Williamsburg, Jamestown & Yorktown Events

Stand on the spot where English settlers landed in 1607 at Historic Jamestowne (1368 Colonial Pkwy.), a working archeological site and window to history.

Walk through the re-created fort at Jamestown Settlement (2110 Jamestown Rd.) and talk with costumed historical interpreters about the challenges of 17th-century life in Virginia.

Stroll the streets of the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area —the country's largest living-history museum—and enter the world of early settlers, statesmen, slaves and patriots.

Buy a ticket for Revolutionary City, a 2-hour outdoor theater experience taking place most afternoons at the east end of the Williamsburg historic area. You might meet Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry or a Revolutionary soldier in this dramatic streetscape presentation.

Visit Williamsburg's world-class art museums, including The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum (326 W. Francis St.) and The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum . Later, take a guided tour of the restored Governor's Palace (300 Palace Green St.), built in 1722.

Visit the elegant plantations along the James River, including Shirley Plantation (501 Shirley Plantation Rd.), Berkeley Plantation (12602 Harrison Landing Rd.), Edgewood Plantation (4800 John Tyler Memorial Hwy.), North Bend Plantation (12200 Weyanoke Rd.) and Piney Grove at Southall's Plantation (16920 Southall Plantation Ln.).

Follow George Washington's battle plan at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown (200 Water St.) and Yorktown Battlefield (1000 Colonial Pkwy.), site of the decisive victory of the American Revolution.

Sample a Colonial meal at one of these local restaurants: Old Chickahominy House (1211 Jamestown Rd.), King's Arms Tavern (416 E. Duke of Gloucester St.) or Christiana Campbell's Tavern (120 S. Waller St.), where you can try George's favorite recipe for oyster fritters.

Believe it or not, theme parks can be historical too: Busch Gardens Williamsburg (1 Busch Gardens Blvd.) celebrates the cultures of England, Scotland, France, Germany, Italy and Ireland. Don't worry—you'll also find plenty of screaming thrill rides.

One Day in Williamsburg, Jamestown & Yorktown

Morning

At Historic Jamestowne (1368 Colonial Pkwy.) you can observe ongoing archeological digs at the site of the settlement's original fort and see the only remaining 17th-century structure—the brick tower from the colony's church—and the ruins of the glass furnace that the colonists hoped would be a prosperous endeavor. Artifacts unearthed can be viewed at the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center and Archaearium . Constructed over the remains of Jamestown's last statehouse (1660-98), the archaearium includes items such as armor, musical instruments, tools and games—many 400 years old—that shed light on the settlers' lives. Virtual viewers let visitors see the site as it looked 4 centuries ago. The admission fee for these two attractions also admits you to Yorktown Battlefield and Yorktown Visitor Center, which are on this afternoon's itinerary.

Adjacent to Historic Jamestowne is Jamestown Settlement (2110 Jamestown Rd.). This self-described “living-history museum” has three outdoor areas where you can meet costumed historical interpreters actively engaged in early 17th-century life. Learn how to grind corn at a re-created Powhatan Indian village, try on armor at a fort representative of the 1610-14 period and climb aboard replicas of the Discovery, Godspeed and Susan Constant, the three ships the English colonists sailed on for almost 5 months to reach the New World. An introductory film and exhibits at the indoor museum look at the European, Native American and African cultures that shaped the colony.

Afternoon

Start your Revolutionary War expedition at the Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center , just south of town at 1000 Colonial Pkwy.; the visitor center also is the headquarters of Colonial National Historical Park . Here you can watch a film about the engagement that ended the war and see a display that includes portions of Gen. George Washington's campaign tents.

Yorktown Battlefield , where the last major battle of the Revolutionary War was fought in 1781, can be explored on two self-guiding driving tours, both of which begin at the visitor center—the 7-mile Battlefield Tour (for which an audio tour is available) and the 9-mile Encampment Tour. When Cornwallis surrendered to Washington's combined Continental and French army, ending the 3-week siege and, essentially, the 6-year war, the United States was on its way to independence.

