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Remember all the family-friendly things to do in Williamsburg, VA – Part One? Today, I’m continuing my trip review with the scoop on Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne, The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and Busch Gardens which are all great options for a multi-generational getaway. In addition to Colonial Williamsburg, you will likely want to spend full days in Jamestown/Yorktown and Busch Gardens.

Family Friendly Things to do in Williamsburg, VA

Explore Jamestown Settlement

Jamestown Settlement takes visitors back in time to America’s first permanent English colony and I was really surprised how much we all enjoyed our time here. The indoor gallery is extensive and features a comprehensive introduction movie but the real fun is the outside living history areas that featured hands-on demonstrations and recreations of Native American villages.

My daughter loved seeing what life was like for the colonists and Native Americans in those days as she went in and out of tents, dressed up in costumes and helped make tools and weapons.

The fully costumed staff did a great job educating all of us about daily life and were happy to answer any and all questions.

Our favorite part was exploring the three replica ships that brought the English colonists to the area back in 1607.

Learning about the journey and seeing the various accommodations was so interesting to all of us.

Note: free motorized scooters are available if anyone in your party has mobility issues. Tip: Arrive early and plan to spend at least three hours here. Bring a picnic lunch or grab a quick meal in the cafeteria which offers a nice variety of healthy items, kiddie favorites and made-to-order sandwiches and a large seating area.

Visit Historic Jamestowne

We made a quick stop to Historic Jamestowne where Pocahontas and John Smith once lived in the first permanent English settlement in America.

We had a really interesting tour by a Jamestown Rediscovery archeologist who showed us around the James Fort excavation site.

It was especially cool to see the archaeologists excavating in the church and several volunteers were on hand to answer questions and share photos.

Tip: Historic Jamestowne is jointly administered by the National Park Service and Jamestown Rediscovery and kids can earn a Junior Ranger badge here after completing activities in the booklet (sold in the gift shop).

The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

This indoor/outdoor museum does a great job explaining our nation’s founding starting from the colonial period. The living history museum features a wide range of uniforms, weapons and period artifacts.

There are a few movie options, the best of which is “The Siege of Yorktown.” My daughter enjoyed the interactive exhibits and movies but the outdoor attractions were her favorite.

There is an army encampment, working farm (seasonal) and period houses full of artifacts and games to explore.

We visited these three attractions all in one day and it was a lot. If we had a bit more time, we would have visited added in the Yorktown Battlefield, the site of the last battle of the American Revolutionary War.

Spend a Day at Busch Gardens

Voted the world’s most beautiful theme park, Busch Gardens is a great day trip for families. I really loved the design elements which showcased European icons like Parisian streets, Oktoberfest celebrations and London’s double-decker buses.

If you’ve got small children, the Sesame Street shows and play area are a great option while older kids will enjoy the many thrill rides and play areas. The park is a very manageable size and it is easy enough to navigate around in a circle but be sure to plan your route with meals in mind as some areas have very limited options and seating areas.

The service was particularly slow so definitely have a plan before your group gets hangry. Tip: The park opens in advance of the rides opening so arrive as early as possible to avoid crowds and long parking shuttle waits.

Be sure to read family-friendly things to do in Williamsburg, VA – Part One for details on Colonial Williamsburg.

Have you been? Tell me your favorite family-friendly things to do in Williamsburg, VA in the comments below.

We received tickets to Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown for review purposes. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

If you follow along on Instagram, you know we took a multi-generational spring break vacation in Williamsburg, Virginia. My daughter is a little history buff so I knew it would be fun for her but I was blown away by how many cool things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia appealed to our entire group. I usually choose cruises for multi-generational vacations because of their ease in getting around and activities for all but I’m happy to report that Greater Williamsburg is a great option for keeping parents, grandparents and kids of all ages engaged. It turns out history is a great common denominator and we all came away with more knowledge, memorable moments and awesome photos of our bonding getaway. We were there for an entire week and visited Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown and Busch Gardens but this post just focuses on our time in the Colonial Williamsburg area.

Family Friendly Things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia

Go Back in Time at Colonial Williamsburg

You probably already know but the main attraction for any Greater Williamsburg trip is Colonial Williamsburg. This carefully preserved area is a living history museum where visitors go back to revolutionary times as they mix and mingle with shopkeepers, tradesmiths, political figures and other costumed employees while strolling the area’s dirt roads and exploring the area’s museums.

They do a great job in creating a mix of special events, daily activities and free ticketed events for guests of all ages so check the online calendar before you go and get your event tickets when you first arrive as they tend to fill up. It is free to wander the grounds but you’ll need a ticket to enter most of the buildings and exhibits.

