Hotel at a Glance: Smithfield Inn

George Washington slept here. At Smithfield Inn, that’s not a clever reference; it’s the truth. Built in 1752 to serve the seamen eager to stock up on the city’s delicious hams, the inn has endured as a symbol of the area’s historic importance and everlasting hospitality. Today, you can bed down in guest rooms in the original lodge or garden guest house; no matter the venue, you’ll be treated to a combination of period charm and modern amenities including free WiFi and LCD TVs.

• Start the morning right with a cooked-to-order Southern-style hot breakfast.
• Eat well at other time’s at the inn’s restaurant, where Chef Kenny Jackson turns out upscale takes on Southern classics such as Chesapeake Bay crab cakes, pork and apples, and Smithfield’s famous country ham.
• Raise a glass at the William Rand Tavern, which pairs a full bar with a menu of hearty pub fare.

Hampton Roads, Virginia: Naval Center near Atlantic Coast

Hampton Roads is a region comprising parts of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. The area’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and other waterways has fostered a proud naval tradition. Today you’ll find US military installations in the Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Newport News metro areas. The naval station in Norfolk is the world’s largest. Guided tours can fill you in on the destroyers, aircraft carriers, and elite squadrons of rubber duckies based here.

You’ll also find a number of family-friendly attractions in Hampton Roads. In Colonial Williamsburg, fifers march in Revolutionary War regalia and costumed actors portray everyday colonists throughout the 88 original 18th-century structures within the town. About an hour away, the seaside city of Virginia Beach has become a destination known for supersize beaches and a 3-mile-long boardwalk named one of America’s best by Travel + Leisure. The area is also home to Smithfield, the self-described “ham capital of the world” and small-town Southern hospitality along the Pagan River.

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