Colonial Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia is known as a historic city, bringing back to life the world of the Revolution, when America gained its independence. Williamsburg is a beautiful, fun, and educational place to visit all yearlong, but winter and Christmastime in Williamsburg bring special delights.
To teach visitors about the history of Williamsburg, the Revolution, and the way American’s lived during that time period, Williamsburg hosts plays and other events frequently throughout nearly every week of the year. Many of these are free for visitors. Some events you see this winter include: “Collapse of the Royal Government,” a re-creation of events leading to the dissolution of the British authorities in the colonies and America’s ensuing independence. Another re-creation of historic events is “Nation Builders,” which focuses on Williamsburg’s role in the postwar period. In this re-creation, actors, playing both famous and lesser-known colonists, discuss their experiences throughout the war and their visions for America in the future. In “Citizens at War,” the audience learns how independence brought new difficult issues to Americans’ lives. Williamsburg has a wonderful and informative website: http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com, where you can check to see what events are going on for the time period you’re interested in visiting.
Williamsburg hosts many special events timed just for Christmas, starting with the annual Grand Illumination. The Grand Illumination is an evening full of candles, fireworks in three locations, and music on various stages around the Historic Area to entertain visitors and begin the holiday season. Other Christmas time events include “A Capital Evening” a twenty-minute segment transporting you back to the holidays during the 18th century; “Christmastide at Home,” a one-hour walking tour with a guide describing special Christmases in Williamsburg’s history; and a variety of musical events. Although these events are specific to the 2007 Winter season, each winter in Williamsburg is full of similar events. Don’t worry that your children will be bored; Williamsburg offers many tours and programs geared towards children, and the fanciful costumes, parades, and scenery will certainly capture their attention.
For a break from the cold, visitors can stop into one of Williamsburg’s museums. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum hosts a variety of changing exhibits and permanent collections of both colonial and contemporary craftsman work, including toys, paintings, carvings, needlework, and many others. The DeWitt Wallace Art Museum provides another fascinating break from the cold. It has been home to many American and British antiques since 1985. These antiques include a vast array of metals, chinaware, furniture, paintings, glass, firearms, coins, and more.
Holiday visitors can get a lot of holiday shopping done in Williamsburg’s Merchants Square. Just next to the historic area, Merchants Square is a traditionally quaint square housing a number of stores, including The Carousel Children’s Clothier, Talbots, Williams-Sonoma, J. Fenton Gallery, a few Williamsburg-specific souvenir shops, Quilts Unlimited, Shirley’s Pewter Shop, the Toymaker of Williamsburg, and many more. A quick stop inside the College of William and Mary Campus Bookstore will treat you to a new book and a steaming cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Merchants Square also offers delicious options for lunch or dinner; The Cheese Shop has wonderful sandwiches for a casual lunch, and the Fat Canary, Berret’s Restaurant & Taphouse Grill (fresh, regional seafood and meats), and the Trellis Restaurant and Café (contemporary American cuisine) are all upscale and renown restaurants.
If you are looking for an all-around historic experience in your visit to Williamsburg, plan ahead and make reservations at one of the town taverns. These taverns, such as Christiana Campbell’s and the King’s Arms, offer a variety of meals while bringing you back to the 18th century through their atmosphere, and costumed (and sometimes singing) waiters and waitresses.
Finally, after all of that eating, Williamsburg holiday visitors can finish their day by going on the “Christmas Decorations Walking Tour,” a one-hour guided walking tour through beautiful historic buildings and homes decorated for the holidays.
Tired and cold legs can find rest and warmth in one of the few charming hotels right near the Historic Area. The Williamsburg Inn, for example, prides itself on treating guests like royalty; so much in fact that the Queen Elizabeth II stayed here in her trip to Williamsburg to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first permanent settlement at Jamestown. Particularly during the winter, certain Williamsburg hotels—such as the Williamsburg Inn—offer free tickets for Historic Area events when you make reservations at their hotel.
