Visit Williamsburg

Contact:          Tammy Radcliff
                          Berkeley Plantation
                          12602 Harrison Landing Road
                          Charles City, VA 23030
                          (804) 829-6018
                          www.berkeleyplantation.com

Busch Gardens. Voted the world’s “Most Beautiful Theme Park" for 17 consecutive years,” Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is a European-themed park bursting with adventure at every turn. Busch Gardens took roller coaster design to bold new heights in 2007 with the debut of the world’s tallest and first floorless dive coaster, Griffon. And in 2008, the park will host a variety of new events focused on music, conservation, gardening and food. Discover the worlds of Busch Gardens like never before. Situated on 100 action-packed acres, Busch Gardens boasts more than 50 thrilling rides and attractions, ten main stage shows, a wide variety of award-winning cuisine and world-class shops. With something amazing around every corner, your family will come together like never before. Busch Gardens opens for the 2008 season Friday, March 21st. Operating hours vary. One admission price covers all rides, shows and regularly scheduled attractions. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Admission: $56.95; Children 3–9 years old, $49.95. Special group rates are available. For more information, please call (800) 343-7946 or visit www.buschgardens.com/va.

Contact:          Cindy Sarko
                          Busch Gardens
                          One Busch Gardens Boulevard, P.O. Box 8785
                          Williamsburg, VA 23187-8785
                          (757) 253-3369
                          cindy.sarko@buschgardens.com
                          www.buschgardens.com/va

College of William and Mary. A public, four-year university, William and Mary is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the nation. Chartered on February 8, 1693, by King William III and Queen Mary II, the college has educated generations of American patriots and presidents and is often called the “alma mater of a nation.” Recognized for its strong undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in five academic divisions, the college is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the best small public university in the United States. Situated on 1,200 acres in the heart of Williamsburg, William and Mary welcomes the public to attend many cultural, academic and athletic happenings including art exhibitions at the Muscarelle Museum of Art, concert and theatre performances, lectures and NCAA Division I sports. Tours of the Ancient Campus, adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg, are offered throughout the year. (The Ancient Campus includes the Sir Christopher Wren Building, the nation’s oldest academic building in continuous use. During daylight hours, visitors may enjoy strolling along the more than 10 miles of tree-lined walking trails through the College Woods or in the historic Sunken Garden, which offers a view of the tallest Dawn Redwoods in North America. The campus boasts an expansive collection of more than 350 species and varieties of woody plants, which can be seen on a self-guided plant tour of 17 campus locations.

Contact:          Michael Connolly, Director of University Relations
                          The College of William and Mary
                          P.O. Box 8795
                          Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
                          (757) 221-2623
                          mjconn@wm.edu
                          www.wm.edu

Colonial Williamsburg. Join the Revolution! A 30-year-old carpenter torn between family and war, a runaway slave seeking freedom from his master, George Washington addressing his troops before the march to Yorktown, these are just a few of the people guests may encounter during Colonial Williamsburg’s new, interactive two-day experience, “The Revolutionary City-From Subjects to Citizens.” The Revolutionary City program will create a spontaneous, “real-time” feel to Williamsburg during the years of the American Revolution. Guests will take part in the everyday life of the city against the backdrop of these momentous, world-changing historic events. In its shops, taverns, government buildings, homes and streets George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Mason and other Virginia patriots established the ideals — liberty, independence and personal freedom — that influenced the founding of our nation and have inspired generations of Americans and others around the world. The restored city is presented in the 301-acre Historic Area, which comprises 88 original buildings and hundreds of other homes, shops, public buildings and other structures that have been reconstructed, most on their original foundations. In this historic place, we help the future learn from the past. Colonial Williamsburg’s operating hours generally are from 9 a.m.-5p.m. but vary by season. Admission for a one-day pass is $37 for adults, $18 for youth ages 6-17 and free for children 5 and under. The annual pass is $59 for adults, $29 for youth ages 6-17 and free for children 5 and under.

Contact:           Tom Shrout, Public Affairs Director
                           Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
                           Post Office Box 1776
                           Williamsburg, VA 23187-1776
                           (757) 220-7286
                           tshrout@cwf.org
                           www.colonialwilliamsburg.com

Go-Karts Plus. Eight acres of family fun feature four go-kart tracks. Super Stockarts that look just like your NASCAR favorites race around a high-banked oval track. Bumper boats and cars, a waterfall miniature golf course, an arcade, Kiddie Land, midway games and snack bar provide a variety of entertainment. Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; April and May open Monday – Thursday 5 – 9 p.m., Friday 5 – 10 p.m., Saturday noon – 10 p.m. and Sunday noon – 9 p.m. September – October open (call for hours). Rides require 1–6 tickets. Tickets cost $1.50 when purchased individually. Tickets cost $1.25 a piece when purchased in a $20.00 value pack! (20 tickets for 25 dollars)

Contact:          Jeffrey Miller
                         Action Park of Williamsburg – Go-Karts Plus
                         6910 Richmond Road
                         Williamsburg, VA 23188
                         (757) 564-7600
                         info@gokartsplus.com
                         www.gokartsplus.com

Historic Jamestowne (Colonial National Historical Park). Original site of the first permanent English settlement in the New World. Guided tours are offered from the Visitor Center which also features a film, museum of original 17th-century artifacts, and a museum shop. A self-guided walking tour takes visitors to the statues of Pocahontas and John Smith, remains of the 1639 church tower, and brick outlines of the original town. Interpreters at the archeological excavation of the 1607 James Fort site and at the gallery displaying artifacts found at the excavation area. The three- and five-mile driving tours explore natural features of the island and the many industries that were attempted at Jamestown. Glassblowing is demonstrated at the re-created Glasshouse. Open daily except Christmas. Entrance station open 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., with extended hours in the summer. Visitor Center open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission: $10.00 adults, under 15 free. National Park, Golden Age, Golden Access, Golden Eagle and Jamestown Annual passes are honored and available. Administered by the National Park Service and the APVA Preservation Virginia.

Contact:          Mike Litterst
                          Colonial National Historical Park
                          Post Office Box 210
                          Yorktown, VA 23690-0210
                          (757) 898-2409
                          Mike_Litterst@nps.gov
                          www.historicjamestowne.org

Jamestown Settlement. Jamestown Settlement explores the world of America’s first permanent English colony. New 30,000-square-foot exhibition galleries and a new introductory film trace Jamestown’s beginnings in England and the first century of the Virginia colony, and describe the cultures of Powhatan Indians, Europeans and Africans who converged in 17th-century Virginia. Historical interpreters depict 1600s life at outdoor recreations of the colonists’ fort, the three ships that arrived from England in 1607, a Powhatan Indian village, and at a riverfront discovery area. Visitors are invited to grind corn, scrape out a canoe, play games, wear armor and engage in other activities that make the 17th century come alive. Gift shops and café located on museum premises. Open daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (until 6 p.m. June 15 – August 15).  Closed Christmas and New Year's Days. Admission: adults $13.50; children (6–12) $6.25. Combination ticket with the Yorktown Victory Center is available. For general public information call (757) 253-4838 or toll-free (888) 593-4682 or visit www.historyisfun.org.      

Contact:          Tracy Perkins
                          Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
                          Post Office Box 1607
                          Williamsburg, VA 23187-1607
                          (757) 253-4114
                          Tracy.perkins@jyf.virginia.gov
                          www.historyisfun.org

The Mariners' Museum.   Just a 30-minute drive east of Williamsburg is The Mariners' Museum, one of the largest and most comprehensive maritime museums in the world. For more than 65 years, The Mariners' has illustrated the spirit of seafaring adventure, assembling a renowned and strikingly diverse collection of international maritime artifacts — figureheads, scrimshaw, hand-crafted ship models, decorative arts, prints and paintings with a nautical theme. Interactive exhibits and the film, Sea Power, bring maritime history to life. In over 60,000 square feet of exhibition space you can escape to the eras of early exploration and mahogany Chris-Crafts, delight in the displays of intricate miniature ship models and fascinating figureheads, and see the conservation of artifacts from the famous Civil War ironclad, the USS Monitor, including its turret and steam engine. Open Mon. – Sat. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Open Sun. 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Admission: adults $12.50; children ages 6–17 $7.25; children ages 5 and under free.

Contact:          Justin Lyons
                         The Mariners' Museum
                         100 Museum Drive
                         Newport News, VA 23606-3759
                         (757) 596-2222 or (800) 581- 7245
                         news@mariner.org
                         www.mariner.org

Presidents Park. An educational and artistic outdoor museum dedicated to preserving our American heritage. The Park features 18-foot sculpted busts of 43 of our U.S. Presidents in a relaxed garden setting along a beautifully landscaped pathway.  The park is the new home base of the American Presidents experience which features a collection of reproduction First Ladies gowns, the prototype for President Reagan’s fleet of Limousines, an Oval Office set used by the Today Show and Saturday Night Live, and a life-sized replica of the Nixon Era Air Force One. The park also features a Museum Center with a gift shop, café, and a banquet meeting room. Educational programs, evening programs and themed tours pertaining to presidential history from 1789 to the present are offered. The park is situated on 10 acres of wooded land on Water Country Parkway, just off I-64, exit 242B. Admission: Adults $13; Seniors 55+ $12; Children 6–17 $8; Children 5 and under free.

Contact:           Bernice Kirkpatrick
                          Director of Sales
                          211 Water Country Parkway
                          Williamsburg, VA 23185
                          (800) 588-4327
                          bkirkpatrick@presidentspark.org
                          www.presidentspark.org

Sherwood Forest Plantation. Home of President John Tyler, 10th President of the United States. It has remained the home of generations of Tylers and is currently the home to President Tyler’s grandson, Harrison Ruffin Tyler, and his family. President Tyler brought his bride, Julia Gardiner Tyler, of Gardiner’s Island, New York, to Sherwood Forest. She brought magnificent furnishings and objects of art to the house, which remain there today, and she added a ballroom, which made it the longest frame house in America - 301 feet. Twenty-seven-acre original grounds by A. J. Downing contain 89 varieties of trees, one of America’s oldest gingko trees and poet’s laurel planted by Thomas Jefferson. One of America’s most complete plantation grounds; National Historic Landmark. Grounds open daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Admission $10. AAA Discount: $8.

Contact:          Ms. Panie Tyler, Owner
                          P. O. Box 8, Route 5
                          Charles City, VA 23030
                          (804) 829-5377
                          www.sherwoodforest.org

Shirley Plantation. Virginia’s oldest plantation was settled in 1613 is home to the oldest family-owned business originating in North America.  Knowledgeable interpreters in the main house provide a historical perspective of the Hill-Carter family, who has lived at Shirley continuously for nearly four centuries, including members of the current 10th and 11th generations. The main house, begun in 1723, reflects Queen Anne architecture and, inside, features the famous three-story, square-rigged flying staircase, unique to North America. Original family portraits, silver, furniture and finely carved 18th-century paneling and molding also remain. Anne Hill Carter, mother of Robert E. Lee, was born, raised and married Governor Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee at Shirley. Visitors can explore seven original early 18th-century outbuildings, four of which form a distinctive Queen Anne Forecourt, believed to be the only remaining example in America of this architectural style. The lovely James River setting, grounds, gardens, working farm and specialty shop complete an unforgettable experience. Open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission: Adults $11.00; Seniors (60+) $10.00; Youth (6–18) $7.50; Youth (under age 6) free. Discounts available for military, students and AAA. Special rates for groups of 10 or more.

Contact:          Janet Appel, Director of Operations
                         Shirley Plantation
                         501 Shirley Plantation Road
                         Charles City, VA 23030-2907
                         (804) 829-5121 or (800) 232-1613
                         information@shirleyplantation.com
                         www.shirleyplantation.com

U.S. Army Transportation Museum. Explore the world of Army transportation at the U.S. Army Transportation Museum. Throughout America’s military history the Army’s transportation soldiers have been “first in, last out.” Experience the history of Army transportation through its equipment and soldiers. From Conestoga wagons to trucks, trains, aircraft and uniforms of our branch history, learn about the Revolution, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and present day operations. Examine 200 years of Army Transportation history through exhibits, dioramas, models and full scale scenes. A new 18,000 square foot exhibit gallery expands the museum’s story of Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War. Visitors will get a glimpse of soldiers’ living conditions during Desert Storm and see an actual HMMWV used in Afghanistan. Located on Fort Eustis, an active Army installation, the Museum covers six acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits. Please note: All visitors to Fort Eustis must show valid photo ID (driver’s license) and vehicle registration at the Visitor’s Center. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays and all federal holidays. Admission: Free.  

Contact:         Carolyn Wright
                         U.S. Army Transportation Museum
                         Building 300, Washington Blvd.
                         Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5260
                         (757) 878-1115
                         carolyn.wright@us.army.mil

Virginia Living Museum. Just 25 miles from Williamsburg. A nature-lover's paradise, this museum offers visitors close encounters of the wildlife kind, in addition to native wildflower gardens, aviaries, planetarium and nature gift shop. Explore wildlife native to the eastern Coastal Plain region and meet dozens of live animals up close in natural settings: see bees and bobcats, sea turtles and sea horses, bald eagles and beavers. Open daily, year-round. Memorial Day to Labor Day 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Labor Day to Memorial Day: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Saturday. Sunday noon – 5 p.m.  Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 24-25 and New Year’s Day. Admission (museum only): Adults $13; Children age 3–12 $10; Children under 3 free.

Contact:          Virginia Gabriele
                          Virginia Living Museum
                          524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard
                          Newport News, VA 23601
                          (757) 595-1900
                          marketing@valivingmuseum.org
                          www.valivingmusem.org

Water Country USA. Plunge into outrageous fun at the mid-Atlantic’s largest water play park, Water Country USA. Featuring a 1950s and ‘60s surf-theme, Water Country USA offers families tons of summertime fun with more than 30 slides, water rides and super soakin’ thrills. Hubba Hubba Highway is Water Country USA’s radical river adventure. Guests can “cruise” down this free-floating expedition through drenching coconuts and cool geysers. Cool cats and groovy gals also are invited to gear up for high-speed toboggan racing aboard Meltdown. Or, racers can take a break and just soak up the sun relaxing in one of nearly 2,000 lounge chairs. Water Country USA offers fun for the entire family. In 2008, the park debuts its newest attraction called Rock ‘n’ Roll Island. The new area will feature nearly 600 feet of new body slides, a 700-foot lazy river and a 9,000-square-foot pool.   Fun in the sun is the name of the game at Water Country USA.  Water Country USA opens for the 2008 season Saturday, May 10. Operating hours vary. One admission price covers all rides, shows and attractions. Children 2 and under are admitted free.  Admission:  $39.95; children 3–9 years $32.95. Special group rates are available.

Contact:          Cindy Sarko
                          Busch Gardens Williamsburg
                          One Busch Gardens Boulevard
                          Williamsburg, VA 23187-8785
                          (757) 253-3369 or (800) 343-7946
                          cindy.sarko@buschgardens.com
                          www.watercountryusa.com

Watermen’s Museum.  This riverfront museum tells the story of Virginia’s working Watermen and their families who for generations have harvested the rivers and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay for its abundant seafood year round. Perched on the banks of the York River on Water Street in Yorktown, The Watermen’s Museum is housed in a colonial revival manor house with indoor exhibits including models of workboats, tools of the trade, nautical artifacts, and paintings and photographs of life on the bay. Outdoor exhibits feature a 100-year old Poquoson 5-log canoe as well as other boats. The Gift Shop offers many unique articles related to the Chesapeake Bay and features the work of local craftsmen and artists. Museum hours are: April 1 – Thanksgiving, Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 – 5 p.m. For winter hours, call (757) 887-2641. Admission: Adults $4; Students (K-12) $1; Groups of 20 or more $3.

Contact:          Watermen’s Museum
                          309 Water Street
                          Yorktown, VA 23090
                          (757) 887-2641
                          watermens@tni.net
                          www.watermens.org

Williamsburg Pottery Factory. A unique shopping experience featuring 200 acres and 32 buildings of pottery, fine china, glassware, stemware, baskets, wines and cheeses, silk flower arrangements, toys, brass, crafts, and many unusual items both foreign and domestic. Open every day except Christmas, 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Restaurant on premises. Admission: Free.

Contact:          Williamsburg Pottery Factory
                          Route 60 West
                          Lightfoot, VA 23090
                          (757) 564-3326
                          WilPottery@aol.com
                          www.williamsburgpottery.com

The Williamsburg Winery. Wines produced at Virginia’s largest winery are appealing to a broad range of wine lovers from the occasional wine drinker to the enthusiast. More than 50 acres of vineyards surrounding the winery offer a beautiful backdrop to the Old World-style village where the winery is located. Tours of the facility and wine tastings are held daily by our professionally trained staff members. Your guided tour includes a video presentation on grape growing (viticulture) and winemaking (oenology), a stroll through the barrel cellar and a visit to the production area. Reserve wine tastings are available by appointment only in our private wine cellar. A country sampler of assorted cheese and crackers will complement your personalized tasting and you can take home an oversized etched reserve wine glass to remember your tasting. After your tour, enjoy lunch at the Gabriel Archer Tavern, open daily from 11am - 4pm with most entrees under $10. Dinner is served at the Tavern April thru October on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm until 9:00pm. Hours vary slightly during the year, although the winery is open daily for tours and tastings.

Contact:          Debi Schaefer
                          Williamsburg Winery & Gabriel Archer Tavern
                          5800 Wessex Hundred, Williamsburg, VA  23185
                          (757) 229-0999 x162
                          dschaefer@wmbgwine.com
                          www.williamsburgwinery.com

Yorktown and Yorktown Battlefield (Colonial National Historical Park). Walk the fields of the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War where the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to General George Washington in 1781 secured independence for the United States of America. Ranger-guided programs are offered from the Visitor Center, which also includes a film, museum, bookstore and Battlefield overlook. Highlights of the battlefield driving tour include the fortifications and cannon used in the siege, Moore House (site of surrender negotiations) and Surrender Field. Many original 18th-century homes still stand in the town, including the Nelson House, home of Thomas Nelson, Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Open daily except Christmas. Visitor Center 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. with extended hours spring – fall. Admission: Adults $10; Children under 17 free. National Park, Golden Age, Golden Access, and Yorktown Annual passes honored and available.

Contact:          Mike Litterst
                          Colonial National Historical Park
                          Post Office Box 210
                          Yorktown, VA 23690-0210
                          (757) 898-2409
                          Mike_Litterst@nps.gov
                          www.nps.gov/colo

Yorktown Victory Center. Through gallery exhibits and living history, the Yorktown Victory Center portrays America's struggle for independence from the beginnings of colonial unrest to the formation of a new nation. Exhibits provide eyewitness accounts of the American Revolution, explore the story of the Betsy and other British ships lost in the York River during the 1781 Siege of Yorktown, describe Yorktown’s role as an 18th-century port and chronicle the development of a new government with the Constitution and Bill of Rights. In a re-created Continental Army encampment visitors can join a cannon crew and learn about 18th-century medical care. A farm complete with buildings and gardens re-creates rural life of the 1780s.   Open daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (until 6 p.m. June 15–August 15). Closed Christmas and New Year’s Days. Admission: adults $9.25; children 6–12 $5.00. Combination ticket and annual pass with Jamestown Settlement are available. For general information, call (757) 253-4838 or toll-free (888) 593-4682 or visit www.historyisfun.org.

Contact:          Tracy Perkins
                          Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
                          Post Office Box 1607
                          Williamsburg, VA 23187-1607
                          (757) 253-4175 or (757) 253-4114
                          Tracy.perkins@jyf.virginia.gov
                          www.historyisfun.org

                                                                            Golf

Colonial Williamsburg Golf. Designed by celebrated golf architects Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and his son, Rees, the Golden Horseshoe Gold and Green courses provide ample challenges to golfers of every skill level. Golf magazine named Colonial Williamsburg's golf resort among the "best of the best" with seven consecutive gold medals for the quality of play and off-course services and amenities. The "crown jewel" of Williamsburg golf, the Golden Horseshoe Gold Course epitomizes the traditions of classic golf following a complete renovation in 1997.

Contact:          Charlie Florio, Golf Events Sales
                          Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
                          Post Office Box 1776
                          Williamsburg, VA 23187-1776
                          (757) 220-7261
 

Ford’s Colony Country Club. The world-renowned golf courses at Ford’s Colony are the centerpiece of the community. These three spectacular courses were designed by the legendary Dan Maples. Golf Digest’s “Places to Play,” awarded Ford’s Colony 4 ½ stars, the highest in Virginia, as well as the “Service Plus” Award, one of only 50 in the United States. The Pro Shop was voted #1 in the mid-Atlantic by the PGZ. The Dining Room has repeatedly received the AAA Five Diamond Award, and prestigious DiRoNA Award.

Contact:          Andy Woodruff, Director of Golf
                          (757) 258-4130
                          240 Ford’s Colony Drive
                          Williamsburg, VA 23188

Kingsmill Resort. Virginia’s largest golf resort boasts three 18-hole championship courses and a nine-hold, par-3 golf course. In 2005, the resort’s championship River Course opened after a multi-million dollar renovation by legendary golf architect, Pete Dye. The River Course also plays host to the Michelob ULTRA Open, one of the top LPGA events on the tour. Kingsmill has also won many prestigious awards and was named one of America’s best resorts by Golf Magazine.

Contact:          Cindy Sarko
                          One Busch Gardens Boulevard, P.O. Box 8785
                          Williamsburg, VA 23187-8785
                          (757) 253-3369
                          cindy.sarko@buschgardens.com
                          www.kingsmill.com