Williamsburg, Virginia —
one of the loveliest surprises of our road trip
We absolutely loved Williamsburg. Quaint, atmospheric and wonderfully different from the bigger cities on our route, it was one of those stops where simply wandering around was part of the pleasure.
A complete change of pace
Coming after the scale and monuments of Washington DC, Williamsburg felt completely different. It was smaller, calmer and full of character — exactly the sort of place that makes a road trip interesting.
The historic streets, period buildings and slower pace gave the town a genuinely quaint atmosphere. We loved just being there and taking it all in rather than rushing from one headline attraction to another.
Our Williamsburg photos
Our own photos from Williamsburg, Virginia.
History you can actually walk through
Colonial Williamsburg is a 301-acre living-history area centred on Virginia's 18th-century colonial capital. It contains 89 original 18th-century structures, with hundreds of other buildings reconstructed using historical and archaeological evidence.
Rather than feeling like a conventional museum, the Historic Area is something you move through. Historic tradespeople, interpreters, gardens, shops and major sites such as the Governor's Palace and Capitol help recreate the atmosphere of the colonial city.
Original and carefully reconstructed buildings make the Historic Area feel like a town rather than a single attraction.
More than 20 historic trades and skills are represented across Colonial Williamsburg.
Part of Williamsburg's appeal for us was simply walking through its historic streets and green spaces.
Interpreters and daily programmes bring different aspects of 18th-century life into the streets and buildings.
Williamsburg, Jamestown & Yorktown
Williamsburg sits within Virginia's Historic Triangle alongside Jamestown and Yorktown. The three historic areas are connected by the 23-mile Colonial Parkway, making Williamsburg a strong base if you want to explore more of this part of Virginia.
This is a place to slow down
Williamsburg worked for us because it wasn't about racing from attraction to attraction. The historic streets, gardens and buildings are part of the experience, so give yourself time simply to wander.
Find experiences around Williamsburg
If you want to add a guided history tour or another local experience, you can compare current Williamsburg options for your dates below.
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For wandering the Historic Area
It's incredibly photogenic
Especially on a warm day
Much of the visit is outdoors
Washington DC → Williamsburg → Virginia & the Smokies
Williamsburg came after Washington DC as we headed south. From here our route continued through Virginia towards Roanoke, then on to Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains before reaching Nashville.