Virginia was the setting for many maritime adventurers from yesteryear—the good and the bad. Capt. John Smith famously charted the Chesapeake, and the notorious pirate Blackbeard terrorized Virginians, preying on ships and their crew entering coastal Virginia waters.
Today, you can sail the York River in true pirate fashion with the Yorktown Pirate Ship Adventure. Young mateys can enroll in Captain Mayhem’s School of Piracy and learn to sail, steer the schooner, and tie knots well enough to earn an “Arr!” Older kids (and adults) might enjoy a scenic day sail or a sunset cruise aboard the schooner Alliance II. SailYorktown.com
If you’re not ready to raise your Jolly Roger yet, worry not. More sightseeing day trips and scenic sunsets cruises along Virginia’s waters await. Whether it’s kayaking or canoeing, many of our state parks offer rentals for the choosing—zip through Smith Mountain Lake on jet skis or stand-up paddle boards at Hungry Mother State Park.
One thing is certain: Summer sure is sweeter by the water.
Click here for more of Virginia State Parks’ water experiences.
This article originally appeared in the August 2025 issue.