Another option is to spend the afternoon exploring part of the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area (off I-64 exit 238, following signs). A visit here is like being deposited by a time machine into the pre-Revolutionary capital of Virginia. The restoration is so complete and realistic, thanks to the generosity of philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr., that walking along Williamsburg's streets among the costumed interpreters—soldiers, shopkeepers, tradesmen, housewives, slaves, government officials, the women in long skirts and cloaks and men in knee breeches and tri-cornered hats—seems perfectly natural. Stop and chat with any of them; they will respond in character and you'll hear some interesting perspectives on Colonial life and history.

Evening

Alternatively, end your evening with a nightcap at the elegant Williamsburg Inn, an official Colonial Williamsburg Hotel (136 E. Francis St.). Set back from the hustle and bustle of Colonial Williamsburg, the inn is a quiet, dignified, gracious lodging suitable for royalty (in fact, Queen Elizabeth II has stayed here). Pretend you're a head of state and drop by the inn's Restoration Bar for a cocktail and conversation.

Best Restaurants in Williamsburg, Jamestown & Yorktown

By Inspector 55

Local restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg range from 18th-century taverns to ultra-modern bistros. Several popular spots are clustered around Merchants Square. The small brick building at Berret's Seafood Restaurant and Taphouse Grill was the town's first gas station and Ford dealership in the 1930s. The restaurant offers two distinct dining environments: a casual patio overlooking the sidewalk scene and a stylish interior decorated with regional artwork. The dining room menu reflects contemporary fine dining with an emphasis on fresh Chesapeake Bay seafood in both traditional and original preparations, while the patio menu offers raw bar favorites, steamed seafood, sandwiches and appetizers well-portioned for sharing.

Julia Child videos play on the flat-screen monitor above the bar, and portraits of famed French and American chefs grace the walls at Blue Talon Bistro . Chef David Everett left the world of haute cuisine to open this chic but casual bistro, where the theme is “serious comfort food.” Start with a classic French appetizer of duck foie gras terrine, escargots bourguignon or mussels Provençal. Rich but affordable entrees range from the traditional—steak with pommes frites, beef braised in red wine, chicken crepes, lamb shanks with apricots—to the unconventional eight-ounce hamburger with bacon, cheese and a fried egg. Daily lunch and dinner specials rotate favorites such as cassoulet, scallops St Jacques and prime rib. Blue Talon offers an excellent wine list and a wonderful Sunday brunch, as well as classic French pastries and coffee every morning for breakfast.

Set against the historic backdrop of Old Williamsburg, Fat Canary is a stylish, modern space with crisp lines, canary green walls and distinctive artwork. The creative gourmet fare changes seasonally and reflects a rich Southern influence, although Chef Thomas Power Jr. draws his contemporary inspirations from around the world. The pastry chef is likewise inspired—try the crème brûlée milkshake for dessert.

The Cheese Shop, a favorite among locals and tourists since 1971, moved to its location adjacent to Fat Canary in 2003. The Power Family owns both establishments. A Cheese Shop sandwich—fresh French bread topped with deli meat and the beloved house dressing—is worth the wait in line. The gourmet shop offers a wide range of specialty foods, including Virginia delicacies, prepared salads, pâtés and, of course, an outstanding selection of more than 200 cheeses. The 4,000-bottle wine cellar features both international and regional labels.

To sample some of the region's finest vintages, visit Williamsburg Winery . On the Wessex Hundred estate, this Old World-style vineyard produces more than 60,000 cases each year, making it Virginia's largest winery. Guided tours include a video presentation about viticulture and winemaking, a visit to the barrel cellar and production area and tastings of chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, seyval blanc and vidal. The Gabriel Archer Tavern offers cheese and pâté platters, baguette sandwiches, tasty salads and a pretty view of the vineyards.

The charming, Old World ambience of Christiana Campbell's Tavern includes roving balladeers, servers in period costume and Southern seafood specialties—many made from heirloom family recipes, such as George Washington's favorite oyster fritters. Menu highlights include stuffed trout, sherried crab stew, spoonbread and rum cream pie. You'll meet the character of Christiana Campbell herself—the proprietor in Colonial times—and hear delightful tales from the tavern's glory days.

