Spring in Williamsburg
 

When is the best time in spring to travel to Williamsburg? My husband and I are planning a trip next year. I want to go when the bulbs and dogwoods are in bloom. Is the first week of April too early?

Garden week in Richmond VA, just 70 miles west of Williamsburg, is usually the third week of April. (I am trying to remember.) Next April, the second weekend is Easter(around the 9th). Kids will be out of schools the week before and after Easter. Ours are out the week after. So, if you can wait until the third week, the kids should all be back at school and everything should be blooming.
Anyone in Williamsburg have more definite information???

We were in Virginia April 14-17 this year. Tulips were in bloom, but it was too early for dogwoods. The redbuds, however, were blooming and were absolutely beautiful, and the mountains throughout the state were coming to life in all shades of green. Weather was great, but quite chilly in the mornings. Williamsburg was wonderful and not crowded. One morning, we were the only ones at the Governor's Palace and got a private tour. Great time to visit, in my opinion.

Spring flower timing, like leaf color in the fall, varies. If I remember correctly, last year's bulbs etc arrived a little later than usual in Williamsburg. Generally, daffodils start coming out during the third week in March. Redbuds and tulips soon after and then the pear trees. Dogwoods about the beginning to middle of April and azaelas toward the end of April.
I would avoid Easter break time. Whenever you come something will be in bloom and it will be gorgeous. My favorite time is the end of March when the leaves are new and bright green and there is a sprinkling of pink from the redbuds.

referencing leavin's reply that April 2005 was too early for redbuds: we had an unusually late spring this year. Here's my reference point: We live in Richmond, on good sized property with lots of plantings. My daughter's spring break always begins about march 4th, and I always regret that my 3 long stands of forsythia are going to peak while we're gone. This year, they hadn't even opened - they didn't hit full-bloom until very last of March, early April. Everything else was similarly 3-4 weeks behind - so, assuming return to normalcy, I'd definitely concur with trying to avoid Easter week if you can, OR just get hotel reservations really soon, just because of crowds in Wmsburg. (Most families with kids will focus on certain aspects of tourism, and you could probably avoid some of them, at least.) All of April should be a wonderful time to be there.
Hope my odd info helped...

The one week you do want to avoid is the weeking ending on Mother's Day, which is graduation for the College of William and Mary. That sucks up a lot of hotel rooms as well as restaurant reservations at the colonial taverns.

Plus it is the week for the LPGA Michelob Open at Kingsmill. Definitely worth coming to see. There are so many hotels in Williamsburg that I don't think we could ever reach capacity.

The weekend before easter, and easter weekend are so bad, it makes graduation weekend look deserted! Towards the end of March might be a better bet.