There’s so much to see, do, and learn in Williamsburg that the only challenge in staying entertained is deciding where to start.
For those who haven’t taken a history course since high school and need a little refresher — or for families with littles who want their textbook lessons to come to life — immerse yourself in the area’s can’t-miss colonial highlights.
Couples, families, or groups who want to adventure can hit the water on a chartered boat tour, and foodies can raise a glass on a snack-around culinary experience. And for those who can’t live without thrills and chills, look beyond the traditional to discover what’s in the shadows on an exploration of ghosts’ favorite haunts.
Go Back in Time
There’s the history in textbooks, and then there are the little-told stories that cast light on what used to be in the shadows. On We Shall Overcome: A Williamsburg Black History Experience, pivotal Williamsburg landmarks that are deeply intertwined with the history of Black Americans are seen through a different lens. One is the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, a congregation secretly founded in 1776 by free and enslaved Virginians.
Everyone knows the names George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, but do you ever wonder what it was like to live back in the day as an Everyday Joe or Jane? Step into the britches and dresses of the “average” colonist on the Secrets of Colonial Williamsburg History Tour by Junket and find out. The immersive small-group experience visits 11 sites in just under two hours, bringing to life sites like America’s first psychiatric hospital and the heart-pounding story of enslaved people who tried to escape from the home of one of the Founding Fathers.
Those looking for a private experience will want to check out Colonial Tours, which are offered to individuals, families, and groups. There are several options, including Historic Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. You can even pick the time of day – those who want a dash of ghoul with their school can opt for a nighttime tour with lanterns to set the mood.
Get a New View of Williamsburg Haunts
You don't have to wait for Halloween to get your thrills and chills – Williamsburg offers a spirited experience year-round.
On a Yorktown Hallowed Ground Candlelight Walking Tour, venture to the dark side on an illuminating nighttime adventure. More than 230 years after the Siege of Yorktown – the battle that effectively ended the American Revolution – locals still report hearing the echo of musket shots at night, the rumble of cannons, and spectral soldiers. Guides lead strolls through the historic streets of Yorktown, a flickering glow setting the mood for 90 minutes of eerie tales and legends of soldiers who still haunt the town.
Get your scare on in full force on an adults-only Colonial Ghosts Ultimate Tour in Williamsburg, curated from in-depth historical research. If you’ve ever gotten your thrills and chills by imagining shrieks echoing through the halls of an insane asylum, the dark shadows of an Indian burial ground, or what it was like to go on trial for witchcraft, then this is the tour for you.
Adults-only fun gets a different spin on a Williamsburg Haunts Pub Crawl two-fer. Double up on spirits with spirits as your small group is regaled with spooky tales from a certified guide while sipping and dipping into the colonial district’s period pubs.
Raise a Glass to Fun
Whether it’s a spooky colonial jail or a period tavern, Williamsburg has bars of all sorts. Foodies will want to save room for dessert on several excursions with just as many snacks as food for thought.
The Taste of Williamsburg is just as sweet as it is savory. The city has just as many cloth-napkin bistros as casual hangouts, popular with the College of William & Mary crowd, and those on this walking excursion will taste the variety of each. Sample cheeses and tapas, peanuts (a common Virginia crop), frozen yogurt, and fudge on an afternoon extravaganza that will leave little room for dinner. Indulge your inner child at an olde-time candy shop, raise a glass at one of several craft beer halls, and take quick trips to France and Italy with gourmet cuisine and a side of culture at locally owned restaurants. The experience is highlighted with a refresher that was a catalyst for the start of the Revolution: tea.
Whether you like cocktails, beer, or wine — or want to try something new, like mead — there’s something artisanal and local for everyone on a Drink Williamsburg tour. Four of the area’s top craft producers offer up libations on intimate walking tours, along with toast-worthy stories about the history of the drinks and the area.
Adventure, by Land or by Sea
There are plenty of choices for those who like to get active on their getaway to see and do more in a small group.
Hit the Virginia Capital Trail and the Powhatan Creek Trail for a few hours with a guide - who’ll keep the pace while you cruise on an electric bike or a Segway with Williamsburg on Wheels. Tours combine historical highlights with nature sightings, including deer, blue heron, foxes, turtles, osprey – and even our nation’s iconic bald eagle.
Whether you’re looking for romance on a sunset sail, tales of the pirates who sought treasure along the banks of the Chesapeake, or live music with snacks and drinks, there’s a pontoon experience for everyone on Jamestown Discovery Boat Tours. With groups of just 28 or fewer, fantastic views are in store for all.
There’s something to float anyone’s boat with Yorktown Sailing Charters, too. Step back 300 years when you board from Riverwalk Landing Pier, covering more “ground” in an hour and a half than possible on land. Small sailors can take the wheel and steer the gaff-rigged Alliance II schooner with a bit of help from the captain, while dolphins and ospreys near the shores of the York River delight those with watchful eyes. Along the way, groups glide past sites like the Victory Monument and Battlefield, a fascinating vantage point more unique than what most visitors discover on two feet.