48 Hours in Williamsburg

Williamsburg, Virginia, has many ties to early U.S. history. It has many family-friendly attractions and is home to William & Mary, the country's second-oldest university. You’ll also find a wealth of food and drink options and outdoor pursuits. Here's what to do with 48 hours in Williamsburg.

GO BACK IN TIME AT COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

Colonial Williamsburg shows what life was like in our then-young nation amid period homes, businesses, and government buildings.

Watch costumed interpreters perform trades of the day, or interact with them on a horse-drawn carriage or wagon ride. Discover 4 taverns with menus reflecting colonial cuisine; King’s Arms Tavern is a must-try.

If seeking a modern meal, head to nearby Merchants Square and order a sandwich from The Cheese Shop’s deli counter. The Fat Canary is an adjacent dinner hotspot with many fine wines.

Nearby, Amber Ox Public House has a nice bar menu with a biscuit platter. Down the road, La Tienda serves jamon, tapas, and paella along with a fine assortment of Spanish products for sale.

SEE THE FIRST ENGLISH SETTLEMENT

Williamsburg is part of the Historic Triangle with Yorktown and Jamestown, and all are connected via the Colonial Parkway.

Historic Jamestowne is an active archeological site on what was the first permanent English settlement in North America. Its visitor’s center holds an impressive gallery on its chronology and legacy; the Archaearium houses objects found from site excavations.

Near this site, the Jamestown Settlement showcases history through outdoor replications, gallery exhibits, and theater screenings.

See more at James City County Marina, along the Powhatan Creek, with Billsburg Brewery’s tasting room, a supplies store, and companies offering rentals and boating outings.

Get 21st-century fixings at 1607 Coffee Company, with fun latte flavors and all-day breakfast, plus lunch. Carrot Tree Kitchens, a bakery and dining room, has fun rabbit-themed décor. Old Chickahominy House offers down-home Southern cooking and Frothy Moon Brewhouse makes tasty suds and a root beer.

WANDER ALONG A DECIDING BATTLE

Yorktown is where the last major battle in the American Revolutionary War secured our independence from the British crown.

Situated along the York River, the Riverwalk Landing is a mile-long walkway with shops and restaurants connecting to the Yorktown Battlefield and the American Revolution Museum of Yorktown. Take a ride onboard the free Yorktown Trolley.

Start with breakfast at Mobjack Coffee Roasters and Petite Café and get sweets from at Little York Confectionery, both in the Colonial National Historical Park.

FIND THRILLS AT BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG

This long-beloved theme park offers amusement rides for all ages and thrill levels and an international showcase. Wander through replicated Scotland, France, and Italy, and stop in at Germany’s Das Festhaus, a performance hall.

Go on the Busch Gardens Railway or the Rhine River Cruise or reach new heights on the park’s tall and fast rollercoasters.

TASTE LOCALLY MADE MEAD

In Williamsburg’s Midtown Row, Silver Hand Meadery holds tastings of their honeys and meads, an alcoholic beverage made with fermented honey.

Within The Edge District, a popular dining area, Casa Pearl is inside a remodeled Texaco gas station and centers on tacos and oysters with a Chesapeake Bay-sourced raw bar.

GET SPLASHED AT WATER COUNTRY USA

Virginia’s largest family water park is a cooling off point on a hot day on various water slides, kid-friendly splash areas, raft rides and lazy rivers.

GO GOLFING

Williamsburg is also a major golfing destination, with golf clubs and courses such as the Colonial Heritage Golf Club, its only Arthur Hills signature designed golf course.

LEARN ABOUT FREEDOM

Freedom Park has a botanical garden, interpretive center and multiuse trails along with reminders of an early freed Black settlement with historically accurate re-created cabins.