Yorktown is the quietest point of Virginia's Historic Triangle, but it carries the heaviest ending. This small town on the York River is where the 1781 siege forced Lord Cornwallis to surrender, effectively deciding the American Revolution. Williamsburg has the restored colonial capital and Jamestown has the first English settlement; Yorktown has the battlefield, the riverfront, and the moment when the war finally turned.
The best visit moves between two moods. On the bluffs above the river, Main Street has brick houses, old churchyards, and enough surviving 18th-century fabric to make the place feel lived-in rather than staged. Down by the water, Riverwalk Landing is relaxed and breezy, with restaurants, a small beach, and views across to Gloucester Point.
The battlefield is the reason to come. Start at the Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center, then follow the driving tour through Surrender Field, the earthworks, and the Moore House, where the surrender terms were negotiated. Yorktown works well as a half-day from Williamsburg, but it rewards a slower pace, especially if you stay for sunset over the river.