Posts by Mrwilliamsburg.com

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Virginia Capital Trail

The Trail

The Virginia Capital Trail is a pedestrian and bicycle trail that will connect the Commonwealth’s past and present capitals of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Richmond along the Scenic Route 5 corridor. The Trail will traverse 50+ miles, four jurisdictions and 400 years rich in history along one of the first inland routes in North America.  The Virginia Capital Trail is still under construction, with an estimated completion date of 2014

 

imageCurrently, there are four open sections of the Virginia Capital Trail:

  • Richmond Riverfront – .5 miles – open

Parking at Shiplock Park in downtown Richmond along Dock Street. Trail to the west for ½ mile.

Get directions

  • Charles City Courthouse, 7.5 miles – open

Parking at Charles City Courthouse Visitors Center, just off of Rt. 5. Trail to the west for 7.5 miles.

Get directions

  • Chickahominy Riverfront, 5 miles – open (connected to completed Greensprings section)

    Parking at Chickahominy Riverfront Park or Jamestown High School. Trail to the east (or west if parking at JHS) 5 miles.

    Get directions

    • Greensprings, 2 miles — open (connected to completed Chickahominy section)

      Parking at Jamestown Settlement. Trailhead across Rt. 31.

      Get directions

       

       

      Construction Update:

      • Sherwood Forest Phase, 13 miles — open June 2013 (Beginning at the western bank of the Chickahominy River to the Charles City Courthouse
      • Varina Phase, 10 miles — open October of 2014 (From Longbridge Road to downtown Richmond)
      • New Market Heights Phase, 9 miles — open October of 2014 (From western end of Charles City Courthouse phase to Longbridge Road)
      • Downtown Richmond Phase — .75 miles –open TBD (From Shiplock Park at Dock/Pear streets, to the Henrico County line.)
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      Williamsburg Area Bicyclists

      Williamsburg Va is a great place to bicycle! Plenty of local roads with bicycle lanes, the nearby Virginia Capital Trail and the scenic Colonial Parkway and other nearby parks make for great riding. See our website, www.wabonline.org for our monthly newsletter the Flying Wheel and our monthly ride calendar.
      WAB is a bicycling club of about 300 members interested in promoting and encouraging the use of the bicycle as a means of recreation, fitness, and transportation. We also
      encourage the development and the utilization of facilities for bicycling on public lands. We provide information in the interest of bicycle safety and espouse and uphold the rights of bicyclists.

      A sampling of weekly Recurring WAB Club Rides:

      Sundays at 9:00 AM:

      Barry Herneisey leads a mountain bike ride from Bikes Unlimited in the Williamsburg Shopping Center, 141 Monticello Ave. (across from Rita’s Water Ice). Call Barry at 229-4620 to confirm.

      Mondays at 9:00 AM:

      Deana Sun is continuing her C pace rides in New Kent through the winter. This ride meets at different locations each week for a ride of 24 – 30 miles on lightly traveled country roads in New
      Kent County. Many routes do not have store stops, so bring plenty of water. Deana may cancel the ride if the weather is bad. Contact her by phone 804-690-6018, or email MaElDsun@aol.com  for each week’s ride status and start location.

      Mondays and Fridays at 1:

      45-55 mile, A-B pace ride with stops. Riders regroup at the top of hills, waiting for those who aren’t good on hills. The ride starts at Don Cherry’s office at Rt.199 and Henry St. Call Don at 253-2500. The Friday ride starts at Pete Williamson’s house in Governor’s Land. Call Pete at 258-3539.

      Saturdays at 7:30AM: Bike Beat shop ride. A pace ride (19+ mph) but open to riders of all levels. Meet behind the shop in the Monticello Marketplace shopping center. 30+ miles with some rolling hills.

       

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      Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

      Official Boaters Guide to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

      Now you can explore the Chesapeake Bay as Captain John Smith did it—by boat. But you’ll have the advantage of an expert guide who has “hindsight.” Let John Page Williams take you on a journey along the waterways traveled by Smith and discover the special places Smith described and how remarkably the same—or different—these places are today.

      A Boater’s Guide to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail is for boaters of all types of vessels and all skill levels. Whether you paddle, sail, or motor, whether you are a novice or a veteran boater, you’ll find the information you need to follow in Smith’s wake along the main stem of the Bay and all the rivers he traveled.

      Even non-boaters will enjoy John Page Williams’s engaging way of weaving history, geography, and practical information for seeing the Chesapeake Bay in a new way. The Boater’s Guide is also loaded with links to take you to trail access points and resources where you can learn even more.

      A Boater’s Guide to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail is a joint project of the National Park Service, the Chesapeake Conservancy, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. In this first guide to America’s first national water trail, Chesapeake expert John Page Williams suggests itineraries for each area explored by Smith and tells what you need to know for exploring the areas today.

