'''Williamsburg''' [http://www.williamsburg.com] is a city in southeast Virginia. Settled in 1632, it was the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1779 and in 1926, John D. Rockefeller Jr commissioned a restoration project to bring Williamsburg back to its former colonial glory. During this period, 700 modern homes were demolished, colonial buildings were renovated, and more than 400 buildings were reconstructed on their original foundations. Today, Williamsburg is a popular tourist center and people visit in droves to immerse themselves in the nation's colonial history.

Get in

  • '''Newport News/Williamsburg VA Airport ({{IATA|PHF}})''', in Newport News, [http://www.flynewportnews.com]. Serviced by Delta, AirTran, and US Airways.
  • '''Richmond International Airport ({{IATA|RIC}})''', in Richmond, [http://www.flyrichmond.com/] is less than an hour's drive from Williamsburg. Serviced by Delta, AirTran, US Airways, American, Northwest, Continential, Jet Blue, Skybus, and United.
  • For civil aviators, Williamsburg has its own small airport just outside of town, Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport ({{ICAO|KJGG}}).
  • '''Williamsburg Amtrak Station'''[http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Station/Station_Page&code=WBG] Located just north of the central district. Trains run to Richmond, Washington DC and New York.
  • Williamsburg is easily accessed by car with Interstate-64 running northeast to Richmond and southwest to Newport News.
  • Get around

    Public transportation is limited to Oleta Coach Lines [http://www.oleta.com] and the Williamsburg Area Transportation (WAT) [http://www.williamsburgtransport.com/] buses. They stop at the transportation center (the Amtrak station), the visitors center, and various spots throughout the town. They mostly are meant to serve the community, but the Yellow line goes to Busch Gardens and Water Country USA.

    Most people get around by car. Recently, construction projects to widen Richmond road has created constant traffic jams. The intersection of Richmond road, North Boundary street, and Jamestown road is the most notorious (and confusing) feature of Williamsburg driving.

    ''The Commonwealth of Virginia and Department of Motor Vehicles'' has certified local bus company Oleta Coach Lines, Inc for a bus route from The Williamsburg Transportation Center to shopping malls around The Hampton Roads area. The Williamsburg bus route [http://www.oleta.com/Williamsburg_Hampton_Newport_News_Bus_Route.htm] runs from Williamsburg to Hampton, to Newport News then back to Williamsburg. It runs twice on Tuesdays.

    See

  • Colonial Williamsburg is America's largest outdoor living history museum. A fully operational 18th century city with tradesmen and tradeswomen working in their shops. The ticket prices vary depending on the length of your stay and begin at $36 for a one-day pass for adults. Enjoy a step back in time and see how eighteenth century people of all social classes would have lived. Participate in a court proceeding, tour the Governor's Palace, and see how the American Revolution affected the people of this historic town.
  • The campus of '''The College of William & Mary''' is just at the end of Colonial Williamsburg's Duke of Gloucester Street. The Christopher Wren building, where Thomas Jefferson attended classes, is one of the college's original academic buildings and its open to the public, with tours provided by a group of student volunteers. If you're approaching campus from Colonial Williamsburg you will find the College's Sunken Garden just on the other side of the Wren building. The Sunken Garden is a gorgeous place to walk, sunbathe, and play frisbee. Its an impressive sight and a favorite haunt of students and local residents, as well as being a prime example of 20th century Colonial Revival architecture.
  • The James River Plantations are a collection of historic sites located in and around the Williamsburg area. Some such as Berkeley, Chippokes, Lee Hall, and Shirley[http://shirleyplantation.com] are open for guided house tours on a daily basis. Others, such as Bacon's Castle and Smith's Fort are open for guided tours for certain months throughout the year. Edgewood[http://edgewoodplantation.com], North Bend[http://www.northbendplantation], Piney Grove[http://www.pineygrove.com], Sherwood Forest [http://www.sherwoodforest.org] and Westover are open for self-guided grounds tours and for guided group house tours by appointment.
  • Do

    Two places which are off the beaten track but well worth a visit are the Williamsburg Winery and Presidents Park. Both of these attractions are located just off of route 199.

