Oct 5, 2024
Get Historic Views - Very interesting to tour Historic Williamsburg. I like watching the carriage rides go by (reservations required months in advance) and the people in period costume. Some of the guides are very helpful, find one you like and schedule tours when they are there. Love seeing the architecture too.
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Oct 1, 2024
Fantastic - I could have spent the whole day there. Arrived at noon & left at 6:30pm after having dinner in their adorable vintage village of restaurants & shops.
Most exhibits close at 5pm.
We were told at the ticket counter that places with a flag in front are open BUT there were places without a flag that were open so look carefully.
This place is so pretty & mesmerizing. You can take your dog too as the grounds are really nice for walking.
A friend has a SNAP card & we were admitted for $3 per person.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 24, 2024
Great History - Worth the money to pay for admission to the Governor’s palace & other AMAZING stops. GREAT Docents who described early times EVEN that my Grandkids could understand❤️. Places to dine & shop are free.
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Sep 22, 2024
A wonderful visit to colonial times - We had a wonderful time visiting the past at Colonial Williamsburg. It was a very immersive experience, speaking with people who lived in colonial times in Williamsburg, Virginia, both the famous, and the every day folks who made the place run. All the speakers and presenters were very well versed in their characters and responded appropriately when you interacted with them. I loved being able to walk up to Patrick Henry and others on the street and engage them in conversation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 17, 2024
Colonial Williamsburg - always a treat - I've reviewed this before, but what can I say - Our family loves Williamsburg! This trip was for me (the mom) and 3 young adults, 1 of whom was here for the first time. Ticket prices are still very affordable, for all you get. I got an annual pass, while the others got 3-day passes. We spent our time visiting all the major historical sites (Palace, Capitol, etc.) and a few trades as they were open. New to us for this trip: We walked over to the archaeological dig at Custis Square and enjoyed a nice conversation with the historians there. We also enjoyed seeing the Bray School and talking to one of the workers; it was really nice to be able to see the "layers" of preservation taking place all over the building. Seeing the cannon firing was a first for us, and the guys enjoyed their militia training and experience as judges at the courthouse. Once again, the docents throughout the town were amazing - smooth, educational presentations, and they were able to answer any questions. They were all very personable and willing to interact with us. We visited on a Monday and Tuesday - we were surprised by how quiet the town was on Monday. Not nearly as many visitors as we've seen in the past (but that was pre-Covid), and we didn't see nearly as many costumed personalities. Tuesday seemed to be a little busier - more visitors, personalities, and horses throughout the area. We also really missed not being able to tour Bassett Hall - one of our favorites - but it doesn't seem to be included as part of the Williamsburg experience anymore. I have seen other reviewers saying they had problems with transportation around the park - We did use the bus system and had no issues. The buses were readily available - (Travelers tip: If you want to actually get a seat on the bus, board near the start of the route, at the Palace, Capitol, or Magazine stops - you will have to stand or even wait for the next bus at the other end of the route, near Merchants Square.) We were able to see and do all our personal highlights in those 2 days, although in hindsight I wish we could've stayed the 3rd day and done more of the "details" - more individual trades, shopping, etc. But we were concerned about the weather forecast. (Hurricane Debby was on her way with predicted flooding for the area.) So we cut our trip short. As always, we found Williamsburg to be a relaxing, educational, enjoyable experience. The Williamsburg experience connects dots in my American history education, yet still raises more questions so I want to know more. So we'll be back - I did get an annual pass! ;)
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Sep 15, 2024
Williamsburg is a history buff paradise! - What an amazing experience! It really does feel as if you are in the 18th century! The performers/educators are all deeply knowledgeable. The place is so professionally restored and reconstructed. It gives you the feeling of knowing how people lived at the time. My wife and I loved it and will be back next year. Just keep in mind: lots of walking...
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Oct 9, 2024
Favorite spots - George Wythe House and governors mansion
Market square is fun but very commercial as you would expect
Review provided by Viator
Sep 14, 2024
Mother/Daughter trip - Had been there before and there were a lot of activities. This time was the off season so there wasn’t as much activity. Still had a good time, but would recommend going another time of year.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 26, 2024
So much promise, IF - It was rainy but that wasn't the problem. (They do sell ponchos for a reasonable $6.99.) There's so much promise here but our experience was mixed. Your experience may depend on three things: 1. price 2. planning and 3. luck
Preliminarily though, I'll mention that we had one person who was mobility impaired. Although we rented a wheelchair (again, a reasonable $10 plus tax), we did not find Colonial Williamsburg to be sufficiently accommodating. This person gave up after the first day.
1. We bought three-day admission tickets. There certainly can be three days worth of experiences here though you'll have to decide for yourself whether it's worth it.
One experience, certainly worth a day's admission, was the Museums: Folk and Decorative Arts. Maybe you aren't into decorative arts - we aren't particularly, but we enjoyed the substantial and varied selection available, and learned a few things -but but- you'd have to be catatonic or peculiarly ornery not to enjoy the folk arts. Fun and informative!
2. In retrospect we failed to plan. Plan and plan and plan or abandon hope of seeing Colonial Williamsburg in the best light.
First there's the bus. There are no announcements or signs to tell you what areas the bus serves. Look at the map, as I did only after our visit, to see the seven tiny bus icons and locate what areas they serve. Note the bus only travels one way and the loop is long. Most start by taking the bus in and trekking back, because the bus runs infrequently (overcrowded at the entrance) and "the loop is long". (The people at Colonial Williamsburg did convey this as a suggestion.)
Why do you need to plan? Because it helps to know what trades you are most interested in and where they are located, where they are located relative to one another, and most importantly, whether they are open that day. Because not all buildings are open every day or at all times. Unless you are an inveterate trekker you are not going to want to be hopping randomly around. Even the walk in and back to the parking is a lengthy trek by itself.
Then, there's:
3. Luck. If you are lucky, you will encounter many (?) tradespeople/docents who are happy to educate and engage with you. Some of these people are really into it and informative. You may also enjoy the interaction with trades you didn't know you were interested in, once they get talking. But they're not always talking. One tradesman announced as we entered that he had just finished a lengthy lecture and he was not about to repeat it. At another, we heard the end of a lively discussion and went in just as another tradesman was taking over. He was, shall we say, laconic. We found it best if we were going in with a large enough group to get things started, but sometimes people coming in and leaving just seemed to interrupt the flow. Too often, when we were the only ones there, we just couldn't get the vibe going. And, there's another issue of timing, well, two: First, we wanted to see tradespeople actually working at their craft. We never timed it right in the three days. They'd tell us they had just finished something or that they'd be working on something later, but. Second, just our bad luck, several tradespeople told us they had recently finished commission work, so they'd point to an empty space where the finished piece HAD been.
I'm not that into history but I was pleasantly surprised. I learned some. I enjoyed what I did see and hear. But much was more promise than fulfillment.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 25, 2024
Typically American experience - A typically American experience. Interesting if you want to spend a day outdoors strolling through the main street of a colonial village from the 1700s
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