Where: Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA.
When: The Revolutionary City is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. .
Admission: starting from 41$/ person (the admission varies during the year), children up 6 are free, parking is free.
Colonial Williamsburg is a very unique city. What makes this city so unique is that it has been restored as nearly as possible to its 18th century appearance. It is truly remarkable. Everywhere you walk you see people in period clothes and carrying period accessories. It is so fun. Each day they have a paper that tells the town what day it is and what historical events happened that day in the 18th century.
The “townspeople” then act out that day as if it were actually the 18th century. These costumed interpreters act as tradespeople, housewives, slaves, freeman, government officials, and soldiers.
There is so much to see and do that you could spend a week there and not be bored. But just in case, they have more than 20 guided and self-guided tours offered daily. You can even enter the homes of Williamsburg’s 18th-century residents, get a firsthand perspective from a curator, or see the city by carriage (15$/person/15 min ride). Here are some of the more popular tours: Orientation Walk – This 30 minute walk gives you a glimpse at a town on the edge of Revolution and war and learn of the many ways to engage with your fellow citizens—their interpreters. Discover how you would have traveled to the capital city–and why you might have come. What would you wear? What world, colonial, and local events are the talk about town? How
should you greet the residents and what courtesies should you show them?
Tour the Revolutionary City - you explore the government buildings, shops, homes, gardens, and taverns of Williamsburg. Encounter townspeople on their own soil as they live through a time of change and uncertainty. Buzzing with political discussion and dispute, the city comes alive. Enter the residents’ homes or learn about their workplaces; see where they sleep, where they eat, and where they socialize.
Carriage rides. If you are tired of all the walking, you can see the city sights by horse-drawn carriage. Surround yourself with the sights and sounds of this unique city, far removed from the bustle of modern-day streets. Looks like fun.
Here You mostly (only?) get to see how people lived back then. How the court was conducted, how the jail looked like, how the governors of that era lived.
James Graig Jeweller's silversmiths have been hard at work hammering, sculpting, and plying brass, pewter, and sterling silver to give you fashionable one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.
In the Printing Office you can see how was first printed Thomas Jefferson's "Ideas on American Freedom" on Clementina Rind's hand-pulled press. In The Revolutionary City today, the Printing Office, Post Office, and Bookbindery are located in one area where press trades are interpreted and authentic reproduction items from Parks' reconstructed shop are offered for sale.
Every day, visitors of all ages tour the Capitol to learn about government in colonial Virginia and the colony's contribution to the American Revolution. Evening programs feature both the political events that occurred in the building during the 18th century and the social events held there. Once a year, a naturalization ceremony is held at the Capitol, during which a new group of immigrants becomes Americans, continuing a process begun in the building nearly 300 years earlier.
The artifacts, Jefferson's drawings, General Assembly records, and a copperplate engraving discovered in England's Bodleian Library in 1929 were employed in faithful reconstruction of the original buildings. They opened as an exhibition on April 23, 1934.
When: The Revolutionary City is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. .
Admission: starting from 41$/ person (the admission varies during the year), children up 6 are free, parking is free.
This was our first visit to The Revolutionary City and despite the fact that we were born in another country, we almost loved it. Unfortunately, we only had a one day pass which is not enough to see everything. We decided to purchase a discounted Christmas Bounce Ticket assuming some nights would be busier than others as Christmas Day approached and because we have small children which sometimes limits how long we can stay.
This package include:
- Three (3) consecutive days’ admission for Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens Christmas Town;
- Valid November 27, 2015 through January 3, 2016. Park open from 2 p.m.;
- Complimentary shuttle service around the Historic Area;
- Free parking included at Busch Gardens Williamsburg;
- Interpreter-led tours of Colonial Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace and the Capitol Building;
- Admission to the two Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.
We wanted to see Bush Gardens too, so it was great deal for us. If you have two kids before 6 years (like we are), you have to by just two tickets for 59$ each. We saved 118$ (Bush Gardens 35*4 for admissions+14$ for parking; 41$*2 for Williamsburg).
