Tucked away by the entrance of Hampton University is this piece of history. Being an alum of an…read moreHBCU, this one is very special to myself. For those who aren't familiar (and I wasn't until recently), this oak tree is where President Abraham Lincoln stood to give the first Southern reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. And this was a place where newly freed slaves were taught at the Butler School which was built right by the oak tree, which was the beginning of Hampton University as we know it. Tip: There is a small parking lot (Lot 2) where you can park near the tree for free. There is a fence that covers the oak, but behind it is an opening where you can take some pictures up and close. Believe me, it's a sight to see.

If it was not for the Yelp Adventure Bingo challenge I would have never known about this slice of…read morehistory! I'm so glad this was on the bingo board as a place to visit. The location is very convenient there is a parking lot so you could see it. I love to seeing other people visiting the same location while I was there. It's a quick visit, so perfect if you are passing through. The tree is amazing along with the history.

Hampton Carousel is hands down the best carousel experience I have ever had, and that goes the same…read morefor my parents who were with me. The gentlemen running it were incredibly nice and gave us an unforgettable tour of this classic piece of Americana. My parents and I had planned to make the Hampton Carousel a focal point of our recent visit to the area since my mother is a member of the National Carousel Association, and we were so glad we did. This was a gorgeous Sunday and despite that the area was relatively empty. We had very few other folks come by the carousel while we were there and so the two gentlemen running it gave us the grand tour, including of the central support pillar, the electronics adapted to assist the century-old organ, and the other historical artifacts lining the walls. They did so out of the kindness of their hearts and a genuine affection for the carousel and its history, which you just don't see in terms of commitment at most venues anymore. The price for all of this? $1 a ride. What a deal! The carousel ride itself was enjoyable, and it's very cool that they have so many tracks of the hit songs from each year the carousel has been open. You never know what you'll hear next! The pavilion containing the carousel is beautiful and sturdy, which is particularly important when it comes to protecting the carousel for the next century or so. This was a fun experience, and you can't beat the $1 ride price. Genuinely great fun for everyone, make sure you stop by if you're in the area! Overall: 5.0 stars ----- Pros: - Amazing staff who go out of their way to make your experience a special one. - $1 carousel rides? The price is right! - Beautiful pavilion in great shape. - Fun decor with a ton of history behind it. Cons: - None, even their hours are great. Make sure you stop by!

Hampton Carousel (HC) is ready for Halloween! I had read about HC from another Yelper and…read morebookmarked it for a day we found ourselves in Hampton and whaddya know, we found ourselves in Hampton last weekend, a lot sooner than I thought so this bookmark came in handy. Our kids love carousels so I knew this would be the perfect little pit stop before we made our way back to the other side. HC is located right next to the Virginia Air and Space Science Center. - Parking - There was not a dedicated parking lot for the HC that we could see, so luckily we found street parking nearby and it was free. - TLC - Two staff members were running the place. One by the admissions desk and one operating the carousel. The woman by the admissions started her spiel like a seasoned actress rehearsing her lines for the next blockbuster movie. She did not skip a beat. She told us that the HC turns 101 years old this year! Wow, pretty neat that they have kept this piece of history well maintained. - Pricing and Ride - The cost is one whole dollar. Cash only. And you get your dollar's worth too. The ride seemed quite long, like a good 5 minutes, but maybe that's just me. I was riding the sleigh (that doesn't even move!) and I was feeling a little queasy by the end LOL. Our kids on the other hand, couldn't get enough. HC was decorated for Halloween. The women encouraged the kids to make their way around the carousel to the different spooky and ghoulish figures to nab some candy before it spooked them. The kids had fun doing that! Well worth the visit to witness a bit of history and super cheap entertainment for the kids. Ride $1, smiles priceless. Stay safe, Friends!

I've crossed Lions Bridge a few times and never knew a check-in until today. The bridge is at the…read moreentrance to the Mariners Museum and The Noland Trail. If you never seen Lions Bridge you may wonder where the name comes from. It will soon be obvious once you see the structure and huge concrete lion heads on the corners. The bridge is clean, well maintained and extremely utilized by pedestrians.

When I moved here was told that the Lions and the bridge were under construction and that they were…read morecovered and that it was going to be a while before you could actually see them while they are uncovered and it is such a peaceful area to just sit and relax

Great museum. A lot has changed. Some additional history included now. You have to visit visitor…read morecenter to get entry into museum

Fort Monroe is small, but packs in a lot. From a museum (Casemate), a beach club, public beach…read moreaccess, beautiful properties and stunning landmarks. Make sure to manage your speed and park in designated areas. The beaches never seem to be super crowded. They are generally clean as well. I have noticed boats anchor aching. Not sure how I feel about that, safety wise. There is one area that has lifeguards. The casemate museum is really great. It offers a lot of good education for the area. I highly recommend stopping and spending time inside.

