Any Williamsburg, Virginia advice?

[GEM]

We are going to be spending 10 days in Williamsburg in early June. It will be me, Nathan, Paul, and my sister. We've got a 2 bedroom villa. (Don't worry, we're going to WDW in May for Paul's birthday. )

I was just wondering if anybody had any special tips on neat things to see or do, places to eat, etc. I'd love to hear any advice or suggestions! Since my sister is coming along, we will be able to do some baby switching to attend the evening programs, etc. I'm really looking forward to it. It's someplace I've always wanted to go!

 

[dvcfamily41801]

My husband and I went for our first anniversary and LOVED it there. We have to wait about another 3 years or so until we can go back, DS is still to young.

We ate at Christiana Cambells Tavern and had a great dinner. There is also Sheilds Tavern and Chowning's Tavern

We did a mock witch trial which was super fun, could be intense for young children though. But you watched a trial of a lady who practiced witchcraft. I think it was called Cry Witch.

There is a ghost walking tour that you can go on which was so neat.

Check out www.colonialwilliamsburg.com it is awesome and full of info.

I loved the shopping and everything about it. Boy, I am really thinking now I would LOVE to go back!!

 

[GEM]

Thanks. That's actually why we decided to go this summer. Paul will have just turned one, and since he was a preemie, he probably won't be walking yet. We figure he will be pretty happy to just ride around in his stroller or sling and check things out. I thought we either needed to go this summer or wait until he was much older and would enjoy it.

 

[Blondie]

Two words: Busch Gardens!

It's our favorite theme park second to WDW!

I read in the local paper that Williamsburg is getting a themed resort very similar to Wildnerness Lodge. I can't remember the name of it now but it's supposed to have an indoor water park too!

Can't wait to see it!

 

[amid chaos]

We lived there when we were first married...I agree..Busch Gardens and take a short ride for shopping at the Pottery Factory.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Also, Jamestown was awesome!! I belive it was leaving Jamestown going back to Williamsburg, there is a little "country road" and you can only go 25 mph but it is so nice and pretty. We did that.

We also went to Busch Gardens, but we are not ride people and I am so so SO spoiled by Disney, I just could not get into it. But that is just me being quirky LOL, I live 5 minutes from Sesame Place and can not go there for the same reason. It all gets compared to Disney

Have fun planning!!!

 

[musicalSaranader]

I ate at King's Tavern with my university chorus. The food was great and so were the servers; we sang for them, and one of them taught us songs on his guitar-like instrument (don't know what it was called). And when we sang for them, the other guy improvised with us on a violin. It was great!

 

[Cyndiu]

They've got a great water park called Water Country USA. (I think) We had a blast there. Also, there was a restaurant DH especially loved (I think its a chain, but we don't have them in CT) called Red Hot and Blue. We loved that one. Also right nearby there was a General Store that had a ben & jerry's inside and that was a lot of fun.

I agree with other posters that Busch Gardens was great, but if you're not a ride person, maybe not so much.

We stayed at Powhatan Plantation resort and we were less than happy. If that's where you're staying, pm me and I'll tell you what our problems were.

 

[Pin Wizard]

We were just there for Christmas. What beautiful decorations! But we just spent 2 days there since 10 year old son was less than thrilled. But I bought ANNUAL passes! We're going back!!

 

[Cruise04]

There is SO much to see and do in that area. There also is the NASA museum/center in/around Hampton/Newport News. There is the Mariners Museum that I loved as a kid and would love to go back there as an adult. In Norfolk there is the USS Wisconsin that you can tour and some great unique shopping at Waterside. In Virginia Beach there is, well, the beach! From Williamsburg, VA Beach is about an hour away, Norfolk is about 45 min, Hampton is about 20-30 (depending on traffic). A warning - if you head toward Norfolk, don't go between 3pm and 5pm. If you go to VA Beach, don't head back to Williamsburg between 3pm and 5pm and if you do - have lots of patience. Base traffic hits the tunnel about then and it's a long wait sometimes.