Tickets can be purchased online and redeemed only at the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center, which is where your Williamsburg experience begins.
I don't know how many people are normally there during December, but this weekend (december 12-13) the weather was in the 70's so there were lots of people enjoying learning about the start to U.S. nation. Colonial Williamsburg is a fantastic place for families, couples, friends, or just a solo venture. It has something to appeal to everyone! The staff are all knowledgeable and dedicated to their jobs and you can tell they sincerely love it there as well.
As Russian, we did not know that much about early American history; our time at Colonial Williamsburg surely filled many of the gaps in our knowledge and experience. The many enthusiastic, knowledgeable and very friendly costumed interpreters bring the site to life.
Without exception all were eager to explain what they were doing and how it related to colonial life. As the site is open year round, the interpreters can make Williamsburg a life time career and many, indeed, have done just that.
This package include:
- Three (3) consecutive days’ admission for Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens Christmas Town;
- Valid November 27, 2015 through January 3, 2016. Park open from 2 p.m.;
- Complimentary shuttle service around the Historic Area;
- Free parking included at Busch Gardens Williamsburg;
- Interpreter-led tours of Colonial Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace and the Capitol Building;
- Admission to the two Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.
We wanted to see Bush Gardens too, so it was great deal for us. If you have two kids before 6 years (like we are), you have to by just two tickets for 59$ each. We saved 118$ (Bush Gardens 35*4 for admissions+14$ for parking; 41$*2 for Williamsburg).
Tickets can be purchased online and redeemed only at the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center, which is where your Williamsburg experience begins.
I don't know how many people are normally there during December, but this weekend (december 12-13) the weather was in the 70's so there were lots of people enjoying learning about the start to U.S. nation. Colonial Williamsburg is a fantastic place for families, couples, friends, or just a solo venture. It has something to appeal to everyone! The staff are all knowledgeable and dedicated to their jobs and you can tell they sincerely love it there as well.
There is so much to see and do that you could spend a week there and not be bored. But just in case, they have more than 20 guided and self-guided tours offered daily. You can even enter the homes of Williamsburg’s 18th-century residents, get a firsthand perspective from a curator, or see the city by carriage (15$/person/15 min ride). Here are some of the more popular tours: Orientation Walk – This 30 minute walk gives you a glimpse at a town on the edge of Revolution and war and learn of the many ways to engage with your fellow citizens—their interpreters. Discover how you would have traveled to the capital city–and why you might have come. What would you wear? What world, colonial, and local events are the talk about town? How
Tour the Revolutionary City - you explore the government buildings, shops, homes, gardens, and taverns of Williamsburg. Encounter townspeople on their own soil as they live through a time of change and uncertainty. Buzzing with political discussion and dispute, the city comes alive. Enter the residents’ homes or learn about their workplaces; see where they sleep, where they eat, and where they socialize.
Carriage rides. If you are tired of all the walking, you can see the city sights by horse-drawn carriage. Surround yourself with the sights and sounds of this unique city, far removed from the bustle of modern-day streets. Looks like fun.
Here You mostly (only?) get to see how people lived back then. How the court was conducted, how the jail looked like, how the governors of that era lived.
James Graig Jeweller's silversmiths have been hard at work hammering, sculpting, and plying brass, pewter, and sterling silver to give you fashionable one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.
There are many different historical buildings in the Colonial area. Note that different buildings are open for tours on different days. Some of the best are the palace, the Randolph house, Basset Hall, the Church, and the Capital. Guides are dressed in period costumes and are very knowledgable.The associated art museums have terrific collections (although the display on the mental hospital may be a bit too intense for some) - especially good displays on antique furniture. Note that you can actually walk through the historical area without buying a ticket, but cannot tour any buildings or attend events requiring a ticket. You can, however, go into the buildings with shops and buy merchandise.
