Colonial Williamsburg Vacation Activities Near Richmond, Virginia

Head east from Richmond, Virginia, on Interstate 64 to Colonial Williamsburg and you will find yourself 50 miles from Virginia's state capitol, but a few hundred years from modern-day culture. Colonial Williamsburg is one leg of Virginia's Historic Triangle, which also includes Jamestown and Yorktown.

This city-sized living history museum offers grand vacation opportunities for the whole family. Walk down the crushed shell streets of Colonial Williamsburg and enter the historic years of the mid-18th century when Great Britain still ruled the colonies and the main topic of conversation was independence.

Many of the activities, shops, and street performances of Colonial Williamsburg are included in the Historic Area admission ticket, available online and at ticket counters throughout Colonial Williamsburg. Events mentioned here and requiring additional purchase tickets are noted.

Orientation Walk

For those visiting for the first time, the Orientation Walk leaves from the Gateway Building every morning at 10 - 15 minute intervals. The 30-minute escorted walking tours give visitors an overview of Colonial Williamsburg's restoration process as well as explanations of visitor options.

The Governor's Palace

A tour of the Governor's Palace offers a glimpse of life for the British elite during the years of their rule in Colonial Williamsburg. While the original historic structure, whose occupants included Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, burned in 1781, the current Governor's Palace was rebuilt from Jefferson's original drawings and surviving artifacts and records.

In Defense of Our Liberty

Join members of the Virginia Regiment at the Magazine, a restored 1715 munitions supply building. As a new recruit, you will receive a crash course in the life and realities of an 18^th century soldier charged with defending Colonial Williamsburg. Be prepared to pledge your allegiance to the cause of the new country. Additional ticket required.

Ghosts Amongst Us

Gather after sunset at the Lumber House ticket office to embark on an hour-long walk through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg to hear tales of ghosts and supernatural occurrences said to have taken place in the Historic District. Advanced purchase ticket and reservation required, but Historic Area pass not needed. This tour is not suitable for young children.

Carriage Rides

Tickets for a variety of sized carriages are available daily at the Lumber House ticket office. Be sure to stop by early in the day to make your reservations as carriage rides are not available in advance and nearly always sell out before early afternoon. Liveried drivers are well versed in the history of Colonial Williamsburg and often provide intriguing tidbits about life in the area both then and now.

Take A Tour of Historical Trades

Cabinet makers, blacksmiths, apothecaries, and an array of historic tradesmen continue to practice their crafts in Colonial Williamsburg. Check out the special Trades Map for specific locations. Also, be sure to check the weekly calendar for your particular visit. Special tours may be available to let you not only learn but actually participate in a selection of trades.

Outside the Historic Area

Within a short walk from the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area, several local sites are included in a Historic Area admission ticket. These homes, museums, and inns serve to further enhance any visit to Colonial Williamsburg.

Williamsburg Inn

The showcase lodging property of Colonial Williamsburg is the Williamsburg Inn. Originally envisioned as a "home away from home" by Colonial Williamsburg's prime benefactor John D. Rockefeller, Jr., doormen still meet guests at the door with "Welcome Home." Check with the concierge about Inn tours, even if you are not staying at the Inn. Guided tours give an insightful perspective into the Rockefeller's affection for the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. Historical events and the Inn's involvement are woven into the tours, including visits from Queen Elizabeth II in 1957 and 2007 and Ronald Reagan's hosting of the ninth Summit of Industrialized Nations in 1983.

Bassett Hall

The Colonial Williamsburg-area home of the area's financiers, John D. Rockefeller and his wife Abby, Bassett Hall reflects its service as the family residence for the Rockefellers in the 1930s and 1940s. In addition to the house, the surrounding gardens and woodlands are meticulously cared for to be reminiscent of the time when the Rockefellers called Bassett Hall home.

The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum

The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum displays exhibits on furniture, firearms, paintings and other artworks of the 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th centuries. Take a brief detour into the adjacent Public Hospital of 1773. The three-room exhibit showcases disturbing eras of mental health treatments, including an extensive collection of mental health treatment equipment.