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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:If you buy a Maryland science center membership, you can visit the following places in that area for free:

Nauticus/battleship
Virginia Living Museum
Virginia Air & Space Museum
Science museum in Richmond

Also cool in the area: Fort Monroe, Chrysler Art Museum, both Jamestown sites, Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg.

Yes! The ASTC membership also gets you into the Children’s Museum in Portsmouth for free too. If you happen to have a 4th grader, Yorktown is free with the National Parks pass

Having been to both these places as a kid, I would say even five days is pushing it. 10 days is way too long, IMO.

North End VA Beach is quiet, safe, and beautiful especially at night wth few tourists.
No hotels there except one so you will need a short term rental.
Atkinson realty is the primary source to get one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you buy a Maryland science center membership, you can visit the following places in that area for free:

Nauticus/battleship
Virginia Living Museum
Virginia Air & Space Museum
Science museum in Richmond

Also cool in the area: Fort Monroe, Chrysler Art Museum, both Jamestown sites, Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg.

Where do you find the info for free family entries if family has a membership from Maryland science museum? Can I get in free if I get port discovery membership or Baltimore zoo or Baltimore aquarium membership?

You can see which places are included here:
https://www.astc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/6-pt.pdf

GWL - one night, it's so obnoxious for adults, but the kids will love it.

BG - my kid doesn't do scary rides either and we always find plenty to do to spend a full day. I'd say yes to Water Country as well to take up another full day.

W'Burg - +1 on the Cheese Shoppe. We also love Sno-to-Go, a shaved ice place on Richmond Road. Colonial Williamsburg is definitely worth a visit and if you stay in one of the affiliated hotels, you often get free tickets for kids. Jamestown is also great. My kid LOVES the antique mall for wandering, the pottery might also be worth an hour. We also like driving down the Colonial Parkway--you could do a picnic on one of the little river beaches.

VA Beach - haven't stayed here yet, but some local friends like the Delta Hotel Virginia Beach Waterfront, it's on the bay and has a private beach that's supposedly nice and not crowded. Not on the boardwalk, but it's right near First Landing and a short drive to other attractions. Definitely take the kids to the aquarium.

Do Great Wolf last it's a germ farm.

Anonymous wrote:If you buy a Maryland science center membership, you can visit the following places in that area for free:

Nauticus/battleship
Virginia Living Museum
Virginia Air & Space Museum
Science museum in Richmond

Also cool in the area: Fort Monroe, Chrysler Art Museum, both Jamestown sites, Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg.

Where do you find the info for free family entries if family has a membership from Maryland science museum? Can I get in free if I get port discovery membership or Baltimore zoo or Baltimore aquarium membership?

I think I would break this trip into 2 or 3 chunks, with only 2-3 hotels. For that reason, I would I skip great wolf lodge. I think you can probably get a water park experience at water country on a combination ticket with Busch gardens. My then 6 year old , who does not like scary rides enjoyed Busch gardens. A lot of the little kid rides are spread through the park, so the little kid would go on a little kid ride while the older kid went on a scarier ride.

If you buy a Maryland science center membership, you can visit the following places in that area for free:

Nauticus/battleship
Virginia Living Museum
Virginia Air & Space Museum
Science museum in Richmond

Also cool in the area: Fort Monroe, Chrysler Art Museum, both Jamestown sites, Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg.

Why can't your 6yo hike?

Op here. Thank you. I know 10 days are long, but originally we plan to reserve these 10 days either for a cruise or Disney world or Seattle to Vancouver trip. We have to book something now , and we feel like road trip this year may be not a bad idea. Other plans get doubts because we are not sure if anyone would get seasick, the Disney world long line stories/hot weather scare me, and a higher chance that Canadian may not welcome us.

Thank you for all ideas.

I don’t know if they still do these but the public tour of Norfolk Naval Base is fantastic. You ride around on little golf cart things. Also highly recommend the marine science museum in Virginia Beach.

Love Busch Gardens and Williamsburg too. This sounds like a great trip OP.

We just stayed at the Hyatt Place Oceanfront. It is a very nice hotel with great location, but with 2 caveats:
--the indoor pool is tiny. I wouldn't take small kids unless the outdoor pool was open.
--there are a lot of dogs there. Well behaved mostly, but my son is allergic, so I would have liked to have known animals would be on the public furniture before staying there next time.