The Capitol at Williamsburg, Virginia housed the House of Burgesses of the Colony of Virginia from 1705, when the capital was relocated there from Jamestown, until 1779, when the capital was relocated to Richmond. Two capitol buildings served the colony on the same site: the first from 1705 until its destruction by fire in 1747; the second from 1753 to 1779.
The earlier capitol was reconstructed in the early 1930s as part of the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.
The Capitol at Williamsburg, Virginia housed the House of Burgesses of the Colony of Virginia from 1705, when the capital was relocated there from Jamestown, until 1779, when the capital was relocated to Richmond. Two capitol buildings served the colony on the same site: the first from 1705 until its destruction by fire in 1747; the second from 1753 to 1779.
The earlier capitol was reconstructed in the early 1930s as part of the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.
The Governor’s Palace was built in 1705 and became the home for Alexander Spotswood, Hugh Drysdale, William Gooch, Robert Dinwiddie, Francis Fauquier, Norborne Berkeley, Baron de Botetourt, John Murray, fourth Earl of Dunmore, Patrick Henry,Thomas Jefferson. Each governor made improvements and repairs, but after Gooch left in 1749, the colony's Council concluded the building was in "ruinous condition" and ordered renovations. General Charles Lee of the Continental army made the Palace his headquarters until it became a hospital. Furniture were later sold at public auction.
Then Virginia's government ordered the structure renovated for Governor Patrick Henry. The government, however, moved the next year to Richmond, and nothing came of the plans. The Palace served again as a hospital in the fall of 1781, this time for American soldiers wounded in the Battle of Yorktown. On December 22, 1781, a fire that may have begun in the basement destroyed the building. 
Colonial Williamsburg is a wonderful site to visit. The admission price includes admission to many of the buildings, but for free you can Andre all day among the historical buildings, some original and some reconstructed or significantly restored. One of the nice things about this historic destination is that you can stroll the streets without purchasing a ticket. Nice Visitors Center, helpful and well organized; Excellent shuttle service and everyone was friendly. If you ever can, or have the chance, don't pass it up. Parking is free and available at the Visitor Center (take a shuttle from there) or in the parking lots and garage in the adjacent downtown area.
You can walk around the area and go into all the shops and restaurants at no cost (well, other than the cost of food/stuff), but to go into the homes and see folks at work in their shops, you do have to pay admission. On top of that, there are many things that required additional tickets. I'd gladly have paid twice the cost of admission to instead have a good in depth tour of the town.
Still, you should visit. Especially with children as there are plenty of activities for them to participate in - you can even rent costumes there and be part of the history!
BUT,
First, Take your lunch with you. There was a 1+ hour wait at the restaurants for lunch. The food is excessively pricey ($30+ for an entrée, $10+ for appetizers like soup) and the kids menu does not include standard fare such as pizza or nuggets and fries. We finally grabbed sandwiches at the Bakery behind Raleigh's Tavern - the only place that seemed to have anything that you could grab-and-go......but the only sandwiches left were PB&J, and ham sandwiches....they were out of turkey, the veggies, wraps, etc. They did have a huge selection of cookies (chocolate-chip, gingerbread, brownies, ........) if that is what you want to eat for lunch.
Second, The Governor's Palace (not really a palace but the "common people" called it that sarcastically) that is not an original building BUT has been painstakingly reconstructed on the original foundation using the original plans.
Thirdly, It isn't for little kids; wasn't meant to be and shouldn't be. From the Museum, to the walking tours, to the Palace, Capitol, and Court House the presentations are based on some knowledge of history. Kids might enjoy seeing the horses and the people in interesting 18th century costumes.
Fourthly, Weekends can be very crowded, especially with special events (like the Grand Illumination), and parking can then be difficult. Perhaps the biggest disappointment is finding out that ticketed events (like the holiday high teas) listed in the daily schedule had actually been sold out weeks in advance (so why were they still in the schedule ???).
