Colonial National Historical Parkway Travel Guide

  April 1963
by grandmaR
  • April 1963
      April 1963
    by grandmaR
  • Picture taken at VA199 overpass
      Picture taken at VA199 overpass
    by grandmaR
  • Marina from the Colonial Parkway
      Marina from the Colonial Parkway
    by grandmaR
  • Road leading to Yorktown Battlefield
      Road leading to Yorktown Battlefield
    by grandmaR
  • Road near Jamestown with exposed aggregate
      Road near Jamestown with exposed...
    by grandmaR

Explore Colonial National Historical Parkway

Things to Do  

Appreciate the Scenery/Learn the History
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Place to stop and read the signs
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There are various turnouts (scenic overlooks) along the Colonial Parkway which allow you to read the informational signs, and look at the scenery. It was difficult for me to get Bob to stop at these points. In fact we did not stop at any of them, although we took the Jamestown Loop automobile trail (5 miles) where he did drive the car up to the signs so I could photograph them.

Written Feb 18, 2006

Related to:
 National/State Park
 Road Trip
 Historical Travel

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Warnings and Dangers  

No Lines
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Parkway from the car

The road is meant to give you a 'colonial experience' from the car. Practically speaking, this means that there is minimal signage and NO lines on the road. You have to be able to drive on the road without the normal road markings to keep you in your lane.

Also be aware that there's NO services on this road. No food and no fuel.

Written Mar 14, 2005

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Road Trip
 National/State Park

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Open Joints
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Parkway near Jamestown from the car
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I did not get a picture of the sign, but cyclists are warned that the road has open joints. They look pretty deep, although the ones parallel to the road look to be mostly in the middle.

Note that there is no cyclists path marked off.

Updated Mar 14, 2005

Related to:
 National/State Park
 Historical Travel
 Budget Travel

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Sports & Outdoors  

Marina?
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Marina from the Colonial Parkway

I saw what looked like a marina from the Colonial Parkway, but I have been unable to find anything out about it.

Written Feb 18, 2006

Related to:
 Sailing and Boating
 Cruise
 National/State Park

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Favorites  

National Parkway
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April 1963
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Favorite thing: If you want to drive on a road that has no visual pollution, this is the place. The first photo was taken in 1963. The other two were taken 40+ years later

On this road, there are no signs or other normal highway accoutrements visible. The bridges are low brick arches with round holes in them (why the round holes I don't know) which is described on the website as clad in antiquated "Virginia-style" brick laid in English and Flemish bonds and, "A labor intensive process of brooming and acid washing was used to expose the aggregate in the pavement to simulate the shell and marl roads of colonial Yorktown."

Updated Aug 24, 2009

Related to:
 Road Trip
 National/State Park
 Budget Travel

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Comments

Map of Colonial National Historical Parkway