Virginia Tourists Guide - Williamsburg, Virginia
To teach visitors about the history of Williamsburg, the Revolution, and the way American’s lived during that time period, Williamsburg hosts plays and other events frequently throughout nearly every week of the year. Many of these are free for visitors. Some events you see this winter include: “Collapse of the Royal Government,” a re-creation of events leading to the dissolution of the British authorities in the colonies and America’s ensuing independence. Another re-creation of historic events is “Nation Builders,” which focuses on Williamsburg’s role in the postwar period. In this re-creation, actors, playing both famous and lesser-known colonists, discuss their experiences throughout the war and their visions for America in the future. In “Citizens at War,” the audience learns how independence brought new difficult issues to Americans’ lives. Williamsburg has a wonderful and informative website: http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com, where you can check to see what events are going on for the time period you’re interested in visiting.
Williamsburg hosts many special events timed just for Christmas, starting with the annual Grand Illumination. The Grand Illumination is an evening full of candles, fireworks in three locations, and music on various stages around the Historic Area to entertain visitors and begin the holiday season. Other Christmas time events include “A Capital Evening” a twenty-minute segment transporting you back to the holidays during the 18th century; “Christmastide at Home,” a one-hour walking tour with a guide describing special Christmases in Williamsburg’s history; and a variety of musical events. Although these events are specific to the 2007 Winter season, each winter in Williamsburg is full of similar events. Don’t worry that your children will be bored; Williamsburg offers many tours and programs geared towards children, and the fanciful costumes, parades, and scenery will certainly capture their attention.
For a break from the cold, visitors can stop into one of Williamsburg’s museums. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum hosts a variety of changing exhibits and permanent collections of both colonial and contemporary craftsman work, including toys, paintings, carvings, needlework, and many others. The DeWitt Wallace Art Museum provides another fascinating break from the cold. It has been home to many American and British antiques since 1985. These antiques include a vast array of metals, chinaware, furniture, paintings, glass, firearms, coins, and more.
Holiday visitors can get a lot of holiday shopping done in Williamsburg’s Merchants Square. Just next to the historic area, Merchants Square is a traditionally quaint square housing a number of stores, including The Carousel Children’s Clothier, Talbots, Williams-Sonoma, J. Fenton Gallery, a few Williamsburg-specific souvenir shops, Quilts Unlimited, Shirley’s Pewter Shop, the Toymaker of Williamsburg, and many more. A quick stop inside the College of William and Mary Campus Bookstore will treat you to a new book and a steaming cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Merchants Square also offers delicious options for lunch or dinner; The Cheese Shop has wonderful sandwiches for a casual lunch, and the Fat Canary, Berret’s Restaurant & Taphouse Grill (fresh, regional seafood and meats), and the Trellis Restaurant and Café (contemporary American cuisine) are all upscale and renown restaurants.
If you are looking for an all-around historic experience in your visit to Williamsburg, plan ahead and make reservations at one of the town taverns. These taverns, such as Christiana Campbell’s and the King’s Arms, offer a variety of meals while bringing you back to the 18th century through their atmosphere, and costumed (and sometimes singing) waiters and waitresses.
Finally, after all of that eating, Williamsburg holiday visitors can finish their day by going on the “Christmas Decorations Walking Tour,” a one-hour guided walking tour through beautiful historic buildings and homes decorated for the holidays.
Tired and cold legs can find rest and warmth in one of the few charming hotels right near the Historic Area. The Williamsburg Inn, for example, prides itself on treating guests like royalty; so much in fact that the Queen Elizabeth II stayed here in her trip to Williamsburg to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first permanent settlement at Jamestown. Particularly during the winter, certain Williamsburg hotels—such as the Williamsburg Inn—offer free tickets for Historic Area events when you make reservations at their hotel.
Virginia Tourists Guide - Williamsburg, Virginia
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