Way OT! Williamsburg

[newtowdw1]

We are going to Williamsburg in April. Anyone been? My DD has a pressing question...if your children have 'dressed the part' with the rented clothes, what kind of clothes are they? Do you have to where all the petticoats?

 

[weirdpaintballr]

I live about an hour away from Williamsburg. I honestly have never noticed anyone dressed up that wasn't part of the whole thing. But I imagine that it woud be very hot and uncomfortable. Also, when are you going--it may be pretty chilly. Atleast for us in VA.... I would be prepared for cool and windy weather, but dress in layers--inside some of the buildings get quite toasty. But, the weather may suprise us(usually does) and be warmer than average....just check the weather report ahead of time and be prepared for changes.

If you have any more questions I will try my best to answer them for you.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

I didn't see anyone else dressed in costumes either (besides the speakers in each building and a guy riding around on a horse), but I think it would be neat to have your kids dress the part. That would probably spar a lot of conversation with the people there.

We stayed at the Hampton Inn. It was nice. We had a jacuzzi room. They had a free continental breakfast and fresh baked cookies. That is the nicest little town.

We got the 2 day pass. I remember that we caught the bus from the visitor center, then caught another bus to go around to the court house. Starting our tour there seemed to miss some of the crowds. We had a nice lunch at the Kings Arms Tavern. Try the peanut soup.

We also stopped on the way and toured Monticello to see the home of Thomas Jefferson. That was really interesting. It was $13 for adults.

After Monticello and Williamsburg, we drove to Norfolk and toured the maritime center and the battleship Wisconsin. Took the navy base cruise. That's a great way to see all the ships. Then went on to Virginia Beach. We had a jacuzzi room again. It had a beautiful balcony room facing the ocean. It was the Courtyard Virginia Beach Oceanfront/North 37th Street. We went the 3rd week of September. It was still hot enough to swim (90+ degrees), but the crowds were already gone.

The only bad part of our trip was Shenandoah Nat'l Park. Some may really enjoy it. We were disappointed. We thought we could drive in and eat at the Lodge. Well we drove hours and never got to the place. You have to drive really slow. After a while all the overlooks looked the same. And we were hungry. Couldn't wait to drive back out and find someplace to eat.

That was more info than you asked for.

Enjoy planning your trip!

 

[weirdpaintballr]

I didn't see anyone else dressed in costumes either (besides the speakers in each building and a guy riding around on a horse), but I think it would be neat to have your kids dress the part. That would probably spar a lot of conversation with the people there.

We stayed at the Hampton Inn. It was nice. We had a jacuzzi room. They had a free continental breakfast and fresh baked cookies. That is the nicest little town.

We got the 2 day pass. I remember that we caught the bus from the visitor center, then caught another bus to go around to the court house. Starting our tour there seemed to miss some of the crowds. We had a nice lunch at the Kings Arms Tavern. Try the peanut soup.

We also stopped on the way and toured Monticello to see the home of Thomas Jefferson. That was really interesting. It was $13 for adults.

After Monticello and Williamsburg, we drove to Norfolk and toured the maritime center and the battleship Wisconsin. Took the navy base cruise. That's a great way to see all the ships. Then went on to Virginia Beach. We had a jacuzzi room again. It had a beautiful balcony room facing the ocean. It was the Courtyard Virginia Beach Oceanfront/North 37th Street. We went the 3rd week of September. It was still hot enough to swim (90+ degrees), but the crowds were already gone.

The only bad part of our trip was Shenandoah Nat'l Park. Some may really enjoy it. We were disappointed. We thought we could drive in and eat at the Lodge. Well we drove hours and never got to the place. You have to drive really slow. After a while all the overlooks looked the same. And we were hungry. Couldn't wait to drive back out and find someplace to eat.

That was more info than you asked for.

Enjoy planning your trip!

It's so weird hearing people talking about touring places you see everyday.

