OT: LIVE Report from Colonial Williamsburg: Final PHOTO update

[Renysmom]

I so wish I could call in sick and come down to play with you guys.

If you get the chance I really suggest you try and get to Jamestown. It just had its anniversary and alot of the displays are still there. Also, they just discovered some buildings a year or so ago and they are currently unearthing it. Really interesting for kids to hear how that is done.

When you go to BG make sure to ride the Big Bad Wolf. Its a GREAT roller coaster that is being closed after this season. It's a BG tradition being over 20 years old and will be very much missed by all us regulars.. Also, the BBQ ribs place is really good if you don't want German. The German fest though is totally different than World Showcase so try and get in there to see the show, even if you don't eat.

Oh yea, we should have warned you about that weekend traffic. Don't think of driving home when you will be near Springfield VA to MD from 3-6. It will add hours to your drive... If you want to completely avoid 95 and those backups just jump on RT 301 towards MD from I295 North bound. It will take a little longer, but no rush hour backups which can add 1-3 hours, and you drive through lots of little VA towns and get to see the countryside. I love driving to MD that way.

Let us know if you need anything..

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone: I'm glad you all like the trip report even though it's not Disney. We're having a great time. The weather's been fantastic too.

My camera died yesterday after our condo break, so I didn't get any pictures last night. We had dinner at the Chowning's Tavern. They had light tavern fare, and strolling entertainers to play music for you. It was very relaxing.

After dinner we saw a show in the Kimball Theater called the "Grand Medley of Entertainments". It was meant to be a silly, vaudeville type show, and the host even described it as "stupid". Our family called it the "Hoop-Dee-Doo" of Williamsburg. The show was stupid but entertaining. The kids really liked it. Evie (DD8 ) just laughed and laughed throughout it. So that made the whole thing worth-while for us.

OK on tap today:
more Colonial Williamsburg touring
Fife and Drum Corps
dinner at Shield's Tavern
Cry Witch evening witch trial program

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

It looks like Mrs. Washington always has a place to rest her arms.
Her coach looks beautiful.

Hi Anna

Yup, Mrs. Washington has hoop skirts. Who thought up those things? They need to put cup holders in them...

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I live in Northern VA and we travel to Williamsburg at least twice a year, kids participate in music in the parks at Busch Gardens and my wife has a confernce she attends in the fall.Here are a couple of suggestions for you to visit on your trip.

Thanks for the tips. We really liked the Raleigh Tavern Bakery. There was a relaxing place to eat behind it.

Loving the TR Dave!!! It is bringing back lots of memories - I went to Williamsburg a lot when I live in VA.

I love the Trellis restaurant. What's not to love about a place that has Death by Chocolate.

Hi Tonya I'll have to look into Trellis. A couple people mentioned that one.

It is nice to be reminded that Disney World is not the only place to spend vacation time.

I'm glad you like the report. I was hoping people wouldn't get annoyed that it wasn't Disney.

I love the pictures, Dave! They're really bringing back a lot of memories for me...now I want to go back! Can't wait to see more!

Thanks, We're having a great time. Wish I had pictures from last night though.

I was in Williamsburg last week with my family (DH, DS14, DS11). We had a great time.

Thanks for the tip on the meal deal.

I so wish I could call in sick and come down to play with you guys.

Hi Kelly I don't know if we're going to make it down to Jamestown. We head back on Friday. Tomorrow we don't have anything planned, and were thinking of just hanging out at the condo. If people feel energetic, maybe we'll head down to Jamestown. Or we might go to Water Country... we didn't have plans to go there either.

 

[javamoma]

Great report! We are headed there for the first time in the fall. Your report is very helpful.

So, how many layers did Mrs Washington have on?

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

So, how many layers did Mrs Washington have on?

We lost count. She kept going, and going, and going. There's a shiff, a hoop skirt, a petticoat...

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Hey Everyone: we're back from our morning/early afternoon in Williamsburg. It is a hot one today in the 90's and very humid. We're taking a break in the condo, and I'm going to upload some photos.

We started this morning by heading to "The Brickyard". This is the place where they make... bricks!

The fun thing for the kids is that they can help mix the clay
more "Muddy Buddies" in the Parfitt family

The kids had a blast playing in the mud, and they had buckets where they could wash off.

Who needs Blizzard Beach, when you can cool off by standing in muddy water?

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Next we checked out the Cabinetmaker. This was a cool building built over a stream.

Some more period "taxis"

It's a hard life being a Colonial Williamsburg resident

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

We ended our afternoon tour by going to the Great Hopes Plantation.

Lots of livestock on the plantation that you could get up close to.

This was a really interesting plantation. We were able to go into the slave quarters and have a long conversation with an African-American woman who was reinacting the part of a slave. It was incredibly eye-opening for me and for the kids. It really made us think.

 

[cj9200]

My daughter did the brick making a few years ago and loved it. Thanks for posting your trip. Looks like you are all having lots of fun.

 

[cyberbox2]

I'm so glad you all are enjoying your Williamsburg visit. Yes it is very humid and hot today, but after being stuck in an office building from 8 to 5, I look forward to it!

This trip report is really getting me excited about our weekend stay at Powhatan Plantation next week, I'm looking at photo's of the resort online now.

like Reysmom said, if you guys need anything just ask, we're only 45 minutes away.

 

[mejkjj97]

I am glad you are having a great trip. I don't know if they still do presentation call a "Conversation with George Washington" or any of the Founding Fathers. We saw George Washington a couple of years back and it was amazing. The performers are something else. They are so well versed in who they are portraying.
I am looking forward to seeing more pictures.

 

[Tonya2426]

Do they let adults stomp in the mud? Because that is like getting an expensive mud treatment at a spa!!!

That's the cutest cow nose I have seen in a long time.

 

[AnneR]

It's been a couple of years since the brickyard was open when we were there. I have some pictures somewhere of my girls playing in the mud.

If you get the chance I too recommend Jamestown. You can see both the historical site where they have archeological digs doing on and the interpretation site where they have the replica ships. Don't miss the glass blowing. We also like to bike around the Jamestown Island.

 

[safetymom]

Loving your report and photos. Hopefully one of these days I will get there.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Do they let adults stomp in the mud? Because that is like getting an expensive mud treatment at a spa!!!

Tonya, does this answer your question?

That mud (I mean clay) felt good!!!

 

[dpuck1998]

Tonya, does this answer your question?

That mud (I mean clay) felt good!!!

Atta boy Dave! Toss in a banana and you could start a game!

 

[safetymom]

I think you are going to be our mud expert.

Please don't sacrifice another banana.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Can't keep me away from the mud I guess... or bananas.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

OK, back to the report...

after our afternoon break from the sun. We went back to Colonial Williamsburg to check a couple more things out. We went to the "Magazine" where the stored the weapons.

And we saw the Fife and Drum corps march down the middle of the town. They were a sight to see. I thought they'd be a little bigger of a corps, but I still really enjoyed the music.

OK, that's all for now. I'm beat and ready to get to bed. Tomorrow I'll tell you about our dinner at Shield's Tavern and the evening witch trial program we saw called Cry Witch.

Good night all.