Colonial Williamsburg
add photosDiscounts available through participating hotels, online website and multi-day passes.
Colonial Williamsburg is the kind of place you can visit many times because what you do depends on the season and the age and interests of your children. Before coming to Colonial Williamsburg, check out the “Meet the People” section at its Web site, www.colonialwilliamsburg.org.
Here you’ll find biographies of the residents and historic figures you’ll encounter, details about the buildings and archaeological excavations, and information about the roles of women, children, and African Americans in the 1700s. Also on the Web site, the Kids Zone has a lot of great information, plus games and activities.
Be sure to check out the Wyeth House if you have kids in 4 and older. This house’s backyard is the setting for hands-on activities such as stitch books, water coloring, puzzles, and writing. At the stable and laundry, you can learn how the Wythe family traveled, raised livestock, and perfected household crafts.
35 Reviews for Colonial Williamsburg
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"Worth every penny, great for all ages"
First, start with this website: http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/ (check out the one listed above in the details too, but start here, they are mostly the same, but this link is more user friendly I think). Click on Calendar and Special Events. This is what is going to make the difference between a good trip and a trip that will knock your socks off. We went in July (with 18 family members and we had four kids with us 12, 9, 7, and 4) and every child had a blast. I'm not going to lie to you, this trip was already expensive and the calendar events range from free (they are included with your price of admission) to $15 per person depending on the event. Usually I'm the do it for free, bring a coupon, figure out how to pinch a penny girl. However, I would spend every penny again here. No regrets.
For the kids the daily events range from story times, dance and music programs, pirate experiences, ghost walks, Revolutionary and Civil War events, etc. We were there 2 evenings and 1 day (not enought time at all). The second night the two boys (12 and 9) attended the "Join the Continental Army" event. During the day we took the girls (7 and 4) to a dance class and everyone went on the ghost walk (we went on the one geared towards the younger crowd). There are free historic walks offered throughout the day which you can pop in and out of, you don't have to stay for the whole presentation (and you won't with a 4 year old). These events are on top of the parade, the living history demonstrations, shops, taverns, Governor's Palace and Capitol.
Take the kids to the Governor's Palace, you don't have to go inside (though the older kids loved the tour), there is plenty to do in the gardens...like the maze! The kids had a blast. Unless you have kids that love history (and the boys and older girl does so they went) skip the Palace and Capitol indoors tours. They can be long and the younger crowd will get bored fast. My son, the 9 year old, loves Revolutionary War history and he adores Patrick Henry, so he loved every minute of the Capitol tour. Explore the kids section of this webiste with your children to get them interested http://www.history.org/kids/games/index.cfm before you go.
This is a living history experience, there are tons of things for both kids and adults. Eat at the taverns for at least one meal (note: the taverns are like the taverns of old, so there are limited menu choices, you get what they are serving that day so if you have really picky eaters try Huzzah BBQ Grille-they have more than just bbq) or take the bus to Merchants Square (the bus is free) for a diner or regular American restaurant type choices. Make reservations at the taverns, so plan ahead. They usually play live music or have a dance tutor teach a measure or two. It is very fun and the kids enjoyed it.
We stayed at the Williamsburg Lodge, walking distance to Main Street (and it is on the bus stop too). Again, it was pricey, but again worth every penny.
Colonial Williamsburg has now partnered with Jamestowne (another fabulous living history site), so you can get discount tickets to fold that into part of your trip. Check the website listed here for specials and discounts on hotels and tickets. There is so much to do and see in this area (fold it in with a trip to the beach and Jamestowne or fold it into a trip with Mount Vernon, Jamestowne, Bus and Yorktown, the choices are endless). There is also the Great Hopes Farm and Plantation, but we didn't have time to visit. You can rent costumes by the day if you're interested and there are carriage rides daily.
There is a lot of walking, even with the bus stops, so be mindful and use the buses wisely when you can if you have little legs with you. The roads are hard packed dirt or brick, so bring the jogging stroller for an easier experience.
