Virginia Road Trip: Discover Early American History

Visitors Center – Start your visit here to gather information to plan your visit and to buy tickets (if you haven’t done so online), which is open daily from 9:15 am to 5 pm. The Visitors Center provides free parking and shuttle rides into Colonial Williamsburg. Friendly staff can help you plan your visit. We highly recommend downloading the Colonial Williamsburg Explorer phone app for the most current information, maps, ticket info, dining options/hours, lodging, and daily and seasonal events schedules.

Historic Government Buildings – Travel back in time while visiting the historic government buildings onsite. Each building has its own story that you can explore during a visit. The three most popular sites – the Governor’s Palace, Capitol Building, and the Courthouse – require guided visits which are offered every 20-30 minutes, no reservations required. Expect lines for tours at these popular sites during peak seasons and weekends. Most have character actors re-enacting typical scenes from when the buildings were in use.

Trades and Shops – This area of Colonial Williamsburg is an immersive experience that allows you and your family to see how items were created in the 18th century with non-motorized tools. Trades people in character demonstrate historically accurate tools and methods to create products ranging from furniture, horseshoes, silver to musical instruments. Many have wonderful shops with their wares to purchase as a reminder of your trip to CW. Be sure to stop at the Cabinetmaker & Harpsichord-Maker, the Cooper Trades, and the Wheelwright Trades.

Historic Homes – Learn about how people lived in Colonial Williamsburg more than 300 years ago by visiting these beautiful historic homes. These homes offer free tours a few times an hour.  Check out the Peyton Randolph Home (once home to 27 enslaved individuals and the Randolph family) and the George Wythe Home (the home of one of the Founding Fathers, George Wythe, who was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence).

Art Museums – Colonial Williamsburg has two wonderful art museums on property covering folk art and decorative arts. Since Colonial Williamsburg is a living history museum and displays fine art throughout the many buildings and homes, consider these actual art museums as “museums within a museum”! Check out the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum which showcases examples of contemporary and colonial folk art and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum which is housed in the same building as the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and where you can view stunning decorative art pieces from the 17th-19th centuries.

Events and Activities – CW hosts many exciting events, performances, and activities to enjoy. Check out the Colonial Williamsburg Explorer phone app for an events and performances calendar. We recommend seeing the historic figures in costume (where you can interact with the many tradespeople and historic figures in period costume as they teach you about what life was like in colonial times); fife and drums (a must-see for everyone visiting Colonial Williamsburg with marching fife and drum players); carriage rides (take a break from walking by purchasing a ticket for a carriage ride – book early since these are very popular); explore archaeology (watch onsite archaeologists continue their ongoing exploration of Custis Square near the Art Museums or the First Baptist Church); special and seasonal events (held throughout the year, including events dedicated to Christmas, Thanksgiving, Juneteenth, Pride Month, Women's History Month, and more); and, the Arboretum & Gardens (a Level-2 Certified Arboretum, filled with many tree and shrub species spread out over 30 gardens).

Dining Options – There is no shortage of dining choices from casual to formal. Check out: Charlton’s Coffee Shop (where you can learn about the Stamp Act and the historic coffeehouse while sipping a cup of coffee or hot chocolate); the Merchants Square Restaurants (this popular area with 15 restaurants is where you'll find most of the dining options in CW); Raleigh Tavern and Bakery (a great spot for a sweet baked treat and bottle of root beer); Rockefeller Room (a great semi-casual fine dining establishment in CW); and, the Museum Café (a casual sit-down spot in the Art Museums building).

College of William & Mary – Located adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg, the majestic College of William & Mary – America’s second oldest college – is famous for having the nation’s first Royal Charter, student honor code, and the Greek letter society. This beautiful campus is a great place to take a leisurely stroll. For campus tours, swing by the Admissions Office for a printed guide to the campus, then take a self-guided tour. Student-led tours are available for potential university attendees to learn about the campus. Highlights include the Wren Building (originally built in the late 1600s, this historic building is the oldest still in use on a college campus) and the Crim Dell Bridge (This picturesque bridge is a great spot for photo ops, and Campus legend says that if you cross the bridge alone or share a kiss with your partner on it, it will determine your future relationship status).

Williamsburg Winery – This charming winery set on 400 acres offers tastings as well as a lovely restaurant.