Fifthly, Merchandise in the stores is rather overpriced (shop elsewhere in Williamsburg).
Sixthly, The various horse carriages also leave a lot of horse poop on the streets, so be especially careful walking around after dark or with kids.
Seventh, Williamsburg is not for anyone with mobility issues. Even given the bus shuttle, with 8 stops around the edges of the "Revolutionary City," you can expect to walk several blocks to some of the sites that each stop is meant to access. Most buildings are not accessible by wheelchair, and flights of stairs are a feature of almost every venue.
Eight, everything seems to be about selling you stuff -- craft shops are no longer about learning how they did stuff back then - now it is about how can we sell you something - the bakery no longer shows you how they bake stuff, it's a food shop -- the apothecary is closed, it is now a soda pop shop -- every other building is a store that sells stuff.
Ninth, We were a bit disappointed at the number of the sites which were not open on the day we visited or only open for a short time on the day given we had visited at the weekend.
We didn't get to see everything it will definitely be worth a trip to come back since this is a type of trip that one can expect to learn something at each subsequent visit. We would certainly visit again and would not hesitate to recommend Colonial Williamsburg to anyone of any age - especially for U.S. citizens interested in history.
You can walk around the area and go into all the shops and restaurants at no cost (well, other than the cost of food/stuff), but to go into the homes and see folks at work in their shops, you do have to pay admission. On top of that, there are many things that required additional tickets. I'd gladly have paid twice the cost of admission to instead have a good in depth tour of the town.
Still, you should visit. Especially with children as there are plenty of activities for them to participate in - you can even rent costumes there and be part of the history!
BUT,
First, Take your lunch with you. There was a 1+ hour wait at the restaurants for lunch. The food is excessively pricey ($30+ for an entrée, $10+ for appetizers like soup) and the kids menu does not include standard fare such as pizza or nuggets and fries. We finally grabbed sandwiches at the Bakery behind Raleigh's Tavern - the only place that seemed to have anything that you could grab-and-go......but the only sandwiches left were PB&J, and ham sandwiches....they were out of turkey, the veggies, wraps, etc. They did have a huge selection of cookies (chocolate-chip, gingerbread, brownies, ........) if that is what you want to eat for lunch.
Thirdly, It isn't for little kids; wasn't meant to be and shouldn't be. From the Museum, to the walking tours, to the Palace, Capitol, and Court House the presentations are based on some knowledge of history. Kids might enjoy seeing the horses and the people in interesting 18th century costumes.
Fourthly, Weekends can be very crowded, especially with special events (like the Grand Illumination), and parking can then be difficult. Perhaps the biggest disappointment is finding out that ticketed events (like the holiday high teas) listed in the daily schedule had actually been sold out weeks in advance (so why were they still in the schedule ???).
Fifthly, Merchandise in the stores is rather overpriced (shop elsewhere in Williamsburg).
Sixthly, The various horse carriages also leave a lot of horse poop on the streets, so be especially careful walking around after dark or with kids.
Seventh, Williamsburg is not for anyone with mobility issues. Even given the bus shuttle, with 8 stops around the edges of the "Revolutionary City," you can expect to walk several blocks to some of the sites that each stop is meant to access. Most buildings are not accessible by wheelchair, and flights of stairs are a feature of almost every venue.
Eight, everything seems to be about selling you stuff -- craft shops are no longer about learning how they did stuff back then - now it is about how can we sell you something - the bakery no longer shows you how they bake stuff, it's a food shop -- the apothecary is closed, it is now a soda pop shop -- every other building is a store that sells stuff.
Ninth, We were a bit disappointed at the number of the sites which were not open on the day we visited or only open for a short time on the day given we had visited at the weekend.
We didn't get to see everything it will definitely be worth a trip to come back since this is a type of trip that one can expect to learn something at each subsequent visit. We would certainly visit again and would not hesitate to recommend Colonial Williamsburg to anyone of any age - especially for U.S. citizens interested in history.