Visitors to King and Queen County find themselves in a richly forested landscape interspersed with wide, open fields interrupted by the occasional winding road following a creek or stream. King and Queen County is perfectly suited for tourism and water-based enterprises. Opportunities for outdoor recreation that expand upon traditions of hunting and fishing abound. We invite you to visit King and Queen County and see what lies off the beaten path.

Courthouse Tavern Museum Located off Rt. 14 at King and Queen Courthouse, take Allen Circle (Route 681) and continue to 146 Courthouse Landing Road. The Tavern is on the right just past the old Courthouse. The Tavern Museum features exhibits on the history of King and Queen County, the Courthouse Tavern, as well as the Courthouse Green Historic District. Exhibits showcase the building as an 1800's period tavern. The Tavern Museum displays a period dining room, parlor and two bedrooms. The Museum is a project of the King and Queen Historical Society. Those interested in genealogical research will find the King and Queen Society's Historical archives and library, in addition to the internet access, most helpful.

Once the site of the Indian village Cinquotek, West Point became a thriving commercial port and resort destination in the late 1800’s due to its location on a peninsula. 
Local historical and cultural attractions include the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Indian Reservations and Museums, Chelsea Plantation, and a number of historic churches.
Within a short drive you’ll find Yorktown, Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg. Williamsburg is also home to Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. The York River provides access to the Chesapeake Bay and the beaches of the Atlantic are within an hour’s drive.

Chelsea Plantation Historic Chelsea Plantation is considered one of the finest examples of early 18th Century Georgian architecture in the United States. The grounds of Chelsea encompass nearly five acres of lawn with extensive English Boxwood gardens, overlooking the Mattaponi River. During the Revolutionary War, General LaFayette's army was encamped on Chelsea Plantation with the mansion house serving as head quarters. In 1764, Thomas Jefferson attended a wedding in the gardens of Chelsea.

The history of King William County dates back to the earliest days of the English settlement of the New World. Prior to the colonial period, present-day King William County and the surrounding regions were parts of the Powhatan Confederacy, which encompassed much of eastern Virginia and included about 30 Algonquian tribes. At the time of the English arrival, the Confederacy was led by Wahunsonacock, also known as “Powhatan.”  Powhatan is probably known best for his daughter, Pocahontas who, in 1614, married Englishman John Rolfe.  Their marriage helped to secure peace between the Powhatan Confederacy and the English colonists. The Pamunkey Reservation is one of the oldest in the nation and has a small tribal museum, shad fishery and pottery school. The museum collections, organized by periods, provide an in-depth history of the ancient and modern Pamunkeys with some artifacts dating back 12,000 years. One site that attracts attention on the reservation is Powhatan's grave site.

Pamunkey Chief greets tribe family members as they prepare to go fishing from the reservation.
The Mattoponi Museum is less formal. It holds many artifacts, some dating to 5000 BC, which are labeled with handwritten index cards. One of its most famous exhibits is a necklace that once belonged to Pocahontas. Often referred to as Pocahontas' people, the Mattaponi are the direct descendants of Powhatan and Pocahontas. Going east, turn left on Rt 30, then follow the signs to the reservation. l

Gloucester County is strategically located in the southeastern portion of Virginia's Middle Peninsula. The county is bounded on the south by the York River, the north by the Piankatank River and the east by Mobjack Bay. Gloucester County's industries have traditionally been associated with the abundant natural resources found in the area. With its advantageous location in the geographic center of the Eastern Seaboard, the county is experiencing an increased diversification in manufacturing activities. 

The Annual Daffodil Festival Gloucester's welcome to Spring...the Annual Daffodil Festival. Begin the day with a 5K Race then catch your breath at the Parade! All-day entertainment includes storytellers, magicians, singers & bands. Pets and their owners are invited to participate in the "Magnificent Mutt Show" where everyone is a winner. Guided tours of Brent & Becky's Bulbs are a short bus ride away($). Fine Arts & Fine Crafts Shows feature local & regional artists. Follow your nose to the food court for fresh seafood, bar-b-que, funnel cakes, fries, burgers, chicken, and more. Children will enjoy clowns, facepainting, balloons, games & pony rides.

Where America began and History lives. Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown make up the Historic Triangle of Virginia and are also well represented by world-class accommodations, attractions, restaurants, and golf. The beautiful city of Williamsburg is a family destination significant for much more than just its' prestigious historical past.
Over 4,000,000 people visit the Williamsburg area every year to experience the award-winning, authentic, interactive tours of the times and lives of our colonial ancestors, not to mention the great dining and quality shopping found throughout the Historic Triangle.

