pool, three all-weather tennis courts, playground equipment and a shelter for up to 75 picnickers. The site also features the 35,000-square-foot Quarterpath Recreation Center, with an 18,000 square-foot double gymnasium, a 1,700 square-foot dance/aerobics room, two classrooms and a 1,900 square foot multipurpose room. Various instructional classes, athletic programs for youth and adults, sports camps and special events are held throughout the year.

Waller Mill Park
Airport Road (Route 645) between
Interstate 64 and Route 60 West
(757) 259-3778
The 2,705-acre park boasts a 286-acre lake with a tunnel connecting the upper and lower sections for fishing, boating, pedal-boating, canoeing and kayaking. Numerous picnic tables, four shelters, play fields and playground equipment dot the heavily wooded area. Other amenities include hiking trails, a two-mile asphalt bike trail and Lookout Tower's panoramic view of the water and woodlands.

SHOPPING
Prime Outlets heads the list of stores and locally-owned businesses.

Prime Outlets
5715-62A Richmond Road (757) 565-0702
The 120 shops include such brand names as Coach, Banana Republic, Polo Ralph Lauren, Bose Factory Store, J. Crew, Dooney and Bourke, Oakley, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger and many more.

York County
Many small communities such as Dare, Seaford, Grafton, Dandy, Lackey, Yorktown, Tabb and the Bruton District dot this melting pot of residents and activities that make up this 108-square-mile county. One of Virginia's original shires was founded in 1634 as Charles River County. The county and Charles River were renamed York around 1643 in honor of England's Duke of York, who later became King James II.

With Revolutionary War battlefields, waterways for boating and fishing and miles of scenic Colonial Parkway, outdoor activities abound. A casual walk through historic Yorktown, for example, yields a variety of shops, the Yorktown Monument and antiquated homes. One such house, the Moore House, is the site where the Articles of Confederation were drawn up. Nearby is Surrender Field where General George Washington in 1781 acknowledged the surrender of British troops under General Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown ending the Revolutionary War.

AREA ATTRACTIONS
Civil War Driving Tour
If driving is your forte, Virginia features a 70-mile tour chronicling the Peninsula Campaign of 1862 from start to finish. Most of it even follows the original paths walked by soldiers.

Colonial National Historical Park
624 Water St.
Yorktown, VA 23690 (757) 886-5341
This national park commemorates the breadth of the English colonial experience in North America, from 1607 at Jamestown to the defeat of the British army by General George Washington at Yorktown in 1781. The Colonial Parkway also offers spectacular views of the rich natural and cultural history through the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown.

Endview Plantation
362 Yorktown Road
Newport News, VA 23603 (757) 887-1862
Constructed in 1769, the Plantation was originally the home of Captain Humphrey H. Curtis, leader of the Warwick Beauregards, one of the companies comprising the 32nd Virginia Infantry Regiment. Thomas Nelson's Virginia Militia while marching to Yorktown in September 1781, also used the Plantation as a sanctuary. While the Peninsula Campaign of 1862 was underway, both Union and Confederate forces used the Plantation as a field hospital. Costumed guides offer tours through the historically restored facility.

The Hamptons Golf Course
320 Butler Farm Road
Hampton, VA 23666 (757) 766-9148
This 27-hole championship course offers varied elevations, gently rolling terrain, expansive fairways, inviting par threes, Bentgrass greens, and a combination of ornamental grasses, lakes, wildflowers, waterfalls and a variety of birds and waterfowl.

Harbor Cruises
These cruises afford vantage points to view the port of Hampton Roads: ships under construction at Northrop Grumman/Newport News, the sleek gray ships of the U.S. Navy and their berths in Norfolk just across the harbor, as well as ships flying the flags of nations from all over the world riding at anchor.

Huntington Park
9285 Warwick Blvd.
Newport News, VA 23607 (757) 886-7912
Spread over 60 acres, this public park includes
a public beach and boat launch, a rose garden, baseball fields and a 13,000 square-foot playground looking out over the James River. Concession stands serve a variety of food in the summer months. You can also fish for trout from November to May in the three-acre freshwater lake.

