Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is steeped in 400 years of American history, and hundreds of historical sites and attractions in the area draw visitors from around the world each year.The first colonists arrived in 1607 when three ships landed in April 1607 at Cape Henry along the Atlantic Coast in today's City of Virginia Beach, an event now known as the "First Landing." After days of exploration they established the first successful English colony in Historic Jamestown Settlement on 14 May 1607. Under the new United States government, by the 1830s, the entrance from Chesapeake Bay was defended by Fort Monroe, built by the U.S. Army beginning in 1819 on a small island called the Rip Raps near the middle of the channel. Fort Monroe was the launching place for Union General George McClellan's massive 1862 Peninsula Campaign, a land campaign of many months which began at Fort Monroe. 
Beginning in 1861, some of the former slaves found refuge in a camp near Fort Monroe, which remained in Union hands throughout the War. Replacing Jamestown at the end of the 17th century, Williamsburg VA had been capital of the Colony and the new State of Virginia from 1699-1780. After the capital moved to Richmond in 1780. After the relocation of the capital Williamsburg got quieter and the main activities were the William Mary College and Eastern State Hospital, each historic institutions in their own right. In addition to many points of history to explore in the Hampton Roads area. Lead by the Historic Triangle area, Hampton Roads consistently rates among the top tourism destinations in the world. The Historic Triangle is located on the Virginia Peninsula and includes the colonial communities of Jamestown Virginia, Williamsburg VA, and Yorktown VA , with many restored attractions linked by the Colonial Parkway . 
Hampton Roads region features many museums. Mariners' Museum
one of the more notable museums of its type in the world exhibits recovered artifacts from the USS Monitor in addition to collection of 35,000 artifacts.The Virginia War Museum covers American military history. Highlights of the Museum's collection include a section of the Berlin Wall and the outer wall from Dachau Concentration Camp. The Chrysler Museum of Art , located in the City of Norfolk featuring extensive glass collection and American neoclassical marble sculptures. Nauticus , the National Maritime Center, opened on the downtown waterfront in 1994 in Norfolk. It features hands-on exhibits, interactive theaters, aquaria, digital high-definition films and an extensive variety of educational programs. The Casemate Museum (where former Confederate President Jefferson Davis was imprisoned) is at Fort Monroe in the historic Phoebus area. NASA Langley Research Center is in Hampton, the original training ground for the Mercury Seven, Gemini, and Apollo Astronauts. Visitors are able to learn about the region's aviation history at the Virginia Air and Space Museum in Hampton and visit an on-site display of various air craft and a space capsule. 
The Norfolk Botanical Garden
, opened in 1939, is a 155-acre botanical garden and arboretum located near the Norfolk International Airport
. It is open year round. The other closet airport to Virginia Beach resort area is Newport News Airport
The Virginia Zoo , is a 65-acre zoo with hundreds of animals on display, including the critically endangered Siberian Tiger and threatened White Rhino. First Landing State Park and False Cape State Park are both located in coastal areas in Virginia Beach. Both offer camping facilities, cabins, and outdoor recreation activities in addition to nature and history tours. 
The region also boasts amusement parks which attract tourists and locals alike. Ocean Breeze Water Park
, Shipwreck Golf, and Motor World
are Virginia Beach's amusement parks.These parks provide miniature golf, go-karts, water slides, pools, climbing wall, paintball area, and kiddie rides. Busch Gardens Virginia , voted as world's most beautiful theme park and Water Country USA , one of the largest water parks in eastern United States are the major theme parks in Williamsburg, both theme parks are about 40 minutes from Virginia Beach resort strip. More about Virginia Beach << from Hampton Roads back Home to Virginia Beach Vacations
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