Posted on the front of what's currently an investment adviser, this historical plaque reads:…read more St. Tammany Lodge No. 5, A. F & A.M. was organized in Hampton under a charter granted by the Grand Lodge of England, February 26, 1759. This Temple was erected in 1888. The unusual medallions on the north facade represent Masonic symbols. When the Masons relocated, removing the original cornerstone in 1969, it was found three feet below sidewalk level on a bed of oyster shells. During the War Between the States, the jewels of the Lodge fell into the hands of a soldier of the opposing army. Because he was a Mason, who realized their value and significance, they were returned to St. Tammany after the war. Given by friends in memory of Juanita Allen Osborn, first chairman of the Community Improvement Program of The Woman's Club of Hampton, Virginia. The plaque is dated 1985. LOL at "War Between the States". I love Virginia! See also http://www.grandlodgeofvirginia.org/lodges/5/history.asp

It's a bridge and a tunnel!! what's not to like? approximately twice the fun for the same drive and…read morestill no tolls!! the MMMBT is basically two straight parts joined by a curved part so navigating this roadway shouldn't tax anybody's senses or abilities. the sloping approaches and the actual tunnel bit are controlled by gravity which exerts a nearly uniform 1-g of downforce so the driver doesn't have to "steer down" or "steer up" all that is necessary is to drive straight until the curvey part, follow the road through the bend, and then straight again until exiting the structure. ta da!! the tunnely part consists of more than a dozen prefabbed 300 foot long sections that were sunk into a trench and buried; FYI: the best guess on a "use by" date is somewhere past 2052. the traffic lanes are thirteen feet wide with fourteen-and-a-half feet of usable vertical clearance plus two 30-inch wide ledges on the side of the roadways just in case you have to walk out. please note that the deepest part of the tunnel is some 45 feet below the average low-tide mark so good luck with the emergency exit ;-) don't trust the science? I don't really blame you (especially since the great plannedemic) but this is civil engineering - real life application of the hard sciences - not the soft goo pedaled by the TV taking heads so carry on.

This was the last thing I saw in the metro area before heading back to where I was staying. This…read moretunnel/bridge was a bit more messed up than the others in the area. Traffic was smooth for the most part here, with minor hold ups while approaching the tunnel portion. What I remember most about this is that there was a lot of major construction happening. I'm not sure what they are doing as I don't live here, but I can only hope that it is to improve traffic flow. Two lanes in each direction would probably benefit with an increase in lanes. But that is just my thought on it. It is scenic to drive, but you really do need to pay attention to the road and traffic. Almost like a mini Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel.

Old Point Comfort lighthouse is on Fort Monroe I did drive right by it the first time because I was…read moreexpecting it to be on the water side. It's actually sandwiched in between two houses, but if you're walking around I think you would have noticed it quicker than driving. Either way, a beautiful drive or a beautiful walk

Not exactly sure why this was only given 2 stars. The lighthouse and landscape both were beautiful…read more Now I realize this can only be seen from outdoors. Still it deserves more than 2 stars even for the upkeep of the landscape and views alone. We came in the spring. The flowers were blooming. We paid a visit on a weekday. Next to it was the light keeper house. It did state private property. So it was not available to view. You could still take pictures from the outside. Directly across the street is the amazing view of the water. Plenty of parking available and you can take a nice stroll to catch the views and Sunray. We stopped by here on our way back to Maryland. I have a thing for lighthouses. So definitely on my list for returning while in the area. Overall I'll give it a 3.5 rating.

I'm gonna be honest with you here, this bridge was a bit of a blur when driving through. To me, it…read moreis very nondescript. Another crossing that you know nothing about when crossing. I had no idea that this bridge had a name, but it does. James River Bridge, which should give you a hint of what is under you as you cross. Like many other bridges, this is not the first version that was here. This version is a four-lane drawbridge. Prior to that you had only a two-lane crossing. Good thing they did expand this bridge as it carries roughly 30K of vehicles a day. Can you imagine that if it was only two lanes? Connecting Newport News to points south, this bridge carries US Route 17. VDOT maintains the bridge, great way to avoid the interstates.

As the passenger in the car, I asked my boyfriend to please stay in the inner lane. It's a long…read moredrawbridge, and it's close to the water, so I did not love it. There was nothing else inherently wrong with it, as skies were clear, it was daylight, and other drivers were fine, but I wish they had higher guardrails!

Pay your respect to the sailors of the USS Cole who did not get to make it home…read more It is a nice view located in norfolk. For those living, visiting, or stationed in norfolk this is a site you just got to visit once.

Right at the tip top of Norfolk near the Bridge/Tunnel, you'll find this parking lot with a view of…read morethe harbor and this historical marker. It reads: The first major amphibious action of World War II was planned near here in the Nansemond Hotel, HDQ. of Amphibious Force U.S. Atlantic fleet. An Army-Navy staff under Adm. H.K. Hewitt met with Gen. G.S. Patton to plan the movement of Task Force "A" from Hampton Roads to North Africa. More information on Operation Torch is here: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/operation_torch.htm