hewunch
Member
Anybody super familiar with it or live there? Family is taking a trip there soon and I want to know what are the things we NEED to do while we are there.
Thanks for any ideas/help!
Thanks for any ideas/help!
Williamsburg, VA?
- Thread starter hewunch
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greggas
Member
Hans;
My son attends William and Mary which is right in Williamsburg so we have been lucky enough to go there a bunch.
If you are into history it is a great place to visit. Definitely do the Williamsburg tour...very well done, informative and lots of fun. I really enjoyed going to Jamestown as well. A lot of walking but a cool archaeological site to visit if you are into that. Yorktown was also well done. Make sure you take the battlefield and downtown tour from the visitors center if you go there.
For food and night fun visit NewTowne which is just south of the William and Mary campus.
And if you love BBQ as I do then make sure to go to the world famous Pierces BBQ ....not to be missed...best pulled pork in the world.
A terrific but a bit pricey restaurant in Downtown Williamsburg is The Blue Talon. Barrets is great for Seafood and drinks..also downtown
The Peanut Shop in Downtown Williamsburg will add 20 lbs to your belly.
If you need a place to stay I'd go with the Hospitality House which is downtown across from the campus and is within walking distance of Historic Williamsburg...unless you are loaded then try one of the spa's nearby.
Enjoy!
My son attends William and Mary which is right in Williamsburg so we have been lucky enough to go there a bunch.
If you are into history it is a great place to visit. Definitely do the Williamsburg tour...very well done, informative and lots of fun. I really enjoyed going to Jamestown as well. A lot of walking but a cool archaeological site to visit if you are into that. Yorktown was also well done. Make sure you take the battlefield and downtown tour from the visitors center if you go there.
For food and night fun visit NewTowne which is just south of the William and Mary campus.
And if you love BBQ as I do then make sure to go to the world famous Pierces BBQ ....not to be missed...best pulled pork in the world.
A terrific but a bit pricey restaurant in Downtown Williamsburg is The Blue Talon. Barrets is great for Seafood and drinks..also downtown
The Peanut Shop in Downtown Williamsburg will add 20 lbs to your belly.
If you need a place to stay I'd go with the Hospitality House which is downtown across from the campus and is within walking distance of Historic Williamsburg...unless you are loaded then try one of the spa's nearby.
Enjoy!
Last edited:
hewunch
Member
Good stuff! Keep em coming! I guess I should mention family = Wife, Me, Mom and 2 boys 11 & 5
Pioneerpens
Member
Colonial Williamsburg~ a must see/experience
if your into shopping there is an outlet nearby there
College of William and Mary~2nd oldest college in US
Busch Gardens
It's a fabulous city to explore~ here's a link to what is there
http://www.gowilliamsburg.com/attractions/
if your into shopping there is an outlet nearby there
College of William and Mary~2nd oldest college in US
Busch Gardens
It's a fabulous city to explore~ here's a link to what is there
http://www.gowilliamsburg.com/attractions/
greggas
Member
Oh with kids....then Bush Gardens has great roller coasters. Also the boat tours of the fleet in Norfolk ( about 45 minutes away) are alot of fun. If you are a roller coaster family then Kings Dominion ( one hour away just north of Richmond) is for you..they have 14 of the best coasters you'll ever ride
shawnmhill
Member
PM CorianKing. He lives in Chesapeake which is about an hour away. You have to go to Jamestown too. Oldest settlement in America! I lived in Virginia Beach for 17 years. It's beautiful this time of year because the Blue Ridge Parkway is so close. It winds through the mountains and the fall colors are gorgeous!
Chuck Key
Member
Best way to get there.
If you are driving up I95 jump onto 460 East to Wakefield. Stop at the Virginia Diner to eat then go accros the street to Plantation Antiques http://myplantationantiques.com/index.php which is owned by my wife.
Also at http://myplantationantiques.com/
After you finish shopping go to the only traffic light in Wakefield and head toward the Jamestown Ferry. You will sail accros the James River then it is a short drive to Williamsburg.
Chuckie
If you are driving up I95 jump onto 460 East to Wakefield. Stop at the Virginia Diner to eat then go accros the street to Plantation Antiques http://myplantationantiques.com/index.php which is owned by my wife.
Also at http://myplantationantiques.com/After you finish shopping go to the only traffic light in Wakefield and head toward the Jamestown Ferry. You will sail accros the James River then it is a short drive to Williamsburg.
Chuckie
monophoto
Member
Colonial Williamsburg for sure - plan on spending a full day there.
I enjoyed the Jametowne site, especially the reconstruction of the old church. THere is a plaque on the wall that mentions one of my ancestors - - -
Williamsburg Winery is nice and well worth a visit.
Wife and I also enjoyed walking around the William and Mary campus.
Look for events in the evening. We stumbled on a FREE concert by music students from William and Mary that was held in historic Bruton Parish Church.
The area is full of good restaurants. Our favorite is a seafood place at the other end of the Colonian Williamsburg Parkway - Nick's Riverwalk.
