dknudsen

Anybody who has stayed at The Fife & Drum Inn in Williamsburg? Looks like a reasonable price for its location. Advertised as a B&B, it appears that breakfasts are actually served in the Williamsburg Inn.??

Other, better ideas for 3 days lodging in the area?

Elainee

I just looked at their website. The breakfast is served in their own dining room named...Williamsburg Inn. It can be a long walk to transportation to Colonial Williamsburg. I stayed at the "motel" which is part of Colonial W...They provided transportation to the sites and breakfast was included. I went in June and it was hot, hot, hot! and high humidity. It was a lifesaver to have a swimming pool.

obxgirl

In this case the B&B in question is on Prince George Street which is in the heart of Williamsburg's very small downtown -- spitting distance from the restored area of CW.

I'm a local so I haven't stayed there. It looks lovely and the location is fantastic.

dknudsen

Yes, it is at Prince George St and N Boundary St, right on the west edge of CW. I figured that it would be convenient to simply step out and walk about the area. But I was surprised to see that the CW Visitor Center is quite a bit to the north... about a 1 mile, 20 minute walk. Seems I will be hoofing it up that way to begin my CW experience?

obxgirl

You can purchase tickets and begin your tour at the Visitors Center or, alternately, you can purchase tickets at the Information station at the intersection of Duke of Gloucester & Henry Streets which is a two minute walk from your B&B and at one edge of the restored area. Once ticketed you'll have access to the CW buses which can take you distances you prefer not to walk, including the Visitors Center. Starting at the VC isn't a requirement but it does provide a consolidated look at all CW has to offer as well as a place for daily visitors to park their cars. The VC is located just off of the Colonial Parkway which runs along the James Rivers from Jamestown to Yorktown. It's a very pretty drive from one end to the other.

dknudsen

Well, the week is all set. Flying into Norfolk May 30. 3 nights at Surf Side Hotel in Nags Head NC - 'oceanview' 4th floor room. 3 nights at The Fife & Drum Inn in Williamsburg VA - Conservancy Room. Final night at a hotel close to the Norfolk airport due to our 6 am departure (thinking Hampton Inn?? since it offers a shuttle which would allow me to return the rental car a day early...) Might have liked to do it in the opposite order, but availability and changing rates (June 1) were a determining factor. Thanks to everyone who offered hotel reviews and their help along the way. Now, to turn my research to OBX and Historic Triangle happenings...

dknudsen

obxgirl: Thanks for the tip about the tickets at the Information Station (these are the identical tickets, right?). Probably over thinking this, but I am wondering that if we get to town before the Visitor Center closes (driving up from Nags Head), we'd go up there and see the movie/get our bearings. Maybe that way we'd save some time on our first day. Then the next am, after our breakfast at F&D Inn, we'd walk down to get our 3-day tickets at the place on DofG and Henry. (Better yet: can we just specify a future starting date for our tickets and get them while we're up there that night before??...)

obxgirl

Yes, they are the same ticket options.

My opinion -- you can get an excellent overview of Colonial Williamsburg from their well done website -- in terms of orienting yourself to the area, the historical context and any special or regular calendar events during your visit. The Visitor's Center does that too but prior to the internet it was the only place to get that info as well as deviating cars away from the historic area.

I'd bypass the VC and head to the Fife and Drum, park and start your visit. If it's too early to check in to the F&D, there is a car park directly behind the F&D which charges $1 an hour. If you get to Wmbg prior to noon on Saturday, there is a very pleasant farmers market on DOG a block from the F&D.

>>(Better yet: can we just specify a future starting date for our tickets and get them while we're up there that night before??...)