 

[QueenGoblin]

I went to college at William and Mary in Williamsburg. I don't remember seeing alot of people in rented costumes, but that certainly doesn't mean they aren't available. I did often see kids in hats that they purchased in town, tri-corners and lacy bonnets, etc., and I think they sold costumes in some of the stores and they seem pretty complete.
There is a lot of walking outdoors. April should be pretty nice and Spring-like but just be aware when you are packing that you are going to be outside a lot, so check the weather report before you go. Make sure you stop into one of the bakeries for Shrewsbury Cakes. They are just big sugar cookies but they are pretty yummy. The Trellis resteraunt is famous for its desserts, including the very famous "Death By Chocolate." If you can't do a whole meal it might be fun to go in for dessert. The Cheese Shop makes really good sandwiches, but has limited indoor seating. Take a walk on the college campus while you are there, it is beautiful. There is a small (very managable for kids) art museum on campus that used to be free if you need a change of pace.
Have fun. It is a beautiful town.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

It's so weird hearing people talking about touring places you see everyday.

Weird in a good way, right? I guess it might be odd for someone to be talking about touring Indy. Your area is loaded with nice things to see. It took us 14 hours to get there. We had to try to pack in all the sites we could in that little trip. We enjoyed it.

 

[newtowdw1]

Huzzah for Disers! You guys are great! We probably won't rent costumes (although both of mine are big on dress-up), and 55 F for us will probably be pretty warm. April tends to be 30s and 40s here. We like layers!

I really appreciate all the information. I think we'll be touring pretty much in the historic triangle (Wmburg, York, Jamestown). My parents, and maybe sister, b-in law and niece are joining us. I'm pretty excited and have the Insider's Guide to Williamsburg. I'd like to see Monticello, but I don't think we'll have time.

Any other info or tidbits will be appreciated.

 

[princesspwrhr]

we're less than an hour away and have gone several times. My daughter has dressed up twice in a rented costume, once on our own and once our whole Girl Scout troop did it and she purchased a costume similar to the rented one that she's worn on other visits. If you pm me I will send you photos, but I don't want to post photos of her online. The costume rental is $20, the girls get a white shift type dress, and a colored sash. You also get a choice of 3 different caps, costing anywhere between $7 and $12, those you keep (sanitary issues and all) and there is a refundable deposit of $25 when you rent the costume. It is not the whole ensaum with petticoats, shift, shirt, waist coat & apron. They are a bit wide and tie in the back, so bring safety pins (the shop is frequently out). The boys costume is shirt (muted calico type fabric ties at neck) a cloth messanger bag a wooden gun (or not) and a tri corn hat ($12 or $15 depending if you want the gold band on it), price is the same $20 rental, $25 refundable deposit, pay for and keep the hat. The costumed children also get a letter with some errands to complete. It's lots of fun.

As others have said - you will be outside a lot, and our weather can be unpredictable in April.

 

[weirdpaintballr]

Weird in a good way, right? I guess it might be odd for someone to be talking about touring Indy. Your area is loaded with nice things to see. It took us 14 hours to get there. We had to try to pack in all the sites we could in that little trip. We enjoyed it.

Yeah...I'm just so used to being aound all that stuff...It just seems weird when people talk about visiting the location....and if you live here...VA Beach sucks...

 

[weirdpaintballr]

Huzzah for Disers! You guys are great! We probably won't rent costumes (although both of mine are big on dress-up), and 55 F for us will probably be pretty warm. April tends to be 30s and 40s here. We like layers!

I really appreciate all the information. I think we'll be touring pretty much in the historic triangle (Wmburg, York, Jamestown). My parents, and maybe sister, b-in law and niece are joining us. I'm pretty excited and have the Insider's Guide to Williamsburg. I'd like to see Monticello, but I don't think we'll have time.

Any other info or tidbits will be appreciated.

If you are gonna do Jamestown hit that before Williamsburg....Jamestown is not quite as neat as Williamsburg....so just do Jamestown first.

