OT: Colonial Williamsburg/Busch Gardens

[JERZEE73]

Trying to come up with a game plan for my 4th grade daughter's spring break. With gas prices so low, I'll be driving & have a few questions.
What are some must see things in Colonial Williamsburg? Is 1 full day there enough?
Also is Busch Gardens special? Personally, Great Adventure type places don't generally appeal to me. Not sure if it's like that.
Was thinking of the Smithsonian as well.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Last spring did a Disney cruise & normally do warm weather things. Thought I'd do something with a little educational value mixed in for a change.

 

[Abro1975]

We have driven down to Busch Gardens, Va about 3 times in the past 10 years. It's a beautiful, clean , well run Amusement park. Beautifully landscaped ala Disney parks. We rented a private condo about 15 minutes away and loved it. Big condo about 1200 sq ft w 3 BR , 2 bath. Complex had very nice indoor and outdoor pools, and large game room. Place we rented through VRBO called Governors Green:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...m_Governor_s_Green-Williamsburg_Virginia.html

We did Colonial Williamsburg for 1/2 day, and honestly my son was bored, he was about 8 the first time. We loved the park so much we never went back to Colonial Willamsburg. We did drive around the William and Mary campus, which was very nice. The Amusement park has some fabulous rides , shows, and some awesome roller coasters. About a 6-7 hour drive from Northern NJ w some traffic on 95 in N.Va.

 

[RAA-1]

Visited with our daughters and they really enjoyed all that Colonial Williamsburg had to offer. Spent 3 hours walking around the campus of William and Mary and found it interesting and relaxing. Remember W&M and Rutgers were both Colonial Colleges as they were chartered prior to 1776. They are also the only 2 of the 9 Colonial Colleges that are not in the Ivy League.

We were there for 4 days and also did a 3 BR condo rental instead of a hotel. My son was bored when we visited also but he loved Jamestown which is only a 15 minute ride from Williamsburg. It is a recreation of the first settlement and they have sailing ships of the period that you can board and explore. He was thankful that he didn't live in that time period as he learned that 10 year old boys were part of the crew and of course had the worst jobs on the ship.

 

[RUNVA]

You may want to stay at Great Wolf Lodge, local BBQ 1.2 miles down the road Pierces.
Head over to Norfolk and check out the water front, Norfolk Navy Base tour.

www.pierces.com

https://www.greatwolf.com/Williamsburg_VA

 

[fbc1866]

Not only is the Williamsburg, but Jamestown and Yorktown is in the area, not far is Fort Monroe in old town Hampton. The DC Smithsonian is all day than a night adventure of the monuments. It will be a great week.

 

[CERU00]

One day will be enough for Williamsburg. I'd highly recommend Jamestown. Some great archeological work is being done there and the history is something everyone should be familiar with. Nearby is Jamestown Glass house which was the first go at manufacturing glass in Virginia. You can see the ruins of the original furnaces and watch them make glass in more modern furnaces.

 

[Jesse_C]

Highly recommend you get one of the multi-day passes for Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. The water park is definitely worth a day. I will also second that for younger kids without a bent for American history, Jamestown is probably more fun than Williamsburg. I loved Williamsburg as a kid, but I was also a history buff. Yorktown can also be fun for the firearms demonstrations.

 

[jellyman]

I would spend more than 1 day at Williamsburg.

We stayed 3 or 4 days, and as another poster suggested got a multi-day pass for Busch Gardens and the water park. Each day we did some Williamsburg activities, and also went to the waterpark or Busch Gardens ... so the kids got an amusement park or water park each day, but Williamsburg in small doses. We ate some diners and lunches in Williamsburg. We did 2 of the evening activities in Williamsburg (there are 3-4 different choices, I think ... like a ghost story walk, and a couple of others). The kids participated in the militia one morning for an hour or so. We went to Jamestown one day also.

 

[LadyRU09]

I enjoyed Colonial Williamsburg. It's very immersive.

Busch Gardens is really fun, too.

 

[Tango Two]

Trying to come up with a game plan for my 4th grade daughter's spring break. With gas prices so low, I'll be driving & have a few questions.
What are some must see things in Colonial Williamsburg? Is 1 full day there enough?
Also is Busch Gardens special? Personally, Great Adventure type places don't generally appeal to me. Not sure if it's like that.
Was thinking of the Smithsonian as well.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Last spring did a Disney cruise & normally do warm weather things. Thought I'd do something with a little educational value mixed in for a change.

Some ideas here:

https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/threads/ot-williamsburg-or-yellowstone.7026/

 

[RU Mike73]

Have dinner at the King's Arms Tavern. Everyone in period dress and entertainment. Good food in Colonial times.

 

[chickenpatty2]

You may look @ Kingsmill Resort, a few minutes from the park. Large indoor pool and fitness center, a few on-site restaurants, golf & tennis, and within reach of most places. http://www.kingsmill.com

I just wish they still did the "beer tasting" at Busch Gardens in the German building. Funny how they would "pair up" beer with cheese, chocolate, and fruit, pretending that it was an important decision which to eat when you're downing a Bud.