Even the most history resistant child will enjoy the silversmith shop, so make sure to make that shop a stop.
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0 families found this helpful
"Love the place!!"
This is one of my favorite places on earth! I am a history nut and this definitely delivers! Vary kid-friendly environment. The colonial area is stunning. It offers so many views into our past with all the employees wearing clothing from the period. It offers stores and homes that you can tour thoughout the brick roads. Amazing gardens you can walk through. Every restaurant has amazing food with attention to flavor. Perfect in the spring when the cherry trees are blooming!!
0 families found this helpful
"Awesome for Families!"
This is a great destination for families with kids of all ages! They have tours and interests for adults, and cool stuff for the kiddos as well. There are tons of places to visit and watch how things used to be done. There are activities that kids would enjoy as well. Plus, there are lots of great places to eat when you need some sustenance.
0 families found this helpful
"fun and educational"
We had so much fun when we visited Colonial Williamsburg. Just getting to see the preserved buildings, and walk through the old town was amazing. What is so great about Colonial Williamsburg is that there are people who work there that speak as if they are from that time period. They act out the life of someone from those times, and it is truly fascinating just talking and observing them. Two thumbs up!
0 families found this helpful
"Just Okay"
This place is kinda boring for kids. The 15 year old with us didn't even enjoy it and neither did the 12 and 9 year olds. We did go when it was hot which made it a lot less enjoyable. The little stores the people had in the town were cool though. They sold jewelry, soaps, and little candies. The place was nice, just not the greatest place in the world. It had some very neat buildings that our "Founding Fathers" made decisions that make our country great. We learned a lot, but would not choose to go back.
0 families found this helpful
"Great history lesson "
The info they will take home on the history of our country will be mind boggling. Just a day long journey thru the streets of this old towne will give kids the background of our country in its good and bad times during the 1700s. Good places to eat and lots of period costumes.. The horse carriage rides are great.
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"Plan on 2 days at least!"
There is so much to see here, it would benefit you to take 2 days to explore it all! Even my youngest (2 at the time) had a blast, going from place to place and seeing everything! There are costumes you can rent, special tours you can buy, take part in the authentic Williamsburg experience! A favorite of ours!
My son's favorite was the cannons and re-enactments. My daughter loved the period dress. A stroller is a must, our son was 3 at the time we went, and he was tired within the first 30 minutes.
Good walking shoes are a must for everyone, don't wear sandals! There is so much walking here that you will need good shoes!
0 families found this helpful
"Makes it so real"
Colonial Williamsburg is a wonderful place to visit! There is a large visitor's center within walking distance and plenty of shops in the surrounding area. We've gone just to walk around and view the buildings, gardens and surroundings. You can also purchase a ticket to get in on tours and be allowed access into the buildings. Definitely a must stop for all families! Our kids have particularly loved seeing the people dressed up as they would have in the 1700's!
0 families found this helpful
"A piece of history"
This was a great place to visit. We do not go to Virginia often often but I was glad we were able to experience Colonial Williamsburg. I am glad I took my kids. It was a great place to teach them a little about our history. I think children should be able to have the hands on experiences. This was a must see educational experience!
1 family found this helpful
"Colonial Williamsburg"
Colonial Williamsburg is very nice, but very expensive. I am excited that we had the oppertunity to visit Colonial Williamsburg, but I am not sure that we will ever go back. Colonial Williamsburg was extrememly beautiful and well maintained. Be prepared to walk! There is a bus tour that will take you between locations, but there still is a great deal of walking involved. If you want to splurge, you can take a carriage ride around Colonial Williamsburg.
Make sure you check out Williamsburg in a nice sunny day!
I have heard that December is the best time to visit Colonial Williamsburg because it is beautifully decorated for Christmas.
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"Colonial Williamsburg"
I grew up visiting Colonial Williamsburg almost every other month it seemed. My mom and grandma loved to go to Colonial Williamsburg to shop at all the different stores and eat at all the different restuarants. All the restuarants are delicious and there are so many places to shop. All parts of Colonial Williamsburg are nice, kept up, and the people/employees are nice. I would recommend Colonial Williamsburg to anyone looking to learn more about the history, anyone who likes to shop and anyone who doesn't mind being in crowds because of course it is a busy place.
