Backpacker Tourism

With over 200 miles of shoreline and some 13,000 surface acres of water, Lake Anna is a recreational centerpiece that maintains a rural charm. As Virginia's second largest lake, it has become a premier choice for water lovers. Here, you can enjoy water sports of your choice - power boating, sailing, water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing and certainly swimming. One of the most common reasons water enthusiasts love Lake Anna is because of its clean water. If you're an angler, you'll find that Lake Anna is a proven year-round fishery. One of the best lakes to fish for lunker largemouth bass on the eastern seaboard, Lake Anna is also known for its hard charging stripers and fine eating crappies. Catfish, bream and walleyes are also on the lake's menu. For the landlubbers, Lake Anna State Park offers more than sandy beaches. The 2,300-acre "lakeside gem" has 11 trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, as well as picnic sites. Or perhaps learning how to prospect for gold will lure you there. A short distance west of Interstate 95, Lake Anna is very conveniently located. Washington, DC is approximately 75 miles to the north, historic Fredericksburg, Virginia is only 30 minutes away and a drive of less than an hour will get you to Richmond or Charlottesville. If you haven't been to this wonderful lake, it's time that you visit us. And, if you already have, we welcome you back. Lake Anna Turns 30 Virginia Power purchased 18,643 acres of rural land, in three central Virginia counties, along the North Anna and Pamunky rivers, intent on providing water for a power plant. Four years later, in 1972, Lake Anna was "born." Recreation was considered a secondary possibility. Things have certainly changed. The vast tree-lined lake, with more than 200 miles of shoreline, still serves the power plant but the lake itself has become a major magnet in its own right, drawing thousands of visitors for recreation and relaxation. And it isn't hard to see why. Look at a map of Virginia and you'll find major freshwater lakes are a rarity; the 17-mile-long Central Virginia lake stands out on any map. While most folks visiting the Lake Anna area are drawn to its outstanding water-related recreational activities like boating, fishing, water skiing, swimming and relaxing, there is another side to a lake vacation. Visitors from the major metropolitan areas are discovering bustling historic Fredericksburg only a half an hour away. They are finding the unique shopping opportunities, the rich civil war history and the sidewalk café's. Paramount King's Dominion has become a popular day trip for vacationing families. Only a short drive from the lake, this giant theme park is one of Virginia's major tourist attractions. Lake Anna was destined to become a major drawing card, whether for weekend getaways, summer vacations or--increasingly--year-round residents. As the number of visitors have increased, facilities of all sorts have grown along with them, providing just about anything imaginable, from restaurants and motels to marinas and a major state park. Once the lake had filled, in 1972, Lake Anna primarily attracted summer boaters and fishermen. But with the expansion of facilities and accommodations and with a generally mild climate in all seasons, the Lake Anna community now draws visitors on a 12-month basis.

Suffolk Tourism - Official web site.

For a look at the beautiful architecture of Smithfield, please see the Smithfield Historic District Walking Tour. The Battle of Smithfield, one of the many skirmishes in Virginia during the Civil War, took place in the middle of Main Street. Smithfield is located in the center of the hub of the Hampton Roads area with great nearby attractions within an hour. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the cities but come home to the quiet and quaintness of the country. If you are interested in a romantic wedding in Smithfield please click here. Visitor Center/ Hattie Drummond House 335 Main Street, Smithfield (757) 357-5182 or (800) 365-9339 Open Monday thru Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays 1-5 p.m., Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Harriet "Hattie" Jane Drummond (1830-1891) was originally from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Her brother, F. A. B. Watson, who served as First Lieutenant in the Nineteenth Virginia Artillery in the Civil War, set her up in this circa 1858 house for a millinery business shortly after the war. Her husband was apparently an irresponsible roamer guilty of long and frequent absences and Watson wanted to provide her some financial security. The house's bottom floor now serves as our Visitor Center and offices for the Smithfield and Isle of Wight Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Old Courthouse of 1750 130 Main Street, Smithfield Free Admission Open Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Old Courthouse of 1750 is located in the historic Town of Smithfield. Originally modeled after the Capitol Building in Colonial Williamsburg, this restored building is owned and operated by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA). Historic St. Luke's Shrine www.historicstlukes.org 14477 Benns Church Blvd. (757) 357-3367 Free Admission Closed Mondays and the month of January. Historic Saint Luke's Shrine, circa 1632, is located 4 miles south of Smithfield's Historic District. It is the oldest existing church of English foundation in America and is this country's only surviving original brick Gothic church. See the Jacobean interior and original 17th century silver alter fittings, baptismal font and communion table and chairs. It also houses the nation's oldest, intact organ.

