Williamsburg or Mt. Vernon?
 

What do you recommend for an 8 year old boy? I've been myself to Mt. Vernon and enjoyed it but never been to Williamsburg. Considering a bus tour there this weekend.

Williamsburg, absolutely!

Mt. Vernon is good for a reasonably-interesting couple of hours, while Williamsburg is good for a totally-fascinating couple of days. They have hands-on kids' programs (as I recall) that your son will probably love.

Agree - Wmsbg has much more to see/do- besides the nearby Yorktown battlefield, plantations etc.

We've been to both with kids, and enjoyed both, but Williamsburg definitely has more to offer. My kids really enjoyed Yorktown and Jamestown, too.

If you have two or more days, Williamsburg of course, but you say "bus tour" so I wonder if that means just a daytrip from DC.

If you have only one day, then Mt. Vernon would be my recommendation so you don't spend 6 hours of that day cooped up in the bus. There's so much to see and do around Williamsburg that I'd save it for a time when you have two full days at least. Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria would make a good day of visiting colonial/revolutionary sites without hours of highway time.

Agree with kayd. Mt. Vernon is a pleasant afternoon tucked into an overall visit to DC. Williamsburg is a two-night add-on. From DC you drive down I-95 to Richmond, then I-64 east to Williamsburg; it's not far on the map, but the first half of the I-95 bit often has *brutal* traffic.

You will both enjoy Williamsburg.