Hi,
We're traveling with a 12 year old boy to DC in March, and are wanting to take a side trip to Williamsburg. What is a realistic amount of time needed to spend there? 12 yo likes history, but will have just had three days of it in DC. What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

A full day at CW should be plenty. I suggest eating at one of the taverns and taking one of the evening tours such as the ghost tour.

We spent 3 days, 2 nights and my son loved it!

we just did this with a 9 and 14-year old- my friend encouraged me to go to Jamestown too and I'm SO glad we did- the experience was terrific- great museum, and the ships were fascinating to our boys- you really get a sense of our ancestor's experience- remarkable. the drive from Williamsburg is short and lovely.
The evening tours in Williamsburg were highlights- but they book fast so call now. We did a mock trial that was VERY cool- and the ghost tour. both were great. the tavern dinner was also a highlight- and we loved the folk art museum which is next to the hotel. Fabulous collection of quirky objects.
If your guy loves history, he will be enchanted with the whole thing. It's a different experience than DC- much moe personal. Check the schedule for when the re-enactors are performing- listening to Thomas Paye give an impromptu speech in the garden behind the governor's mansion was pretty exhilarating!

I agree that the presentation in WBG is much more personal, and from a little different perspective: just BEFORE independence, whereas DC presentations are pretty much history AFTER we became a nation. I suggest that you also watch for presentations by Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and both George & Martha Washington. Also suggest the evening programs. If you wish to book ahead of time, call 1-800-HISTORY

Your family might also find some of the presentations about slavery the plight of being black very educational. Things in CW much more "interactive" than in DC.

Colonial Williamsburg is a lot to see in one day, but it can be done if you plan in advance. For example, I'm sure your 12 year old son will like the Magazine and Guardhouse (lots of guns & cannons!), and it's a good place to start your tour.

For dinner, I'd suggest Chowning's Tavern.

www.colonialwilliamsburg.org

Enjoy!

I think your 12 year old son is going to have blast! First thing you need to do after you purchase your ticket is grab the paper with all the daily events listed. You can choose what event fits into your time frame. You can catch an audience with a "Founding Father" or march with the military, check out the court,even squeese in some shopping and a visit the campus of William and Mary, make bricks with your feet, catch how shoes were made; the list is endless--only your time there will limit what you do. Do make reservations for a tavern dinner as soon as you can. Christiana Campbell's is my favorite. I'm sure whatever you do, you will have a terrific time. My family is about to make it's annual trip in March, too. Hope to see you there!

I agree with the suggestion about Jamestown...also Yorktown is right there. Two different tours - one is federal, one state. One is just really battle sites. The other is very "experiential" much like Jamestown. It's wonderful! He would get a feel for the early settlers, the colonial period, and the Revolutionary War. You need more than one day, even if you limit yourself to just Williamsburg. From DC, it's about a three hour drive.

Hi,
I live near Wmsbg and used to work there as well... I think you need at least 1 1/2 days if you include Jamestown....Wmsbg is perfect for a 12yr old. If you can get him in the mock fife and drum corps, he would never forget it. Also,check out the"maze" behind the palace, and try to catch Thomas Jefferson--the most famous actor in town...Go to the website and check out the Patriot Pass ticket for deals with tavern coupons, etc....Also, I agree with the below posters about eating in the taverns--quite an experience but book soon...all taverns are good in their own way--you can't go wrong. Also, Jamestown is a must as we are nearing the 400th anniversary. There are two Jamestowns--make sure you do main one and not the "island"--that is currently an archeaological site with not much to do for the tourists..Have a great trip!

Williamsburg is 2.5 hours from DC. Are you planning on making this a side trip while in DC or incorporating it into your travel plans once you leave DC. It makes a difference. You can do it as a day trip from DC, but it will be a long day. The historical shops/exhibits/demonstrations tend to close by 5pm, so that might help to keep it from becoming too long of a day. Some things are closed for the winter (thru mid March).
I think it is a great place for kids and adults. Hopefully, the entire group will enjoy the trip.
An excursion to Jamestown is definitely worth the trip. Set aside some time to walk around the historical section as well as the nature trails. This probably isn't a good thing to add to a day trip to Williamsburg for your first trip. If you are planning on staying in or near Williamsburg, this should make for a good day and a half all together (Williamsburg and Jamestown).

Take Care,
Mark

Don't forget Busch Gardens! (May not open until May, though).,

I think 1-1/2 days in Williamsburg. There is a lot to see, and you want to have enough time so that the 12 year old is not running ragged.

Eating in a tavern is fun. I ate in one too that was really neat, but I cannot remember the name. I am sure that they are all the same, more or less.

Enjoy and have fun. March is a nice time to go too becasue it is not too hot.

Colonial Williamsburg's season opens about March 15th which coincides (not coincidentally) with the popular time for spring break (week before and week after Easter). You will find the full complement of programs, day and evening, and regular operating hours. Check the CW website (history.org or colonialwilliamsburg.com) for specific details. I bet your boy will really enjoy some of the evening programs.

Busch Gardens will be open daily from March 19th through April 2 (and weekends thereafter until Memorial Day).

Is your boy inquisitive and extroverted enough that he would listen & ask questions? If so, 1.5 days would NOT be enough! The interpreters and the tradesmen both are very patient with kids, especially kids who show interest, and the general experience can be very "interactive".

The tradesmen (e.g. gunmaker) use 18th century skills to show how things were made, but they don't necessarily "act" 18th Century, as the interpreters do.

If your son is more quiet, not all that much into history, orjust a very short attention span, then 1.5 days in the area will probably hold interest "just enough". For those who just pass by and exhibit and look, CW can be seen in a day or two, but if you involve yourself, even just a bit, it can take days.

The historic taverns are definitely NOT all the same. They vary in menu, price, ambiance, and "attitude."

I suggested Chowning's because I think it's best for a 12 year old. You'll find more info on the CW website.

We visited Williamsburg two years ago, with our son (7) and daughter (4). By the end of the first morning, we had revised our itinerary so we had 2 full days to spend there. (We also spent several hours the day before at the "real" Yorktown, taking the park service tour of the battlefield, at my son's request, as well as a hurried couple of hours after Williamsburg at the Jamestown recreation - we stole time from Jamestown to get more time for Williamsburg.)

The history at Williamsburg is more experiential, so will be a different sort of thing than DC (we combine Williamsburg and DC on the same trip, too). Have your son look at the Williamsburg website, and pick out some particular sites he wants to visit. We ended up not doing any of the evening programs because there weren't any good ones (and not too scary) when we were there.

We had dinner one night at Christina Campbell's Tavern; it was ok, but not particularly colonial, to me. We had a really fun time at the pub-type dinner place (can't remember the name); there were strolling musicians and the waitress showed us how to play a colonial dice game. We just had drinks there, though, and ate dinner that night elsewhere.

The interpreters spent a lot of time with the kids. We spent about 45 minutes helping the gardener at one location, including winching a bucket of water out of the well (that's tough)! Another interpreter gave my son a colonial remedy for his cough.

My son also liked Thomas Jefferson's speech, the guardhouse and magazine and the mock trial.