get the most out of a visit to williamsburg, virginia
It's interesting:"The best way to get a wedding reception crowd on side is too say something nice about the bride ... You could also add that it's been a wonderful wedding so far."
Williamsburg, Virginia, conjures pictures of quaint colonial-style homes, cobblestone streets and one of the most important periods in all of American history. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the City of Williamsburg have worked hard to help maintain the integrity of the city’-s historical past while also shepherding it into the twenty-first century. There is something for everyone in the family, whether their interests lie in history, wine tasting, shopping or just good old-fashioned fun. With lots of lodging in the city and nearby and award-winning restaurants, Williamsburg is one place that should be on everyone’-s must-see list.
Instructions
1
Begin with a tour of Colonial Williamsburg. Take a walk back in time to the 1800s, alone or with a guide. Visit key buildings and homes that have been pristinely maintained or precisely re-created to give visitors a glance into the past. Old inns, taverns and shops, as well as homes, offer a peek into our country’-s rich history.Enjoy craftsmenlike glass blowers, shoemakers, silversmiths and others who still do the same kind of painstaking work their ancestors did so many years ago. Enjoy ale in a tavern where early farmers gathered to talk about the concepts of liberty, freedom of religion and separation of church and state. Stand in the reconstructed capitol where legislators planned the early stages of our great government. Stroll through the Governor’-s Palace or tour the site of the House of Burgess.Colonial Williamsburg is open almost year-round, with the exception of some major holidays or during inclement weather. The foundation offers packages priced to meet almost anyone's needs and budget.
2
Expand the historical tour to include nearby Jamestown and Yorktown. The real history buff in the family may want to visit the site where settlers first landed in Jamestown. Less than an hour’-s drive from Williamsburg, this important aspect of American history sheds light on the first interactions with Native Americans. It also gives insight into the lives of those natives who would eventually be displaced by the white man’-s greed for land and power. Visitors can see how the original settlers lived at Jamestown Fort as well as how the natives lived. They can watch how natives ground corn, wove grass and built early canoes. In Yorktown, tourists walk where Washington once tread during the American Revolution. Visitors can enjoy a re-created eighteenth-century farm and get a feel for how early settlers lived. Tourists can even take part in some of the activities of the farm if they so choose. Children can play dress-up in clothing of the era. Reenactors and guides help to answer questions about the history of the area and involve tourists in re-creations of a piece of American history.Like most of the other historic sites, both Jamestown and Yorktown are open almost all year-round. They are closed only for major holidays and during inclement weather. Many of the areas can be reached on foot at no cost- however, those wishing to take part in tours, re-enactments and special events will incur a fee depending on their involvement choices.
3
Tour the President’-s Park, with its massive stone bust replicas of each of our nation’-s presidents from George Washington to George W. Bush. Tour the park alone or with a guide to learn important facts about each of our country’-s leaders, including their greatest accomplishments as well as some of their more foolish follies. Visit a replica of the Oval Office and enjoy looking at fashions once worn by some of our country's most important first ladies. Walk through an old version of Air Force One. Admire china patterns that once adorned White House tables. Finish everything off with a picnic on the beautifully landscaped grounds.The park is open year-round, except during major holidays and during inclement weather. There is a small fee charged that entitles visitors to enter any and all aspects of the park.
4
Walk the Carter’-s Grove Plantation for a glance into that life in the 1800s. The plantation also houses a museum with exhibits that go back as far as 1619. Replicated slave quarters allow visitors to see where and how slaves lived on the plantation. Nothing is candy-coated or restrained as guides outline the hard lives of America’-s early slaves. Like the other historic sites, the plantation is closed during major holidays and during inclement weather. There is a fee charged for the museum and certain other aspects of the tour.
5
Tour historic Berkley Plantation. Located on the James River, the plantation is believed to be the site of the first Thanksgiving, but that is not its only claim to fame. It was the headquarters for General McClellan during the Civil War. It is also the birthplace of two presidents, Benjamin Harrison and William Henry Harrison. There is a museum on site to walk guests through all of the history of this historic site. Berkley Plantation is open most of the year, closing only for major holidays and inclement weather. There is a fee charged for the certain aspects of the tour.
6
Roam the campus of the second oldest college in the nation, the College of William and Mary. The campus is open basically year-round.
7
Shop till you drop at the world-renowned Williamsburg Pottery, believed to be one of the most, if not the most, widely visited place in the Commonwealth. The pottery offers everything a heart could desire from beautiful brass, silver and copper to kitchenwares, household decor and, of course, pottery. The Pottery is closed only for Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is no fee for entrance into the Pottery.
8
Visit the Williamsburg outlet stores. With hundreds of brand-name distributors like Banana Republic, Ann Klein and Dooney and Burke, there is something for all of those who want brand names at bargain prices. Additionally, specialty boutiques and shops offer treasures that are a big part of Williamsburg history. The stores are open except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
9
Head to Busch Gardens. Voted the most beautiful theme park in the world for 16 years in a row, Busch Gardens is as beautiful to look at as it is fun to enjoy. This park delivers some of the best rides to be found anywhere. Match that with entertainment by semiprofessionals from all over the nation and food befitting a king in any country, and you have the winning combination that is Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is open between April and November, with some cutbacks before school closing in the spring and after school begins in the fall. There are a myriad of different price packages available for families and groups as well as individuals. These can be purchased separately or in conjunction with Water Country USA.
10
Play at Water Country USA. Slide down one of Water Country’-s many fun slides, go rafting, enjoy the falls, splash in the huge pools or just soak in the sun. Water Country is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Individual tickets can be purchased for Water Country or in conjunction with Busch Gardens. There are different packages available for families and groups as well as individuals.
11
Go wine tasting at the Williamsburg Winery, Virginia's largest winery. With more than 50 acres of grapes to produce some of the best wines in the nation, Williamsburg Winery offers tours of the old-fashioned buildings that make up the winery. It also offers wine tastings and other special events throughout the year. The winery is open year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter and during inclement weather. There is a fee involved, dependent upon event participation and whether purchased individually or in groups.
12
Have lunch or dinner in one of Williamsburg numerous award-winning restaurants. For a taste of history, visit one of the restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg. Try one of the city's many private restaurants or frequent one of its numerous national chain restaurants. Prices range from medium to high, with flexibility for children's and senior menus and meal sharing at some facilities.
Tips &- Warnings
Take binoculars for long-range viewing of the Yorktown battlefield and other sites.
Take a camera. There are places where photography is allowed, but check before snapping.
Take a picnic dinner to save money on more expensive tourist food. Take bottled water during the summer. Virginia summers tend to be hot and humid.
Visit travel agencies or online sites to find the best overall Williamsburg package.
Do not break the rules of any site visited. If you do, you may be escorted out without a refund.
Tags: inclement weather, Busch Gardens, during inclement, during inclement weather, major holidays, Water CountrySource: www.ehow.com
