1. Little Creek Reservoir Park
City: Toano, VA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (757) 566-1702
Address: 180 Lakeview Dr.
Description: Located off Forge Road, this park is a fisherman’s paradise featuring year-round fishing and boating on the 996-acre reservoir, which is stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, stripers, walleye, perch, pickerel, and a variety of sunfish and catfish. If you don’t have a boat, you can rent one here, by the hour, and choose among jon boats with or without motors, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats, or you can use the fishing pier, for which there’s no charge. Use of the boat ramps costs a nominal amount. All fishermen must have a Virginia fishing license. The park is a nice place for a picnic, too, and offers a concession facility and shelter with grills. It’s open daily 7 a.m. until sunset (6 a.m. until sunset on weekends) Mar through Nov and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends only from Dec through Feb.
2. Upper County Park
City: Toano, VA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (757) 566-1451
Address: 180 Leisure Rd.
Description: This James City County facility is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and boasts an outdoor pool, bathhouse, community room, picnic shelters, and playground. Entrance to the park is free, although use of the pool costs $2.50 per day for resident adults, $3.50 for nonresidents, $2 for resident children, and $3 for nonresidents. Children five and younger are admitted free. Families can purchase season pool passes for $70. The park is open from 11 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. daily.
3. Little Creek Reservoir
City: Toano, VA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (757) 566-1702
Address: 180 Lakeview Dr.
Description: Little Creek Reservoir in Toano, covering 996 acres, has a boat ramp, a dock, and a fishing pier. You can also fish from the shore. Crappie, largemouth bass, pickerel, bluegills, stripers, and walleye can be hooked here. Little Creek is open daily Mar through Nov; Dec through Feb it opens weekends only, weather permitting. Season passes are available for $60 a year. Boats can be rented for $8 per boat per day, and that includes fishing privileges. Children younger than 16 fish for free. Boat rentals for pleasure riding range from $3 to $8 per hour or $20 per hour with motor and battery. This wonderful, practically secret lake is a bit hard to find for the new resident: From US Route 60 in Toano, take Route 610 (Forge Road) 2 miles to the first left, which is Lakeview Drive.
4. Cedar Valley Farm
City: Toano, VA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (757) 566-2621
Address: 2016 Forge Rd.
Description: Off Lightfoot Road, Cedar Valley Farm gives private lessons to groups or individuals in English riding. Summer camps are offered sometimes, and horse owners can obtain permission to ride at the farm. Cedar Valley Farm also runs the College of William and Mary riding program and equestrian show team.
5. Hickory Neck Episcopal Church
City: Toano, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (757) 566-0276
Address: 8300 Richmond Rd.
Description: The Virginia landscape is dotted with small brick churches dating from the colonial period, many associated with plantations, others with small communities that vanished in the ensuing years. One worship site of historic interest is Hickory Neck Church on the western side of Toano. The edifice was built about 1740 and continues to be the worship place of an active Episcopal parish. On April 21, 1781, it housed militia opposing the British army. Later that year the militiamen fought in the siege of Yorktown. Standing with your back to busy US 60, it is still possible here to glimpse a vista without 21st-century encroachments. If you’re interested in attending worship services, they are held at 8, 9, and 11:15 a.m. on Sun. Although there are no official tours, the church is always open.
6. Cedar Valley Farm
City: Toano, VA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (757) 566-2621
Address: 2016 Forge Rd.