Yorktown

Yorktown VIRGINIA

Schooner Alliance offers daily sails throughout the summer season.

FAST FACTS

• Located on the York River, 7 miles upriver from the Bay • Established in 1691

• Yorktown was the home to the last major battle of the

American Revolution.

• Yorktown’s Coleman Bridge is the only double-span swing bridge in the U.S.

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE

We all know the battle of Yorktown from history class. What you may not know is that in addition to all that history, Yorktown also has a well-placed marina, a great beach, a mile-long Riverwalk with a summer concert series and lively weekly farmers’ market, myriad restaurants and shops, and a watermen’s museum. In addition, it’s only a few leagues (that’s Colonial-speak) away from Williamsburg and Jamestown. The town itself is roughly two blocks wide by eight short blocks long, which makes it eminently walkable for boaters, and it’s managed to meld the centuries in an entirely graceful way.

MARINA BASICS

Riverwalk Landing Piers, the town marina, is clearly the most convenient. The long docks (1,200 linear feet worth) form a breakwater against most of the chop and current in the river, and the depth ranges from 25 to 50 feet at most slips. As long as the weather doesn’t kick up a storm, this is an ideal spot for visiting—everything is just a few steps away. The docks are secure, with gated entry and restrooms, plus electric, water and pumpout services. Riverwalk Landing hosts Thursday evening concerts in summer and fall; it’s delightful to sit on your boat and listen.

Family-owned Wormley Creek Marina is south of town, tucked

Getting there

BY BOAT

For boaters, Yorktown is a convenient 25-mile trip from Portsmouth/Norfolk and just around the corner from Hampton. From the northern Bay, it’s 125 miles from the Bay Bridge. For slower or less time-pressed cruisers, this means a couple of stops along the way: Solomons and then Deltaville, perhaps, though there are dozens of variations to be found.

CAPTAIN’S TIP

Once you’ve turned up the York, the most convenient plan is to dock at Riverwalk Landing Piers, which is owned by the town. Before you approach, be sure to call for current docking advice because the flow can be quite brisk. —Capt. Jody Argo Schroath

kayak or SUP from Patriot Tours and Provisions; they launch from the private beach near the Watermen’s Museum. Patriot also offers bicycle and Segway rentals, along with guided Segway tours through town.

Across the river, Williamsburg Charter Sails does three-hour sails on a 32' Hunter for up to 6 people, departing from York River Yacht Haven. They offer lessons, too.

Finally, if you’d rather just play in the water from shore, Yorktown has a string of very nice public beaches beginning just east of Riverwalk Landing.

BY CAR

Yorktown is about three hours from Washington D.C., and about an hour from the Norfolk area.

inside Wormley Creek, a great place to get out of any weather. They can accommodate boats up to 50' but with limited transient space, advance reservations are recommended. York River Yacht Haven lies across the York River on Sarah Creek, with 280 slips accommodating boats from 20' to 120'. They have a full-service boat yard and amenities including a pool, shuttle service to Yorktown and great food at YROC Coastal Bar & Grill.

EXPLORING BY WATER

If you want to launch your trailer boat, you’ll find a nice double ramp across the river at Gloucester Point. Riverwalk Landing has slips for smaller boats. If you’ve brought your own paddle craft, you can launch it easily from the dinghy landing at Yorktown Beach on the east side of town. Or rent a single or tandem

EXPLORING BY LAND

In Yorktown, the past is never far away. Most of the town and its immediate area are part of the Yorktown Battlefield section of the Colonial National Historical Park, which also includes Colonial Highway and Jamestown. At Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center, you’ll find exhibits that provide perspective on the events that took place on the adjacent battlefield, along with a replica of a quarter section of a British warship. The American

Revolution Museum at Yorktown

includes a recreated Continental Army encampment. In town, you can visit half a dozen sites, including Yorktown Custom House and the Moore

STAYING ON LAND

New ownership is bringing a new name and new updates to former Duke of York Hotel, now called the Yorktown Beach Hotel. What hasn’t changed is the fantastic location and the pool overlooking the river. It’s on the free trolley route, and dogs are welcome. The stately red-brick Hornsby House Inn is located on Main Street and has been accommodating guests for three generations. Enjoy five guest rooms and two suites, with perks like four-poster beds and an outstanding formal breakfast.

Sunset is an ideal time for strolling the mile-long pedestrian walkway, or hitting one of the locally owned restaurants.

House, where some of the negotiations took place that led to the surrender of General Cornwallis. To learn more about what you’re seeing, download the Yorktown Tour Guide app. Or check with Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters, which manages Stroll with a Historian tours (and makes great coff ee too).

At the small but fascinating Watermen’s Museum, learn about the life of the Chesapeake waterman from pre-colonial days to now, through engaging exhibits, boat models and a working boatbuilding shed.