I enjoyed the Jametowne site, especially the reconstruction of the old church. THere is a plaque on the wall that mentions one of my ancestors - - -
Williamsburg Winery is nice and well worth a visit.
Wife and I also enjoyed walking around the William and Mary campus.
Look for events in the evening. We stumbled on a FREE concert by music students from William and Mary that was held in historic Bruton Parish Church.
The area is full of good restaurants. Our favorite is a seafood place at the other end of the Colonian Williamsburg Parkway - Nick's Riverwalk.
snyiper
Member
Not sure if it is within your plans but Luray Caverns and Skyline drive would be a nice stop as well..
Muggsy1776
Member
When we go to Colonial Williamsburg we always spend a couple of days. For a family there is a Holiday Inn Express on 60 which is not far away, there are also several good hotels on 5 (Capitol Landing Rd) just off the Colonial Parkway. I've also stayed at the Newport House Bed & Breakfast which was very nice but a little more pricey. If you're visiting the historic area, park in the parking garage on N Henry & Prince George St (on the west side of the area, next to William & Mary). They heavily enforce the 2 hour parking on the lots, so if you are spending lots of time just park in the garage.
Between the historic area and W&M is a small shopping area (south of the parking garage)- take a nice dinner one night at the Trellis restaurant and have the Death by Chocolate dessert (the Chef there started it).
Take the trip down the Colonial Parkway to Yorktown, it's very scenic and old Yorktown has some nice old buildings and a couple of shops. I hear Jamestown is also nicely done; however, i've never made it there.
You can find a lot of information at the Williamsburg Visitor's Center. Get the full pass to let you in all the buildings- during the off season some of the buildings in the historic area are only open on certain days so spending a couple of days is needed. If you have no special date to go I would highly suggest going on the first weekend in December for Grand Illumination. The town is decorated for Christmas and there is a huge fireworks show, fife and drum concerts, etc.
If you like woodworking (don't we all?) don't forget to go to the cabinetmakers shop! Meet Mack Headley who you may recognize from woodworking magazines. He is an incredible woodworker and a very nice person to talk to. The work done in the shop is amazing. The rifle maker is also an amazing place to visit. Oh, I could go on and on of great things to see. I hope this helps, and I hope you enjoy your visit. We go back every other year for vacation and still enjoy it.
Between the historic area and W&M is a small shopping area (south of the parking garage)- take a nice dinner one night at the Trellis restaurant and have the Death by Chocolate dessert (the Chef there started it).
Take the trip down the Colonial Parkway to Yorktown, it's very scenic and old Yorktown has some nice old buildings and a couple of shops. I hear Jamestown is also nicely done; however, i've never made it there.
You can find a lot of information at the Williamsburg Visitor's Center. Get the full pass to let you in all the buildings- during the off season some of the buildings in the historic area are only open on certain days so spending a couple of days is needed. If you have no special date to go I would highly suggest going on the first weekend in December for Grand Illumination. The town is decorated for Christmas and there is a huge fireworks show, fife and drum concerts, etc.
If you like woodworking (don't we all?) don't forget to go to the cabinetmakers shop! Meet Mack Headley who you may recognize from woodworking magazines. He is an incredible woodworker and a very nice person to talk to. The work done in the shop is amazing. The rifle maker is also an amazing place to visit. Oh, I could go on and on of great things to see. I hope this helps, and I hope you enjoy your visit. We go back every other year for vacation and still enjoy it.
Seer
Member
Don't forget Yorktown there is a hignway that runs fromYorktown through to Jamestown that is a cool drive. We spent a week on the peninsula and you may be there in time for Yorktown Days. Venture south to Hampton Roads where they have a nautical museum and they have cruises out of there to see the Norfolk Naval yard and other places. I wish I could have moved there I liked it so much.
Jerry
Jerry
hewunch
Member
Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone! We had a great trip even though I was sick for all of it. Chuck, I especially appreciate the suggestion on the Ferry. It was wonderful.
Highlights:
Oldest Son got to fire a cannon @ Yorktown
Both boys loved dressing up @ Jamestown Settlement and getting on the boats.
Youngest Son (5 years old) rode the Lochness Monster with me 3 times.
Highlights:
Oldest Son got to fire a cannon @ Yorktown
Both boys loved dressing up @ Jamestown Settlement and getting on the boats.
Youngest Son (5 years old) rode the Lochness Monster with me 3 times.
greggas
Member
hewunch
Member
Greg, I would have loved to have taken a ride on the Griffin, A Chariot and the Alpineguist. But they all have basically the same seat which will not accommodate my height or girth. Funny how I can ride a coaster built in the 70's but not one built in the 00's
IPD_Mrs
Member
Talk to Lou, I think he helped settle it!
Seriously Lou does know the area quite well and is a wealth of information.
Seriously Lou does know the area quite well and is a wealth of information.
jasontg99
Member
Don't forget to go here!!! http://australianburls.com/ He is out of Chesapeake.
I beg your pardon? I did NOT help settle it. I met the European invaders when they moved in. And we are still waiting on the rent check!