Old Chickahominy House , is set in a restored 18th-century clapboard cottage on the road between Williamsburg and Jamestown, west of the historic area. Open only for breakfast and lunch, this charming Colonial restaurant serves such traditional favorites as country ham and biscuits, Brunswick stew and buttermilk pie. Lunch is a busy time, but service is swift to keep up with demand; explore the antique and gift shop while you wait. The plantation breakfast—Virginia ham with eggs, biscuits, country bacon, sausage, grits and coffee—is a hearty start to a day of sightseeing.

Northwest of the historic area on US 60 is another neighborhood favorite, Giuseppe's Italian Cafe. Here you'll find plenty of interesting pasta and pizza combinations, as well as traditional Italian dishes. Unique pastas include fettuccine New Mexico, steak and Gorgonzola over penne and the “orzotto” dishes (orzo pasta cooked in the Italian risotto method). Guiseppe's lentil soup was featured in Bon Appétit Magazine. Photographs and prints decorate the walls of this comfortable café, a popular rest stop for shoppers from the neighboring outlets. Servers are friendly and prompt, and the cordial owner often roams the dining room, chatting with customers.

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Best Attractions in Williamsburg, Jamestown & Yorktown

On Dec. 20, 1606, Captain Christopher Newport and 107 fellow Englishmen set sail from London aboard the Godspeed, Discovery and Susan Constant, bound for Virginia. They reached the shores of the Chesapeake Bay nearly 5 months later. Landing at Jamestown Island on May 13, 1607, the men of the Virginia Company established North America's first permanent English colony—13 years before the Mayflower landed at Plymouth.

Faced with an unfamiliar climate, stagnant water, disease and starvation, nearly two-thirds of the Jamestown settlers died within the first year. Ships soon arrived from England with reinforcements. Food from the Powhatan Indians kept the colony alive, but relations deteriorated until Chief Worrosquoyacke broke off trade in 1609. Hundreds of colonists died that winter—the Starving Time—and the Jamestown site was nearly abandoned. John Rolfe's first crop of tobacco in 1614 saved the colony, finally producing the lucrative profit that had lured settlers to Virginia in the first place.

Jamestown served as the state seat of English government until 1699, when the capital moved to Williamsburg. The original settlement gradually fell into ruin; historians believed that the Jamestown fort had washed into the river—until 1994, when excavations revealed the footprint of the triangular palisades. Since then, additional structures and more than 1 million artifacts have been excavated at the 22.5-acre site. At Historic Jamestowne , a AAA GEM attraction, fun things to do include watching the archeological dig in progress and walking among the foundations of the fort and the 1609 church and cemetery, along with the houses, taverns and shops of New Towne, built after 1620.

Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center and Archaearium displays thousands of weapons, tools, ceramics and personal belongings unearthed from the site—everything from perfume bottles to suits of armor. A multimedia theater portrays the Jamestown colonists' struggle for survival. By looking at the landscape through special viewers, you can see a virtual re-creation of the 17th-century settlement. A short walk from the visitor center, the ruins of a glass furnace are all that remain of the colonists' original dream of a livelihood. Costumed interpreters demonstrate early glassblowing techniques at a reconstructed glasshouse, where you can buy a sample of Jamestown glass to take home.

Adjacent to the national park site at Historic Jamestown, Jamestown Settlement , another AAA GEM, re-creates the original colony in living color. (Ask for a combination ticket with the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.) After touring the vast museum, you can walk through a Powhatan Indian village and learn about early planting and tool-making techniques. From there, enter the Jamestown fort with its church, houses and armory—and talk to soldiers who guard the walls and blacksmiths who work the forge. Beyond the fort, you can climb aboard reproductions of the Godspeed, Discovery and Susan Constant and try to imagine 5 months aboard these cramped vessels during the transatlantic voyage from England.

The town of Williamsburg began as Middle Plantation, an outpost of Jamestown, in 1633. Because of its strategic location on the peninsula between the James and York rivers, the fortified settlement quickly became vital to the colony. After the statehouse in Jamestown burned in 1676, the House of Burgesses held its assembly at Williamsburg. Colonists proposed moving the capital, in part to escape the mosquitoes and malaria of the swampy Jamestown site. A planned city was laid out at Middle Plantation, renamed Williamsburg in honor of the ruling monarch, King William III. Williamsburg remained the social and cultural seat of Virginia until 1780, when Richmond became the permanent capital.