      The Boater’s Guide is intended for online viewing and downloading. Download the entire document to enjoy all the interactive features designed to help you navigate quickly to specific areas of the Guide. Or download and print individual river sections to take along as you travel the trail.

      This online publication will be revised periodically as new access points are developed for the Smith trail. Please contact us if you have suggestions for future editions.

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      New Quarter Park

      New Quarter Park includes 545-acres of mature forests, meadows, ravines and tidal wetlands and is located close to historic Williamsburg.
      The Park has 10 picnic shelters, 8 hiking trails with scenic overlooks, a mountain bike trail, routes for family biking, an 18-hole disc golf course, basketball and sand volleyball courts, a softball field, horseshoe pits, a large playground and access to the waterways for canoes, kayaks and fishing.

       

      1000 Lakeshead Drive
      Williamsburg, VA 23185
      Park Office: 757-890-5840
      Map and Directions

      PARK HOURS:
      May through October – Daily 8:00 a.m. until Dusk
      November through April  – Friday 10:00 am – Dusk / Saturday & Sunday 8:00 am – Dusk

      DOGS: Must be on leash at all times. Owners must  dispose of waste.

      PROHIBITED: Swimming, alcoholic beverages, golf, horses, motorized boats, radio/wire airplanes, overnight camping, metal detectors.

      CONTACT: York County Parks and Recreation at 757-890-3500 for more information or to reserve picnic shelters. You may submit a request for a shelter; however, requests are not approved until staff processes the request and ensures that shelters are available. You will receive written confirmation if the request is approved.  For information on coyotes or bluebirds at New Quarter Park

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      York River State Park

      imageKnown for its rare and delicate estuarine environment where freshwater and saltwater meet to create a rich habitat for marine and plant life, this park is on the York River and is designated as a Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. This pristine environment offers clues to a rich natural and cultural history. Programs, activities and visitor center displays focus on the history, use and preservation of the York River and its marshes, as well as wildlife found in the river and the park. More than 25 miles of hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails allow visitors to explore the marsh, river shoreline and forests. A boat ramp, fresh and saltwater fishing spots, a saltwater fishing pier, playgrounds, picnic shelters, and seasonal bike, boat, and recreational equipment rentals are available.

      Activities:

      Freshwater and saltwater fishing are available at several areas in the park (valid Virginia freshwater and/or saltwater fishing licenses are required). Boating: rental boats are available April through October for use on a freshwater pond; guided canoe trips and rental canoes are also available; motor boats are allowed only on the York River. Bicycling rentals available April through October.

      Interpretive programs: pontoon boat tours; Native American programs; canoe trips on Taskinas Creek; Junior Rangers/Nature Explorers; Pre-school Prowlers; fossil hikes; nature hikes/games; wildlife observations; marine life; night canoe trips; ghost night hikes; seine netting and estuarine life studies; fishing clinics; children’s programs; beach activities; hay rides and campfire programs; various workshops.

      Biking Birding and Wildlife Viewing Boat Access Camping Educational Programs Fishing Hiking Picnicking Canoeing / Kayaking

      Facilities:
      Visitor Center: Visitors to York River can learn more about the value of the coastal estuary to the environment and about the area’s historical significance by touring this facility. Activities in the center focus on the history, use and preservation of the York River and its marshes. A small wet lab, resource library and variety of equipment and animals are available for use by school groups for environmental education activities.

      Size:
      2,505 acres

      Accessibility:
      Paved path along native plant arboretum leads to canoe dock. ADA restrooms in day use area. Boat launch restrooms are ADA accessible. One-half mile, self-interpreted, paved path around day use area. Three-fourths mile (one way), primitive, imagebackwoods, ADA trail. (Depending on ability, assistance may be required.) Amphitheater is handicapped accessible. Visitor center. Wet lab with live exhibits (in season) Paved path leads to picnic shelters 1 and 2.

      Fees:

      Weekdays:

      • 10 am to 4 pm: $2 per adult and $1 per child.
      • Other weekday times: $1 per car.

      Weekends:

      • 8 am to 6 pm: $2 per adult and $1 per child. Maximum fee per car is $5.
      • Other weekend times: $2 per car.

      Parking for buses is $8. The park also offers special packages that include admission fees and other park amenities; contact the park for details.

      For more information about York River State Park call (757) 566-3036 or visit the following website:http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/parks/yorkrive.htm.

      Directions:
      From I-64, take the Croaker Exit 231B. Go north on Route 607 for one mile, then right on Route 606 about one and a half miles and turn left on York River Park Road. The day use area is approximately 2 miles down this road.

       

      image

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      Williamsburg Boat Club

      About the WBC

      The Williamsburg Boat Club formally started in the spring of 2003.  The idea of a community boat club was formulated a few years earlier by the organization Friends of Williamsburg Rowing.  We are the community branch of the College of William and Mary Rowing Club, with whom we share coaches, equipment and a rowing site.

