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Virginia’s colonial-era river adventure

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safari.jpg Wildlife by river boat

Sailing amid hippos, elephants, egrets and more

Best of Travel

  • Travelling through time
  • A ragtag flotilla
  • Slow and steady
  • Daily rituals
  • Re-enacting pioneers
  • Unknown dangers
  • Rough waters
  • Congregation
  • Bottoms up
  • A hearty meal
  • The sound of success
  • Travelling through time
    Travelling through time

    The James River Batteaux Festival always, held the third Saturday in June along the sylvan banks of Virginia's longest river, is an atmospheric eight-day, time-travel adventure. Re-enacting a nearly forgotten era of colonial trade and commerce, slim, shallow-draft merchant batteau boats sail 120 miles down the James toward the state capital, Richmond. These handmade replicas glide past charming villages along a watery turnpike that once stitched together a patchwork of plantations, where hogsheads of tobacco were loaded by slaves from creaking wharves and sent down river to market. (Peter Guttman)

Travelling through time

The James River Batteaux Festival always, held the third Saturday in June along the sylvan banks of Virginia's longest river, is an atmospheric eight-day, time-travel adventure. Re-enacting a nearly forgotten era of colonial trade and commerce, slim, shallow-draft merchant batteau boats sail 120 miles down the James toward the state capital, Richmond. These handmade replicas glide past charming villages along a watery turnpike that once stitched together a patchwork of plantations, where hogsheads of tobacco were loaded by slaves from creaking wharves and sent down river to market. (Peter Guttman)

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