The old settlement at Williamsburg might have suffered the same fate as the ruins of Jamestown, had a local minister not persuaded John D. Rockefeller Jr. to finance an ambitious restoration in 1926. The two men joined league with architects, archeologists and historians to preserve some 90 original structures from the 1700s and rebuild more than 400 others. The result, the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area , is the largest living-history museum in the country.

Start your visit to this AAA GEM attraction at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, just north of the historic area. You can buy tickets here or at the information station on North Henry Street (across from Merchants Square). The historic area is closed to street traffic; park at the visitor center and take the shuttle or walk across the pedestrian bridge. Transportation to and from the site, as well as to Jamestown and Yorktown, is free with most ticket packages.

Exploring the 301-acre site requires some advance planning—you won't see everything in a day. Along with tours of meticulously restored buildings and museums, there are daily-living demonstrations, fife and drum parades, shops at Merchants Square and outdoor theater performances at Revolutionary City, depicting the struggle for American independence. Events take place most afternoons between 2:30 and 4:30 in the east end of the historic area. The Williamsburg Farmers' Market, held on Saturdays from May to October in Merchants Square, offers a cornucopia of local produce, baked goods, handmade soaps, crafts and flowers, plants and herbs.

Guided 30-minute orientation walks, included with most Williamsburg ticket packages, leave from the visitor center every 15 minutes. For a dramatic lantern-lit visit to the village, sign up for The Original Ghosts of Williamsburg Candlelight Tour . Expeditions depart nightly from Duke of Gloucester Street, weaving tales of local folklore and history into descriptions of local landmarks.

The Capitol , at the east end of Duke of Gloucester Street, was built in 1705. Twice destroyed by fire, the reconstructed building stands on its original foundation and features period furnishings. The AAA GEM Governor's Palace faces the Palace Green. Completed in 1722, the residence for royal governors later served as the executive mansion for Virginia's first commonwealth governors, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson.

The 1715 Bruton Parish Episcopal Church is at the northwest corner of Duke of Gloucester Street and the Palace Green. Its tower bell has rung for important occasions since the Revolutionary War. The oldest tombstone in the churchyard dates to 1678. Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, rector of the church in the early 1900s, approached John D. Rockefeller with the idea of preserving Colonial Williamsburg.

Rockefeller and his wife, Abby, purchased Bassett Hall as their home during visits to the restoration project. The two-story farmhouse once belonged to Martha Washington's nephew, Burwell Bassett, and is furnished to reflect the Rockefellers' residence during the 1930s. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum on Francis Street, bequeathed with Mrs. Rockefeller's original 400-piece collection, has since expanded to more than 2,000 paintings, drawings, toys, weather vanes and pieces of pottery and furniture made in America from the 18th century through the present.

The adjacent The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum , a AAA GEM attraction, is entered through the lobby of The Public Hospital . The museum's collection of more than 10,000 decorative objects includes furniture, ceramics, metalwork, paintings, textiles, maps and prints—a detailed reflection of life in Colonial Williamsburg.

The Muscarelle Museum of Art just west of Colonial Williamsburg on the scenic campus of William & Mary , houses a permanent collection of some 4,000 paintings, graphics and sculpture, including works by Picasso, Matisse, O'Keeffe and Copley.

Following the scenic Colonial Parkway east from Williamsburg, you'll reach the third historic area on the Virginia Peninsula, Yorktown . Founded in 1691, this busy tobacco port became the final battleground of the American Revolution. Here, Gen. Charles Cornwallis sought to establish a British naval port with 8,300 soldiers. Gen. George Washington, with the Comte de Rochambeau, moved allied American and French forces into Virginia to reinforce the Marquis de Lafayette's troops; the French fleet blockaded Chesapeake Bay. Under siege by 17,600 Continental troops, Cornwallis surrendered.

Ready for a driving tour of Yorktown Battlefield ? The 7-mile Battlefield Road encompasses earthworks, redoubts and siege lines. A handful of 18th-century buildings survived the battle; most are privately owned. Among those open to the public are the Swan Tavern Group ; Grace Episcopal Church ; Moore House, where officers met to negotiate terms of surrender; and Nelson House, a restored Georgian mansion. The Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center (also headquarters for the Colonial National Historical Park , which administers the battlefield) is on the east end of the Colonial Parkway. Among the things to see at the center are an observation deck, a reconstructed section of a gun deck and a British frigate captain's cabin.

