I have to admit that there's actually a lot to do in the "historic triangle." In addition to the official "Colonial Williamburg" area, there's a Busch Gardens theme park, a water park, a huge outlet mall, the Williamsburg winery as well as the nearby Yorktown and Jamestown sites. I think it wouldn't be a bad little family vacation because there are tons of hotels in Williamsburg and a pancake house on every corner.... Breakfast food - yum! If you're interested in the area check out this link
At first glance you'll think "Colonial Williamsburg" is a rip off because it's pretty expensive - $34 for an adult ticket, but it's actually very cool. This area that's about 4 blocks by 3 blocks has been maintained in an exact colonial style. The buildings, the townspeople, the shops, the streets, the activities are basically an ongoing museum to life in the 1770s and 80s. For example, you walk into the blacksmith shop and actual workers in colonial garb are smithing. They use the same techniques and are making items needed for the "town." You can ask questions and they'll explain what they're doing.
In the wheelwright's shop, the worker explained that he was making a wheel for one of the wagons in town - I mean he was actually making the wheel, with the same tools that would have used in the 1700s, so that the wagons we saw in the town were authentic to the era. These different shops have apprenticeships for new workers and they learn the trade just as they would have in the old days. We also saw a shoe maker, women baking in large stone ovens, the place where the town's gun were kept (most being authentic muskets that are maintained and still fired each year), the church (which still has ongoing weekly services) and a few taverns/pubs. In addition to the buildings, the "townspeople" have daily re-enactments going on in locations throughout the town. For example, the day we were there, the continental army "troops" in Williamsburg were getting ready to march on Yorktown and General Washington was there to inspect them. In another location, a soldier had been acting inappropriately in the tavern and was tarred and feathered, and apparently we missed a slave uprising of some sort.
So it really is pretty cool, even if you know nothing about history. I do recommend paying extra for the Governor's Mansion tour - it was worth it. And if you want to be a complete nerd, you and your family can rent colonial costumes for the day.
If you are going to do the colonial thing, I also HIGHLY recommend eating at one of the restaurants. We did dinner at the King's Arms which is one of the "fancy" places. Yes it was a pricey dinner, but the food was fabulous and the experience was worth it. Everything is candlelight (duh - no electricity back then) the servers will explain the menu and how to eat the food, and there are roaming "townspeople" that will come to the table or play music in the room. Check out the menu here. We had peanut soup, venison pie, and buffalo meatloaf which were all very tasty! Apparently the colonists also liked stiff drinks because every cocktail I ordered seemed to be pure liquor. Imagine slightly drunk Jenn, in heels, walking down a cobblestoned street ....
Other random Williamsburg thoughts ...
1. Go to the Yankee Candle Flagship store!!
It's huge and obnoxious and a must for any candle lover. It's one of the largest candle shops in the world and it also has lots of Christmassey stuff. Just make sure to take your advil because the smells there will give you a headache!
2. Prepare to get lost.
I'm generally a good navigator and my travel companion is in the Navy and can actually navigate in the freakin' ocean, but this area is set up bizarrely and roads are not always well marked.
3. Even in colonial days there were chics that tried to hook up with soldiers ... photographic evidence here
4. Realize that you are seeing a re-enactment and if you're one of those history buffs who demand on accuracy ... just get over it. So if you happen to know that George W. was actually 6' 4" -which was ridiculously tall for that time - and that he towered over all of his officers, you just have to let it go if the pretend George is the same height as everyone else. Of course I'm a history idiot so they could have worn pink bows in their hair and I would have thought "hmm, didn't know the men wore pink bows."
5. They sell american revolution scumbuzzards in Williamsburg.
A "scumbuzzard" refers to those little green plastic army guys that you play with, the ones that back in the late 70s and early 80s came in big plastic bags or tubs. The term was coined by my Uncle B. who has since moved on from this world. My uncles would bring them to family events and we would have scumbuzzard wars - especially fun when there was lots of fireworks
to serve as ammo. I got a kick out of seeing these, never seen anything but the boring green kind.so all in all, Williamsburg is a worthwhile destination, just avoid the colonial cocktails if you're a lightweight.
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