Fun facts about Tidewater

Interesting Facts about Tidewater

The Tidewater area of Virginia extends from the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay on the Eastern side to Williamsburg, VA on the West. This is a distance of approximately 80 miles which houses some 1.7 million people. The population of the region, though working at an abundance of different jobs, mainly support the massive amount of military inhabitants. All of the services are represented, but the largest contingent is the Navy at the Norfolk Naval Base. As one moves away from the waters of ocean and bay toward the mountains of Eastern Virginia on I-64, you will come to the western most edge of the tidewater, the city of Williamsburg.

When people think of colonial areas Williamsburg is generally one of the first to come to mind. It hosted the second organized college, William and Mary, in the US, which remains in operation. The first organized governmental seat was at Jamestown, and Williamsburg also opened the first insane asylum in the United States. The Williamsburg-Jamestown-Yorktown area of Virginia offers the vacationer a variety of site-seeing opportunities, and possible interactions. People who visit the old town of Williamsburg can see the governor’s mansion, period shops and houses, and an impressive botanical garden. Jamestown is a town that was recreated upon the site of the original city. It is the first English settlement in the US, and is most famous for its complete destruction and the mysterious, complete disappearance of it original inhabitants. Yorktown holds a special place in American history as the site where the Revolutionary War ended. The site is commemorated and the battlegrounds around Yorktown are preserved. Connecting the three cities is a scenic road, the Colonial Parkway, which is perfect for motorized vehicle and bicycle traffic.

The tidewater also has a rich sea history. The intracoastal waterway passes through the region and has long been an area where shipping can avoid the violence of the ocean. Although large ships are not allowed passage, pleasure boaters can travel from New Jersey to Texas without leaving the waterway. Tall ships can be seen periodically, and festivals for the ships have been held in the region. Whaling and other forms of fishing have also contributed to the area’s rich history. However, the main focus of the sea traditions has been the US Navy. The Harbor, which is comprised of the mouths of the James and Elizabeth rivers, is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. The largest US Naval base in the world and the largest contingent of US warships resides therein. Almost all of the surface ships and fast attack submarines on the east coast dock in Norfolk.

The beach at Virginia Beach is a popular venue for many summer vacations and spring breaks. Virginia beach sprawls along the Atlantic Ocean just off the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and has many resorts and hotels. An aquarium, which houses many of the creatures indigenous to the region, was built in the 1990’s in Virginia Beach.