Surry County Courthouse Complex is on the National Register of Historic Places, established in 1796. The current courthouse was constructed in 1923. Today it serves as both the District Courthouse and County Clerk's office. One of the most complete collections of original county records in America continues to be housed in its vaults. Click here for link to county government website Introduction Surry County is something special. Time stands still in the marshlands and the pines, unchanged since Indians used stone-age weapons to hunt. The waters of the James River define the county shoreline and provides food and recreation. The ferryboat, linking Surry County with historic Jamestown, remains another unchanging icon. Surry's rich soil nourishes corn, soybeans, and peanuts. Livestock graze on the fields. Enjoy the quiet, strength and enduring beauty as Surry County celebrates over 350 years of history. History In spring of 1607, three tiny ships carried 104 men and boys from England to a mighty river they named James after King James I of England. They first landed beside a high bluff on the south side of the river near the present town of Claremont, Surry, where they visited the Quioughcohancock Indians. The settlers decided to build a fort on Jamestown Island and Jamestown became the first permanent settlement in British North America. By 1609 Smith's Fort was built on a high bluff on Gray's Creek, Surry, and Hog Island had settlers, hogs, and a fort. Surry separated from James City County in 1652 and became a huge county extending to the North Carolina border. Gradually other counties formed and great plantations and small family farms flourished as the colony prospered. Today Surry County remembers its past and looks toward the future. It is proud of its history, its natural beauty, and the hospitality of its citizens.

Conventions and Tourism - Information about attractions, events, accommodations, dining, shopping, and tour packages.

There is lots to see and do in the Historic Fredericksburg, Virginia area and there are many great web sites to tell you all about it. We thought it would be helpful to build an area tourism information portal to assist visitors in locating area hotels, motels, lodging, dining, shopping, attractions and tours on the web as well as to obtain area tourism information about the greater Fredericksburg VA region. Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center (National Park Service) The City of Fredericksburg VA is located on Interstate 95 just 54 miles south of our Nation's Capitol, Washington DC and 58 miles north of the Virginia State Capitol, the City of Richmond Virginia. The Fredericksburg VA area is a great halfway stopping point if you are traveling from New England to Florida, and area hotel and lodging rates are generally less expensive then in Washington DC and Richmond Virginia. The traffic situation is also a lot less hectic in Fredericksburg VA than it is in Washington DC or Richmond Virginia. Click Here to see a map of Virginia and the Fredericksburg VA region. Click Here to download a driving map of the Fredericksburg VA region. The greater Fredericksburg VA area includes Stafford County to the north, Spotsylvania County to the south and west, Caroline County to the south and east, as well as King George County and Westmoreland County to the east. US Highway 301, another major north/south highway on the east coast passes through Caroline and King George Counties and provides a scenic alternative to Interstate 95. Westmoreland County is just a "stone's throw" from US 301 and is a wonderful historic area and part of what is known as the Northern Neck region of Virginia. Presidents George Washington and James Monroe, as well as Confederate General Robert E. Lee were all born in Westmoreland County. Fredericksburg VA is one of our nation's most historic cities. It was founded in 1728 and named for Crown Prince Frederick, eldest son of King George II of England. George Washington and his family made their home in Fredericksburg during the early years of our nation. There were also four major battles of the US Civil War fought in and around Fredericksburg; the Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Spotsylvania and Battle of The Wilderness. Over 110,000 Union and Confederate soldiers lost their lives in those four battles