yorktown A long history and a very nice beach , WHY YOU LL WANT TO GO
Y
ou already know why you’re going, right? Yorktown, scene of the last battle of the American Revolution—the one where Washington does some bobbing and weaving to fool the British. The French lend a hand with troops, some fancy naval footwork, and a bit of very good siege advice from the Comte de Rochambeau. You know how it turns out: General Cornwallis throws in the towel, the English cry “uncle,” and we get our own country. Yes, that Yorktown. The thing you may not know is that in addition to all that first-class history, Yorktown also has a great marina, a great beach, a mile-long Riverwalk, restaurants, shops, and a watermen’s museum. In addition, it’s only a few leagues (that’s Colonial-speak) away from Williamsburg and Jamestown.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND As with nearly all our Weekends on the Water destinations, practically everything we’re going to talk about in this section is within easy walking distance of your boat slip or on-land lodging. The distance from Yorktown’s Riverwalk or adjacent Water Street on the north to Ballard Street on the south border of the village is only about two long blocks, and from Yorktown Battlefield Memorial on the east to U.S. 17 and the Watermen’s Museum on the west is only about seven or eight short blocks, depending on your route. But don’t be fooled; it may be a small area, but it’s jam-packed with things to see and do. Although Yorktown was settled by the English in 1691, only about half a dozen 18th-century buildings remain. Its colorful history of two wars, plus a devastating fire and its dwindling importance as a port city, resulted in the destruction of most of its earliest buildings. But there are some fine examples left, and the town itself has managed to meld the centuries in an entirely graceful way. The take-away here is that Yorktown is both fascinating and fun, while also being easy to visit, whether
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Schooner Alliance and Yorktown Beach Fishing Pier
W WEEEEKKEEN ND DSS O ON N TTH HEE WAT WATEERR
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