Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-26
BY w. j. XOSS.

Motor touring in the Old Dominion,
always interesting because of the
States myriad associations with the
past, now looms still more alluring
with the reconstruction of the old
highway between Washington and
Richmond. affording travellers into
Virginia a main high road of the first
quality.
The new roads wide, smooth sur
face offers the tourist a delectable
approach to territory in which took
place some of the most notable events
in American history and where scenic
attractions exist in superabundance.
Motoring in Virginia is made more
pleasurable by reason of the compile
ton of this highway and is further
augmented by the ever-present oppor-
tunity of wandering from the main
road into regions which hold a varied
interest.
The Stars motor tours department
has had the accompanying map pre-
pared to show the course of the COM
pleted highway, which forms a paved
road through from Washington to
Norfolk, a distance of 232 miles, con-
Meeting with the main routes south
ward at Petersburg. If the tourist
wants to make the trip entirely over
paved highway, he may choose a loop
like route which will bring him back
from Norfolk to Richmond through
Newport News and williamsburg
The return then Is continued over the
Fredericksburg road, the distance this
way being EOS miles from Norfolk to
Washington.
Delightful Return Route.
All motor travellers, however. are
y1nf fy11t ckA 81, L.
best of paved roads. OCcas onally
they are willing to choose roadvays
that are quite travelable, but which
are not hard.surfaced. Under such
circumstances delightful return trip
may be charted over the Eridewater
Trail and the road through southern
NJ ryland by way of LeonardtoWn.
Thus the Richmond road may be
combined with other routes which are
inferior but whose good gravel sur
face makes comparatively fast time
practicable.
The suggested alternative will lead
the traveller through country which
he cannot we'll afford to bypass CON
tinually. If he is seeking well
rounded tour that is scenic, quaint at
times and altogether pleasurable. and
Is willing to traverse roads that are
not hard surfaced, he may find it
worth while to follow the outside lines
| on the accompanying map. This route
goes southwark through Fredericks-
burg and Richmond to Norfolk and
hack by way of Yorktown, Warsaw,
Leonardtown and Waldorf The entire
distance Is 406 miles.
If the motorist does not wish to
traverse gravel all the way hack to
Washington he may follow the Tide
water Trail to Fredericksburg and
there double back on the main Rich
mond road into Washington. The
mileage for this loop is 385. The Tide
water Trail into Fredericksburg. as
we'll as the Leonardtown road. shown
| in lighter lines on the map. is for the
most part of gravel construction.
There are short stretches of pavement,
but they are rather brief in extent.
Tour Rich in History.
The whole tour is rich in historical
association. In and around Fred
ericksburg Is famous battle-ground of
| the Civil War. Richmond, capital of
the State, and once the capital of the
| Confederacy, welcomes the automobile
T tourist and offers every facility should
| he wish to stop over. Farther on is
| Petersburg. around which centered
| HedNN HSHtlnS uuIlIlS IHe ineIl1pTdDle
| wears from 81 to '65. Petersburg also
! figures in the Revolution, having been
captured by the British and retaken
by Lafayette. Norfolk also possesses
| much historic interest in addition to
being thriving community, as are
the other cities mentioned.
| Going northward, either through
Williamsburg, or by way of Tappa
hammock and Port Royal or Leonard
town. the motorist passes through ter
ritory that is scenically alluring and
replete with some of the memora BILE
traditions of America. There are
many side trips that may he taken off
one may go a few miles southwark
from Williamsburg to jamestown,
scene of the earliest English settle
one cannot overlook Yorktown, which
is a short distance northeastward
from the Williamsburg road or along
selected for return.
Ferry service is an important con-
sideration in following the routes out
lined on the accompanying map. If
the paved loop is followed, it is neces-
sary to ferry twice. The Tidewater
Trail has still another ferry on its
course, while fourth ferry appears
if the return trip is made by way of
Leonardtown.
Going to Norfolk. the first ferry TO
he crossed is the one connecting
Portsmouth with Norfolk Service on
this ferry Is very frequent. From 6