A century after the Revolutionary War, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan landed his troops at Yorktown to open the Union's Peninsula Campaign. On the grounds of the battlefield is the Civil War-era National Cemetery. The village streets of Historic Yorktown are lined with art galleries and antique and specialty shops. The Watermen's Museum portrays the history of those who worked on the Chesapeake Bay through ship models, paintings, dioramas, photographs and tools.

West of Yorktown and Williamsburg are Charles City and the elegant tobacco plantations lining the James River. Shirley Plantation , a AAA GEM attraction, has been owned by the Hill and Carter families since 1638. The present mansion was the birthplace of Anne Hill Carter and the setting for her marriage to Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee. Their son, Gen. Robert E. Lee, was a frequent visitor in later years.

Berkeley Plantation was the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and William Henry Harrison, ninth U.S. president. North Bend Plantation was built by John Minge in 1819 for his wife, Sarah Harrison, the president's sister.

Edgewood Plantation features a freestanding three-story staircase and 10 fireplaces; formal gardens, slave quarters and a 1725 gristmill are on the grounds. Piney Grove at Southall's Plantation includes a collection of buildings exemplifying regional architectural styles, from a 1790 log house and a modest 1835 plantation house to an 1857 post-and-beam residence. The lovely Georgian mansion at Westover Plantation is closed to the public, but if you’re looking for fun things to do outdoors, you can stroll the formal gardens overlooking the river.

When you're ready for a break from American history, head to Busch Gardens Williamsburg . This adventure park celebrates the cultures of England, Scotland, France, Germany, Italy and Ireland. Dozens of thrill rides and attractions, 10 main stage shows, a children's adventure area, restaurants and shops cover 100 acres southeast of Williamsburg. Nearby is another AAA GEM attraction, Water Country USA , a 320-acre water park blending high-tech water rides and slides and an interactive children's play area with a 1960s surf theme.

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Williamsburg, Jamestown & Yorktown Events

Uniformed re-enactors join forces with modern-day veterans and active units at Jamestown Settlement to demonstrate military encounters, camp life, tactics and weaponry at Military Through the Ages in March.

Held at Colonial National Historical Park in April, Civil War Weekend includes tactical demonstrations, an encampment and a replica of a Confederate field hospital. In 1862, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, commander of the Army of the Potomac, launched his Peninsula Campaign at Yorktown, intent on capturing Richmond. Anticipating the attack, Confederate troops used Revolutionary War fortifications to hold the enemy at bay for nearly a month; McClellan withdrew.

The Fourth of July holds special meaning in Virginia. Williamsburg's Independence Day is a military salute to the original 13 Colonies that includes historic re-enactments, a fife and drum parade and patriotic fireworks. The Yorktown Independence Day Celebration features a foot race, a parade, arts and crafts, music and more fireworks.

On the October anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown, a parade and patriotic ceremonies mark the occasion. Yorktown Victory Celebration weekend features special programs at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown . Also in October is An Occasion for the Arts , when Merchants Square hosts a juried art show, musical entertainment, a bustling food court and family activities.

Things to do include learning how to pickle vegetables and prepare pastries in James Fort, haul cargo from the hold of the Susan Constant and roast oysters over an open fire in a Powhatan Indian village during Foods and Feasts of Colonial Virginia , Jamestown Settlement. The 3-day event begins on Thanksgiving Day. Foods and Feasts of Colonial Virginia festivities also take place at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

Historic Yorktown launches the holiday season with the Illumination and Christmas Tree Lighting as well as the Yorktown Lighted Boat Parade down the York River. Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination Festivities attracts thousands of revelers for the traditional cannon blast signaling the lighting of candles throughout the historic area. The luminous event features choir and orchestra performances, carolers and a massive fireworks display. A Colonial Christmas , American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, celebrates 17th- and 18th-century holiday customs and traditional foods. A Colonial Christmas activities also take place at Jamestown Settlement.

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