Jamestown by Foot: Walking an Old English Settlement
One of the great things about Jamestown, Virginia, is its great walking trails. The park is separated into two different parts, Old Town (where the original settlement was located) and New Town, where you can find the famous James Fort, Indian village, and 17th century ship reconstructions. When you arrive at the Jamestown visitor center, you’ll find a huge parking lot. If you have sturdy shoes and plenty of drinking water, there isn’t anywhere in Old Town where your own two feet can’t take you (except, of course, across the James River). This is why Jamestown is perfect for bikers, walkers, and hikers; there are lots of wooded paths, shade trees, archaelogical sites, and souvenir stops.
Getting Started
You might want to start out at the visitor center; there isn’t much available by way of “extraordinary” gifts, but you can find books, postcards, figurines, and other small items. The best reason to stop here is to pick up information that will tell you where you are going (plus, walkers tend a drink a lot of liquids, so it’s helpful to know there’s a rest room here as well!) As you start down the path to “Jamestown Island,” you might notice a swamp-like setting. The only bad part about traveling Jamestown by foot is the minimal protection against sunburn and mosquitoes, but if proper precautions are taken, neither should be a problem. If you walk down the sandy path you’ll come to two areas; on the left, you’ll see the ruins of the original settlement.
The Original Settlement
You can either choose to stop at the ruins, on continue down the path. Eventually you will see an ornate wrought-iron archway leading to a handsome brick church. A place of worship has stood on or near this site for many years, and a small bit of the older brick foundation is still intact. If the doors are open, feel free to sit inside and rest your feet. You might happen to catch a guide explaining interesting facts about the church. Making your way to the front of the church, you will notice markers mentioning a knight’s tomb. There was indeed a knight buried here, a man named George Yeardley who died in the early days of our country. The church’s dark, shadowy ambiance is a treat if you want a bit of peace and quiet.
As soon as you emerge into the sunlight again, you can either check out the Confederate earthworks exhibit or stop by a worn statue of a young girl. For those who may not know who the statue represents, it is Pocahontas, the famous daughter of a Powhatan Indian chief. She is one of the figures who helped to make Jamestown famous. This would make a great photo shoot; after all, you can’t come to Jamestown without hearing something about John Smith and Pocahontas. Even if you aren’t into romantic legends, she was still a very important person in the colony’s history, and seeing her statue is a must.
Keep walking down the path and you’ll see hewn logs all in a row. Would you believe this was how the original fort, built in the first years of the 17th century, looked? This was where the settlers built their defenses soon after arriving. It is also a great photo op because of the history surrounding the area. The structure was officially called Fort James; the fort and town were named for the English king, since many English colonies and their defenses were named after royal figures. Near the area of the fort you will find a stone cross and other ornamentation throughout the grounds.
Need A Bite to Eat? Stop Here
As you continue on, you should come to a little place known as “Starvin’ Time Cafe.” Although the selection isn’t the greatest, they have jumbo hot dogs, chips, sodas, and other “junk food.” If your feet still want to carry you, you can sit down under a shade tree and enjoy your meal. Looking straight ahead, you’ll see the James River. You might be tempted to share your food with the geese that sometimes amble through the park, but it’s probably not a good idea if you value your fingers! The water is located straight ahead, and if you’re lucky, you could catch a glimpse of a ferry or other vessel.
Past the James River you will see a tall oak tree. This particular tree is special among those planted at Jamestown. It was placed here in 1965, and its history actually has little to do with Jamestown. 1965 was 750 years after the legalization of an important document known as the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta gave English citizens more rights and became the basis for new laws in the future.
More To See
As you keep exploring, you will find more archaeological sites, such as an old brick well discovered on the premises. A beautiful monument details what religious services in the 17th century would have been like, and benches located around the bronze relief allow you to survey it up close. There are many small sights throughout Jamestown that are worth stopping and taking a look at. Walking gives you much more opportunity to do this, because you are going at your own pace and taking the stops you wish to take.
The only possible problem is foot troubles (when you just *can’t* go anymore) or bad weather (take note that Virginia can get cold, so if you’re not a winter person, you might want to visit in the spring or summer when walking is more desirable). Proper footgear, liquids, a camera, and informational pamphlets should be all you need to make your tour a success.
Much More to Visit in the Region
If you are staying in the Jamestown area and have more time in the region, feel free to discover other places that are best traveled by foot. Colonial Williamsburg, located very close to the Jamestown park, is one of the nation’s most well-known historical sites and can be explored entirely by foot. From shopping to colonial dining to visiting historical houses, you can put those legs to good use.
Remember that you’ll have to carry your purchases, so if you’re *only* walking and not using any form of transportation, you might want to consider bringing someone along to help you carry whatever you buy. Jamestown and Williamsburg are only two of the great walking sites located in Virginia. You will discover that there are countless hiking, biking, and walking trails or pedestrian only streets throughout America as well; you only need to do your homework.
