Art isn't something I thought of when visiting Colonial Williamsburg, but I ended up spending more…read moretime here than at the actual living museum. Here's why. 1) Admission: It's free to anyone regardless whether or not you have a ticket. Park in the nearby lot (don't forget to pay via the app or QR code) and walk right in. Staff are more than willing to guide you to where to start. 2) Art: The building itself houses this museum and another one. It's hard to tell which is which, but I recommend visiting every gallery. Each gallery comes with helpful signs that bring the art to life and explain about preservation. 3) Space: It's very big so you can easily spend 2-3 hours visiting. There are restrooms and places to rest throughout.

Like the Folk Art museum to which it's attached, free, expansive, and close to DoG Street makes…read morethis a great way to spend some time doing something other than Colonial Williamsburg or Busch Gardens. Love the seating in the middle of the space as well!

A good place to start on the tour of the battlefield sites that defined America…read more The Yorktown Visitor's Center is the perfect starting point for exploring several of the most pivotal sites in American history. The drive from the main road to the center is scenic, offering glimpses of Virginia's historic landscape before arriving at the center. Getting to the actual center seemed a little confusing as there are arrows describing the car tours to visit various sights when leaving the center. The center is not very large. The exhibits inside are well-organized and interactive, showcasing artifacts from the Battle of Yorktown, maps, uniforms, and weaponry from the era. There is a short film that provides an good overview of the battle and its significance in the history of our American independence. The center also features a gift shop with books, souvenirs, and historical memorabilia. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and offered suggestions regarding various tours that you could take when driving around the area. There are several well-marked signs leading visitors from the center to the surrounding area sites. The driving tours take visitors through key historic sites connected to the Siege of Yorktown (1781) and the broader Colonial National Historical Park. Overall, the Yorktown Visitor's Center is an great stop, providing an introduction to this historic battlefield and its role in shaping the nation.

Colonial NHP is spread out over Jamestown, Yorktown and a road connecting them. We went to the…read morevisitor center in Yorktown and thought it was great. It did a great job of explaining what led up to the British surrender and how it happened. I especially liked the part of a ship that was built into the visitors center. Walking through it really was like walking through an 18th century ship - very cool. The visitors center did a great job of explaining the surrounding area and helping us decide where to go. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend checking it out when visiting Yorktown.

This place is awesome. Probably one of my favorite things we did here. The models were very…read moredetailed and so much info available. The two gentlemen working had a great amount of knowledge about everything. I was even lucky enough to watch the model builder work at his craft. It's very cheap and a stop on trolly line. I could have definitely spent more time in there.

An adorable museum run by a very knowledgeable docent. Our…read moretour gave us a vast history of Yorktown and the fishing that used to be so abundant there. When we got to explore the exhibits, we saw how detailed everything was. As someone who is interested in sustainability, the overfishing history was fascinating. It's hard to picture what the York River would be like with all of the fish it had many years ago.

On William & Mary's campus, this art museum is two levels and free! Once you park out front, be…read moreprepared to give your license plate info to the person at the front desk. Parking is free, but they do need to register you, so you don't get a ticket. The museum is free to wander. On the ground level are the gift shop, a cafe, and two galleries. The top floor has the main exhibits from old art to new. When I went, they had a special exhibit about 9/11 centered around the architecture of the Twin Towers.

During our visit we figured why not come check out some of these museums, as a New Yorker I must…read moresay , hubby & I enjoyed the 9/11 exhibit , it's nicely put together & a great way to remember what the Twin Towers were & represented for so many. The museum itself is lovely, good way to spend some time checking out the exhibits.

We love going to Second Sundays in downtown Williamsburg! It opens at 11 am and runs until 4 pm the…read moresecond Sunday of each month, March through December, along Boundary Street and assorted cross streets. They offer live music in different areas and at different times. As well as some good trucks. You'll find crafts, specialty foods, jewelry, soaps and lotions, bonsai trees, stickers, artwork, items for pets, wood carvers, some clothes, books, and more. This isn't a farmers market. You won't find fresh produce. But that's ok because the vendors are all varied and interesting. Parking is available on the surrounding streets, in the garage, and parking lots. Bring a tote bag to carry your finds.

