colonial national historical park

We visited the beautiful Yorktown Battlefield site on a drizzly November day. The visitor center was excellent, with interactive audiovisual displays. But on a cold, gray, and wet day, what really stood out was the 'auto audio' tour CD we purchased. It's designed to be played as you drive around the area, following the very clear signs to each stop. The CD had two main narrators, one from the American side and one from the British side. It was a first-rate dramatic presentation of history, when combined with the videos in the visitor center, that gave us lots of insight into how the battle for Yorktown played out and why, including the important role of the French. The CD even had warnings to be careful when crossing main intersections to the next stop. Very well done -- congratulations to the National Park Service.

The NPS runs both Yorktown Battlefield and Historic Jamestown, and does an excellent job with both sites. The film and exhibits at the Visitor Center are very good. Plan on a day to see Yorktown Battlefield and Yorktown Victory Center and a second day to see Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestown. We packed all four into a single day and had to rush more than I would have liked.

One of the few historical sites that haven't been modernized and you can actually "feel" the presence of the veterans of that day. The stories are extremely interesting!

This town was more authentic than several of its neighbors. The town itself is free to visit, as are many of the homes and buildings. We toured a local museum which had a gift shop that only sells handmade products by local artists. This was much preferable to items made in various parts of the world that were sold in the near-by, larger, more advertised town/attraction. Yorktown is a low key place, maybe not for children who bore easily.

A wonderful place to spend the day! A must see for one and all. Great history lesson! Rangers and archaeologists go above and beyond to answer your questions, as well as answer questions you didn't know to ask! Be sure to take water and wear good walking shoes.

We visited colonial Yorktown by traveling the Colonial Parkway from Williamsburg. The Parkway was pleasant and scenic. At Yorktown we walked along the lively waterfront with masted sailing ships, sandy beaches and many sun & water bathers. We toured the National Park museum and learned about the Revolutionary War battle fought between the British under Cornwallis and the Americans under Washington. Some of the defensive earrthworks and cannon are still present. The museum showed a good film about the battle.

This part of the Colonial National Historical Park focuses on the final battle of the American Revolution and you can follow two driving tours that cover most of the battlefield. If you are limited in time, you can focus on just one of the routes and you will still get a very good mental image of the battle. The battlefield is open from dawn to dusk, but it is advisable to tour the Visitor Center (open 9 am to 5 pm) first. It is not too large but the exhibits and the film are excellent, including a recreation of Washington's camp with original items.If you are looking for food or just a stroll along the wide York River, drive a few blocks to the present town of Yorktown. There is a pleasant river walk, a small beach and some casual places to grab a bite, as well as the Waterman's Museum which features exhibits on the importance of fishing and the river to the community.

I love driving the parkway anytime of the year but it is most beautiful in the spring and fall. A peaceful drive that starts in Yorktown and ends in Jamestown with Colonial Williamsburg in between.

We live very near here, so spend a lot of time in the park. Its many miles of paved tour road make it perfect for walking, running and biking in any weather. You can even ride your horse! Our dogs love it...so many smells in the fields and woods. We've seen swans, raptors, rabbits, deer, etc. There are history markers along the road, so you can get educated, too! Come walk where General Washington walked!

So much history condensed into a reasonable sized area that make it easy for the family to take a tour. Our guide was super knowledgeable and friendly. The period clothes/characters were a cool addition, interesting and knowledgeable as well. We were here on a VERY cold day and it gave all of us a tiny taste of what the early American troops had to live with. The kids were really impressed and greatful there were people who made the sacrafice for our freedom.

Sometimes a cold, icy, snowing time, but the crowds are down and the feel of a different season than warm vacation times is truly beautiful. Taverns warming, Holiday door decor and blazing cressets along the streets are welcoming. The Palace and Taverns are warming and sometimes have no waiting list. With the leaves gone, more of the city is visible. Wool caped residents in costume lend an authentic feel to the life there. An outstanding experience from a time that launched the spirit of this country. Ive had this same feeling about this time period, while more somber, standing on the Liberty bridge at Concord Mass.

Due to the lapse in appropriated funds, all public lands managed by the Interior Department (National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, Bureau of Land Management facilities, etc.) will be closed. Fortunately, we have been visiting these Parks for 45 years.

Operated by the National Park Service, we experienced driving the Colonial Parkway and sections of the Yorktown Battlefield tour roads. We walked around Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Battlefield after paying a nominal admission fee to each.Other areas in the Park include Historic Jamestown, Green Spring Plantation, Cape Henry Memorial, and Island Drive (a small road in Jamestown).There's a free shuttle service from Colonial Williamsburg Visitors Center to and from Jamestown and Yorktown. There's also free trolley service in Yorktown until 11/3/2013. Then it starts back up again in March.

We started our colonial tour with a visit to the Yorktown museum at the visitor center. A ranger took us on a walking tour outside in the vicinity of the battlefields of Yorktown. We learned about General Cornwallis, the battle of Yorktown which was the last decisive battle of the American Revolution in 1781 and his surrender to George Washington. It was amazing to learn of the sophistication of warfare back then and how the French influenced us. We walked from the visitor center down to Water Street on the banks of the York River ---lots of walking. Would recommend using the trolley! We then did our own self guided driving tour through the battlefields of Yorktown. The beauty of this area is breath taking and its sad to realize the tremendous amount of bloodshed and loss that it took to establish our great nation.

My teenage son and I recently spent a morning touring Yorktown, Virginia. We first drove along Water Street on the banks of the York River. People were sunbathing here like a beach. We next proceeded to the visitor center where a $7.00 fee was collected for anyone over 15 years of age. This was to participate in the tours. We watched a 15 minute film and were given nametags. A ranger took us on a walking tour outside in the vicinity of the center. She was a very knowledgeable young women. I learned about General Cornwallis, and that the battle of Yorktown was the last decisive battle of the American Revolution in 1781. We were on the actual battlefield along the banks of the York River. It is a beautiful country setting. One would not believe a war was raging here at that time. After the walk, we toured the museum at the center and explored a replica of a ship from that era. We then did our own self guided driving tour through the battlefields of Yorktown. The beauty and serenity of this place is enough to make it worth the visit. We saw numerous people jogging the country paths and back roads of this battlefield. Upon completing our battlerfield tour, my son and I started our drive along the Colonial Parkway heading to Colonial Williamsburg and Historic Jamestowne.