  • '''Williamsburg Winery''', 5800 Wessex Hundred, +1 757 229-0999 [http://www.williamsburgwinery.com/]. April-October: M-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 11AM-6PM. November-March: M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM. The Williamsburg Winery offers tastings in their cellar and they have a charming restaurant with dishes that complement the wine. With wines that are reasonably priced, the Williamsburg Winery is a great place for wine fans to go and is Virginia_fs largest winery. Be sure to stop at _gThe Gabriel Archer Tavern._h With courses under $10, the tavern serves a French Country Platter with assorted pates, meats, cheeses and freshly baked bread or sandwiches served with a baby green salad with dried cherries, sugared pecans and topped with raspberry merlot vinaigrette. This is all served for lunch daily between 11AM and 4PM.
  • '''Presidents Park''', 211 Water Country Parkway, +1 800 558-4327 [http://presidentspark.org/]. April?August 9AM-8PM, September?March 10AM?4PM. Closed Christmas Day and New Years Day. The Presidents Park is home to very large sculpted busts of all of America's presidents, with interesting facts about them and their achievements, laid out on a nice and compact path. There are five types of tours including: The Constitution and _gThe Bill of Rights,_h _gProtecting The Nation,_h _gHuman Rights, Civil Rights, Slavery,_h _gReligion,_h and _gAssassinations and Near Misses._h All are filled with tons of historical information and fun filled facts. Operating hours are April ? August 9AM ? 8PM. September ? March 9AM ? 5PM. There are discounted rates for groups of fifteen or more.
  • '''Busch Gardens''', 1 Busch Gardens Blvd, +1 800 343-7946 [http://www.buschgardens.com]. Chain amusement park. At Busch Gardens, experience thrilling rides such as _gThe Griffon_h that brings riders up 205 feet in the air and drops them at a 90 degree angle. This 70mph roller coaster is worth making the trip alone and is one of the main attractions in Busch Gardens. This is in the French village of the park. Another amazing roller coaster that is a big attraction to Busch Gardens is the _gAlpengeist_h. This is a 67mph coaster that rises as high as 194 feet and had a drop of 170 feet. For those that would rather stay on land, Busch Gardens offers a wide variety of animal exhibits and shows. For example, _gWolf Valley_h is an area that allows visitors to view trained gray wolfs in an environment much like their natural habitat, and also perform tricks with trainers. Enjoy the _gEmerald Beat,_h a powerful production from Dublin-based O_fShea_fs School of Irish Dance which celebrates Irish heritage. For those with children, go see _gThe Secrets of Castle O_fSullivan_h and _gPirates,_h a globe theatre 3D show.
  • '''Water Country USA''', 176 Water Country Parkway, +1 800 343-7946 [http://www.watercountryusa.com/water_country/va/]. Water Country USA entertains visitors with eleven water rides and a dive show. One of the biggest attractions at Water Country USA is the _gBig Daddy Falls_h water slide. This is a 670 foot water slide that takes you and three other people for a twisty wet ride.
  • Buy

    Williamsburg offers a good mix of shops and malls, selling arts and crafts, fashion boutiques, as well as upscale outlet malls.

  • A Touch of Earth. he Gallery Shops, 6580 Richmond Road, Williamsburg. 57-565-0425. Craft gallery featuring a fine selection of jewellery, pottery and crafts.
  • Christian Outlet Store. illiamsburg Pottery Factory, Building 8, Williamsburg. 57-564-6278. America's largest Christian store selling bibles, books and Christian art.
  • Carolina Furniture. 425 Richmond Road - The Shops at Carolina Furniture, Williamsburg. 57-565-3000. Great bargains to be had at this furniture store, carrying lines from Ralph Lauren, Hickory Chair, Henredon Century and Baker.
  • Prime Outlets at Williamsburg. 715 Richmond Road, Williamsburg. 57-565-0702. One of the top 10 outlet malls in America, Prime Outlets feature 120 stores offering 25-65% off brand name merchandise. Open daily Mo-Sa 10AM-9PM, Sun 10AM-7PM.

    Eat

    There are many places to eat in Williamsburg. They are mostly located in two areas: Merchants Square and a small stretch of Richmond Road. Richmond Road contains many of the chain restaurants found all over the east coast. In Merchants Square you will find The Trellis, The Blue Talon, The Cheese Shop, The Fat Canary, Lenny's, and Aromas, among others. The Trellis and Blue Talon are popular places for more expensive gourmet cuisine. The Cheese Shop, Lenny's and Aromas are best for lunch and they are also well worth visiting. The Gazebo, on Bypass Road, is a great place for breakfast. Colonial Williamsburg has a few taverns where historically costumed staff serve colonial fare. They are good places to eat and a must-visit for any Williamsburg tourist. Just be warned that most restaurants and shops close at 8PM.

  • The Blue Talon. 20 Prince George Street. 1 757 476-2583. ttp://www.bluetalonbistro.com/front.html. 17-27 mains. Specializing in "serious comfort food", the Blue Talon has a wide selection of homey favorites.

    Budget

  • Wine and Cheese Shop. 915 Pocohantas Trail - Village Shops at Kingsmill, Williamsburg. 757-229-6754. Varied selection of international wine and cheeses, go for a sandwich made with freshly baked bread.
  • National Pancake House. 105 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg. 757-220-0361. Serving more than pancakes, this family run restaurant offers a wide selection for breakfast and lunch served in generous portions.