0 families found this helpful
"Very Educational and fun!!!"
This is the place to take your family if you want to teach them a lot about American history. This area is set up just like a Colonial town, you will really get a feel of what life was like in the 1700's. There are many kinds of clothing, homes, food, gardens,and many other things that they used during this time in history. My family really enjoyed the garden maze. There are also lots of fun shops and treats fort he whole family!!!
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"very peaceful"
this was a wonderfully nice and peaceful vacation spot. there is a wonderful resort called po-hatton that give you a nice condo at a great price and its surrounded by wonderful "ma and paw" resturants as well as a nice movie theatre and some other great activities
0 families found this helpful
"History Is Fun!"
History really does come alive, in a good and fun way, when you visit Colonial Williamsburg. All of the workers are in period clothing and many speak as the colonists would have. You learn a lot by interacting with the "colonists" and seeing what day-to-day life was like for them. Young children will love the horses and music, while older children will enjoy seeing history come alive as they walk through the Governor's Mansion.
Williamsburg gets quite hot and humid in the summer, so you may want to plan a trip during the fall. Though a bit pricey, this is definitely a worthwhile family vacation. I highly recommend visiting!
0 families found this helpful
"Fun but Expensive"
Our family took a trip to Williamsburg over spring break 2010. The grounds were beautiful. The employees were fun and very knowledgeable. The highlights for us included, the Governors mansion where we learned about and got to sample old fashioned chocolate, the court house where we saw a mock trial, and the garden where the kids were taught how to do colonial chores.
The evening show was somewhat of a let down. It was hard to hear and was too long for little kids.
1 family found this helpful
"Expensive but worth it"
We operate all of our family trips on a budget, but this is one trip that is worth planning and budgeting for well in advance. In order to prepare our children to maximize this experience (as it is very expensive), we studied colonial times for three months. We made costumes and accessories for them to wear during their visit, and we budgeted to buy our son a tricorn hat and our daughter a fan. We bought the full-day pass, which allowed them to interact with the CW colonists. The colonists have been extremely well-trained. In their tours, they use period language and phrasing, and they have a deep knowledge of their subject area. One of our guides was a third generation colonist! The gift stores are nice, and some of their sales are really good. Their food is pretty good but expensive. We took our own lunch and had a wonderful picnic on the tavern green. Highly recommend this trip. Christmas and Fourth of July are also excellent times to go. Summer is almost unbearably hot (CW period sites are not air-conditioned), so plan for spring or fall if you can!
0 families found this helpful
"Colonial Williamsburg"
We visit her quite often because we have friends here and never get tired of it. It is a unique experience that is full of character and takes you back in time. The cobblestone streets are priceless. There is a restaurant called The Cheese Shop that you must stop at for lunch. Get a side of the cheese sauce to go with your sandwich for dipping and you are hooked. People are wearing the colonial clothes so it is a neat experience.
0 families found this helpful
"Best of History"
Williamsburg is so great. We love all the history that has been preserved! It's huge and there's so much to do. There are plenty of re-enactments, ghost tours, plays, shops, music and so much more! You will be amazed when you go to the Governor's Palace. It's so elaborate and neat! Even a full size maze in the back yard!
0 families found this helpful
"Educational Vacation Fun for All Ages!"
My family of 4 has been to Williamsburg at least 4 different times and it never gets old. My toddlers love the Fife & Drum Band and the horses that trot in the streets with riders in Colonial dress. Every activity is outdoors with the exception of shops, so it's better to go when it's milder outside. A+ vacation
0 families found this helpful
"Good time for school age kids"
This is a great place to take your school age kids for a glimpse of history. It is a lot of walking and if you go in the summer it can get very warm. Awesome history lesson though. Lots of hands on stuff to do and learn. Will be taking my kids when they get older.
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