Mariners Museum
100 Museum Drive
Newport News, VA 23606 (757) 596-2222
One of the finest nautical museums in the world—amid a 500-acre wooded park—is dedicated entirely to the history and lore of the sea. Be sure to check out the "Defending the Seas" exhibit chronicling the U.S. Navy from 1775 to present.

Newport News Golf Club at Deer Run
901 Clubhouse Way
Newport News, VA 23608 (757) 886-7925
The 36-hole public course and pro shop offers a country club experience without the expense.

Peninsula Fine Arts Center
101 Museum Drive
Newport News, VA 23606 (757) 596-8175
A satellite of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the center caters primarily to the community, promoting education and appreciation of the fine arts. The exhibits change roughly every two months and feature national, local and regional exhibits. For young ones, the museum features "Hands on For Kids," a permanent interactive gallery, as well as art classes and several hands-on programs.

The Virginia Living Museum
524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd.
Newport News, VA 23601 (757) 595-1900
This educational smorgasbord is part botanical museum, part science museum, part nature preserve and part planetarium. And outdoor exhibits feature the only "safari" in the state to view beavers, foxes, bobcats and otters in their natural habitat.

U.S. Army Transportation Museum
300 Washington Blvd.
JB Langley-Eustis, VA 23604 (757) 878-1115
With exhibits such as a recovered "flying saucer" and a truck that "walks," this museum is anything but ordinary. Other exhibits include experimental models, dioramas and scale miniatures chronicling more than 200 years of military transport. The courtyard also features aircraft, locomotives, jeeps and ships (among many other transports).

Yorktown
The National Park Service preserves and maintains this battlefield on which the British surrendered to George Washington as a national shrine. And the village of Yorktown itself is a quiet and unspoiled town with remarkably well-preserved homes and ships. Visitors can choose between several different guided tours of the battleship complex, and the visitor's center offers additional materials including a multi-media sound-and-light presentation that recreates the atmosphere of the American Revolution.

THEME PARKS
Busch Gardens
8817 Pocahontas Trail
Williamsburg, VA 23185 (757) 253-3000
(800) 343-7946
http://www.buschgardens.com
This theme park boasts nine "towns" based on world cultures, which offers a selection of local foods and customs and themed thrill rides. During the summer, the park also plays host to Busch Gardens Adventure Camps on Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for grades four to eight.

Great Wolf Lodge
549 E. Rochambeau Drive
Williamsburg, VA 23188 (866) 213-1123
http://www.greatwolf.com/williamsburg/waterpark
The full-service, drive-to family resort features an indoor water park and other family-oriented entertainment activities.

Jamestown Settlement and
Yorktown Victory Center
Williamsburg, VA 23187 (757) 253-4838
(888) 593-4682
http://www.historyisfun.org
Through film, artifact-filled galleries and outdoor living history, this pair of museums engage visitor's in nearly two centuries of our nation's history. At Jamestown Settlement, for example, you'll learn about the people of 17th century Virginia—Powhatan Indians, European and African immigrants. At the Yorktown Victory Center, you'll discover the lives of the men and women who witnessed the American Revolution and the formation of the new nation.

Ocean Breeze Waterpark
849 General Booth Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 (757) 422-4444
http://www.oceanbreezewaterpark.com
Open daily, May 22 through Sept. 12
This water wonderland features a wave pool, a pirate play area for the little ones, 16 slides and a 1 million-gallon Runaway Bay wave pool.

Water Country USA
176 Water Country Parkway
Williamsburg, VA 23185 (800) 343-7946
http://www.watercountryusa.com
Open daily, May 15 through Sept. 19
The mid-Atlantic's largest water park features 12 slide style rides and a United We Soar dive show, highlighting the dive/trampoline/acrobat talents of the Republic of Belarus team.

For the kids, Water Country offers Cow-a-Bunga (a bovine play area with a 4,500 square-foot heated pool), H20-UFO (water-space invasion), Kritter Korral (scaled down slides for smaller kids) and Surfer's Bay wave pool.  read more...

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