Unusual request: Williamsburg spring break

[Anonymous]

Third vote for the Williamsburg Inn or the Lodge. You can’t beat the location! The Inn also has an amazing restaurant. In Merchant Square, you’ll find The Fat Canary. The Chef’s kitchen isn’t too far, but I’d drive since you’re in pain. Place an order online for the Cheese Shop, a local lunch place.

[Anonymous]

Jamestown Settlement was the highlight of our trip last year. You can easily spend 4-5 hours there with kids your age. They do an amazing job living the story, including the indigenous villages, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jamestown Settlement was the highlight of our trip last year. You can easily spend 4-5 hours there with kids your age. They do an amazing job living the story, including the indigenous villages, etc.

Regarding my question above…is this the one with the Glasshouse? What is the “other Jamestown”?

[Anonymous]

OP.

I see you need easy.
Things to do:
- Get a CW/Historic Triangle Ticket. Park at the Visitors Center. The busses are easy. Leave half a day for Yorktown, half a day for Jamestown Settlement: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/tickets/americas-historic-triangle-ticket/
- Lean into the free and "reservation" events in Colonial Williamsburg. Fife in a parade, make a candle. Read ahead with your kids so they understand all the historical context. The interpreters are great at answering inquiring minds.
- Make a reservation now for Kings Arms, Christiana Campbells, etc. My kids loved the "fancy" dinner. Cheaper than most meals for 5 in DC.
- Use the Great Wolf Lodge coupon codes to stay 2 nights there, and spend the other 3+ nights at Kingsmill. Your kids are prime waterslide age but not prime cheesy GWL age so two nights should be an excellent adventure.
- Eat at least one lunch at Cheese shoppe. You will feel goofy waiting in line, do it. Get extra house dressing.
- Indulge in cheese fries and the sub of your choosing (I recommend the hot holly) at Pauls or College or Greenleaf. Former likely more accessible. Ordering feels weird. Go with it. Get ranch and bacon for those fries.
- Knock around on the William and Mary campus. It's gorgeous. Visit the Wren Building. Cross the Crim Dell if you care. My kids loved the Matoaka amphitheater.
- Check a burg box and eat at Sals and Colonial Pancake house. Your kids will love both. Let them order the chocolate chip pancakes.
- With kids your age, keep Busch Gardens in the mix. I'm not sure their 2024 deals are all out, but check here: https://buschgardens.com/williamsburg/vacation-packages/ You should be able at some point to combine your 7 day historic and amusement park deal into something.
- There's a small food and beer hall with tons of arcade games at Merchant Square called Precarious Beer Project. Have lunch there one of your CW days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jamestown Settlement was the highlight of our trip last year. You can easily spend 4-5 hours there with kids your age. They do an amazing job living the story, including the indigenous villages, etc.

Regarding my question above…is this the one with the Glasshouse? What is the “other Jamestown”?

Go to Jamestown Settlement. Never heard of the glass house (just googled it)

[Anonymous]

We just stayed at kingsmill and thought it was pretty run down but we didn't stay in the fancier rooms. The indoor pool was undergoing renovations so make sure its open.

[Anonymous]

I am not OP, but will pop in with an additional question for folks

We’re staying three nights at great Wolf, and planned to use one of the days to spend the whole day at Busch Gardens. Is one full day enough at Busch Gardens for ages 7 and 9? And do we need to buy tickets for the day in advance? I was planning to see which day had the best weather and buy tickets at the gate which is what we did at the Six Flags where I grew up. Is that a risk here that we can’t get in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jamestown Settlement was the highlight of our trip last year. You can easily spend 4-5 hours there with kids your age. They do an amazing job living the story, including the indigenous villages, etc.

Regarding my question above…is this the one with the Glasshouse? What is the “other Jamestown”?

Go to Jamestown Settlement. Never heard of the glass house (just googled it)

The glasshouse is next to Jamestown Settlement, about a 2 minute drive. The other Jamestown is the NPS site of the actual Jamestown, so more like ruins. Most people skip the ruins and just visit Jamestown Settlement and glasshouse.

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard that Kingsmill no longer offers the free shuttle so you should confirm that if you are interested in staying there.

[Anonymous]

I have not visited the glass house, but this is the really excellent Jamestown museum and living history that you and your kids will love. it is one of the best museums I’ve ever been to definitely watch some of their videos/movies when you do the tour. They are amazingly well done.

https://www.jyfmuseums.org/visit/jamestown-settlement

[Anonymous]

The museum at Yorktown is just a short drive away and it is very good but I would say my kids prefer Jamestown. The Yorktown Museum has an excellent opening documentary to help you understand the foundation of what they’re talking about throughout the museum I think for kids 10 and up it’s a great spot 10 and younger can get a little bored there compared to Jamestown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jamestown Settlement was the highlight of our trip last year. You can easily spend 4-5 hours there with kids your age. They do an amazing job living the story, including the indigenous villages, etc.

Regarding my question above…is this the one with the Glasshouse? What is the “other Jamestown”?

Go to Jamestown Settlement. Never heard of the glass house (just googled it)

The glasshouse is next to Jamestown Settlement, about a 2 minute drive. The other Jamestown is the NPS site of the actual Jamestown, so more like ruins. Most people skip the ruins and just visit Jamestown Settlement and glasshouse.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP.

I see you need easy.
Things to do:
- Get a CW/Historic Triangle Ticket. Park at the Visitors Center. The busses are easy. Leave half a day for Yorktown, half a day for Jamestown Settlement: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/tickets/americas-historic-triangle-ticket/
- Lean into the free and "reservation" events in Colonial Williamsburg. Fife in a parade, make a candle. Read ahead with your kids so they understand all the historical context. The interpreters are great at answering inquiring minds.
- Make a reservation now for Kings Arms, Christiana Campbells, etc. My kids loved the "fancy" dinner. Cheaper than most meals for 5 in DC.
- Use the Great Wolf Lodge coupon codes to stay 2 nights there, and spend the other 3+ nights at Kingsmill. Your kids are prime waterslide age but not prime cheesy GWL age so two nights should be an excellent adventure.
- Eat at least one lunch at Cheese shoppe. You will feel goofy waiting in line, do it. Get extra house dressing.
- Indulge in cheese fries and the sub of your choosing (I recommend the hot holly) at Pauls or College or Greenleaf. Former likely more accessible. Ordering feels weird. Go with it. Get ranch and bacon for those fries.
- Knock around on the William and Mary campus. It's gorgeous. Visit the Wren Building. Cross the Crim Dell if you care. My kids loved the Matoaka amphitheater.
- Check a burg box and eat at Sals and Colonial Pancake house. Your kids will love both. Let them order the chocolate chip pancakes.
- With kids your age, keep Busch Gardens in the mix. I'm not sure their 2024 deals are all out, but check here: https://buschgardens.com/williamsburg/vacation-packages/ You should be able at some point to combine your 7 day historic and amusement park deal into something.
- There's a small food and beer hall with tons of arcade games at Merchant Square called Precarious Beer Project. Have lunch there one of your CW days.

Yes yes this person knows the burg!

When you go to Jamestown settlement colonial Parkway begins just a little bit towards the left, drive down colonial Parkway and there are a little pull offs but you want to wait and take the first pull off that is on the LEFT. Cross the street and there’s a little sandy beach on the river, it’s gonna be chilly, but the kids don’t care.