    Mid-range

  • '''Berret's Seafood Restaurant and Taphouse Grill''', 199 S Boundary St (Merchants Square), +1 757 253-1847 [http://www.berrets.com]. Dinner $22-$30. Their seafood is excellent, and the crabcakes in particular are outstanding. Large wine list, beer on tap and they are open late. Run by the same folks who operate Nick's Riverwalk Restaurant in nearby Yorktown. If seafood takes your fancy, visit either or both of these restaurants.
  • Peking Mongolian & Japanese Restaurant. ypass Road - Kingsgate Shopping Center, Williamsburg. 57-229-2288. Voted #1 "Best of Williamsburg" for 16 years in a row, Peking is famous for their buffet, which includes a made-to-order Mongolian grill, Chinese and Japanese hibachi bars, and a full appetizer bar, vegetarian bar, salad and dessert bar. Leave satisfied and with change to spare.
  • Red Hot and Blue. 622 Richmond Road, Williamsburg. 57-259-1670. Enjoy the best of the south with this feel good Southern restaurant serving St. Louis-cut hickory smoked ribs, BBQ platters with pulled pork, beef brisket or chicken, Mississippi Delta catfish, southern chicken, sandwiches, salads and more. Open at 11AM.

    Splurge

  • Fat Canary. 10 W Duke Of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA. 57) 229-3333. Food and wine are uniformly excellent, be sure to try the lamb. Staff are friendly and attentive.
  • The Trellis. erchants Sq., 403 Duke of Gloucester St., Colonial Williamsburg. 57/229-8610. Fine dining restaurant that has received mixed reviews of late regarding the quality of food. The service and ambiance are still up to par, so try for yourself.

    Drink

    There are three bars, called the delis, which are conveniently all located at the intersection of Richmond Road and Scotland Street. '''The Green Leafe''' serves an impressive variety of beers (and tasty food) and it is significantly more expensive than the other two. The College Delly has outdoor seating. '''Paul's Deli''' serves good stromboli, which is even better when shared with friends and washed down with a pitcher or two of beer. The delis are right next to campus and they are very popular with William and Mary students. '''Pints and Pipes''', located on Palace Lane off of Bypass Road, has pool tables steel tip darts and free poker tournaments and serves fine celtic cuisine. The best place to play pool while you drink is the '''Corner Pocket''', located in New Town. New Town is a recent planned commercial/residential development located at Ironbound Road and Monticello (Route 321).

    Sleep

    Budget

  • '''Governor's Inn''', 506 North Henry St, +1 757 229-1000 [http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/stayWithUs/governorsInn/]. With over 200 rooms, this simple but comfortable hotel has an outdoor pool and a continental breakfast is included in room rate.
  • Mid-range

  • '''Colonial Houses''' [http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/stayWithUs/colonialHouses/]. Check-in is at Williamsburg Inn, 136 E. Francis St. Twenty six guest houses are located throughout the historic district. Restored houses have period furnishings as well as modern amenities like running water, cable TV, air conditioning and central heating. Suites are available. $139-$179.
  • Springhill Suites Williamsburg. 644 Richmond Road, Williamsburg, Virginia (VA) 23185. 57-941-3000. ttp://www.williamsburgsuiteshotel.com. 500. 89/night. Non-smoking, complimentary hot breakfast buffet, and an indoor swimming pool.

  • '''Westgate Historic Williamsburg''', 1324 Richmond Road, 888-808-7410,[http://www.wgwilliamsburg.com]. A family Virginia resort near historical Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens. One and two bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens and full baths.
  • '''Williamsburg Sampler Bed and Breakfast Inn''', 922 Jamestown Rd, +1 757 253-0398, [http://www.williamsburgsampler.com]. Enjoy friendly service by the gracious host Ike, who ensures that every need is catered too and makes the visitor feel right at home. The inn has an exercise room plus sauna and a billiards room. The rooms as spacious and cozy, with a very comfortable bed and TV.
  • '''Woodlands Hotel & Suites''', 105 Visitor Center Dr, +1 75 220-7960 [http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/stayWithUs/williamsburgWoodlands/]. Located a short walk from the Colonial Willaimsburg visitor center. Stunning grounds on site and there is always hot chocolate available in the breakfast room. $89-$109.
  • Splurge

  • '''Piney Grove at Southall's Plantation - 1790''', Route 5, +1 804 829-2480 [http://www.pineygrove.com]. Historic landmark accommodations located in Williamsburg's James River Plantation Country. Three rooms and two suites, complete with comfortable antiques The James River Plantation Progressive tour and Candlelight Dinner is offered on many Saturday evenings. $130-$260.
  • '''Williamsburg Inn''', 136 E. Francis St, +1 757 220-7978 [http://www.history.org/visit/hotels/williamsburgInn/]. Fit for a Rockefeller, and in fact many have stayed here. Has a pool, clay tennis courts, and golf courses. If you don't want to spring for a room, you can still soak up the ambiance at afternoon tea or weekend brunch. Rooms $299-$499, suites $459-$649.
  • Get out