Williamsburg

[Anonymous]

Recs for Williamsburg with two kids.
—where to eat
—carriage ride companies
—sites to check out at Colonial Williamsburg

Kids are 3 and 5

Also would love Busch Garden tips. We are planning for 1 day at BG and then 2-3 at Colonial Williamsburg.

We are staying at a hotel 4 min from CW.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

The Cheese Shop. They usually have corn dogs and PB&J if kids don't want their other sandwiches. Get there right before 11:00. Get House dressing on your sandwich or bread ends.

If you want to go to a park, there's Kidsburg playground at Veterans Park.

Be sure to check out the animals in Colonial Williamsburg.

[Anonymous]

I think 3 days is too long at CW with those ages. It’s really not that big and stuff for little kids is limited.

[Anonymous]

Your 3Yo will be bored.

[Anonymous]

I would plan 1 day at BG and 1 day in CW, including the shopping area. Is your day 3 a full day or a half day? If a full day, I’d think about getting a day pass to Great Wolf. If a half day, maybe enjoy your hotel pool.

In Williamsburg, the carriage ride is a great idea. You book it at the visitor’s center. We ate a big breakfast and then for lunch enjoyed buying meat pies and cookies from the outdoor market. My son talked for days about those. The animals, blacksmith, and a little comedy show were the only sites my kids really got into. I’d have early dinner at the Kings Arms. There are musicians that my kids sort of enjoyed. In the shopping area, we loved the old fashioned candy store.

Busch Gardens has a pretty big area with little kids rides, so your kids will have a lot of fun. We really enjoyed all of the animal viewing attractions, too—which I didn’t even realize they had there. My kids had never been to any amusement park other than Disney World and even they noticed how run down BG is. Just mentally prepare yourself. The food in BG is also not great. Don’t try to get anything other than burgers or pizza.

It’s a great little trip a short drive from DC but I feel like the marketing makes it seem like there’s a lot more going on in Williamsburg than there actually is. Have appropriate expectations and you’ll enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would plan 1 day at BG and 1 day in CW, including the shopping area. Is your day 3 a full day or a half day? If a full day, I’d think about getting a day pass to Great Wolf. If a half day, maybe enjoy your hotel pool.

In Williamsburg, the carriage ride is a great idea. You book it at the visitor’s center. We ate a big breakfast and then for lunch enjoyed buying meat pies and cookies from the outdoor market. My son talked for days about those. The animals, blacksmith, and a little comedy show were the only sites my kids really got into. I’d have early dinner at the Kings Arms. There are musicians that my kids sort of enjoyed. In the shopping area, we loved the old fashioned candy store.

Busch Gardens has a pretty big area with little kids rides, so your kids will have a lot of fun. We really enjoyed all of the animal viewing attractions, too—which I didn’t even realize they had there. My kids had never been to any amusement park other than Disney World and even they noticed how run down BG is. Just mentally prepare yourself. The food in BG is also not great. Don’t try to get anything other than burgers or pizza.

It’s a great little trip a short drive from DC but I feel like the marketing makes it seem like there’s a lot more going on in Williamsburg than there actually is. Have appropriate expectations and you’ll enjoy it.

There's plenty to do for 3 days if you tour many buildings, but kids those ages may not enjoy it.

There's also Jamestown nearby or the Virginia Living Museum if you want to go a bit further to Newport News or the Children's Museum of Richmond when going to/from.

Other stuff like mini golf too. Probably some naps taking up time with those ages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your 3Yo will be bored.

+2 and adding your 5 yr old will most likely lose interest in an hour of being there.

Lots of walking too.

Reconsider the trip entirely.

[Anonymous]

We love eating dinner in the taverns. Get a reservation as soon as you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your 3Yo will be bored.

+2 and adding your 5 yr old will most likely lose interest in an hour of being there.

Lots of walking too.

Reconsider the trip entirely.

How well this trip goes is going to depend on personalities, how well the kids do traveling and sleeping in hotels and how go-go-go they are or aren't. As long as the parents aren't trying to maximize every dollar and minute, it should go fine.

If it's a ton of time and money for them and they want to learn all the history, they may end up disappointed, but why not try a trip like this close to home that's easily repeatable in a few years if they don't get everything they want out of it?

[Anonymous]

The part about not trying to maximize every dollar and every minute is such good advice for traveling or even visiting local sites with young kids.

[Anonymous]

My kids far preferred Jamestown to Williamsburg. It’s much more hands-on.

Also I recommend staying at a resort with a pool. Ours also had mini golf that was included with the place. I forget the name, but we stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment on site and it was great to not be in a hotel.

[Anonymous]

I disagree that kids will get bored at Williamsburg. I’ve taken a kid as young as 2.5, and she did not get bored. At 5, she loved it. Check the schedule online in advance. They usually have a hands-on kid activity daily, and sometimes the Geddy House has some games, etc.

The drum & fife corp marches through town, which most kids like. My kids liked all the buildings, and if you go to the governors mansion at 4 pm, you can visit without the guided tour. In the gardens behind the gov mansion is a hedge maze that kids love.

I recommend reading a few kids’ books about CW or colonial times in general to get them excited.

[Anonymous]

I’d do one day at BG, one day in CW, and one day at Jamestown. You could also squeeze in the Yorktown battlefield if you need something else to do. Also, one your way back check out the children’s museum in Richmond-it’s great for that age!

[Anonymous]

CW is really tough at those ages. Yes, there are things for kids to see and they will enjoy them. But to see many of the houses you have to commit to a tour, and the tours are just too long for those ages. My kids are usually up for anything but they got bored fast. .One day will be more than enough.

I didn’t see it mentioned, but the James City Library is great if you find yourself with a rainy day or need a few hours of downtime. It’s basically a play space with books.