 

[princesspwrhr]

I have to agree that Jamestown Island in it's current state leaves much to be desired for 'fun', especially if you have already been to Williamsburg. Jamestown Island is a National Park run by the NPS ($8 p/adult last time we went $10 for Jamestown Island/Yorktown Battlefeild combo, both good for 7 days). Although it does show promise when the new museum is complete and if you happen to be there when the archeologists are it's really cool. get the Jr Ranger pack for the kids from the gift shop -$2 There's a few Picnic tables but no grills, parking is sparse, check out the glass blowers when you first enter the island and the veiw of the river is great.

Jamestown Settlement on the other hand is really cool. I haven't yet had a chance to explore the galleries, my girls always want to go straight outside. It's $12 p/adult here and $6(?) for kids (www.historyisfun.org) Outside starting at the dock are replicas of the 3 ships John Smith & the colonists came over on, the Susan Constant, the Godspeed and the Discovery. You can go on the ships and explore all over them, there are interpreters on each one, as well as some kind of off to the side that will talk to the kids about all manners of ship life, charting courses by the stars and show them how to figure out how many knots the ship is going etc. They've always been great. The Godspeed replica is currently sailing the east coast to promote the 400th anniversary of America and the celebrations that you'll be in time for next year. Just up from the dock are restrooms and the Riverwalk Discovery area. This is the favorite of my oldest. You'll find interpreters showing different things of the Indian and colonists way of life, everything from smoking fish, making nets, scraping and hollowing a canoe, cooking, herbs, farming, it depends on the season, but it's hands on and tons of fun. Up from the Riverwalk discovery area is a recreation of Jamestown Fort. Interpreters abound and will give you a tour of the fort, tell you how thngs worked and every so often (I think on the hour) there's a firearms demonstration. Again, what the interpreters are doing depends on the season. Between the Fort and the museum is the Powhawtan (sp) Indian village. They had to move it from it's previous location due to flooding so it's not set up quite right anymore, but that doesn't make it any less neat to look around and talk to interpreters, learn how to make rope, grind corn, play games etc. Activities vary by season. In April I would guess that you would be finding a lot of planting. Jamestown Settlement does have a cafe. Food is decent quality, not outstanding, but not gross and is priced what you would expect.

Yorktown Battlefeild, Yorktown and Yorktown Victory Center are a short, gorgeous 20-30 min drive down Colonial Parkway. There are lots of pull offs on Colonial Parkway with great picture opportunities and information.

Yorktown Battlefeild & the historic houses of Yorktown are run by the NPS ($5 p/adult $10 combo pass, good for 7 days). You can walk around the battlefeilds for free but you can't go in the museum or any of the historic buildings without paying (You get a bright orange sticker to wear that shows you paid). Jr Ranger program here was $1. Yorktown itself is so neat. It's still an inhabited town with people living in many of the historic buildings so not everything is open to the public. There is a public beach and a gorgeous picnic area overlooking the river. No grills that I remember, but we always brought ours so I didn't really need to notice. Riverwalk Landing is a new area in Yorktown with quaint little shops, a Ben & Jerry's ice cream and an expensive table service place (I think it's reservations only).

Up the hill is Yorktown Victory Center. It's run by the same foundation as Jamestown Settlement so the website is the same. When you first make it through the ticketing area you follow a path down towards the museum that is dotted with informational boards about the revolution before you end up at the museum. Before entering the museum there is a set up of a colonial army camp that you can explore. Don't be afraid to ask the interpreters questions, they are more than willing to share and the answers are usually fascinating. The museum itself is huge and full of really cool artifacts. Downstairs tucked ina corner is a kids room where they can dress up, play, read books and escape the museum if they want. (Must be supervised). Upon exiting the museum you'll walk uphill into a colonial tobacco farm. There are various buildings, chickens, interpreters etc there and also stuff the kids can do to 'help'. From there you can exit through a gate or through the gift shop. Plenty of parking, covered picnic tables and snack machines.

