rayraythegatherer
Nov 2023
We went about once a month over the course of a year. I purchased an annual pass for the family as a Christmas gift for my husband (he asked for a family experience and it fit with what the kiddos were learning in school).
Key Information:
If you buy an annual pass, it starts the day you purchase, not the day you redeem. If you want to buy it as a gift, I recommend printing a modified certificate to give as the gift and purchasing your actual pass online the morning of your visit. Purchasing online will save you a bit of time at the visitors center.
Reservations at the taverns must be done far in advance. The prices are quite high and the menus are limited (to be expected). We recommend with little ones eating in merchants square but finding places without the exorbitant resort/service fees. Over time we found Precarious Beer Project to be the best place to have lunch as it is similar to a food hall, the food and beer were reasonably priced and the atmosphere was super family friendly. Maybe not entirely authentic for a colonial experience but definitely worked better than any other dining establishment for our family. Many years ago we did eat at the Kings Arm tavern and found the peanut soup to be delicious but our one attempt to eat there on our current pass year on a slow day met with a very rude encounter with the hostess and we weren't willing to try to schedule a dining time for over priced food and poor hospitality with two pre-teen boys (you can make peanut soup at home and it is just as incredible).
The hours are pretty short, most activities close by 5. It is a colonial reproduction area so it is not entirely surprising but the hours don't change in the summer when it is daylight until quiet late in the evening. Some merchants are closed one of the weekend days and usually at least one week day. Plan your visit wisely if there is a specific merchant your family would like to visit. There are some evening separate ticketed events, purchase these as early in the day, as in stand in line at opening (or in advance when possible) if you want to attend as they usually sell out early.
Carriage rides sell out early, as in before the actual open of the area. You can only purchase them day of at the Lumber House Ticket Office. If you wait for the visitors center to open, you will not get a carriage ride. If you need to purchase day passes and want to do a carriage ride, park and walk directly to the Lumber House to purchase. Prepare to queue by 8:00/8:15. For our last visit my youngest asked for a carriage ride, we were at the Lumber House by 8:30 and almost missed getting a selection (it was a super fun experience, I'm terrified of horses but even I enjoyed the different perspective), my boys felt like royalty and were waiving at everyone, it was adorable to watch.
It will be hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Dress accordingly. Bring sunscreen. Bring hydration and snacks. Bring layers and good walking shoes. Some areas will not be accessible to individuals needing mobility assistance. Expect resort prices for everything you purchase. Souvenirs can often be found at the visitors center for less than the same item at the merchants, but there are some very unique custom items, it is fairly easy to tell what is custom vs mass produced.
Dogs are welcome on the grounds but only service animals are allowed inside the historic buildings.
Actual Review:
It might sound like we disliked our experience from my advice, but we truly love our experience. We learned over time how to navigate the area and it would have saved us time and money if we had known some of the insider tips. We usually spent a half day from lunch to closing (2 neurodivergent boys, lots of walking and lots of history, many small doses worked best for us). The merchants were great with the boys, even when they asked questions that were definitely influenced by their fortnite battle knowledge vs real life. Every merchant had a hands-on experience and it really made things fun for the kids. We picked seeds from cotton, there were samples at all of the smiths, games to play in some of the parlors, beautiful gardens with very well labeled plant life, musket fire, and cooking demonstrations. The reproduction discusses the treatment of slaves and Native Indians with facts about the work, living quarters, and laws of the time, we appreciated the bluntness without idealizing or sugar coating information as we feel it helped our children learn. We highly recommend more than one day, take your time, enjoy the experience.
This is a fantastic experience not just for history buffs but for any curious mind. It is a superb example for many social studies lessons. We've enjoyed Williamsburg as a couple and now as parents.