Williamsbug VA Area?

[Happiest mommy]

Hi DISers we will be leaving in a couple of days for 4 days,we will be taking the girls to Busch Gardens, Yankee Candle shop, can you guys also give me some other ideas of what my DD's 8 and almost 4 would enjoy. TIA

 

[kastoney]

Busch gardens also owns a near by waterpark called Water Country USA. It's a nice park and you can buy tickets to let you into both parks. Williamsburg also isn't too far from Virginia Beach if you wanted to get some ocean time in. Your younger one may not be as interested but both Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown do a good job of making history fun and interactive. We did all of the above numerous times when I was a kid and I have nothing but fond memories.

 

[misstheworld]

Busch Gardens and Water Country (if you do the latter) will each take one day. Depending on what your girls like to do, you can really do two days at BG. It's a lovely park with great shows and rides. There are two areas specifically for kids.

Yankee Candle can take up a couple of hours, but that's at the most. I don't think your DD's will be very interested unless you decide to do some of the activities you have to pay for (make your own candle) or buy (toy shop).

Your DD8 might like Colonial Williamsburg, but I doubt your DD4 would very much. It's a lot of walking and not a lot of air conditioning.

If you want to go to VA Beach, it's going to take (conservatively) an hour or more to get there. There are other smaller beaches that are closer if you aren't dead set on the Atlantic Ocean/boardwalk experience. There's a nice beach area in Yorktown that's close to the Visitor's Center. You could do some history with Yorktown and then spend some time at the beach. It's family-friendly and fairly low-key. Parking in the garage at the beach is free.

There's a pretty neat mini-golf course in Williamsburg that's built on a "mountain" and themed around pirates. It's right next to a Dairy Queen so that's a fun treat. There is also a Ripley's Believe it or Not in that area.

 

[luvmy3]

My kids enjoyed the Jamestown settlement.

 

[RebeccaUC]

We just came back from there a couple weeks ago. Had a great time. My DD (7) and DS (4) enjoyed Busch Gardens and LOVED Water Country. We bought a combo ticket from AAA for $79 each...MUCH cheaper than general admission.

We did do Colonial Williamsburg but the point was lost on the kids.

Have fun!

 

[ArwenMarie]

We went to BGW in May, it was awesome. We did the Dine with Elmo dinner, that was very fun. So much character interaction and we've never even been huge Sesame Street fans. So definitely do that one if you can, you can buy the tickets online ahead of time.

We spent two whole days there at Busch Gardens and we could have easily spent a third. Tons of rides for kids and lots of great shows and good food. And then all of the animal stuff, etc. Have fun!

 

[Maggie at the Fort]

I grew up going to Williamsburg often. When I was 2, my sister started college at William and Mary. We always did Colonial Williamsburg. We just took my daughter (3) for the first time this spring. She really enjoyed it. We prepared before hand by spending time on their website. They have pictures of the craftsmen and she thought the shoemaker sounded really interesting. When we were there she got to talk to the shoemaker and see him at work. She liked a lot of the craftsmen and women. The wigmaker had samples of hair to touch and the cook took time to talk just to her. She also loved seeing the animals and the musicians. Also, you can rent dresses if your girls want to dress up during the visit.
As far as food, the Raleigh bakery in the colonial area and the Cheese shop in Merchant square are not to be missed. We always get extra house dressing to take home when we are there!

 

[darnheather]

I second Jamestown for your kids ages. There is lots of interactive things to do like climbing on and in ships also an air conditioned museum. If you decide to do Water Country, don't miss the diving show, we love it.

 

[Happiest mommy]

Thank you all!! I will definetly check out Jamestown, we will also be driving there so we will have our car to get around and explore

 

[Happiest mommy]

my DD3 will be having a birthday while there, any sugestions on where to take her and her sister? TIA

 

[xmansmom13]

Also, if you are into amusement parks, there are others within an 1 hr to 1 1/2. Kings Dominion is a nice one and has a waterpark plus the amusement park. There is also Ocean Breeze Waterpark and Motor world.

There are also a great number of museums close to Williamsburg, VA. Living museum(a huge favorite of my 4 yr old), Nauticus, The Children's museum (this is very interactive for the kids), The Mariner's Museum, VA Air and Space museum.

 

[Happiest mommy]

xmansmom13 thanks! the Living Museum sounds great, do you know how far that is from Williamsburg? thank you all!: thumbsup2

 

[misstheworld]

The Virginia Living Museum is about 25-30 minutes from Williamsburg, depending on where you're staying.

One tip...traffic on interstate 64 around here is just insane in the summertime. (I live in Newport News and used to work in Williamsburg.) Routes 60 and 143 both parallel the interstate from Williamsburg south towards Newport News and Hampton. If traffic is stopped, getting off and taking one of those roads could save you some time. Route 60 is less traveled, but only two lanes. Route 143 is four lanes, but has more stop lights and is busier.

 

[stormer]

Water Country is great. We bought the combo ticket too. We spent 1 and a half days at Busch Gardens and 3 days at Water Country. My kids absolutely loved all of the water slides, the wave pool, lazy river, etc. It was so much fun.

 

[Happiest mommy]

Water Country sounds like soo much fun!!!!! will be on my to-do list

 

[stormer]

Water Country sounds like soo much fun!!!!! will be on my to-do list

The combo ticket allows you in both parks for seven days. We went to water country at 5 PM (it closed at 8PM) just to see how it was laid out. The kids did a few slides and we left. The next morning when we went we knew exactly where we wanted to go to set up. It helped prevent us from wandering around in the morning looking for the spot we liked.

 

[#1 Goofy Fan]

Just came back, kids loved Busch Gardens we spent 5 days in the park. We Skipped Water Country this time. Hate to say it but my kids would rather be in Busch Gardens than Disney (breaks my heart). So much to do and see - although can do it in a day or say - they loved going back and riding coasters over and over.

 

[darnheather]

There is also several mini-golf places, a go-kart place, and a place to climb ropes called "Go Ape".

 

[MotherofLandon]

I second the VA living Museum and Water Country. I'm local and we have season passes to both as well as Busch Gardens.

 

[Happiest mommy]

Hi guys!! thank you all so much!! we are here now wow! its beautiful here, don't know where to begin so much to do and still a bit tired from the ride hit traffic around Washington and that added an additional hour 1/2 to our drive from NYC, going to go to the living museum today and hit Busch Gardens tomorrow can you guys give me an idea as to what time we should leave when it's time to go back home on Thursday? TIA