The Charles City center point is around 15 miles southeast of Dorey Park and 16 miles east of Old Blandford Church.
Charles City is a southern town, so it can be hot and humid in the summer. However, Charles City also receives some relief thanks to its coastal proximity. The yearly highs may reach the low to mid-90s, while winter lows dip into the 50s on average. The rainiest month of the year is July, followed by June. Come in the fall if you'd like to see the spectacular autumnal leaves dancing in the trees along the James River.
Visit in early June for the annual Civil War reenactment at Fort Pocahontas. Join the battle as a reenactor yourself or take in the living history spectacle you won't want to miss. You may also wish to attend some of the annual events held at Berkeley Plantation, a historic, Georgian riverfront plantation. The property welcomes the community for special like its spooky Friday evening hauntings (ghost tours), the annual Berkley Plantation Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in October, the Virginia Thanksgiving Festival in November, and the Berkeley Plantation Christmas event in early December.
Best Western Plus Hopewell Inn is the hotel for AAA members, seniors, and military members seeking discounted rates. This hotel is also located just 15 miles from Charles City, 5 minutes from Petersburg National Battlefield Park, and about 3 miles from Weston Plantation. Each spacious, air-conditioned guest room comes equipped with flat-screen television and cable programming. While the wireless internet requires a modest surcharge, the continental breakfast service and access to the fitness center and outdoor pool are complimentary.
If you want to visit Charles City and stay close to Williamsburg, head to The Historic Powhatan Resort by Diamond Resorts. The property offers everything you could desire to entertain a family or enjoy a romantic weekend away, from a seasonal outdoor pool to an indoor pool, tennis and shuffleboard courts, playground, 24-hour fitness center, and an arcade and game room.
You can call up for room service for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or better yet, enjoy a meal at the resort restaurant or a snack in the coffee shop and cafe. Visit the poolside bar or indoor bar and lounge if you're in the mood for a refreshing cocktail or nightcap. Don't miss the historic manor house on the beautiful grounds which was built in 1735.
Charles City is known for the numerous historic plantations which still stand today. You can tour many of them and visit for special events throughout the year. Most of these Tidewater Virginia plantations grew tobacco, later shifting to mixed crops, relying heavily on slave labor up until the Civil War, when many properties were occupied by the Union Army.
Berkeley Plantation is one of America's oldest plantation homes, established in 1619, 20 miles upriver from the Jamestown settlement. Berkley was also home to two U.S. Presidents: William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison. Legend has it that the first American whiskey was distilled here as early as 1620, and the first "Taps" bugle call was also played here in 1862, written at Harrison's Landing nearby.
The Sherwood Forest plantation was built in 1730 and was once home to two unrelated U.S. Presidents: President John Tyler and later President William Henry Harrison. The property was also twice occupied by Union soldiers during the Civil War. Tyler supported the Confederacy, which caused the Union soldiers to set fire to the house. The fire was put out swiftly and the house was saved, and it remains in near-perfect condition today thanks to tireless conservation efforts of the Tyler family. The home is open for tours by appointment, and the grounds are open for self-guided tours every day of the year except for Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Greenway Plantation is a 1 and 1/2 story wood-frame home that is one of the area's oldest plantations. It was built in 1776 by John Tyler, Sr., father of President Tyler, and President Tyler was born on the property in 1790. He later relocated to the area at Sherwood Forest to be closer to his childhood home. Today the home is privately owned, so no tours are currently available, but you can always drive by to see it. While you're in the area, drive by to see Poplar Springs, another historic 1 and 1/2 story gabled home. It was built in 1809.
Established in 1730, Westover Plantation is one of the stateliest historic homes in the area. The brick colonial plantation was built in an early Georgian manor house style, and its elegance is only elevated by its location on the north bank of the James River. The property's symmetry and elegant gardens delight the eye, while its secret passageways continue to intrigue. You can explore the gardens and grounds daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Interior tours are by appointment only.
Other local estates of note include Belle Air Plantation, the Historic Kittiewan Plantation, and North Bend Plantation.
Come for this history, stay for the natural beauty, and enjoy the fresh air. Charles City is the historic and natural retreat you've been looking for near Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg.