Williamsburg Presents Conference on the Civil War
Join Williamsburg visitors and locals for a conference celebrating American history named “Storm on the Horizon: Slavery, Disunion, and the Roots of the Civil War.” The conference, taking place on February 18 and 19, will provide guests with a full insight into some of the conflicts and stories that took place over a century ago. You’ll hear from some of the most knowledgeable teachers in the American History field, including Gordon S. Wood, Alva O. Way and Alan Brinkley, who will all be sharing their own insight. Look at the Civil War from a different angle with this great conference. Stay close to the event with reservations at a Williamsburg hotel.
You can make the most of your Williamsburg vacation by participating in other activities around the area. Plan a night out on the town and eat at the Mystery Dinner Playhouse, a show that gives you just enough information to leave you scratching your head as to who the culprit is. Work together with those around your table to find out which characters are guilty and which are innocent. Also, enjoy a full banquet of great cuisine, including four choices of entrees, fresh vegetables and moist chocolate cake.
After solving mysteries, try wrapping your mind around the exhibits of Ripley’s Believe or Not! Museum Williamsburg, boasting more than 300 exhibits in the museum. You’ll see everything from the creepiest to the most ridiculous sculptures and photos inside. Learn about true facts behind people with extraordinary talents and animals with abilities you weren’t even aware of. Take the kids along with you so that they can share in your fascination as well.
Prepare for the Spring Season with Williamsburg Attractions
Although it may be a while before you head over to the beautiful city of Williamsburg, you can always book your tickets ahead of time for a fantastic spring or summer vacation. The cold winter season will be over before you know it, and you’ll be enjoying the most memorable vacation of your life in the downtown area of this wonderful area in Virginia. Browse through these great activity options, and reserve the ones that your family would most love to participate in.
Interact with history at this incredible area taking visitors back over 200 years ago to the time when the British colonials first arrived on American soil. As you walk along the stone roads, you’ll see all types of historical architecture and ancient artifacts that will help you better understand the life that the colonials lived. Take part in the adventure with a one day, two day or one year pass to this interesting park, depending on how many times you’re planning on going.
You’ve probably heard of this theme park which incorporates the practices and culture of European countries in its food and shows. The park is composed of a vast variety of twisting roller coasters and other great rides for kids and adults. Experience fun rides such as The Big Bad Wolf, Roman Rapids and the Loch Ness Monster. You’ll be able to view several seasonal shows, including Starlight Orchestra and Kinetix as well. The park is brimming with fun, and it specifically uses the culture of cities like San Marco, Italy, and Killarney, Ireland in its attractions.
This exciting water park is directly connected to Busch Gardens, and adults will be able to get their tan while the kids play on a variety of spouting attractions such as the white water Aquazoid, the slide racing Nitro Racer or the toboggan ride, Rampage. The park is filled with more than 1,500 lounge chairs, so you’re welcome to relax and watch when you’re not swimming in the water.
Noon Year’s Eve Starts the New Year Off with Family-Friendly Fun
For a daytime New Year’s Eve celebration that the whole family can enjoy, visit Williamsburg to take part in Noon Year’s Eve. This fun celebration starts earlier in the day so young children won’t be kept up past their bedtime and adults can share a special day of celebration for the coming of 2011 with their kids. This unique celebration takes place at Virginia Living Museum and features a number of fun, family-friendly activities including face painting, crafting projects featuring the way countries around the world celebrate the New Year, and games in addition to the usual museum exhibits and entertainment. It’s a great way to spend some quality time with your family as you get ready for 2011.
As a special treat, you can also visit Busch Gardens Williamsburg on December 31st when its open on the last day of 2010 for everyone to come and enjoy thrill rides, authentic European foods, and live shows. There are 3D rides, premier rollercoasters, and even themed rides for people of all ages to enjoy during their time at the park. It’s an adventure that is not only fun but educational about European countries.
After your special family New Year’s Eve celebration, start 2011 off with some fun activities in Williamsburg. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum offers guests an entertaining and entirely untraditional museum experience with exhibits ranging from merely strange to the truly bizarre. Some of the museum exhibits are even interactive to give you some entirely new and exciting experiences. This museum is an entertaining way for everyone to spend the day together.
Make Special Christmas Eve Memories at the Yuletide Supper in Colonial Williamsburg
If you’re looking for a very special way to spend Christmas Eve, visit Colonial Williamsburg to be a part of their Yuletide Supper. Available only on December 24th, this exciting celebration gives guests a full Christmas experience filled with the customs and traditions of both the past and present. The meal guests can expect to receive consists of a specialty salad, braised beef shortribs and scallops, several delicious side dishes, and a peppermint ice cream cake that is designed to delight your taste buds. Reservations are necessary for this exciting holiday event. You will be glad you didn’t miss it!
