Historic Hampton Roads

Hampton Roads is named for the waterways and harbors that have made this area a naval and merchant center for hundreds of years. The natural harbor – one of the largest in the world – is defined by the Elizabeth and James Rivers meeting and emptying into the Chesapeake Bay. The land area includes the major cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth on the Southeast side of the water, and Newport News and Hampton to the Northwest.

The region is one of the most historic in the country, dating back more than 400 years to include nearby Jamestown, the country’s first European settlement and Virginia Colony. Nearby historic Williamsburg is a popular colonial re-enactment town, and the Civil War ironclads fought the Battle of Hampton Roads nearby in 1862.

Today Hampton Roads is home to the world’s largest navy base and several other bases and camps for various branches of the military. Virginia Beach is a popular resort destination, and there are dozens of cultural destinations from the Harrison Opera House to the Virginia Aquarium. The area is particularly popular for boaters and watersports enthusiasts with more than 125 miles of accessible waterways in the City of Virginia Beach alone.

Visit these sites to find more local information about Hampton Roads:
http://www.hamptonroadschamber.com/
http://www.visithamptonroads.com/
http://www.vbfun.com/visitors/default.asp