Colonial Williamsburg

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November, 2010

 Colonial Williamsburg Williamsburg, VA

 

 

We went to Colonial Williamsburg November 2010 nearly 15 years after going the first month we arrived in Virginia. We had not much to do camped in a Hotel suite with two kids and three cats for 6 weeks and we bought the wrong tickets, buying the top of the line annual pass (which we never used) .  But time passed and this time we bought the  day pass for three of us and a child and though over 100.00, still a lot better! You can see it all in one long day, so just do a day pass. Although interesting, it's not really something you need to see over and over. Make sure you go potty before or after entering. There are restaurants outside the settlement area which are okay and medium priced. We ate at a Pizza place and it was okay. We also went to another event before and found a nice sandwich/coffee place which was good (but food does not come with side dishes; you order a sandwich and that's what you get). Wear good shoes. there's a lot of walking and bring water for hot days (and it does get very hot). What you'll see it the development of life in Colonial times, where settlers came after the colonization of Jamestown etc. Here, is where VA Government was seated for most of the 18th century. It was once considered the Capitol of Va and is where George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, James Monroe, James Madison, George Wythe, Peyton Randolph, and others molded democracy. It's where Patrick Henry made his most famous speech where he said, "Give me Liberty or give me death!". The place showcases original architecture (homes, a church, etc) and allows visitors to go in some of the places where you will see people working, as they did  three centuries ago. You may see a blacksmith, a cobbler, a jailer or a pharmacist. A few small animals are found like horses, sheep and chickens. Domestic animals that might have been part of daily life. You can buy a "carraige" ride on a horse coach. There's some fantastic shops on the Duke of Gloucester street, offering unique clothing (quite expensive but worth it maybe as much of it is hand designed and made locally), unique toys (made of real wood and of high quality), specialty imported and locally made cheeses and jewelry etc. Located near the college of William and Mary, this is a tourist destination, but it's so well kept and pretty here. All the buildings in Williamsburg are kept to specs. If a McDonald's moves in, it has to be made of brick and toned down. It's a nice destination and centrally located to many civil war plantations, a water park, Busch Gardens, Jamestown, Historic Yorktown.... go! Enjoy photos from the visit:

 

From left to right: 1) Visitors Entrance 2) Governor's places right side (Carraige house or stables and entrance to the grounds. 3) Governors Palace (main building) 4) Left side entrance (carraige house or stables)

 

From left to right: 1) Grounds of the Governor's palace 2) coat of arms and many many swords inside main hall of Governor's palace (lots of gorgeous wood) 3) Inside the blue room; paintings, typical pediment over the door etc. 4) Chandelier

 

  

From left to right: 1) An actor dressed in Colonial garb 2) Bruton Parish church 3) A closer view of part of Bruton Parish church 4) my granddaughter Annie with a horse.

 

From left to right: 1) main circle outside the Governor's palace. This is one end of the town. 2) a nice scene of a family strolling a grassy area 3) a view of a house 4) a tiny house (don't know if this is famous, but it's typical of a middle class family to live here  - it's tiny!

 

From left to right: 1) A street scene.  2) The fifes and drums... we just missed them marching down the street... 3) actors in costume 4) the little drummer boy!

 

From left to right: 1) a nice fall scene 2) the George Whyte house 3) the Courthouse 4) a Horse drawn carraige

 

From left to right: 1) The "Magazine" which houses the weapons 2) the Guardhouse 3) inside the magazine, a photo of some guns/weapons 4) a funky tree that was split in three or four parts, but is still growing!

 

Colonial Williamsburg

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No ticket or pamphlet

 

December, 1995

 Colonial Williamsburg Williamsburg, VA

We didn't take pictures for some strange reason, but the photos below are postcards I bought there. We went there when we first arrived in Virginia. While in a small hotel room for 6 weeks while looking at houses to buy, we spent Christmas there and so we took our first excursion to Williamsburg.  We bought a "Patriot Pass" and I remember it was EXTREMELY expensive like a couple hundred dollars for the family.  But you could return as many times as you liked in a year.  Check the website for various options on ticket prices and when the town is open. What Colonial Williamsburg is, is an entire town and all the buildings are authentic and the people dress up in costume and live like they would have back in the Colonial Era. The do things like blacksmithing etc and talk like they would have during that era.  Williamsburg is a nice area.  Clean and very charming. Restrooms and nearby shops and restaurants available as well as the famed college of William and Mary. There is also a nice gift shop and between William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg (hooked together; walking distance) there is a upscale shopping area. 

    

Left to right: Governor's mansion, Wheelwright who makes wheels for the carriages, and inside the Governor's palace; the ceiling houses muskets . . .

 

Jamestown Settlement

Jamestown Settlement Museum

Yorktown Battlefields

Yorktown Victory Center

Lee Hall Mansion

Carter's Grove Plantation

Endview Plantation

Busch Gardens

Water Country

 

 


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