A great place to visit and learn about Colonial America metalsmithing and forging…read more Colonial Williamsburg is a wonderful place to visit that really brings American history to life. It offers visitors a unique glimpse into 18th-century America with real shops, people dressed in period costumes and buildings maintained as they would be in Colonial times. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, this living history museum spans over 300 acres and includes restored buildings, interactive exhibits, and costumed interpreters. The site is an immersive experience where you can walk along cobblestone streets, interact with blacksmiths, shopkeepers, and even participate in colonial-era activities. I would recommend starting your experience at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center but you can go directly to the city where there is plenty of parking in parking garages along the outer streets. You can see lots of different working places in the city like the blacksmith shop. It is excellent. It is well marked off the south side of E Duke of Gloucester Street. A ticket that can be purchased at the visitor's center is required for entry. You walk through a courtyard and around the side where a forge is operating and 2 people are working the shop. One spent the entire time we were there answering questions asked by visitors. There were samples of the various items that they have made on the counter as you enter. It was wonderful and both staff did a wonderful job of explaining how they are worked during the colonial era at the shop. They explained what they would and would not be making for the community during that period. It was fascinating and impressive. I would definitely recommend this stop for all the makers out there as well as people interested in the history of the area during colonial times. Enjoy!

It's difficult to hide my excitement of a road. But no ordinary road mind you. A historic trail…read moreturned present day park most likely used by the Indians to travel by horse. It stretches 23 beautiful scenic miles and cuts through gorgeous wooded terrain. The Parkway runs along the James River in sections and is an absolute must if time permits to avoid the highway and travel at slower speeds to enjoy the scenery. The project to build the Parkway began in the 1930's and coincides closely with the construction and rehabilitation of Colonial Williamsburg. The project concluded in 1957. The road connects the Historic Triangle of Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown Virginia all on one incredible tour. The Parkway is considered a park and is ran by the National Park Service. It also has the unique designation of being just 1 of 31 of its kind considered a "National Scenic Byway". Speed limits range from 35-45 mph and are patrolled by the NPS. Semi trucks are not permitted. The surface is concrete in excellent condition and well maintained. You can jump off and on at the tree cities. I can't help but be giddy about such a cool road with neat history connecting such historic communities. Best times of the year are Fall and Summer. Whether a tourist, or local it's a fun road to travel.

Colonial Parkway is a 23 mile scenic parkway linking the three points of Virginia's Historic…read moretriangle, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown.

Let's bring this one up to the current:…read more Since my last drivel about the CW Brickyard a lot has changed. First and foremost is their location. Until two years ago they were preverbally down in the hole off of Nicholson Street over by the Cabinetmaker. Now, they are off of Botetourt Street next to the Carpenter (who has only been there a few years from when they got moved due to the closing of Great Hopes Plantation). Why the visit and what's the big deal? It's all about the kiln baby. Why is it worth seeing? Because you simply cannot see bricks fired this way in this country anywhere else except here at this time. Normally once a year, in certain years they have done it twice and at different times but this is normally the pattern, in mid-November they fire up the kiln that they spent approximately five weeks building to solidify the bricks which were made from late-spring to early-autumn. This year, depending on which person you talk to, they're firing around 18-19K. A few thousand will be used at The Magazine for part of a new outer wall they'll do next year (The Magazine is currently closed until '25 for archeology/renovation work), most will be used for the rebuilding of the First Baptist Church - www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/research-and-education/archaeology/first-baptist-church/. Fwiw, if you got the dough, the bricks can flow. Part of the total are 800 for a private individual that is doing an outdoor hearth. Pricing is $5.25 per brick (faint). Also neat is that while all of the CW trades close for the day at 5pm, a random one or two at 4:30pm, during the kiln firing the brickyard stays open until 10pm. Yes, at 10 they very politely ask you to leave and yes, several staff members from different trades stay out all night long for the five days it takes the process to unfold. The staff that work here are arguably the best CW has to offer. Whether it's answering the same question for the millionth time or answering a very technical question from someone who knows something about bricks, they handle it professionally and some with a good sense of smart-ass humor. The rest of the year the brickyard open Wednesday-Sunday from 9am-5pm but if you can swing it, usually, the second week of November for a visit, it will be worth your time. (They also once every so often fire up the oyster shells they have on the property which are then used as mortar for in between the bricks once they're melted down. One of the guys said it was coming "soon" but I forgot to ask when "soon" is.)

Colonial Williamsburg is the perfect place to relive history. Don't worry about what time of year…read moreyou go ... there will always be plenty of people there to share your stay with! The docents in their historic garb doing things we don't do anymore will absolutely blow you away! Don't wait ... go now!