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American Revolution Museum at Yorktown Guide

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On my most recent trip, my husband and I visited Virginia’s Historic Triangle including the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. So, I thought I would do a little guide for it.

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown tells the story of America’s struggle for independence. This location consists of three parts: the inside museum, a Continental Army encampment, and a Revolution-era farm outside. The museum makes for a great half day or more activity for history buffs and those wanting to learn more. It is similar to the Jamestown Settlement but is smaller in scope. In fact, both locations are managed by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.

Indoor Gallery

Just like at the Jamestown Settlement, you first enter this location by purchasing tickets inside. Once you’ve done that, you can browse the indoor museum. It’s text heavy as well, but very interesting. There are also several videos to watch here. We particularly enjoyed the Siege of Yorktown 4D film with a huge curved screen that feels realistic. I didn’t take any photos indoors as I wasn’t sure if that was permitted.

Continental Army Encampment

Once you head outdoors, you are greeted by a series of tents. It’s a re-creation of what an army camp may have looked like during the Revolutionary War. You are free to walk around to hear costumed interpreters tell stories and explain what life was like for soldiers during the war. We were even able to witness them firing a cannon and firing some shots! It was also interesting to learn about how they prepared food.

Revolution-era Farm

Just beyond the camp there is a re-creation of a Revolution-era farm. It’s really interesting to see what life was like for regular people during the war. Unfortunately, we were too late in the day (we spent the morning in Jamestown) to witness the cooking demonstration but it’s great they offer something like that. We walked around to look at the garden and house. It was interesting to hear the interpreters talk about what life may have been like for those people.

Tips for Visiting the American Revolution Museum

  • Allow enough time to enjoy it – Unfortunately, we opted to do Jamestown in the AM and Yorktown in the PM. By the time we headed to Yorktown we were tired and we missed some demonstrations. So, maybe just do one a day.
  • Visit Yorktown – Just up the road from the museum is Yorktown the town. It’s a quaint place with good food.
  • Eat lunch at the 1781 Cafe – If we had started our day here, we probably would have eaten here. It’s so nice and convenient that they have a cafe on premises. They serve primarily coffee drinks, salads, and sandwiches. Personally, I think I would eat breakfast prior to arriving here but then fuel up at their cafe for lunch.
  • Stay in Yorktown or Williamsburg – They have portions of the main road between Jamestown/Williamsburg and Yorktown blocked off for construction right now. That made for a longer trip but it’s totally doable. Although, it did make staying in Yorktown attractive.
  • Save on admission – As I mentioned in my Jamestown post, we actually purchased an annual pass that is good for the Jamestown Settlement and this museum. It was the same price as a one day pass for Virginia residents. I know there are lots of ticket deals out there for this area, so be sure to look at each one and do the math.
  • Ask questions – You can just watch demonstrations but the day is so much more interesting if you ask questions.

Have you ever visited the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown? What was your experience like?

Colonial Williamsburg Deluxe Suite Review

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On my most recent trip, my husband and I stayed in a Colonial Williamsburg Deluxe Suite! Since I couldn’t find many reviews of it online, I thought I would post one.

Colonial Williamsburg Deluxe Suite

Colonial Williamsburg Deluxe Suite

You may recall that on our last trip we stayed in a Colonial Williamsburg Tavern Room. However, we wanted something a little more updated and comfortable this trip. So, we decided to try the deluxe suite, which comes with more space and more modern touches. It’s still a colonial house or historic lodging but has been more recently updated.

I believe the entirety of the Lightfoot Tenement building is dedicated to these two suites. We had the upstairs one and the bottom one appeared to stay booked up. I will caution people that the upstairs suite has several steps and can be difficult to traverse with a bunch of luggage.

The Room

I was immediately surprised by how big the suite was. You enter into a sitting room, complete with an old desk, a fireplace, a small tv, an old couch, a coffee table, and a few chairs. Then, you enter a small area with a mini refrigerator and coffee maker. There’s also an extra sink and hidden closet in this space. Next, you come to the bedroom. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a tv. It does have an alarm clock with extra usb plug-ins which came in very handy. Lastly, there’s the bathroom. The sink is separate from the tub and toilet. I imagine that would be useful if two people were getting ready at once.

It was a much bigger space than the room we stayed in last time. Additionally, the mattress and pillows were newer and more comfortable. However, we found ourselves bored after dark without a tv in the bedroom and the couch being well used. Also, the ceiling in the tub cuts in at an angle and I hit my forehead on it the first night. So, it’s better than a regular room but not perfect.

Pros

  • Location – We were close to everything in Colonial Williamsburg. Walking to breakfast and dinner was amazing!
  • Designated parking space – It was really useful to have a designated parking space as parking can be a pain in Colonial Williamsburg.
  • Bigger area – It was nice to be able to spread out in the large suite.
  • Updated furnishings – This was probably the best part of the upgrade. The mattress was pretty comfortable.
  • Quaint – It feels nice to stay immersed in the colonial vibes.
  • Tickets – Every stay at an official Colonial Williamsburg resort comes with free length of stay tickets. That’s great for visiting whenever you feel like it.