Colonial Williamsburg Step back in time to experience the exciting ideas and dreams of both great and everyday people on the eve of the American Revolution. The process of defining our country's values and beliefs started in the settlement of Williamsburg, Virginia more than 200 years ago, and it continues to this day.
With more than 500 restored and reconstructed buildings spread across 301 acres of land, and a staff of 3500 archaeologists, researchers, historians, and historical interpreters, Colonial Williamsburg truly presents a different time and place..

Busch Gardens Journey to the unexpected. Each year, Busch Gardens pushes the entertainment envelope with new and exciting thrills, award-winning shows, environmental presentations and delicious culinary delights. The worlds of Busch Gardens await adventuresome guests. Boasting more than 50 thrilling rides and attractions, nine main stage shows, award-winning cuisine and world-class shops, Busch Gardens offers something for everyone.

Water Country USA As the mid-Atlantic’s largest water park, Water Country USA offers 43 acres of pools, children’s play areas, lazy rivers and water rides. Your family will have a blast at “Rock ‘n’ Roll Island,” featuring nearly 600 feet of body slides, a 700-foot lazy river and a 9,000-square-foot pool. Rock ‘n’ Roll Island celebrates the music of the 1950s and ‘60s – the era that all of Water Country USA is themed after. Or take a “cruise” down Hubba Hubba Highway, Water Country USA’s radical river adventure. For guests who want to relax, the park has about 1,500 free lounge chairs and 16 private cabanas for rent.

Today in Historic Yorktown, America’s evolution from colonial status to nationhood is chronicled through a unique blend of timeline, film, thematic exhibits and outdoor living history. An outdoor exhibit walkway details events that led the to American colonies to declare independence from Britain.
Visitors can explore a re-created Continental Army encampment, where historical interpreters depict daily life of American soldiers at the end of the war. A re-created 1780s farm, complete with a house, kitchen, tobacco barn, crop fields, and herb and vegetable garden, shows how many Americansa typical American family lived in the decade years following the Revolution.

Colonial Jamestown offers a wealth of activities for exploring the first permanent English settlement in North America and is jointly preserved and administered by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and the National Park Service-Colonial National Historical Park.
Visitors can share the moment of discovery with archaeologists and witness archaeology-in-action at the 1607 James Fort excavation, tour the original 17th-century church tower and reconstructed 17th-century Jamestown Memorial Church, take a walking tour with a park ranger through the original settlement along the scenic James River, and even "meet" a 17th-century personality.

Discover history, adventure and an easily accessible location in the Historic Richmond Region. Here, more than 400 years of American history live on through magnificent architecture, monument-lined cobblestone streets, and world-class museums – for an experience that’s anything but textbook.
But the area makes history in other ways, too. Brave the gorgeous yet intense James River, which distinguishes the Richmond Region as the only urban setting with Class IV rapids. It’s just one form of outdoor recreation for thrill seekers. Event planners will love the Greater Richmond Convention Center, a prime destination for meetings and groups. See how the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is expanding its world-class offerings. And with more than 900 restaurants, diverse shopping and enticing events, the Region is ideal for weekend getaways and vacations.

Urbanna Oyster Festival Begun by a dozen or so local merchants and "town fathers" in 1957, it was originally called "Urbanna Days". The festival was established to promote the town and it's economy. In those first years the event was a relatively small gathering of local folks highlighted by a parade comprised primarily of antique cars. In 1961 the name was officially changed to the "Urbanna Oyster Festival" in recognition and honor of the succulent bivalve that was such an important part of the local economy. The crowning of a Queen and "Little Miss Spat" (a "spat" is a baby oyster) along with the selection of a grand marshal to honor local or state individuals held in high esteem became an important part of the tradition.In 1986 the prestigious Friday night Fireman's Parade began a truly exhilarating experience. In 1988, the General Assembly of Virginia designated the festival as the official Oyster Festival of the Commonwealth. In 1991, the Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation was established to produce and manage the annual festival.
The festival has grown and so have the crowds. Crowds for the two-day event now number nearly 75,000. Food and craft booths number over 125 and the Fireman's Parade features over 80 engines of every size and description. The Oyster Festival Parade on Saturday features over 80 units including numerous marching bands, antique cars, locally produced floats and the renowned Khedive Temple Shrine Club of Norfolk.

Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park

Museum celebrates the “Capital of Chesapeake Bay Boatbuilding,” with exhibits and hands-on projects for boat nuts. Nature Park includes several themed gardens, a nature trail punctuated with bronze wildlife sculptures, a 350-foot Pier walk on Jackson Creek and a living shoreline exhibit.