While staying in Virginia, we had the opportunity to visit Colonial Williamsburg. Not once, but 3 times!
It should say a lot about this location that we found so much to see, do, and learn that we kept going back.
Colonial Williamsburg is unique among the other historic sites, museums, and living history locations we’ve been to in the past. While Camlann in Washington was an immersive experience, it was nothing compared to Williamsburg. Colonial Williamsburg is a functioning, living history city. What we mean by this is all the shops produce goods, from the apothecary to the wheelwright. Produced goods and services go to the town, public, and other historic sites around the nation! The tailor produces all the clothes for the reenactors, the cobbler fixes their shoes, and insists on hobnails! The cartwrights were building a new cart for another site in the midwest while we were there, and the silversmiths were churning out silver cups that, in their words, fly off the shelves. Each shop talked about the apprenticeship programs that the reenactors had to go through to work there, and how the craftspeople at Colonial Williamsburg are world-renowned for their skill and mastery of the techniques used in the 17th century.
How To Visit Colonial Williamsburg
There are two ways to visit Williamsburg; free or paid.
Anyone can visit Colonial Williamsburg, walk around, take pictures, talk to the reenactors on the street, and even ride the courtesy bus to and from the city and visitor center for free! In fact, this was how we toured the city the first time. We spent the whole day just walking the streets, taking in the public Drum and Fife performances, and talking to the performers on the streets. They had plenty of public activities that day for the kids to explore.
On our second trip, we went on the 4th of July. That day, Colonial Williamsburg hosted a free day! That meant all the shops and buildings we couldn’t get in before were open to the public. Couple this with the huge numbers of people visiting that day, and the place was a little crowded.
In addition to the city, there are several museums adjacent to the city. With paid admission, one can get into them. On the fourth, the free day, we made our way to the Arts Museum at Colonial Williamsburg. Here we got to look at and learn about musical instruments and weapons progression in the pre- and post-colonial period. Most impressively, however, was a presentation by George Washington and James Madison! Or at least historic reenactors playing the parts. The gentlemen did a presentation where they talked, in character, about the state of things in their time period and the nature of equality. They then opened the floor to questions and answers, both as their characters and themselves. The presentation was as enlightening as it was entertaining.
The Best Way to Experience Colonial Williamsburg
The other option for getting into Williamsburg is to pay. The costs can be pretty steep, but there are several discount programs families can leverage to reduce the cost.
During this last trip, we elected to pay, opening up all the shops and sites for us to explore. This was my favorite trip to the city, as the crowds were much smaller, and we were able to interact with the shopkeepers more intimately. In the silversmith’s shop specifically, The Girl was able to ask every question she wanted about the making of the displayed spoons, jewelry, and baubles. The presenters all did an amazing job of talking TO the children, not watering or dumbing down the subject matter.
While we were there, we got to tour the Royal Governors Palace as well as the courthouse. The palace was particularly breathtaking with the hundreds of weapons mounted on the walls, and the decadence, historically speaking, of the decorations and gardens!
In fact, while touring the gardens, we caught the heavenly aroma of chocolate! The kitchen staff were preparing drinking chocolate and let us know that if we toured the coffee shop, we could get a taste! It was worth it!
We splurged a bit that day and booked a carriage ride through the city; a lovely capstone to an amazing and educational day in Colonial Williamsburg.
I can’t recommend Colonial Williamsburg enough, and if you find yourself in the Historic Triangle of Virginia, I encourage you to make the time to see it.