Cons

  • Outdated – The couch cushion was thin and was slick enough to slide out periodically.
  • Weird set up – The harsh angle of the ceiling in the tub is not the safest.
  • Lack of modern electrical touches – There weren’t many electrical plug ins and only one tiny tv in the whole suite!
  • Not cheap – It was more expensive than a regular tavern room but comparable to a hotel room. I’ll probably book a hotel room next time just for modern conveniences.
  • Not handicap accessible – Maybe the downstairs suite has a better set up, but the stairs were a big nuisance with luggage. Also, the tub and ceiling could definitely be an issue for some guests.

Is a Colonial Williamsburg Deluxe Suite worth it?

This stay definitely had its ups and downs. I initially loved the idea of staying in a colonial house since it’s so unique. However, I think I will be opting for one of the hotels in the future for the modern conveniences they provide. The suite wasn’t a bad stay just not as up to date as I’d hoped.

Jamestown Settlement Guide with Tips for Visiting

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Having just returned from a trip to explore Virginia’s Historic Triangle, I thought I would post a Jamestown Settlement guide.

Jamestown Settlement Guide

Jamestown Settlement

For those who are unaware, the first permanent English settlement in the US was at Jamestown in 1607. The Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum featuring three re-creations from that time period. Each area has several costumed historical interpreters for visitors to interact with and learn from. This is separate from but located beside the historical fort area.

The settlement can be broken down into four areas: the indoor museum, the Paspahegh Town, the James Fort, and the Ships. This guide will take a closer look at each of these areas.

Indoor Museum/Gallery

When you first arrive at the settlement, you go inside to purchase tickets. After purchasing tickets, you can stay indoors to look at the gallery and various exhibits. We actually headed outside first and then came back to look over things at the end of our visit here since the weather was questionable. It’s a lovely and very informative museum about colonial times. However, it’s probably a bit dry or boring for younger folks. There are things for children to interact with in the museum, but it’s also a text heavy area. Additionally, they had a sign posted about limiting photos here, so I didn’t take any.

Paspahegh Town

Once you leave the building and head outdoors, you encounter the Indigenous community re-creation or Paspahegh Town. The Paspahgeh were a tribe under the Powhatan chiefdom. Here you can explore what their community may have been like. You can enter their homes and learn about their way of life. There are several costumed historical interpreters here to tell you about different aspects of their lives. We saw someone burning out a canoe and my husband got to help scratch some of the burnt wood away. So, it’s also interactive here.

The Ships

Once you leave the town, you can head down to the water to visit the ships. These ships are re-creations of the three ships to bring the first permanent English settlers to this country: Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. My husband really liked this area as he found the ships to be really interesting. We were even able to board the Susan Constant! It was neat to imagine what life would have been like on the long voyage from England to America in 1607! There were a few costumed interpreters here as well to answers questions about daily life on the ships.

James Fort

Lastly, there’s a re-creation of the James Fort itself. Once again, there were several costumed historical interpreters available to showcase life in the early 1600’s. My husband was even able to learn about some of the recreational games they played. We also learned about various surgical equipment and saw some folks fixing food. It was especially interesting to see the difference between the governor’s home and a working class person’s home. It seemed like the activities available may vary from day to day, depending on an interpreter’s schedule.

Tips for Visiting Jamestown Settlement

  • Eat breakfast before you arrive – We ate a lovely meal at the adorable Carrot Tree Kitchens and it fueled us for hours!
  • Eat lunch at the Jamestown Cafe – We took a mid-day break to eat lunch at the on-site cafe. They had lots of options and everything was fresh. The prices weren’t too terrible considering it’s a museum.
  • Plan to spend half to a full day here – We could have stayed all day here. We did about half a day, but could have stayed longer.
  • Look for special events – We were lucky enough to be visiting on Indigenous Arts Day and got to witness some fantastic dancing! We also tried frybread from the Hungry Hungry Arrow food truck!
  • Save on admission – We purchased Virginia resident annual passes good for here and the museum in Yorktown for the same price as a one day ticket. So, I recommend looking at all specials before buying a regular ticket.
  • Be open minded and ask questions – A visit here goes best if you visit with an open and curious mind.
  • Wear comfortable shoes and clothing – It will be a good bit of walking, so dress accordingly. Also, I recommend checking the weather before heading out.
  • Stay in Williamsburg – It was a short and peaceful drive over from our Colonial Williamsburg tavern room.

So, have you ever visited the Jamestown Settlement? What was your favorite part?