 

[mildone]

My family loved Busch Gardens, VA. Was an extremely clean, very friendly place. Good combination of rides. Nicest amusement park we've been to with Hershey Park being #2.

IIRC, Busch Gardens VA was extremely hilly. We were there with three young kids and had a heavyweight double-stroller and a heavyweight duty single stroller at the time. Which was really stupid. You want to go with the lightest weight stroller(s) you can find of any decent quality. In general, not just at amusement parks.

 

[JERZEE73]

My family loved Busch Gardens, VA. Was an extremely clean, very friendly place. Good combination of rides. Nicest amusement park we've been to with Hershey Park being #2.

IIRC, Busch Gardens VA was extremely hilly. We were there with three young kids and had a heavyweight double-stroller and a heavyweight duty single stroller at the time. Which was really stupid. You want to go with the lightest weight stroller(s) you can find of any decent quality. In general, not just at amusement parks.

Thank you all for the suggestions & thanks to Tango for the link to the other thread. Knew I had asked about this last year, but didn't know where to find it.
Do you think doing Colonial Williamsburg early AM until early afternoon then Jamestown for the rest of the afternoon is possible? Weather sounds favorable temperature wise so it shouldn't be too tiring (probably low-mid 70s). Would then eat dinner at the King's Arm or 1 of the other throw back taverns. Probably won't do Busch Gardens, since might drive down to Orlando & do Universal. Water park isn't open yet for the season.
Thanks again.

 

[RUevolution36]

Thank you all for the suggestions & thanks to Tango for the link to the other thread. Knew I had asked about this last year, but didn't know where to find it.
Do you think doing Colonial Williamsburg early AM until early afternoon then Jamestown for the rest of the afternoon is possible? Weather sounds favorable temperature wise so it shouldn't be too tiring (probably low-mid 70s). Would then eat dinner at the King's Arm or 1 of the other throw back taverns. Probably won't do Busch Gardens, since might drive down to Orlando & do Universal. Water park isn't open yet for the season.
Thanks again.

I'd probably do the other way around. Jamestown for a couple hours and the rest of the day in CW. Governor's Palace (and boxwood maze), the different exhibits, and the W&M campus can take a few hours. Check out the Wren building for sure, as well as the rest of old campus. Forget new campus. It's ugly.

If looking for a snack uniquely Williamsburg - The Cheese Shop in Merchant's square - bread ends and house dressing. The College Delly and Paul's have college kid beer and sandwiches (decent food). Shields Tavern is probably the most family friendly of the taverns in CW.

 

[RUevolution36]

Thank you all for the suggestions & thanks to Tango for the link to the other thread. Knew I had asked about this last year, but didn't know where to find it.
Do you think doing Colonial Williamsburg early AM until early afternoon then Jamestown for the rest of the afternoon is possible? Weather sounds favorable temperature wise so it shouldn't be too tiring (probably low-mid 70s). Would then eat dinner at the King's Arm or 1 of the other throw back taverns. Probably won't do Busch Gardens, since might drive down to Orlando & do Universal. Water park isn't open yet for the season.
Thanks again.

Also, if weather is real nice, you can pick up Pierce's BBQ on your way to Jamestown and have a picnic lunch on Jamestown Beach.

 

[Crazed_RU]

You may look @ Kingsmill Resort, a few minutes from the park. Large indoor pool and fitness center, a few on-site restaurants, golf & tennis, and within reach of most places. http://www.kingsmill.com

I just wish they still did the "beer tasting" at Busch Gardens in the German building. Funny how they would "pair up" beer with cheese, chocolate, and fruit, pretending that it was an important decision which to eat when you're downing a Bud.

Second this - this is where we stayed and enjoyed it. Helps if you also golf. To posters talking about the water park - I believe the OP said he is going for spring break - water park won't be an option. That said - I would not plan on spending too much time at Williamsburg itself with a 4th grader. My kids were bored to tears. Cool for adults if you are into watching blacksmith make nails, etc. Kids loved Busch Gardens though. Jamestown was also very cool. I also recommend a plantation tour if you can squeeze it in.

 

[RUCookie]

As a resident of DC, I need to chime in here... be warned, DC is a zoo at Spring Break. I generally do not advise people to visit then cuz the Cherry Blossoms shut the town down. So, unless you absolutely have to see the cherries (though I prefer the tulip magnolias myself), then save yourself a headache. Additionally, there are 19 Smithsonians, you can't make a dent in 1 or 2 days. The most popular are a mess this same time period. If you really want to come, stay away from: Am History, Natural History, Air & Space and the mail Art Museum. Try the portrait gallery in Chinatown, or the some of the non-Smithsonians like the Nationals Building Museum.

As for Williamsburg, you have packages you can get at CW to see some sites... if all you are doing is the sample package, then 1/2 day is fine. If you want to see it all, you need the full day. And posters are right to advise you to see Jamestown and Yorktown - they are "free" national park sites (if you have the pass) and you will get a good idea of why this area is important.

Hope this helps.