Or call us to request one
Toll free: 800-365-9339
Local: 757-357-5182
Grand-Travel "Historic" 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.
1634 to the Present
The Old Courthouse of 1750 Photo by Cary Koronas
The first English plantations in the New World were established along the south shore within present-day Isle of Wight by Puritan colonists. In 1619, Captain Christopher Lawne and Sir Richard Worsley arrived in Jamestown and settled across the James River near the mouth of Lawne’s Creek. They called their settlement Isle of Wight Plantation after Worsley’s and others’ home off the coast of England.
Established in 1634 as one of the original 8 shires of the Virginia Colony, Isle of Wight County, with its quaint towns of Windsor and Smithfield, home of the world-famous Smithfield Ham is rich in history.
Day 1:
Begin your visit in Smithfield at 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. Further down Main Street is the Isle of Wight County Museum, with its overview of the county’s history and the world's oldest ham, an example of Smithfield’s famous ham curing process. Just across the street is the Old Courthouse of 1750, modeled after the Capitol Building in Colonial Williamsburg.
Enjoy lunch at the Smithfield Ice Cream Parlor, a local favorite. Afterwards head to Historic Fort Huger, the "Gateway to the Confederate Capital," which features a self-guided walking tour to view mounted cannon and the ghost fleet on the James River.
A short drive takes you to Fort Boykin Historic Park. Situated on the bluffs of the James River, was constructed in 1623 to protect the colonists from the Indians and raiding Spaniards.
Have dinner that evening riverside at Captain Chuck-a-Muck’s in the village of Rescue.
Day 2:
Start the day with breakfast at the Smithfield Gourmet Bakery in Smithfield. Then visit Historic Saint Luke's Church (c1632), the oldest existing church of English foundation in America and the only surviving original brick Gothic church.
Boykin’s Tavern, located just outside of town, is named for Major Francis Boykin who served with Patrick Henry and George Washington. A savvy businessman, his tavern was located next door to the land he donated for the Isle of Wight Courthouse of 1800 which is still in use today. If time, visit Darden’s Country Store, a classic country store, where visitors can tour the family’s smokehouse and farm.
Have lunch in Smithfield at the Olde World Tea Company. Then stroll down Main Street to the Schoolhouse Museum, an African-American Museum built in 1932, featuring period desks and books and recorded oral histories. Afterwards, be sure to spend time at the unique shops and galleries of the historic downtown district.
Finish your visit to Smithfield & Isle of Wight County with dinner at Smithfield Station, then attend one of our many local concerts or events, a class at the Arts Center @ 319 or simply stroll the boardwalk at the Station and enjoy the sunset over the Pagan River.
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.
__________________________________________________________________________________
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
Join our email list to receive our Tour-E Newsletter listing of local events.
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.