If you have daughters that are Girl Scouts, our council Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast has patch programs designed for the exploration of Jamestown Island, Yorktown Battlefeild and Colonial Williamsburg as well as other cities, towns and historic buildings in the area. http://www.gsccc.org/Programs_Activities_Patches.asp

Forgot to add - also fun for the kids is the time travelers passport. The program runs from March to October and each year has a different theme. By visiting different museums and historic sites in VA the kids get a stamp on their passport. When you visit 6 and send in your passport you get a certificate deeming you a VA Time Traveler, more than 6 locations earn a gold seal announcing your master traveler status. If at least 2 of the locations you visit are within that years theme you also get a free patch. Last years theme was 'Before 1607', this years theme is 'From Colonists to Countrymen' and with the 400th anniversary next year the theme will proabbly have something to do with that. The website for information and to download the passport is www.timetravelers.org

 

[pigget74]

Looking at doing something like this maybe summer '08. Are you guys buying a package or are you just putting a trip together on your own? Do you recommend getting a package through Colonial Williamsburg with Busch Gardens and such or would I do better on my own. ?

 

[princesspwrhr]

Looking at doing something like this maybe summer '08. Are you guys buying a package or are you just putting a trip together on your own? Do you recommend getting a package through Colonial Williamsburg with Busch Gardens and such or would I do better on my own. ?

We live locally so have no use for hotel rooms and just get passes and go when we please. That said when I've looked at tickets and such for my visiting parents or friends the best ticket deal has been the combo tickets from gowilliamsburg.com They have length of stay flex tickets that include as much or as little as you want for one convienant price.

Your milage may vary but I have found Busch Gardens Williamsburg nothing but frustrating with a toddler. It's very much an amusement park geared towards older/taller kids and not so much families so there's very little everyone can do together. But I have always found it to be clean and the staff for the most part friendly.

Hotels in that area (Williamsburg) are mostly clean well kept chains but we have driven by some that look beyond repair, and astonishngly one of them is an 'official' Colonial Williamsburg Hotel.(Governors Inn) If you want an official Colonial Williamsburg Hotel I would go with the Woodlands. It's affordable, and steps away from the Visitors Center (which is about half a mile walk or a short bus ride from the historic district). Again, I've never stayed in any of them so this is based just on location and outward appearance.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Ok, I live in Williamsburg and this whole thread has been really weird for me to read. It is almost surreal reading about your home town like this. Now I know how people from Orlando feel on these boards. You never know all the stuff around the touristy places when you live here. We have Season Passes to Busch Gardens/Water Country, I am a county resident and can go to all Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown stuff with just ID, but I never knew you could rent period clothing and where it in CW. DH grew up here and worked for CW during his teen years and when he was in school, and he said it must be something new. When you live here, you are really not involved in the CW stuff, you might go and walk around Duke of Gloucester Street and never enter one building. Sad but So. I just don't go and visit it like I should, the kids go every year on a field trip with school, maybe I'll go on the next one. I might find out some stuff.

 

[lovetoscrap]

We did the costume thing with my 2 girls and they LOVED it!! It was a hot day but even that didn't sway them--they kept the dresses on for hours. The poster above described them perfectly. We had our own bonnets that we brought with us, and at Jamestown you can buy Mob Caps for about $3. But what she didn't mention is that the kids are given a "Quest" of sorts with the costume rentals.

I only have girls, so don't know about the boys quest, but the girls get a letter asking them for help from a Mother that had to go out of town suddenly. They have to go and help plant her garden, pick up an ad at the post office, deliver it to the printing office, and learn how to curtsy. My girls had the best time and it really helped them to get into the experience. They were so into doing the job right and making sure it got done.