Shoppers, stop by Auntie M’s American Cottage for one-of-a-kind crafts, Viccellio Goldsmith for one-ofa-kind jewelry creations, and Yorktown Bookshop for used, rare and hard-to-get books. Peruse the artwork Black Dog Gallery, the Gallery at York Hall and the Yorktown Arts Federation’s On the Hill Gallery. Yorktown off ers loads of free entertainment, including Riverwalk concerts and a fun weekend market.

BAR CRAWLING

Yorktown Pub is a great place to start, end, or heck, spend your whole evening, with great service, a lively crowd, tasty food and a riverfront setting. Beat the heat with adult-style hard lemonade, or better yet, a frozen lemonade slushie, at Larry’s Yorktown (formerly Larry’s Alehouse and Deli, now under new ownership). They also have craft beers on tap and a pub-style menu.

DINING

Water Street Grille is your go-to for fresh seafood, small plates and brickoven pizza in a lovely setting overlooking the river. Keep an eye out for “tap takeovers” from local breweries and live music on some nights. Hit Carrot Tree Kitchens for fresh baked goods and tasty sandwiches, plus charcuterie plates to enjoy on the patio or take back to your boat.

FARTHER AFIELD

The other two points in Virginia's historic triangle, Williamsburg and Jamestown, are only a few miles away. Get there via Colonial Parkway, also part of the Colonial National Historical Park. This 23-mile route was built from the 1930s to the 1950s, and while you obviously won’t feel as if you are back in the 18th century, you will get a feel for what it was like to drive many of America’s highways in the mid-20th century, before commercial development, truck traffi c and billboards.

ADVERTISEMENT Poquoson VIRGINIA

FAST FACTS

• Convenient & accessible merchant area perfect for day-trips. • Home to the Poquoson Museum & blueway trails, and nearby to Plum Tree

Wildlife Refuge. • Located nearby are 4 man-made fishing reefs within a short trip by boat from Most launching points in the City.

Getting there

BY BOAT

Located on the Virginia Peninsula bordered by Back River and the Poquoson River with easy access to the Chesapeake Bay

Other points of interest are easily visible during your aquatic excursion including views of Factory Point, NASA/ Langley Research Center, and Langley Air Force Base. Your waterway travel is a seamless journey around the City connected by the Poquoson River and Back River

INTRODUCTION

Poquoson is a small coastal city of approximately 12,500 residents, located on the Virginia Peninsula. The City is a quality-of-life jewel in Hampton Roads, was included by CNBC on its U.S. list of “10 Perfect Suburbs”. In 2021 Poquoson was recognized as #12 among Safest & Most Peaceful Places to Live in Virginia by Onlyinyourstate.com. Poquoson’s business corridor is home to a variety of shopping and dining opportunities framed in a relaxed, unhurried setting, making it a perfect day trip for visitors. Poquoson’s natural market area includes nearly 40,000 people and is home to a women’s boutique, a specialty gift shop, an antique and consignment shop, and a variety of specialty dining experiences featuring the freshest catch from surrounding waters.

COASTAL COMMUNITY EVENTS

Throughout the year, Poquoson hosts a variety of events that cultivate community and fun. • The City’s biggest event each year is The Poquoson Seafood Festival scheduled the third full weekend of October. The three (3) day event features regional entertainment, approximately 160 artisans and craft vendors, and nearly two dozen food vendors who bring the bounty of the Bay for everyone’s enjoyment. This event draws approximately 50,000 people each October to Poquoson Municipal Park. The festival salutes the working watermen of Hampton Roads and celebrates the rich coastal heritage of Poquoson. • In early December, enjoy the City’s Holiday Parade along with numerous community activities which usher in the Holiday Season. Poquoson offers its citizens and visitors a family-friendly place with hometown charm.

A COASTAL PLAYGROUND

For a complete listing of area marinas check out visitpoquoson.com

BY CAR

Just 7 miles from Interstate 64, Poquoson is close and convenient to areas around the Virginia Peninsula. To the west, Williamsburg is a short 35 minute commute and to Southside Hampton Roads, Poquoson is typically a 30-40 minute drive by car.

A Place to Play by The Bay • Poquoson’s 87 miles of coastline affords residents easy access for boating, kayaking, fishing and recreational water sports. Public boat landings, calm, easy navigable coves, inlets, and channels, all in close proximity to the center of the

Chesapeake Bay, makes Poquoson a nautical paradise. The City’s shorelines

Weekends on the Water 2022 | ChesapeakeBayMagazine.com 79and waterways serve as the coastal

playground of the Virginia Peninsula. If you enjoy the outdoors, Poquoson features an abundance of blueway routes for kayaking and canoeing. Truly a paddlers’ paradise Poquoson abounds with wildlife including bald eagles, heron, and other coastal birds.