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Food and Wine Festival Guide

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My husband and I just returned from a trip wherein we got to experience the Busch Gardens Williamsburg Food and Wine Festival for the first time! So, I thought I would do a little guide to help others plan their visit.

Williamsburg Food and Wine

Williamsburg Food and Wine

Every spring, the theme park hosts this annual festival. It claims to be the largest spring food and wine festival in the state of Virginia! I have no idea if that’s actually true, but this year it features 18 booths with 150 samples to try! Plus, they have special entertainment around the park! So, it certainly sounds impressive to me.

Similar to the Dollywood Seasonal Events, you can save money on food and beverages by purchasing a sampler card. However, since this one includes alcohol it’s a good bit more expensive. There’s the 10 item sampler for $70 and a 15 sampler for $85. You can use it over the course of multiple trips, but only on festival offerings. Upon seeing menus and prices, we opted to simply pay out of pocket for our items. We only purchased food and non-alcohol drinks, so it didn’t make sense to pay extra for the pass. Additionally, passholders receive a discount on food and beverages that made it even cheaper to pay out of pocket.

The Food and Drinks

I will start by saying that everything we tried at the festival was good. We purchased food from two booths: South Korea and Virginia. At the South Korea booth we got the Chicken Bulgogi, Korea BBQ Pork Ribs, and Dalgona Korean Coffee. I found the chicken to have a good flavor and was juicy. The pork rib was dry. The coffee was a disappointment. It tasted like a regular iced coffee to me. There was very little foam on top. It wasn’t bad, just not much different from a simple iced coffee.

At the Virginia booth, we got the Chesapeake Style Crab Cake Slider, Bacon & Cheddar Hushpuppies, and Strawberry Lemonades. I used the free festival item coupon passholders receive for each day of the festival for the crab cake slider. While it was a great use of the coupon, I would have been disappointed if we had spent $10 on it. It was tasty but really small.

The hushpuppies were really good. The bacon and cheddar gave them a unique taste. The addition of the honey butter elevated the dish. The hushpuppies were our favorite item of the festival. The strawberry lemonade was tart and refreshing. It was a moderately warm day, so it was a much appreciated cool beverage. Although, after several sips I tired of the bitterness. My husband ended up finishing mine as he really enjoyed it.

The Entertainment

The park also brings in some local artists to perform during the festival. It makes for a nice touch to walk around and enjoy some food while listening to music. I wish there were some big names as well or perhaps more entertainers spread throughout the park. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to enjoy the entertainment as they performed only a few times a day. I wish the park would bring in more entertainment options and spread the times out.

Is the Busch Gardens Williamsburg Food and Wine Festival worth it?

I think the food and drinks at the festival are good. I think it definitely adds something to your park day. The food made our visit to the park worth the trip over from Colonial Williamsburg. I appreciated the addition of non-alcoholic beverages to several of the menus as well.

Have you ever experienced this festival?

Winter in Colonial Williamsburg Guide

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Last year, my husband and I took a last minute trip to experience winter in Colonial Williamsburg. For the purposes of this post, I am going to define winter as the months of January, February, and March. So, if you are looking to take a trip during the first quarter of the year, then this post is for you!

Winter in Colonial Williamsburg

Winter in Colonial Williamsburg

My husband and I visited Colonial Williamsburg in March last year, which is technically considered late winter here. They seem to begin their spring activities in early April. I didn’t realize when we initially planned our trip that it being March would have much of an impact on the trip. Nonetheless, I am glad we went and I was happy with the results.

Pros

  • Fewer people – We never encountered crowds on this trip. Coming from the theme parks, this was a breath of fresh air! We loved being able to walk around and see everything without feeling rushed by other people. It was also nice to just take a walk down the street as a couple without running into anyone. It made for a peaceful and romantic getaway.
  • Cheaper accommodations – I didn’t realize it when we booked this trip, but we actually got a pretty good deal on the tavern room we stayed in. However, when I looked at busier times of the year, the room looks to be more expensive. I can’t blame them as that’s exactly what other places do now. However, it is a nice perk of going during less crowded times.
  • Special events – They will host some additional events for Presidents Day, Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March). They also have some special homeschool days during the winter (and a few in September). It looks like they might also host some special Valentine’s Day meals at the taverns.

Cons

  • Fewer places open – Since there are fewer people visiting during this time of the year, there are fewer places open. For instance, not all of the taverns were open to eat at during our trip. Additionally, I don’t think all of the houses were options to stay in during our trip. There also seemed to be activities that weren’t available during this trip. We are planning to go back when it’s warmer so we can do the ghost tour, which isn’t offered during the colder months.
  • Weather – This was one of the colder trips I’ve taken. We stayed bundled up most of the time and were glad to enter the buildings to hear the people talk. If you plan to go this time of the year, I recommend taking a warm coat, gloves, scarves, and hats.

We enjoyed our trip to Colonial Williamsburg during the wintertime. Have you ever gone then? What was your experience like?