VA Beach/Williamsburg-info? Suggestions? (m)

[kldmom2000]

We are "thinking" about going to VA Beach/Williamsburg this summer with our 2 girls who will be 6 and almost 4 when we go. I haven't been in at least 15 yrs-I'd gone with my parents back then. I mapquested it and it's 11 hours' drive without any stops/traffic.... I'm looking first of all, for ideas to keep the girls happy during that length of time in the car! They've never been on a trip in a car that's lasted more than 2.5 hours!LOL! I figure we'll leave home around 3am on a Sat. morning so they can sleep a bit (hopefully) in their carseats/booster seat. We'll stop for breakfast and then drive some more.... and take a mid-morning stop to let them run off some energy... then stop for lunch later. Hoping to make it to Williamsburg by suppertime!! Any other suggestions (we'll have the DVD player in the car, plenty of activities and stuff too)

Williamsburg-we were planning on Busch Gardens and Water Country-anything else that might be of interest to them? My parents were always big history buffs and we always visited the historical sites in the area-but I know my girls are far too young to really get anything out of it, so we most likely will not do much of that sort of activity. Any recommendations on hotels??? We'll probably spend 3 nights in Williamsburg and 4 nights @ VA beach.

VA beach.... again-same as above, other than the beach, any other things I should think about fitting into our trip? Any hotel recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any info!!!

 

[kldmom2000]

bump... anyone??? Bueller??? Anyone???

 

[Rubbertops]

We went to Williamsburg in July 2004. We stayed at the Sleep Inn which was cheap ($99) and it was fine, nothing special. It had a pool and was close to Cracker Barrel.

My DDs were 1 and 5 at the time and we went to Busch Gardens 2 days and thought it was great! We also spent an afternoon walking around the streets of Colonial Williamsburg. We enjoyed that too.

Also: we drove 10 hours straight from Toronto to Washington. We did it all at night so the DDs could sleep as much as possible. It was still a difficult drive.

 

[Iott Family]

Just posting to see what replies come back. We, too, are looking into a WVA, VB vacation.

 

[ford family]

We spent a week in Williamsburg in July 2004, resting up after hectic sightseeing in New Orleans and DC. We rented a two bedroom apartment on a cash basis at the Sunterra resort at Greensprings Plantation. The apartment and the facilities, whilst not up to DVC standards, were pretty good and it made a great base for exploring the area.
We went to Busch Gardens, which we enjoyed (parents and three teenage daughters) despite the European themeing, as well as some of the state or county parks. We avoided Colonial Williamsburg (too much like home) but enjoyed the restaurants and the shopping. We voluntarily sat through the timeshare presentation in exchange for a free breakfast and $50 each which we took off our bill.
It made a change from Florida (we own at BWV and we have a house in Bradenton) but it wasn't somewhere we would ever go again. However, we would certainly consider renting a timeshare again, very good value for money.

ford family

 

[hiwaygal]

You might consider the new Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg...that indoor water park would sure be a hit with the kids.

Near Williamsburg there is also Jamestown (which is similar to the historic area at CW). I think your kids might actually like seeing some of the 17th (Jamestown) and 18th (Williamsburg) century tradesmen at work (like the blacksmith, silvermith, gunsmith, wigmaker, candlemaker, shipwright, etc.)...so "theoretically" you could spend a day or so at one or the other.

Down in Virginia Beach, you might want to check out the Virginia Aquarium (I actually don't know the "official" name anymore, they changed it from the Virginia Marine Science Museum). It's very cool...especially for kids.

Have you visited any websites or anything like that?

I'm going to Williamsburg this weekend (I hope...I really want some snacks from Harry and David!! ) and if you want to PM me your address, I will stop by and pick up a bunch of touristy type brochures and mail them to you.

 

[tiggerlover]

There are a lot of great things to see in do in the Virginia Beach (and Williamsburg) area.

Here are some websites that might give you some ideas for your visit.

The following are within 5 minutes of the main beach area or right near the beach. If you stay on the strip there are some great hotels, shops galore, surry bike rentals and a host of water rentals or boat trips. There is the beach and the boardwalk of course too. During the summer they have outdoor concerts and events going on all the time it seems.

http://www.vmsm.com/index.shtml
Virginia Marine Science Museum (formerly known at the Virginia Aquarium)

http://www.oceanbreezewaterpark.com/
Ocean Breeze Water Park and Motor World

http://www.junglegolf.com/
Mini Golf

Within a half hour from the beach is Norfolk where you will find the Nauticus and Battleship Wisconsin: http://www.thenmc.org/nauticus.html http://www.thenmc.org/wisconsin.html. From here you can walk to Waterside http://www.watersidemarketplace.com/, catch the ferry to Portsmouth (short ride) where you will find a GREAT Children's Museum http://www.childrensmuseumva.com/index2.html.

On the way from Williamsburg to VA Beach you will pass the exit for the Virginia Air and Space Museum, worth a stop as it is a neat museum and there is a wooden carosel outside. http://www.vasc.org/

And I know someone mentioned the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, I thought you might like the link to that too: http://williamsburg.greatwolflodge.com/.

Lots of things to see and do in these parts, not enough time to list them all....hope the above helps in some way.