Williamsburg
 

My wife and I are traveling from Virginia beach to Washington DC next week. We have a few hours available to spend in Colonial Williamsburg. For those who have been there before, do you have any recommendations for us to get a taste of Colonial Williamsburg (CW) in the time we have available? Thanks!

Just a few hours? That does make it tough. Since you are from Oregon, I am assuming that you haven't seen a lot of our natural areas.

This is what I would do. I would take I64 to Yorktown. If you get off at Ft Eustis and go towards Yorktown on Ft Eustis Blvd and then left on 17 you will be in Yorktown in 10 min. You can drive through the battlefield and town and then get on the Colonial Parkway.You will be in Colonial Williamsburg in 15 min. But I would continue on towards Jamestown and go onto the island (Jamestown National Park) because this is the 400th aniversary and you might as well at least see it while you are here.
You can then take the parkway back to Colonial Williamsburg. Go onto their website history.org to see what interests you. I am not sure that the few hours you have warrants buying a total pass. You may want to buy a pass to the Dewitt Wallace museum or the governor's mansion.

Birdie,
Thank you for your advise. It sounds like a good plan. Assuming we take this path along the Colonial Parkway, are there specific items we should be looking for?

Also, do you have any recommendations for lunch along this drive?

The drive is only 17 miles but you'll see both of our massive rivers, the York and the James and many beautiful creeks and marshes. Watch for osprey, brown pelicans, and bald eagle. You may see some naval ships stopped at the naval weapons station. There are some nice places for lunch in Yorktown. A few on the water and one, Carrot Tree kitchen back a couple of blocks. Yorktown is a nice place to walk around. Yorktown Victory Center is there but you probably won't have time. Other options for lunches are in Williamsburg if that timing is bettter. Right off the parkway is the Golden Horseshoe golf course where you can eat outside if the weather is nice. Or you can order sandwiches at the Cheese Shop on Duke of Gloucester street and have a picnic further down the parkway. I'll try to get better directions for you. Its been a very busy week.

Here's better directions for you: I64 to the Ft. Eustis towards Yorktown exit. Straight on Ft. Eustis Blvd to rt 17 at the McDonalds. Left on 17. Right on Cook rd after the library and day care center. Cook Rd until it ends at the battlefield. Left onto that road. You can then take an immediate right to the memorial and then go down towards the river or stay on that road to the river. There are a lot of signs that will point the way. If you go straight you will pass the Nancy Thomas gallery. She is a famous folk artist.
To get to the Golden Horsehoe, take the Williamsburg exit just after the tunnel. Right at the top of the hill and you will end up at the golf course.
Have fun.