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Stop 1
2 day stay
Colonial Williamsburg
Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is a living history museum on steroids! You will feel like you have truly stepped back in time with its historic district lined with replicas or restored buildings from Colonial days. Character actors, trade shops, restaurants are all on theme. You learn about and experience history as if you are living it! Think of this as the Disney World of Colonial history – minus the rides! Colonial Williamsburg is living history at its finest. And a short stroll away is the historic College of William & Mary. Prepare to be immersed in Colonial Williamsburg!
Top things to do
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Visitors CenterStart 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.
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Historic Government BuildingsTravel 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.
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Trades and ShopsThis 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.
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Historic HomesLearn 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).
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Art MuseumsColonial 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.
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Events and ActivitiesCW 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).
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Dining OptionsThere 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).
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College of William & MaryLocated 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).
Colonial Williamsburg activities
Historic MuseumsHistoric SitesWalking ToursArt MuseumsArchaeologyGardensWalking ToursHikingBikingCollege ToursBoatingFishingGolfingDiningShoppingScenic Drives
RV campgrounds near Colonial Williamsburg
The first four stops on this trip – Colonial Williamsburg, the Colonial National Historic Parkway, Jamestown Settlement, and the Yorktown Battlefield – are all in close proximity to Williamsburg. We recommend picking one spot to stay to see all these locations. The area has a mix of public and private campground options. Public campgrounds include: Chippokes Plantation State Park, Chickahominy State Park, Newport News Campground, and Machicomoco State Park. To find the best campground for your visit to the greater Williamsburg area, press "Take This Trip!" and let AdventureGenie help!
