Traveling America's Roads - Colonial Williamsburg, VA

Nestled against the eastern campus of the College of William and Mary is a history buff''s shining star...Colonial Williamsburg, VA. The largest living history museum in America, Colonial Williamsburg is a private non-profit foundation which has set the standard for living museums across the world. The restored 18th-century capital of Virginia (on its 301 acre site) is an excellent example of a colonial city during the period of the American Revolution. With the addition of historical interpreters complete with colonial dress and dialect mixed into the formula, the result is a town where history comes alive! ( Learn more about the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.)

Getting Started

The first place you'll want to visit is the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor's Center. Open 365 days of the year, they offer in-depth information on ways to customize your visit to your/your family's age, interests and price range. Anyone can walk through the restored area free but to go into the numerous restored buildings and participate in the vast reenactment experiences offered will take a ticket, and that equates to...money. (By the way, there is a parking fee at the Welcome Center.) This is why I strongly suggest you go to www.colonialwilliamsburg.com and do a little homework on the different experiences/tours you might want to consider before you arrive. View ticket options.

Once You're There

The main thoroughfare is the 99 ft. wide Duke of Gloucester St. This is the pivot point for most of the major activities within Colonial Williamsburg. Merchants Square, where the colonial shops and services are located lies on the west with the colonial capital on the east. Everything else branches from this street. Cars are not permitted in the historic area. If you plan on doing a walk-thru and not any of the specialty tours/activities, plan on a minimum 20 minute walk from the Welcome Center to reach the historic area. NOTE: The buses that operate within the historical area are for ticketed guests only. Be prepared for some major walking!

There are many original buildings to be found in Colonial Williamsburg, as well as hundreds of homes, shops, and public buildings which have been reconstructed - most on original foundations. Rare breeds of animals, trades of the period, and 17^th century style gardens add layers of authenticity to the town. It's the reenactors, however, that bring it all to life. With many scripted reenactments across the historical area, you 'll have a feeling of having stumbled upon a colonial city where time had stopped in the 1700's.

Making Memories

The dedication of Colonial Williamsburg's staff to bringing this period to life for the general public is nothing short of amazing. No detail is left untouched in their portrayal of this key historical period of our country. Yes, it can be a little pricey, and the heat/humidity of the summer months can sometimes be tough if traveling with kids. But with careful planning, a few extra fun age-related activities thrown in to keep everyone happy, and a break in the summer heat, you can have a vacation that each family member will look back on with great memories to reminisce about in many years to come!

Sources

www.frommers.com
www.wikipedia.org
www.history.org
www.colonialwilliamsburg.com