Williamsburg................cheap

[julluvsdisney]

Any ideas on fun things to do in williamsburg VA cheap? Really cant afford to go since we are going to Disney in a few months and its an all out trip so there goes our vacation money for the year lol! We are only going because MIL has a timeshare and basically guilted us into it! She booked it today for aug 21st so last min kinda! Itll be my MIL DH myself and our 2 boys 2 and 8. Any ideas would be great! Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[Priorityonecb]

You can go to all the Merchant Square shops in Colonial Williamsburg, and then just wander down the street right into the park. There will be some buildings you can't enter without admission (denoted by a flag on the outside of the building). But, you can go into any of the other buildings/shops and see everything else. If you go to their website you can see if there are any parades/fireworks/concerts going on that you could schedule around if they interest you. We like to go the Peanut store, free samples everywhere! Yum!

The Yankee Candle store is amazing! You could spend an hour or more there and not spend a dime if you didn't want to. There are candles your kids can dip and make ($1-$6), a general store that has lots of fun things to look at, a huge candy store, a toy store, a Christmas store where it "snows" on you and there is a train that goes by. And of course every candle you could ever want. It has a Carrabba's attached, and an Olive Garden just next door.

Water Country is pretty inexpensive, and a fun day!

 

[julluvsdisney]

The Yankee Candle store is amazing! You could spend an hour or more there and not spend a dime if you didn't want to. There are candles your kids can dip and make ($1-$6), a general store that has lots of fun things to look at, a huge candy store, a toy store, a Christmas store where it "snows" on you and there is a train that goes by. And of course every candle you could ever want. It has a Carrabba's attached, and an Olive Garden just next door.

Water Country is pretty inexpensive, and a fun day!

That sounds awesome!!! love me some candles!!!!!! and it sounds like the kids will enjoy it too! thanks so much!

 

[DawnM]

Does the timeshare have things to do? We went in May and stayed in a condo with 2 pools, a gameroom and a putt putt area....my kids didn't want to leave the condo complex!

We did Jamestown and Yorktown ($16 with AA discount for both and it can take a full 2 days).

My kids liked that more than actual Williamsburg.

Dawn

 

[julluvsdisney]

Does the timeshare have things to do? We went in May and stayed in a condo with 2 pools, a gameroom and a putt putt area....my kids didn't want to leave the condo complex!

We did Jamestown and Yorktown ($16 with AA discount for both and it can take a full 2 days).

My kids liked that more than actual Williamsburg.

Dawn

No not really I guess its brand new so they have not completed some of it. We usually use it in orlando but she really wanted to go to virginia so she exchanged it. (I lived in VA when I was a kid so there is no real draw but I figured there might be some new things that my DIS friends have done recently that could make it real fun!) I have never been to yorktown though so that sounds like something fun to do!

 

[bas71873]

You could also go about 20 minutes South of W'burg on I64 and hit Yorktown. There is a new Riverwalk area with shops and eats and then there is also the beach there. Let them swim and eat sand all day . There are also battlefields in Yorktown to explore too!

 

[bas71873]

OH. And if you boys like baseball, the Richmond Flying Squirrels (it's minor league) have a team that plays in Richmond. Probably and hours drive north of W'burg, but the tickets are cheap and the kids love it!

 

[julluvsdisney]

You could also go about 20 minutes South of W'burg on I64 and hit Yorktown. There is a new Riverwalk area with shops and eats and then there is also the beach there. Let them swim and eat sand all day . There are also battlefields in Yorktown to explore too!

Oh cool! that sounds like fun! we were looking virginia beach but if there is a beach closer thats awesome! My 8 yr old would love to see the battlefields! Thank you all so much for the info!!!! Any more ideas are welcomed! I am the planner so I have to throw a good vaca together in 4 weeks so I have been online searching like craaaazy!!

 

[Janet Hill]

Take the ferry. It's near Jamestown and it is free. My kids use to love taking it.

 

[julluvsdisney]

WOW you all are awesome! Who needs google whe you have the DIS!! I have gotten waaay more info from you guys than all of my! Thanks so much for the info! I also found the candlelight ghost tour in williamsburg. Seems like alot of fun! anyone done this before??? its only $11 per person so it seems like a good deal!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

In the Colonial area many of the buildings you can enter without having to purchase a Visitors Pass. I know you have to have a pass for the Governors Palace, Capitol and some of the other private houses, but most you can enter. You can go into Bruton Parish Church, which also has a historic grave yard, you can go into the some of the shops in the historical area, and you can also see the powder magazine show. And you can go to the visitor center, some of the movies there are free. Merchants square is good, and so is Yankee Candle. You can also window shop at Prime Outlets if you'd like as well. Most of the local hotels have pools, and as do the time shares. Also, if you don't own at the time share you are at, you could always sit thru the sales pitch and get free tix to Water Country or Busch Gardens. Don't forget Yorktown and Jamestown are near by and you can get a combo pass for those and Williamsburg. But I'm not too sure of the cost, but I think you can purchases a leveled pass depending on what you want to see.

