Williamsburg is located in Virginia. It was founded in 1632. It was originally known as Middle Plantation, which was a settlement located on high ground between the James and York Rivers. The settlement was the capital of the Colony and Commonwealth of Virginia until 1780. It was also where many of the defining moments in American history took place that led to the American Revolution.
The College of William & Mary is in Williamsburg. It was established in 1693 making it the second-oldest higher learning institution in the U.S. It’s also the only colonial college in the South.
Along with Jamestown and Yorktown, Williamsburg is part of what’s called the Historic Triangle. More than four million tourists visit every year.
So, if you’re thinking about a trip to Williamsburg, what should you know?
Pick a Package When Visiting Williamsburg
If you want to travel to Williamsburg, choosing a holiday package from Vacations Made Easy can be the most convenient and cost-effective way to plan your trip. With a family package, you can save money by combining your accommodation and the attraction tickets into one booking.
Vacations Made Easy lets customers create tailored packages or choose from a pre-selected option. For example, with the Williamsburg Family Vacation Package, travellers can choose from more than 65 hotels, and it includes three nights’ stay. It also includes the Busch Gardens Fun Flex Card, entrance to Colonial Williamsburg and access to the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum.
When Should You Visit?
Williamsburg has a fairly mild climate. Therefore there’s not necessarily a “wrong” time to visit. Some people prefer autumn because it’s less crowded and the scenery can be especially beautiful at this time of year.
Summer is the peak season since kids because of the school holidays. Therefore if you’re planning on visiting during the summer months, June is the perfect month to visit, before it gets too hot.
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is described as the world’s largest living history museum. It spans more than 300 acres. It includes over 40 historic sites and is home to four historic taverns. Colonial Williamsburg is open every day of the year. Whereas the historic trades and sites are typically open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Although there are often night programs as well.
The historic area of Colonial Williamsburg includes 88 18th – century structures and houses. All of which are original. There are also shop, houses and public buildings reconstructed on the original foundation. Key historical buildings and sites include the Governor’s Palace, the Capitol building, and the Peyton Randolph Site.
The Raleigh Tavern is where patriots went to talk about independence and defying the Crown.
When you’re in historic Williamsburg, you can see the tradesmen and women who work there and are full-time professional artisans. Some of the featured trades include brickmaking, carpentry, and gunsmith.
Historic Jamestowne
Colonial Williamsburg isn’t the only history located in the area. There’s also the Historic Jamestowne settlement. Jamestowne was the first permanent English colony in America. It was founded in 1607.
Historic Jamestowne is the site of the original settlement. It’s a living history museum recreating daily life in the colony. There are galleries with exhibits and there are replicas of the three ships that colonists travelled on in 1607.
Busch Gardens
For more modern travel fun, Williamsburg is home to Busch Gardens also. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is owned by SeaWorld Entertainment. The park is themed around European Countries. It was originally called Busch Gardens: The Old Country.
Busch Gardens is known for its roller coasters. These include Apollo’s Chariot and Griffon. There’s also the Alpengeist roller coaster.
Jack Hanna’s Wild Reserve is located within the park. It is part of the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. Species that are housed in the Wild Reserve include grey wolves and bald eagles.
The park is separated into ten hamlets. These are meant to be themed as European villages from England, Germany, France, Italy, Scotland, and Ireland.
Outdoor Activities
The Williamsburg area offers outdoor activities. For example, you can kayak or canoe. You can even take a sailing trip on the York River. You can also do paddle yoga, or go along the Virginia Capital Trail on foot or by bike.
There’s also the Greenspring Greenway Interpretive Trail.
Other nearby things not to miss in and around Williamsburg include Watercountry USA, which is a large waterpark, and Yorktown where the British surrendered in 1781. There’s also the Williamsburg Winery, which is the largest in Virginia. Together with the College of William and Mary which is the second-oldest college in the country.
- Feature Image: Martin Kraft [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
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