10 days with Williamsburg and Virginia beach

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m looking to plan a trip just to Williamsburg. Any mid range hotel recommendations for a family with two tween aged kids? They’d like a pool. I’d like a clean, somewhat modern place.

Holiday Inn Express Richmond Road was renovated in the past few years. Not sure what you mean by modern, it's like other Holiday Inn Expresses, but it's clean and not run down and reasonably priced and fine for us.

Indoor pool only, I think, if that matters

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GWL - one day. As adults you will not be able to take more.

Busch gardens - one full day should be enough. Or two partial ones if you don’t plan to stay all day.

Cheese shop and Sal’s by Victor are the must go to food places in Williamsburg. Both are casual but really good. Both very busy so target 11:30 and 5 respectively for eating.

Part of a day at colonial Williamsburg could be good. They have some interactive stuff for kids.

Jamestown Settlement is a neat living history / recreation spot https://www.jyfmuseums.org/visit/jamestown-settlement. It is way better for young kids than the National Park Service actual Jamestown location that is nearby.

I concur that these restaurants are fabulous for young families. I’ll also suggest also Sno to Go, which is an absolute hole, but so fun. No indoor space, so go on a nice day.

I’d consider doing one day in Colonial Williamsburg before you do GWL and Busch Gardens. Then on the drive back, hit Jamestown. The Native American village is perfect for that age and the boats are so much fun. Look into package deals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m looking to plan a trip just to Williamsburg. Any mid range hotel recommendations for a family with two tween aged kids? They’d like a pool. I’d like a clean, somewhat modern place.

Holiday Inn Express Richmond Road was renovated in the past few years. Not sure what you mean by modern, it's like other Holiday Inn Expresses, but it's clean and not run down and reasonably priced and fine for us.

Indoor pool only, I think, if that matters

Sounds good. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

My parents have lived in Williamsburg for 25 years. So, we've spent a lot of time there with our ES age kids (now 10 and 12). Many great suggestions above. Agree 1 day max for GWL and 1 day for Busch Gardens IMO... 4-5 days is more than enough for GWL (1 day), BG (1 day) and CW/nearby places (2-3 days max). For use, we'd probably do 5 nights in the Williamsburg area and three at Virginia Beach... and after 8 nights away from home we'd be done. Only times we have vacationed longer is when we went to Europe.

[Anonymous]

For VB: There are two beach playgrounds (one around 22nd and one near 5th). First Landing State Park has lovely trails.
Recommend Tautogs, Dockside, and Waterman’s to eat

In Norfolk check out The Chrysler and Town Point Park (lot of summer free concerts). Eat at Doumar’s (old fashioned drive thru)

In Richmond, check out Belle Isle and go shop in The Fan. Take the kids to Gwar Bar.

[Anonymous]

Yes to all of these ideas and I’d add colonial Williamsburg. Tons to do there. Yorktown has a small beach and the museum as well as restaurants and walkable area.

Water country is also good. Plenty for little kids.

In Williamsburg Kiwanis park and Kidburg are also good.

You could stay in kingsmill for a few nights and then you also have the lazy river pool, restaurants, and other activities.

Mariners museum in Newport News is good, as is Va beach aquarium.

There is plenty to do over 10 days, though I don’t think you NEED 10 days if that makes sense!

[Anonymous]

I will never go to VA beach water again. The jellyfish are crazy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes to all of these ideas and I’d add colonial Williamsburg. Tons to do there. Yorktown has a small beach and the museum as well as restaurants and walkable area.

Water country is also good. Plenty for little kids.

In Williamsburg Kiwanis park and Kidburg are also good.

You could stay in kingsmill for a few nights and then you also have the lazy river pool, restaurants, and other activities.

Mariners museum in Newport News is good, as is Va beach aquarium.

There is plenty to do over 10 days, though I don’t think you NEED 10 days if that makes sense!

Both parks are good, but Kidsburg is special. You could easily do two mornings in Colonial Williamsburg, walk to the Cheese Shop for lunch, (Wythe Candy is right next door), and then spend an afternoon at the park. Dinner at Sal’s Pizza one night and Food for Thought on the next night. Busch Gardens on the day after that. Then wind down at Great Wolf Lodge before going to Virginia Beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is plenty to do over 10 days, though I don’t think you NEED 10 days if that makes sense!

Agree with this! A lot of it depends on your family's travel style and pace and how well your kids do away from home and possibly overstimulated and tired. If you can do whatever mix of go-go-go and low-key stuff is right for your family, this itinerary should be a lot of fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids loved the Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Museum. Williamsburg is also fun, but can be very uncomfortably hot in summer and is a lot of wandering around outside.

We go to Sandbridge (just down the coast from VA Beach city) and playing in the sand/ocean/pool keeps us busy for a full week. We do lots of walks, reading, etc. don’t worry too much about scheduling a bunch of stuff. We go to the Virginia Aquarium for a day some years and it’s fun.

You can often get cheap boogie boards at 5 below. If you buy them at the beach they’ll be $30 minimum. They won’t be great quality, but you’re only there a few days so it will be fine.

A caveat about Sandbridge: It's much sleepier than the Virginia Beach oceanfront/strip area and there is not much easily accessible - I think there is one tiny strip mall with an ice cream place and a pizza place and that might be it. So if you are looking for something away from the fray, it's good, but if you want to be in the midst of the action and want easy accessibility to things, you'll need to drive about 20 minutes to the Va. Beach oceanfront area. Also, the main road in Sandbridge would concern me with little kids - many of the rental houses are on this road and people do not drive slowly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will never go to VA beach water again. The jellyfish are crazy there.

True in late summer. Not usually true in early summer.

[Anonymous]

We just did Williamsburg with an 8 and 6yo. Busch gardens was only one day as not many young kid rides, but it’s pretty and tree lined. They liked Jamestown much better than Williamsburg. Jamestown is much more hands on and shadier, and they lived the boats. They liked the indoor pool at the hotel the best I think.

[Anonymous]

I do think the Yorktown Museum is pretty great. Emphasis on revolutionary war and also how George Washington could’ve been president for life but chose to give up power – a nice lesson for today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do Great Wolf last it's a germ farm.

You are not kidding. My son got pneumonia there.

[Anonymous]

I’d skip GWL in the summer, you’ll be at the beach anyway, so seems like an extra.

I would do 2-3 days at Williamsburg / Busch gardens (go to Busch gardens for 2 days) and 1 day go check out natural bridge, or James River settlement, or the mariner museum - it’s a gem,

6-7 at the beach (do some side trips / sight seeing / the usual beach fun stuff).