We went to the gardens first and they got to plant an entire row of some vegetable, complete with hauling water from the cistern. (while in the white dresses). The we had curtsy lesson from one of the "ladies" of the town. While doing this all the characters know the story contained in the letter so they ask questions and keep in character with the story. We went to the post office and had to ask for a letter, which contained the instructions to take an ad enclosed in the letter to the Printing office.

Following the instructions take you through most of the main street through town. My girls were so eager and having the "tasks" really helped them to talk to the characters/interactors. They know that kids dressed like that are involved in the "tasks" so they know what they need to ask and can help them out if they are shy.

I VERY HIGHLY recommend this experience!!!!!! Please reconsider and think about doing this. Especially if your kids enjoy dressing up and have any interest in this time period. Oh, and FYI, you put the outfit on OVER your street clothes so weather won't be a problem if it is cold. Just dress them in extra layers! I have some photos of my girls during this experience that I can send you in an email if you would like to PM me .

I think the reason you don't see many doing this is because it is not very well advertised so most don't know about it. We had several people stop and ask us about it. Especially since my kids got to do special things not normally allowed (like planting the seeds, and handing over a special letter in front of everyone at the printing office). And honestly, with so many people of all ages dressed up around there, you really don't "stick out"!!! Many just thought my girls were part of the reenactments!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Not sure about your hotel arrangements or budget, but you might look into the Great Wolf Lodge. It is a wonderful resort with a HUGE indoor water park located very close to all the main area attractions. The Water Park is incredible, and they often have some good specials.

You can google them to find the website. Even if you spend most of your time at another hotel and maybe only one or two nights at Great Wolf, you will have a great time!

 

[cmbonneville]

Yeah...I'm just so used to being aound all that stuff...It just seems weird when people talk about visiting the location....and if you live here...VA Beach sucks...

I'm with you...

it all just seems so boring and usual when you live in southeastern VA... yeah there is alot to do I guess, but ugh...the traffic, crime, public schools, politics, etc is such a mess - I would gladly trade it despite the beaches, history, mountains, family activities, and themeparks.

IMO, I think Colonial Williamsburg is over-rated. As a kid it was a mandatory one day field-trip to both Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg. I haven't brought myself to taking my own kids yet, somehow I can't justify the amount of money it would take for admission for a family of six..
Just going to presidential park (across from Water Country USA) is crazy - over $60.00 for a 5 people and an infant to walk around some big statues...

 

[suffolkprincess]

We go to Colonial Williamsburg every December on the Saturday closest to my birthday (well, mom and I-- Dad and the brothers dropped out around the teen years), since I was 10. (I'm 34!) Its a cherished family tradition for my mom and I to the extent that I flew in from Wyoming once to surprise here there on that day.

Since my DD was born we have brought her along. She really enjoyed Christiana Campbell's Tavern as a 2 year old and as a 3 year old. The interpreter doing Mistress Campbell went out of her way to include my daughter in her little act that she did and my daughter loved it. We like the menu at that tavern and its a real favorite for us, although King's Arms has even better food. We also have done Trellis for lunch, and it is consistently good, although much less creative recently than in the past. A favorite activity for us (when there aren't little ones with us) is to have dessert there in the afternoon on the terrace (there is a time span every afternoon where all they do is desserts and beverages.) We get champagne by the glass and desserts and then coffee and its usually just lovely.

I have read about the new constume rental program and it sounds really fun...

RE: Busch Gardens. We took our DD twice this summer (she was 3 yrs 9 months and 3 yrs 11 months.) We did Disney + Sea World with her last fall when she had just turned 3, so she was familar with theme parks already. She liked Busch Gardens a lot, but the lines can be long (no fastpass) for the attractions we could ride together (and there were very few.) HOWEVER, there was a nice kid's area and several kids rides throughout the park that kept her happy. DH and I didn't ride much, but she was riding all day and had a great time. The food is very pricey but the quality is not at all bad. The FestHaus show was a highlight, but *THE* highlight for us was the wildlife area with the exotic animals, getting to hold a parrot, going into the aviary thing with all the birds eating from our hands, etc. That was really fun for her and she still talks about it.