After your delightful Christmas Eve experience, visit Busch Gardens Williamsburg to enjoy the park’s legendary rides and attractions that feature themes from all around the world. Take a ride on one of their world class rollercoasters or enjoy spending some time looking for unique gifts at their exclusive shopping center. You will find that there is no end to the fun and excitement that you can experience at this theme park.
Don’t forget to check out the other historic venues in addition Colonial Williamsburg while you’re in the area. The Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center Combo allows you to experience the history of the area in a unique way with film, galleries, and live interpretation. You can explore replicas of the three ships that sailed from Virginia to England and see costumed performers give demonstrations of daily life and work for the settlers. Between your time at Colonial Williamsburg and the Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center, you will have a great understanding and comprehensive view of the United States past!
Go Nuts for the “Wild Gifts for the Holidays” Event in Williamsburg
If you want to take a break to enjoy the season in Williamsburg, and you still haven’t found the perfect gifts for your friends and family, you need to visit the Virginia Living Museum for the “Wild Gifts for the Holidays” event. Taking place now through December 23rd, this event features gifts that come straight from nature or “the wild.” Eco-friendly clothing toys, stationary, and other gifts are all on display and waiting for you to take them home. You won’t believe the variety of stuffed animals, home decor, hand-made jewelry, and other items that are at the museum. Of course, the museum itself still has its usual exciting wildlife exhibits and attractions like the aquarium and aviary for guests to visit, so it’s fun for playing as well as shopping.
Of course, you can’t miss visiting Colonial Williamsburg during the holiday season. This 18th century themed attraction features a number of seasonal exhibits and events for guests to enjoy as well as the usual fun attractions like the Great Hopes Plantation and historic Courthouse and Gaol. Guests will find that the park’s complimentary shuttle service, which comes with all passes to the park, is especially useful in getting around to each attraction and staying out of the chilly winter weather.
If you’re visiting Colonial Williamsburg, it would be a shame not to go to the Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center. These historic attractions were pivotal in the events that led up to the American Revolution and the outcome of the revolution. Galleries, film, and live interpretation will bring that turbulent time period to life before your eyes, so you can experience American history in a relevant and interesting way. You will love seeing history from this perspective!
Williamsburg Celebrates Thanksgiving in Its Jamestown Settlement!
As Thanksgiving Day draws closer, Williamsburg prepares for an authentic ”Foods and Feasts of Colonial Virginia” at their very own Jamestown Settlement, where visitors can explore the historic side of Thanksgiving. The event lasts from November 25-27, and there will be plenty of activities to watch and learn from. Each day, the settlers will gather food from the surrounding area, preserve it with their own methods and mix it with other ingredients to replicate some of the earliest Thanksgiving feasts in America. Learn from both the English colonists and their neighbors, the Powhatan Indians. All members of your family are welcome to participate in this historic event, so bring the kids along and book a Williamsburg hotel.
Add a little spice to your Thanksgiving vacation with a trip to the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum Williamsburg, where you view and touch many of the 300 exhibits across the museum. The exhibits range from the small, shrunken heads to an enormous 500 pound gorilla model made out of nails. Focus in on each display, as some of them are illusions and may play tricks on your eyes. Much of the museum is littered with oddities like natural disaster areas and dark graveyards.
Finally, head back to your roots with a walkthrough of Colonial Williamsburg, where you’ll view 18th century style architecture and residents adorned in the same type of clothing that was worn long ago. The area was constructed to replicate an entire city, and you’ll be able to see the variety through well-maintained gardens, sunlit houses and large shelters like the Great Hopes Plantation. Don’t miss out on the chance to visit more history.
Trace Thanksgiving Day back to its origins with this exciting vacation to Williamsburg. Plan now, though, as the holidays are almost here!
Spend Quality Time with Your Family in Williamsburg
With school back in session, you and your kids have both been hard at work making sure that homework is done and no responsibilities are forgotten. No doubt with everyone’s busy schedules, you’ve been seeing a little less of each other than you’d like. You can fix that with a fun weekend away together exploring the attractions of Williamsburg. It’s the perfect way to get that quality time together that you’ve been missing.
Start out your adventure together with a visit to Colonial Williamsburg. This historic attraction gives you the chance to see pieces of American history and learn about this country’s past together. You can visit beautiful historic homes, the old Courthouse, Goal, Magazine, and many other historic attractions during your time at this attraction. You can even customize your visit by getting a pass that lasts one day, two days, or an entire year. It’s your chance to learn and have fun with your family.
After spending time exploring the many attractions of Colonial Williamsburg, get cozy and warm together at the Mystery Dinner Playhouse. This activity gives you the chance to bond with your family over a delicious meal and a murder mystery. Your family can work together to find out who committed the murder after watching it unfold on-stage. The actors and actresses will spend time talking to you offstage, so you can ask them questions and find clues. With your whole family on your team, you’re certain to find out who the culprit is and win the prize for solving the mystery!