We especially enjoyed Resolved, An American Experiment at the Capital and Beyond the Bar in the courthouse. I heard the evening programs (Cry Witch and Ghost Walks) are great but we didn’t try them. The free ticketed events have something for everyone (we liked the Fife & Drum tour and Ben Franklin’s Glass Armonica demonstration) so be sure to check them out. You can plan a route or just wander around and visit the area’s workshops, famed houses and beautiful gardens. Kids will have all their questions carefully answered so be sure to prod them to ask away. Don’t miss the Wigmaker, The Famous Barber of York, Blacksmith, Bindery, Cabinetmaker, Foundry and Bakery (cookies go well with root beer).

Tour some of the houses like George Wythe House and Peyton Randolph House where you will learn all about their famed residents and sample the hot chocolate at R. Charlton’s Coffeehouse. There is a dedicated play area for kids (think games, animals and demonstrations) called Patriots at Play and my daughter really loved her time there.

If you’re looking for a fun activity for the whole family, the horse and carriage ride was a big hit with our group.

The best way to get around is by foot but shuttle buses are also available for ticket holders. Note: we were looking forward to the Governor’s Palace hedge maze but it was closed due to storm damage. Tip: Don’t miss the 5 pm Fife and Drum ceremony held nightly behind the courthouse and daily cannon firings.

Shop in The Square

Merchant’s Square, adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area, is a great spot to grab a snack, take a coffee break, people watch, listen to music and shop for souvenirs at local merchants and boutiques. There are several great restaurants and spots for a quick meal (see below) so try to visit mid-day or after 5pm. For ice cream, my vote goes to Kilwins (try the Georgia peach!), for sweet treats, the Wythe Candy & Gourmet Shop blew my daughter away with their candy and chocolate selections and for nut lovers, The Peanut Shop is amazing for snacks and gifts. Tip: There is a visitor center here where you can book activities and purchase Colonial Williamsburg tickets.

Savor Southern Specialties

For a small town, the dining scene in Williamsburg, VA does not disappoint. We loved eating dinner by candlelight in the historic taverns with giant napkins around our necks. We also enjoyed eating made-to-order sandwiches, gigantic pancakes and gourmet meals. Last but not least, we discovered the most amazing made-to-order donut shop where you can choose from dozens of glazes, toppings and sprinkles! Here are some of my favorites: Christiana Campbell’s Tavern for an upscale tavern experience (don’t miss the crab cakes and local beers), sandwiches and picnic fare from The Cheese Shop, famous for their Virginia ham, homemade bread and gourmet cheese, The Fat Canary for innovative regional cuisine including a stunning veggie plate for my vegan husband, Astronomical Pancake House for gigantic pancakes and waffles galore (try the apple caramel pancakes), and my personal favorite, Duck Donuts where you will find the tastiest (and prettiest) donuts in town. Tip: Be sure to try the Cheese Shop’s addictive house dressing. You’re welcome.

Where to Stay in Williamsburg, Virginia

There are many family-friendly hotels in the Greater Williamsburg area at every price point. For our vacation, proximity and ease were the priority so we chose the Williamsburg Lodge which is located across the street from Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. We had two adjoining rooms and my daughter loved getting to bunk with grandma while safely being able to run back and forth to our room.

The colonial decor made us feel like we were back in time while the modern amenities kept us caffeinated and connected (yay for free wifi). The staff was very accommodating and the dedicated concierge is part of Colonial Williamsburg so you can plan your entire trip and pick up tickets in the hotel lobby. We didn’t have time to indulge but the Lodge shares amenities with the famed Williamsburg Inn including their indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg and Golden Horseshoe Golf Club.

The hotel also offers a Lil’ Patriots Kids Club for parents who want some alone time. Since we all had different activity levels, The Lodge was a great home base as we could split apart and meet back in the rooms on our Colonial Williamsburg days. Early risers could grab coffee and muffins before dawn while others enjoyed Tradition’s filling buffet breakfasts.

And, after a long day of exploring, we all loved sipping (note the fancy scotch selection) and noshing (comfort food, casual appetizers and healthy salads) by the warm fireplace in Sweet Tea & Barley (don’t miss their live entertainment).

Tip: There are several Colonial Williamsburg ticketed events for Colonial Williamsburg hotel guests so be sure to ask for details. In addition, guests receive largely discounted tickets at Colonial Williamsburg for their entire stay which is not widely advertised so don’t buy them in advance.

Greater Williamsburg really has something for everyone. I especially loved the way my daughter took in all the live history lessons while having fun at the same time. If you’ve got elementary school-aged children, this should be on your vacation list. For more information, go to www.visitwilliamsburg.com and for more ideas check out Top 10 Family Friendly Activities in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Looking for more activites? Check out Family Friendly Things to do in Williamsburg, VA – Part Two for details about our time in Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement / American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

The Williamsburg Lodge provided us with a media rate for one of our two rooms but all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!