April *can* be cool, but it can also be beautiful. DO NOT count on swimming at all, unless its in an indoor pool!

And, HAVE FUN!

 

[princesspwrhr]

One day I'll figure out the multiple qoute thing.

Re: Va Beach - I much prefer it in the fall-spring when you can actually walk on the beach and not pay $20 for parking 3 blocks from the beach. During the summers we prefer to drive to Buckroe and brave the jellyfish or Yorktown and deal with the drive. They're just less crowded and it's easier for one adult to keep an eye on 3 kids. If anyone knows of a quiet beach on the southside I'm all ears since we may be moving south of the tunnels.

Re: Colonial Williamsburg being over rated - I guess it depends on what you're into. We LOVE going there and Jamestown Settlement. We can take or leave Yorktown. But we go becuase we want to, not becuase it's a mandatory yearly feild trip (we homeschool) and because my oldest adores talking to the interpreters. She says she amy want to do that 'some day'.Other members of our family who live here think we're weird becuase we see no value in a Busch Gardens pass, which they all have, and they'd rather not go to CW or Jamestown. I totally agree on Presidents Park though. I can't get over the price tag to see big statues and read less than you could find in a few good books.

Re: reading about where you live as a tourist destination - yep weird, but fun. Try reading about people wanting to visit Hampton.... lol One morning we were at CW pretty early and it was a great day. It was one of our first visits and it was so interesting/odd to me to see people taking their morning jog through the streets. When you're there on Duke of Glouster Street or on the mall in front of the Palace you forget that there's a university on one end and residential areas surrounding you. It was like seeing someone take their morning jog down Main Street in MK. Surreal.

Re: traffic - we may have volume, especially around the bases and the tunnels can be a pita but I'll take this over what we had in Atlanta any day.

Re: pictures of CW costumes. I was just visiting the main page a couple of days ago (great research site) and if you stay on the main page long enough to watch the pictures change there is one of a girl playing with the hoop. She's wearing one of the rented costumes. There are several different sash colors. The boy running behind her is also wearing a rented costume.

 

[suffolkprincess]

Re: Va Beach - I much prefer it in the fall-spring when you can actually walk on the beach and not pay $20 for parking 3 blocks from the beach. During the summers we prefer to drive to Buckroe and brave the jellyfish or Yorktown and deal with the drive. They're just less crowded and it's easier for one adult to keep an eye on 3 kids. If anyone knows of a quiet beach on the southside I'm all ears since we may be moving south of the tunnels.

Try these:

Sarah Constant Beach-- Ocean View, in Norfolk. Its the Chesapeake Bay, and they have plenty of parking, but I am sure it does get crowded in high summer.

Seashore State Park/ First Landing State Park-- off Shore Drive in VB; its the Chesapeake Bay and you do pay to park but its a pretty reasonable daylong fee and there are amenities (bathhouse, information center, convenience store, playgrounds) and its a pretty nice Bay beach.

The North End: go down Shore Drive in Va Beach and make a left onto Atlantic Ave towards Ft Story. Then, drive around til you find free parking on the street. Each street as a public beach access at the end of it. This is true for all streets from about 60- the 80s (on the ocean side of Atlantic Ave.) It can take time to find a space, and there are no bathhouses or lifeguards or other amenities, but the beach is GREAT there...

Little Island Park (Sandbridge)-- we always go here since we had DD4, its too much of a hassle now to drive around looking for street parking with her in tow. We pay the fee (not a lot-- maybe $5?) and then there you are-- there is a pier (additional fee), decent bathhouses, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and a convenience store/ snack bar. They have wildlife info things and a tram ride into the state park, too, but we have never done those. Yeah, it can be crowded, but we went this summer on a perfect July Saturday and didn't get there til about 11 am and had no trouble at all getting a parking place. Then, on the way home, stop at one of the many famr stands and get some veggies to grill for dinner!