Don’t forget to stop by the Virginia Living Museum for the chance to explore the wonders of the natural world. A variety of displays, exhibits, and hands-on activities will keep you exploring the museum for hours. Take a relaxing stroll through the outdoor trail, walk through created habitats that simulate an Appalachian Mountain Cove or a swamp, and experience the magic of gazing into the museum’s 30,000 gallon aquarium that is filled with marine creatures. There is even a touch tank where visitors can touch some of the water creatures!
Holiday Symposium in Colonial Williamsburg Helps Visitors Prepare for the Season
Watch demonstrations and find out about celebrating the holidays in the 18th century from Colonial Williamsburg’s special guests and holiday professionals during their Holiday Symposium. This two day conference will be going on November 10th and 11th and start at 8:00 am. Illustrated lessons will give you some ideas for your own holiday celebration that feature holiday decorations and foods from the 18th century and today. Beautiful centerpieces, wreathes, gingerbread houses, and a wine and cheese tasting will combine into one exciting holiday event. In order to attend the symposium, guests are required to have a Colonial Williamsburg admission pass that is valid for the entire conference. Additional fees to be a part of the symposium may apply. This is a wholesome, Christmas experience that the whole family can enjoy together!
Don’t end your family’s history experience at Colonial Williamsburg. Continue with a visit to the famous Jamestown Settlement. This settlement has numerous exhibits and films to help you understand life in the early 1600s. Living history interpretations will show you what the clothing and lifestyle was like for the settlers living in the area while replicas of the three ships that sailed to Virginia will give you an idea of life on the high seas. You will quickly realize how very different the lifestyle of the settlers was from the lifestyle you are used to.
After visiting the Jamestown Settlement, it’s only appropriate to visit Yorktown Victory Center. This place was pivotal to the events that led to America’s independence from Britain. Film, galleries, and live interpretations will give you an idea of how life played out as time progressed and the area began to chance. Your time there will culminate in a better understanding of the causes of the Revolutionary War and how it forever changed and shaped America as we know it today.
Howl-O-Scream Adventures Await at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
If you’ve been looking for something fun and unique to do this Halloween aside from conventional trick or treating, visit Busch Gardens Williamsburg for their Howl-O-Scream event. From September 24th to October 31st each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Busch Gardens will have scare zones, haunted mazes, and Halloween-theme shows for visitors to the park to enjoy. Wear your favorite Halloween costume and join in the fun this year before the event ends!
You can’t visit Williamsburg without taking a look at all of the history the area has to offer. Colonial Williamsburg gives you the chance to step back into the 18th century for a look at how residents of the area lived during that time. Political sites, historic homes, a plantation, and costumed residents give you the full scope of 18th century life that will make history interesting and real to you. With everything from a one day pass to a one year pass, you can choose how long you would like to stay at the park and what you will see. Each pass also offers special benefits to make your experience at Colonial Williamsburg special.
After having your Halloween adventure and exploring Colonial Williamsburg, it’s time to relax and have fun at the Mystery Dinner Playhouse. The dinner and show combination gives you the chance to become a detective when a ‘whodunit’ style mystery show is put on for you. The actors and actresses will even come down from the stage to talk with you and give you clues as to who is the culprit and who is innocent. The person who figures out the mystery first is given a special prize. With Mystery Dinner Playhouse, you’re certain to have an enjoyable experience!
Explore Fun, History & the Depths of the Sea in Williamsburg, VA!
While it’s no secret that the Williamsburg area offers travelers an amazingly life-like interpretation of our nation’s history though a variety of attractions including Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown, travelers don’t hear nearly as much about the many other great things going on in the Williamsburg area. From exploring one of our world’s most uncharted territories – the depths of the ocean – to experiencing the culture of other continents, there are a variety of things to see and do during your next visit to Virginia.
Considered a combination of numerous zoological attractions, the Virginia Living Museum is a great way to get an up close look at nature in a scientific setting. Not quite a zoo, yet not quite a museum, the Virginia Living Museum focuses on interaction and understanding of nature through numerous environments. An outdoor trail showcases area animals such as bobcats and river otters in their natural habitat, a 30,000 gallon aquarium and six planetarium shows just to name a few of the many exhibits featured throughout the Virginia Living Museum.
Busch Gardens Europe takes on the theme of six European countries amidst a quality line-up of thrill rides, live shows and theme park dining. The park is divided into regions meant to represent England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Scotland, with each section’s dining and rides fashioned after the culture of the area represented. Aside from the overall ‘European’ feel of the park, guests will also find a small area dedicated to French Canada, as well as a variety of traditionally American-style dining and shows sprinkled throughout the park.
While it certainly needs no introduction, you can’t talk about Williamsburg attractions without bringing up Colonial Williamsburg. Set in the 18th century, Colonial Williamsburg presents America’s Revolutionary period through reenactments, exhibits, museums and more for a seamless journey into America’s history. From exploring authentic 18th century architecture to enjoying various interpretations of important events that took place during the time period, Colonial Williamsburg is an immersive visit into America’s past.