There are alot of unique shopping areas in Williamsburg and as someone already posted, the Pottery Factory is neat. An awesome place to eat, if you like seafood, is Captain George's. HUGE seafood buffet. It's a bit pricey but it's good - and I don't like seafood that much. There is also Friendly's for food and awesome ice cream. The shopping area around Colonial Williamsburg is neat too and you don't need passes to go there. There is public parking around there.

Please PM me if you want some more info or some directions to places from where you are staying - I'd be glad to help if I can.

 

[MAC3]

GEM,

Glad you asked this question we are heading down that way in July. Can I ask where you 2 bdrm villa is? We are staying in a II exchange 2 bdrm villa called Turtle Cay (has anyone stayed there before?).

Looks realy nice. We have been to the area before many years ago and are very much looking forward to going back.

Thanks for all the great tips!

Lisa

 

[KaterBell]

I am echoing Busch Gardens. It is so much better than the Tampa park, by FAR. And, if it's warm enough, Water Country USA!

 

[MAC3]

Originally posted by KaterBell
Busch Gardens. It is so much better than the Tampa park, by FAR.

Geez Katerbell,

I thought DH & I were the only ones who felt this way too. I love BG WIlliamsburg but saw nothing appealing about BG Tampa. Haven't been back to Tampa in 20 yrs. Nice to know I'm still not missing anything.

Lisa

 

[GEM]

Thanks for all the great information! We are really excited. Has anybody been to this area with a baby in a stroller? How is it? I know that we won't be able to take the stroller into the historic museums, shops, etc. Will we be able to just leave it parked outside and put the baby in the sling?

 

[CRB#33]

.

 

[Cruise04]

CBR prompted something I missed. We did the Ghost tour one night when we were there at Christmastime and it was neat. It's a walk that you can definitely do with the stroller. You can't take the stroller into the shops or the "homes/taverns" because it would be too crowded but you can definitely put him in the sling.

I also agree with everyone about BG - Williamsburg is by far the greatest. It is second to Disney in my mind. I LOVE BG-Williamsburg! And if you go in June before the kids get out of school out there - it's nicer because it's not so crowded. Although we were there this past summer in July and it wasn't bad that day either.

 

[HoneyPooh]

Colonial Williamsburg is very easy to do with a stroller. We had no problems leaving it outside anywhere and it was always there when we came back. If you go to the Pottery shopping make sure you head through the tunnel under the railroad tracks and go all the way to the back. There is a huge and beautiful greenhouse back there as well as another huge building with every household item you can imagine. We had a ball in there and probably would have bought more if we had room in the car to haul it home! The buildings I'm talking about are all the way in the back to your right. The long skinny building has kind of junk in it but the greenhouse and the other big square building are full of wonderful stuff. My DH does not do rides but enjoys visiting Busch Gardens. It's very beautifully landscaped and there is some really good food to be found. He especially likes Three River Smokehouse for the BBQ chicken.

 

[CindysGusGus]

We live about 3 hours away and try to go at least once a year. The 2 restaurants on our must do list are Captain Georges (great selection on SF) and Mongolian BBQ that is in the middle of the KMart shopping center. It has been rated Williamsburgs best for about 7 years in a row. (Jackie Chan has eaten there). The price is great and so is the food. Also they have Prime Outlets there so pretty good shopping.

 

[goofygirl]

I was there last summer and loved it, the only thing was is that it was during a heatwave in August with 90plus degree days!

Buy one of those colonial hats, you have to! Its like having to buy mouse ears at WDW!

 

[GEM]

Thanks everybody! We are going the second week of June, the 6th - 11th, so we are hoping it won't be too hot or crowded yet.

We are definately going to do Busch Gardens. Does anybody know if they offer some kind of baby swap for the coasters? We are definately ride people!