 

[julluvsdisney]

In the Colonial area many of the buildings you can enter without having to purchase a Visitors Pass. I know you have to have a pass for the Governors Palace, Capitol and some of the other private houses, but most you can enter. You can go into Bruton Parish Church, which also has a historic grave yard, you can go into the some of the shops in the historical area, and you can also see the powder magazine show. And you can go to the visitor center, some of the movies there are free. Merchants square is good, and so is Yankee Candle. You can also window shop at Prime Outlets if you'd like as well. Most of the local hotels have pools, and as do the time shares. Also, if you don't own at the time share you are at, you could always sit thru the sales pitch and get free tix to Water Country or Busch Gardens. Don't forget Yorktown and Jamestown are near by and you can get a combo pass for those and Williamsburg. But I'm not too sure of the cost, but I think you can purchases a leveled pass depending on what you want to see.

Wow your full of good ideas!!! Hows the weather during aug? I lived in chesapeake so I know down there it was HOT which Im sure is the same where you are since its only an hour drive but I figured I would ask! are the prime outletts big? It seems that way on their website! Any good battlefeilds around? My son loves history so I know he would LOVE to go see a reinactment!

 

[loveysbydesign]

does anyone know of the cheapest way to get BG tix?

 

[bas71873]

does anyone know of the cheapest way to get BG tix?

right now they are promoting that kids get in free w/the purchase of an adult ticket. for some reason, i think that's kids 5 and under, but I could be wrong. I think 2 and under get in free anyway. you could check their website for more info I'm sure!

 

[olwyngdh]

There is a lot to do in the area for a minimal cost Newport News has the Virginia Living Museum and the Mariners Museum as well as the Army Transportaion Museum at Ft Eustis. Hampton has Virginia Air and Space and Jacques Cousteau as well as an antique Merry go Round. Ft Monroe has the Casement Museum. Best bet is to pick up one of the local coupon guides when you get here, there will be maps, suggestions of fun things to do, and coupons galore.

We yave year passes for Williamsburg since my 8 yr old thinks it is her personal playground, and we end up spending a lot of time there, but Jamestown and Yorktown are just as cool. There are a number of beaches in the area, and various places to just stroll around and window shop without ever leaving the *****ula--gettng over to VA Beach and Norfolk can be a nightmare because of the tunnels.

Enjoy yourself! We have been stationed here for 3 years and love all the opportunities in the area.

 

[loveysbydesign]

right now they are promoting that kids get in free w/the purchase of an adult ticket. for some reason, i think that's kids 5 and under, but I could be wrong. I think 2 and under get in free anyway. you could check their website for more info I'm sure!

Found it but it's only for VA residents
http://buschgardens.com/bgw/Purchase/Offers.aspx

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

We stop there on our way to Disney. Last year it was just for a few hours but this year we are staying at the Governor's inn and then going on to Disney. Anyway, if you are a memeber of Triple A you get a discount, if you are a teacher you also get a discount plus AAA. I was half price, my son got in under 17 PLUS the aaa and my husband JUST GOT aaa but we saved a huge amount. I would call them and ask what they have for discounts. That was how I found out about the teacher discount.

ETA it might be worth it to check out the Entertainment book for that area. I know that they were on special 2 for 7.99 and that they also have it for Orlando so if you are going before November it might be worth your while. I know Williamsburg is not in the Entertaiment book but some of the area resteraunts are. Check Restaurant .com also.

 

[julluvsdisney]

We stop there on our way to Disney. Last year it was just for a few hours but this year we are staying at the Governor's inn and then going on to Disney. Anyway, if you are a memeber of Triple A you get a discount, if you are a teacher you also get a discount plus AAA. I was half price, my son got in under 17 PLUS the aaa and my husband JUST GOT aaa but we saved a huge amount. I would call them and ask what they have for discounts. That was how I found out about the teacher discount.

WOw this was the discount for busch gardens?? I tried to look it up and it was saying $3 each person at the gate. For the discount you got did you have to buy the ticket at the office? Thats a really good deal if I am reading it correctly!

 

[julluvsdisney]

anyone been to kings dominion lately? have not been in about 15 years just want to make sure its still fun!

 

[nanadeb]

Newport News Park off of Jefferson Avenue near the intersection of Ft. Eustis Blvd. is free and not too far from Williamsburg. If your kids are into history, the park is located at the site where Cornwallis surrendered to Washington. They often have Civil War renactments there, but I am not sure of the schedule. They have some nice play grounds, picnic shelters, and a reservoir. On weekends, they rent boats. The rangers station also offers educational programs. They also have disc golf available.
Go to www.nnngov.com/parks-and-recreation for more information.