Virginia Beer Company – With two custom-built brewing systems, this small brewery offers a constantly changing variety of beers. They have food trucks onsite most days as well as live music, so you have something to enjoy alongside the beer!

Watermen’s Museum – Located in the town of Yorktown, this charming museum is dedicated to demonstrating the important role Chesapeake Bay Seamen played in history.

Riverwalk – Check out the town of Yorktown’s shopping, dining and entertainment area set on the banks of the York River. Consider taking the 1-mile walk from the Yorktown Battlefield to the American Revolution Museum of Yorktown.

Amusement Parks – If you want a break from Colonial history and some modern-day fun, the Williamsburg area has two top-notch amusement parks worth visiting: Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA.

Exhibits & Galleries – Explore the various permanent exhibits to learn more about 17th century Virginia.

Paspahegh Town – At this historically accurate re-creation of a Powhatan tribal area, learn about daily tribal life derived from archaeological discoveries in the area. Costumed and in-character actors provide information and show how cultural activities were performed at the time.

Ships – See historically accurate re-creations of the original three ships that brought the settlers to the area. Learn about the ships’ histories from in-character staff.

James Fort – This re-created fort is based on one that existed here between 1610 and 1614. See what daily life was like for the colonists by observing and interacting with interpretive actors performing their jobs using tools and methods from the early 1600s.

Yorktown Visitor Center – This is a great way to start your exploration of Yorktown. It includes maps of the park, information on interpretive programs, and an orientation film. Make sure you stop here first to pay the park entrance fee.

Free Yorktown Tour Guide App- The free app's GPS-enabled audio tours lead you through “300 years of American history on a walking tour of Historic Yorktown or get up close to the events of the Siege of Yorktown on two separate driving tours.”

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown – Explore the exhibits and re-created Army encampment to learn about what life was like for soldiers and locals during the time of the siege.

Yorktown Battlefield – Take a Ranger-led tour of the battlefield to learn about the siege of Yorktown.

Yorktown – Walking tours are also available for the nearby historic town of Yorktown where you can learn about the town's involvement in the siege. Keep an eye out for Nelson House, the home of a signatory of the Declaration of Independence and an important promoter of American independence.

Jefferson’s Monticello – This historic 5,000-acre estate is much more than simply Thomas Jefferson’s former home. Jefferson was an expert architect, inventor, writer, diplomat, and farmer. You can tour the house, grounds, slave quarters, and visitor center. The guided Hemings Family Tour tells the story of enslaved Sally Hemings, who bore at least six of Jefferson’s children. The tour tries to provide a balanced perspective on slavery and race in America.

Monroe’s Highlands – This less famous (and less crowded) presidential home offers a charming glimpse into the country’s fifth President, James Monroe. The original home and other buildings were destroyed long ago, but the wonderful reproductions provide a glimpse into life in the 1800s. Monroe owned hundreds of slaves but, ironically, was a proponent of abolition. Tours by knowledgeable guides provide perspective on Monroe and the lives of enslaved people.

Madison’s Montpelier – Only 25 miles northwest of Charlottesville is the estate of James and Dolley Madison. The property has wonderful grounds, gardens, exhibits, trails, a museum shop, cafe and historic cemeteries. Madison’s vision of a government “by the people” is celebrated through exhibits on the U.S. Constitution. Other exhibits focus on enslaved people and ties to present day America. The grounds are free for visitors, but access to the main house is only through the popular one-hour guided tour. Montpelier is open Thursday – Monday from 9 am – 4 pm.

Michie Tavern – Historic and charming, this 1784 tavern and restaurant is at the base of the small mountain leading to Monticello. It was originally located in a more rural location and served as the town’s gathering place for political debate, dances, church services, and entertainment as well as lodging for travelers. In the early 1900s the tavern was moved piece-by-piece to its present location to service the growing tourism in Charlottesville and Monticello. Consider shopping in the General Store or browse the Tavern Store for locally made wares. Enjoy a southern meal at the main dining room or try the food at the 1784 Pub. A great place to stop before or after visiting Monticello.

University of Virginia – This prestigious and historic campus (the first non-religious college in the U.S.) was designed and founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 and shares the beauty and historic significance of Monticello. It is also the only U.S. college campus to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The University offers free tours, including specialty ones.

Downtown Mall – This vibrant downtown area near the UVA campus has over 150 shops, bars, and restaurants. It’s a wonderful place to relax after a long day touring.