Vacationing in Williamsburg, VA
No matter where you travel in the Williamsburg area you are surrounded by a sense of history. To fit yourself chronologically into the historical flow around you its perhaps wise to begin your vacation in Williamsburg,Va with a trip to nearby Jamestown. Named for English King James I, Jamestown was the first permanent colony planted by Great Britain to survive in America. Today thanks to the work of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities archaeologists continue to probe the area in an attempt to unlock even more secrets of what life was like in that successful colonial venture. A park has been established near the site of the Jamestown settlement and visitors can roam about restored buildings, a fort, a Powhatan Indian village and three rebuilt ships, replicas of the original tiny vessels that brought settlers to the New World in the early 17th Century. Costumed reenactors lend authenticity to the reconstructed settlement and encourage questions and conversation about the past. Now is a perfect time to visit Jamestown as it looks forward in 2007 to the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown settlement.
Next, chronologically in your historic tour of the Williamsburg VA area is Colonial Williamsburg itself. Touting itself as the “the world’s largest living history museum”, Williamsburg is not likely to disappoint. Williamsburg served the colony of Virginia as its capital during much of the 18th Century and it also served as the wartime capital city of Virginia from 1776-1780 when the capital was finally moved to Richmond. Great Virginians and leaders of the American Revolution like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry worked and stayed in this village and left their mark here and throughout the colonies. When you visit Colonial Williamsburg its helpful to begin with a trip to the Visitors Center. Take the time to watch the half hour film about the history of Williamsburg that will orient you to the many buildings you will see and the events that transpired there centuries ago. In colonial Williamsburg, VA you will see a mixture of original structures and restored buildings. Divide your time between the Governor’s Palace, The Capital ( home of the House of Burgesses) , William and Mary College ( the second oldest college in the nation ) and scores of taverns, shops and homes that have all been reassembled with attention to the smallest detail so that you might have an accurate picture of what life was like before our nation was born. As a visitor you can stroll through the town, chat with artisans , enjoy the architecture and the well tended gardens, and linger in a time not your own but a time which truly served to form the world we live in today.
Not far from the historic treasures of Williamsburg, VA is Yorktown site of the decisive battle of the American Revolution. Though the Revolutionary War was not officially concluded until 1783 with the Peace of Paris, the Americans victory and the surrender of General Cornwallis and the British troops at Yorktown sent a clear signal to both sides that for all practical purposes the war for Independence had been won by the Americans. Revisiting the site of that battle brings today’s American vacationers face to face with reminders of their own national history. At Yorktown Victory Center you can view reenactments of Revolutionary War encampments, take part in interactive performances, tour the battlefield, and for a totally different view of the encounter, sail on the York River or join in the evening candlelight walking tour. While there are plenty of eating spots between Williamsburg,VA and Yorktown you might choose to come prepared to walk or bike the the battlefield and then settle on the the banks of the York River for a picnic and then cap the day with a swim. 2006 marks the 225th anniversary of the surrender of the British to the Americans at Yorktown, a perfect time to visit and enjoy the many special events planned to mark this occasion.
While the force of history is clearly at play in the Williamsburg, VA area, this vacation center is not without its recreational haunts. Within just a few miles of colonial Williamsburg, VA is Busch Gardens – Williamsburg. When you visit this facility you will marvel at its cleanliness, its design and its manicured gardens and you won’t be surprised to learn that Busch Gardens-Williamsburg was voted “the World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park” for 15 consecutive years. But don’t get too sidetracked by the aesthetics Busch Garden – Williamsburg. The park is also just plain fun. Featuring more than 50 rides, 10 stage shows and a melange of shops and restaurants, Busch Gardens- Williamsburg can offer a day of pure pleasure for vacationers of all ages. Oh and don’t miss one of Busch Garden- Williamsburg’s newest attractions, Curse of DarKastle: the Ride – it must be experienced to be understood.
Williamsburg,VA is located far enough south to experience lots of warm, sultry weather. But the heat need not spoil your vacation plans. You can head out to Water Country USA, the largest water park in the Mid-Atlantic states. Water Country offers its patrons a wide variety of fun and exciting ways to beat the heat. Choose from tube slides, wave pools, family raft rides or for the youngest members of your group a water play area just for kids. Safety is a primary concern of the operators of Water Country so expect to be required to use a safety jacket , but also expect to have lots of fun cooling off.
Its very unlikely that the first settlers at Jamestown, the later colonists of Williamsburg or the heroic American soldiers who fought at the Battle of Yorktown would ever have said ” Virginia is for Lovers”. But then again they could never haver imagined that this area would one day have so many reasons to become a prime vacation spot for future generations of Americans.