      We held our first learn-to-row class in June, 2004.  Current members include beginners who have just completed the learn to row classes, those who learned to row as adults, former college and high school rowers now living in the Williamsburg area, as well as college students who want to continue to stay in shape over their summer breaks.  WBC rowers entered their first race as a club in the Summer of 2005.  The club consists of competitive members who continue to race, as well as members who prefer to row for recreation and exercise.

      Learn to Row Classes

      Location

      Our rowing site is located at the Chickahominy Riverfront Park, off of Route 5, just west of Williamsburg, VA. We launch from docks on Gordons Creek. Here is a Google Map of our launch site.

       

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      Greensprings Interpretive Trail

      Greensprings Greenway Trails

      Wander along this 3.5-mile nature trail that loops through a landscape of beaver ponds, wetlands and forests Popular with residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, Greensprings Greenway is equally inviting to after-work joggers and out-of-town history buffs. Interpretive signs highlight the ecosystem that English colonists found here and the centuries of agrarian heritage they established, as well as the Revolutionary War Battle of Green Springs. Aside perhaps from the auspiciously named Jamestown High, the suburban surroundings of Greensprings Greenway belie the area’s historic significance. The trail encircles a beaver pond where snowy egrets and red-headed woodpeckers nest. Virginia’s earliest English colonists might have happened upon similar sights when first venturing beyond their haven at Jamestown Island, 2 miles to the south. In exploring the woodlands north of the James River, the colonists had agrarian ambitions foremost in mind. Their charge was to produce crops for export (they soon settled on tobacco). Bordering the trail to the south is Mainland Farm, the oldest continuously cultivated farm in America.

      Over 200 species of birds have been documented on this site and it is part of the Virginia Birding Trail.

      3751 JOHN TYLER HIGHWAY

      WILLIAMSBURG, VA 23185

      Greensprings Interpretive Trail Map

      Park Hours:
      The trail is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset.

      Greensprings Greenway Trails

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      Skate/ BMX Park

      Located next to the James City/Williamsburg Community Center, this bowl-style skate park is 10,000 square feet of concrete jumps and ramps. It also features two movable ramps, a rail, a hand rail, and multiple grinding edges.  Helmets and protective are highly recommended for your protection.  Spectators are not permitted inside fenced area.

      User Fees

      Passes are required to use the Skate Park. Passes are free for James City County and City of Williamsburg residents ($10 replacement fee if lost).  Nonresidents may purchase a single day rate at $5 or a season pass at $35. Passes are sold in the James City/Williamsburg Community Center, 5301 Longhill Road.

      Park Hours

      • Winter Hours: November 11-March 15, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
      • Spring Hours:  March 16-June 15, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
      • Summer Hours: June 16-September 5, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
      • Fall Hours: September 6-November 10, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
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      Tennis

      The Williamsburg Department of Parks and Recreation maintains 10 tennis courts within the city limits.  These courts are available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, except when leagues or lessons are scheduled.  For more information, please call or email the Williamsburg Parks and Recreation Department at (757) 259-3760.

      KIWANIS MUNICIPAL PARK
      Seven lighted all-weather courts and an adjacent lighted rebound wall are located at Kiwanis Municipal Park. The lights are available on demand daily from dusk until 11:00 p.m., except during January and February. A switch on the pole closest to the access gate for each bank of courts allows players to turn on the lights for one hour. A warning light above the switch comes on with 10 minutes remaining in the hour. If players need additional time, the switch must be activated again within this 10 minute warning window.  The tennis courts are located off of Ironbound Road behind the College of William and Mary’s Dillard Complex dormitories.

      Directions: Turn on Ironbound Road from Rt. 60, then turn right on Tennis Ct. and drive straight back to the parking area behind the first dormitory. The courts are located behind the parking area.

      QUARTERPATH PARK
      Three all-weather courts are located at Quarterpath Park. These courts are open to the public during daytime hours as they are not lighted courts.

      Directions: Turn on to Quarterpath Road from Rt. 60, then turn right into the Quarterpath Recreation Center and drive straight back to the tennis courts. The courts are located beside Quarterpath Park Pool.

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      Great City Walks

      GREAT CITY WALKS
      The City of Williamsburg offers the urban hiker trails of historic and cultural distinction. Williamsburg is known worldwide for “Colonial Williamsburg,” the beautiful and
      expansive restoration of Virginia’s 18th century capital; and for the nation’s second oldest university, the “College of William and Mary.” These treasures exist not in isolation, but along side the modern day city with diverse points of interest of its own. The City Council invites you to explore and experience Williamsburg in the best way possible – on foot.

      Download the map/ booklet here