Or call us to request one
Toll free: 800-365-9339
Local: 757-357-5182
Grand-Travel Art Itinerary Ideas
There’s no time like the present to visit Smithfield & Isle of Wight and create
precious memories with your grandchildren. There’s something here for all ages
– history, art, great food, concerts & shopping. And with free attractions, lodging
specials and a guaranteed small-town pace, your time together is sure to be
hassle-free. Choose from one of the itineraries below or call the Visitor Center
for further information and help in planning your grand-travel escape.
Discover the HeART of Smithfield & Isle of Wight County
View work by the resident artists at the Arts Center @ 319
Smithfield, incorporated in 1752, maintains its quaint river town feel and is known worldwide for its famous ham curing process, and for its “hams, history, hospitality & HeART,”
Begin your visit to Smithfield with breakfast at the Smithfield Gourmet Bakery on Main Street. Then head to the Visitor Center - also home to the Arts Center @ 319 - offering tourist information, a gallery/gift shop and the chance to chat with resident artists. Next peruse the 5 art galleries along Main Street, and be sure to stop by the post office which features a mural depicting the early settlers of the county. Enjoy lunch at the Smithfield Ice Cream Parlor, another local favorite.
After lunch take in the unique shops in the downtown district, including the Genuine Ham Shop. Life-size bronze statues depicting such figures as Benjamin Franklin, Robert Frost and the “Valentine Couple” are placed throughout town, Miniatures of many of the bronzes are available for purchase at Imagine Art Studio.
Next, visit the Isle of Wight County Museum on Main Street, with its overview of the county’s history and the world's oldest ham, an example of Smithfield’s famous ham curing process and its beautiful stained glass dome. If you have time, be sure to take the Walking Tour of the Historic Downtown District featuring over 50 historic buildings including the Old Courthouse of 1750, modeled after the Capitol Building in Colonial Williamsburg, and the Schoolhouse Museum, an African-American Museum built in 1932.
Finish your day with dinner at Smithfield Station, followed by one of our local concerts or events, a show at Smithfield Little Theatre, a class at the Arts Center @ 319, a massage or class at Encore Pilates Studio. Or simply pick up a treat for dessert at Lisa’s Sweet Shop on the Boardwalk at Smithfield Station where you can enjoy the sunset over the Pagan River.
With advance notice, the Isle of Wight County Museum staff is available for programs at the museum. Call the museum at (757) 356-1223 for further information and availability. Attractions listed are free. Custom tours can be arranged.
CLICK HERE FOR LODGING PACKAGES & SPECIALS
From elegant B&B’s, waterfront and historic inns to national chains,
Smithfield & Isle of Wight offer distinctly different establishments
to suit any traveler’s preferences and needs.
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Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB Staff:
Judy Hare Winslow, Director of Tourism
Lois Chapman, Marketing & Public Relations Manager
Cheryl Whitener, Visitor Center Manager
Terry Rhinier, Event Coordinator
Kristin Wilda, Farmer's Market Manager
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Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB and the Isle of Wight Arts League are partially supported by funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
