Hampton was a hub for us during our summer in the Chesapeake. It turned out to be the first place we stopped when we entered the Chesapeake Bay from the Atlantic Ocean on our way north, and it was the last place we visited before heading back to the ocean for a trip south to Charleston.
We found a great anchorage in Hampton River which is directly across The Docks at Downtown Hampton. There is room for about three or four boats in the anchorage; any more and it would be too tight. The bottom is thick clay and not the cleanest, but our anchor held firm and we never drug even on days with 25 knot gusts. The surroundings are beautiful and there is virtually no wake, making for a calm anchorage.
On a few occasions, we got a slip at The Docks at Downtown Hampton. Both employees, Ally and Danny, were amazingly helpful and kind. Even when we were anchored and not paying for a dock, they provided us with keys to the showers and laundry facilities, a free dinghy dock, free pick of any of their herbs and vegetables at the dock garden, a place to park our bikes, and access to the docks to fill our tanks with water for free, whenever we wanted. The service here was amazing!
This location is close to so many things. Downtown Hampton is only a five minute walk away, catering to a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, antique and sundry shops. There is a park nearby where Gracie was able to run and play. I even got my hair done at a nearby salon, which I hadn’t gotten to do for over eight months!
Walgreens is a five minute bike ride away, and both Ace Hardware and Food Lion grocery store are about ten minutes away. Walmart and West Marine are a bit father, but we rode our bikes there on several occasions and loaded up whatever we could fit in our baskets.
The Old Courthouse in Downtown Hampton has been impeccably maintained and turned into an event center. There are several churches within walking distance, and the old brick buildings and streets brought us back in time.
There is so much history in Hampton. When my mom visited, we went to the Hampton History Museum which is only a five minute walk from the docks. We learned that Hampton is a city of firsts. Founded in 1610, it is where the first continuous English-speaking settlement was established, where America’s first free public education was offered, and where NASA trained its first astronauts.
We also rented a car and drove to Colonial Williamsburg, a short thirty minute drive from Downtown Hampton. Colonial Williamsburg is the world’s largest living history museum spanning over 301 acres. We were there on a rainy day and decided not to pay the fee to gain access to all the programs, speeches, buildings, tours, etc. But we did take a five dollar trolly into the living museum to walk the grounds. Here we saw working tradespeople, historic homes, taverns, churches, apothecaries, bakeries, and more. We would have stayed longer if it hadn’t been so cold and windy.
Jamestown is also close to the Docks at Downtown Hampton. We visited this area on a separate occasion when our daughter, Lauren, was in town. Here we discovered how early settlers lived and where the American Revolutionary War began. There is no lack of education in Hampton. Fort Monroe, the largest stone military fort ever built in the United States, is only a ten minute drive from the docks. NASA Air and Space Museum is right next to the docks, and the list goes on and on of amenities, attractions, and historical sites to see.
We visited the Peninsula Outdoor Shopping Mall with Lauren. She was craving frozen yogurt, and we found a place right across from the courtyard in the heart of the outdoor mall. They pipe classical music throughout the area and it was a pleasant experience to just sit in the courtyard, eat our sweet treats, and soak up the sun and the sounds.
We made so many memories in Hampton. It was a joy to watch my mom steer the boat out of the harbor, all the way to the Chesapeake, to make our way north. Kory taught Mom how to read the chart plotter and stay on course. She was a natural. Kory took over at the help once we got to the Chesapeake Bay to head to Urbanna, Virginia, while Mom and I enjoyed laying out in the sun on our flybridge, talking, and laughing. It was a special time!
We made special memories with Lauren as well. Dad and daughter went on walks together and did fun projects. Lauren and I went out to lunch and had a shopping day, and we all enjoyed some good meals out as well! Each visit to Hampton was memorable. If we ever come back to the Chesapeake again, we’ll be sure to make this our first stop!
