Fun Things To Do With Kids: Colonial Williamsburg with kids

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Fun Things To Do With Kids Review Historic Jamestown

Fun Things Kids Colonial Williamsburg with kids , family friendly travel

While my family and were in the Williamsburg area we visited the Historic Jamestown Island. This is different from Jamestown settlement, which is a museum and replica of America's first permanent English colony. Historic Jamestown is an ongoing archaeological dig. This site has a dozen staff members excavate, interpret, preserve, conserve, and research the site's findings.

The best way to learn about Historic Jamestown is to take a tour. Tours are offered throughout the day. Your tour guide can explain a lot about the findings and what's going on in with the archaeological digs. It's really cool to see an actual archaeological dig and to watch the archaeologists at work.

Our tour guide was a wealth of information explaining how the dig was started. He also gave our tour so much information about the animals in the area and how the colonist would survive.

You may be thinking there is probably not a lot for kids to do but there is. During the spring and summer months, they have the Ed Shed is an interactive space that provides kids and families with the chance to share in the moment of discovery. Also on the Historic Jamestown website has games, colouring, and activities. This is a great way to help kids to understand what life for kids was like back then.

For more information: http://historicjamestowne.org

Location: 1368 Colonial Pkwy Jamestown, VA 23081

Fun Things To Do With Kids Review Jamestown Settlement

Fun Things Kids Colonial Williamsburg with kids , educational travel

Recently, my family and I visited Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg, VA. This is separate from historic Williamsburg but something you should definitely add to your list of places to visit when you are in Williamsburg.

Jamestown Settlement is located near the site of the original Jamestown Colony. Jamestown Settlement is a museum and replica of America's first permanent English colony, founded in Virginia in 1607.

photo courtesy of Jamestown Settlement

Once you purchase your tickets inside the visitor center, you make your way through the galleries that are divided into three major sections. The first gallery introduces visitors to pre-17th-century Virginia. The second gallery explores the relationship between Virginia’s colonists and the native Powhatans. The third gallery provides an overview of the political, social and economic development and expansion of the Virginia colony during the 17th century.

Next visitors travel outside to the Powhatan Indian village. The village has several houses, a crop field and a ceremonial circle of carved wooden posts. Historical interpreters discuss and demonstrate the Powhatan way of life.

Once you leave the Powhatan village, you walk toward the waterfront that has re-creations of the three ships that transported the original Jamestown colonists to Virginia in 1607 – the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. Kids and adults will love being able to board the ships and explore them.

Once you leave the waterfront you travel into the re-created James Fort, that has homes, a church and other buildings that historical interpreters demonstrate tasks of the time period.

We really liked that everything was hands on at Jamestown Settlement. Visitors can talk with the historical interpreters and learn more about the settlement. I really liked how the interpreters asked the kids questions and helped them learn more about the time period.

For more information: www.historyisfun.org

Location: 2110 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185

Cost: $17.00 adults, $8.00 ages 6-12. Value-priced combination ticket with Yorktown Victory Center: $21.25 adults, $10.75 ages 6-12. Discount for groups of 15 or more. Children under 6 are free. Parking is free.

Disclosure: My family and I received complimentary tickets to visit Jamestown Settlement in order to facilitate this review.

Tips on Traveling to Colonial Williamsburg with Kids

Fun Things Kids Best places to travel with kids , Colonial Williamsburg with kids

Recently Fun Things traveled to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. Colonial Williamsburg is a great way to teach the kids about our history through a very hands on experience. Colonial Williamsburg makes you feel as if you have taken a time machine back to the 1800's.

Before You Go

I recommend going online before you go and doing a little research to plan out what you want to do and see. The Colonial Williamsburg website also has a kids section on their site with helpful information and games for the kids. I would also recommend spending at least 2-3 days seeing all the events and programs available. There is so much to do and you want to make sure you catch everything.

When You Arrive

Start your visit at the Visitor Center where you can purchase Colonial Williamsburg tickets, make dining reservations and rent children's costumes at Costume Rental Center. The visitor center also has free parking and shuttle buses that take you to the different areas of Colonial Williamsburg. Williamsburg is a public place, so anyone can walk its streets and enter the stores and restaurants. Admission tickets are required to enter the "private" buildings like the capitol, the governor's palace, and any building where demonstrations take place.

What to See

Babies: Please keep in mind the the streets are brick or crushed shell, so bring a stroller that can handle the rough terrain. Also, many buildings can not accommodate strollers so you will need to carry your little one into the buildings.

Toddlers: Take advantage of the beautiful gardens to let you toddler run off some steam. The gardens are beautiful to look at and little ones love exploring. Also the Market Square Stands is a great place for them to look at items and walk around in a less crowded area than the shops.

School-Age Kids: Make kids feel part of the action by renting a costume or buying a hat. Make sure you stop by the visitors Center and pick up a kids map. They can become a young citizen of Williamsburg, kids visit 5 historic sites and participate in the activity then receive a pin. Have them talk to the locals to learn more about living in the area and how different it is from today. When you're at the visitors center make sure you find out about the family programs going on during the day. They have demonstrations, kids games and talks about what it was like living in the 18th century. Don't forget to make reservations for the family friendly ghost tour of the local taverns.

RevQuest: The Old Enemy
This is the perfect way to get your family immersed in the history of the Revolution.
Each RevQuest player is challenged to save the revolution by deciphering codes found throughout the Historic Area. Messages are sent through text messages on your phone. My family and I loved how we learned about history while using our smart phones in order to send and receive clues. RevQuest can be completed in 1 day or you can spread it out over 2 days.

Ghost Tours
This is something I always wanted to do and my kids were finally old enough to come along. There are two different tours, we did the Tarven Ghost Walk which is family friendly. They tell different stories about events that have happened in the different buildings/taverns. You do need to purchase separate tickets for the ghost. tour

Where to Eat and Shop

I would recommend making reservations for dining with Colonists. Kids love interacting with the Colonists and experiencing what it was like dinning in the 18th century. Colonial Williamsburg has four choices Christiana Campbell's Tavern, Chowning's Tavern, King's Arms Tavern and Shields Tavern. And yes children's menus are available.

There is also plenty of shopping and dinning in Merchant's Square. I would recommend the Cheese Shop if your looking for a quick meal like sandwiches. You must try the House Dressing at the Cheese Shop. If you want a sit down meal try Seasons.

Plan your getaway to Colonial Williamsburg today! They have a special summer deal going on were Kids stay,play, & eat for free!

Disclosure: My family and I received complimentary tickets to visit Colonial Williamsburg.

Fun Things To Do With Kids Review Historic Jamestown

Fun Things To Do With Kids Review Jamestown Settlement

Tips on Traveling to Colonial Williamsburg with Kids

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