Williamsburg Getaway and Hotel Guide

With over three hundred years of history, gorgeous golf courses, easy access to the seashore and more Williamsburg, is the biggest little tourist destination in the nation.

Travelers of all types --- busy business travelers to relaxation seekers --- will find what they want in Williamsburg.

Sited in Virginia’s famed Historic Triangle alongside Jamestown and Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living museum in the world. But, beyond the obvious charms of time traveling with costumed guides, this gem of a town offers shopping, nightlife, nearby Busch Gardens, and outdoor activities galore.

From a pre-revolutionary past to a present that embraces thousands of visitors each year, Williamsburg has grown into a city that uses every advantage the modern world offers to make traveling comfortable and convenient, at the same time retaining charm and authenticity within Colonial Williamsburg. Colonial Williamsburg is a 173-acre outdoor living history museum with over 500 public buildings, homes, stores and taverns; tradesmen practicing 30 historic trades and domestic crafts; historical interpreters and character actors; gardens and greens.

Visitors can purchase tickets to Colonial Williamsburg at the Visitors Center. The Freedom Pass allows you to visit year-round and during the evening. You can call 1-800-HISTORY for additional information about operating hours and admission. Once you purchase your pass you can easily walk or ride the free shuttle into Colonial Williamsburg.

You can easily stay in the historic area and sample the delights of a bygone age at one of the Colonial Taverns; these properties in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg are exquisitely furnished with 18th century reproductions. If you choose to stay in a historic home you’ll be eligible for a 25% discount on a Freedom Pass and preferred dining reservations at restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg.

Within walking distance of the Historic Area travelers will find the Williamsburg Sampler. Built in 1976 with meticulous attention to detail, this recreation of a colonial home offers luxurious four poster beds in romantically detailed suites that combine antique reproductions with thoroughly modern amenities, including a wet bar, sink, and refrigerator, cunningly concealed in an antique armoire. This award-winning property prides itself on serving a hearty gourmet “skip-lunch-breakfast.”

Golfers will find challenging courses throughout Williamsburg. Williamsburg National Golf Club is a Nickolaus-designed course that incorporates a forest of maples, oaks, cedars and dogwoods, and has been acclaimed by Golf Digest as one of the top 10 courses to play in Virginia. The Washington Golf Monthly called it one of the 100 best places to play in the Mid-Atlantic in '96, '97, '98 & '99. Embassy Suites is only a short drive away and offers an indoor Jacuzzi to soothe golf-sore muscles.

Golfers of all levels will also enjoy the Colonial Golf Course; it has the only year-round Golf Academy in Virginia, complete with a large grass-teed practice range, an indoor teaching facility with video analysis, and a three-hole practice area. Homewood Suites is 14 miles from the course and only a mile from the Historic Area, perfect for a family that splits up during the day. In addition to family-friendly facilities, like an in-room refrigerator, this hotel is surrounded by moderately priced family restaurants, including Golden Corral and Pizza Uno.

Families and thrill seekers in the Williamsburg area won’t want to miss Busch Gardens. The award-winning theme park has been touted as “America’s Most Beautiful Theme Park” for nine consecutive years by the National Amusement Park Historic Association. Sitting three miles east of Williamsburg, it’s a perfect contrast to Colonial Williamsburg. The experts at Busch Gardens prefer several area hotels for their guests. The Garden gurus swear by the Comfort Inn & Suites Colonial Williamsburg, the Hilton Garden Inn, SpringHill Suites, and the Ramada Inn Historic Area. Also among Busch Garden’s recommendations you’ll find Radisson Fort Magruder Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia, with special rates only available through Lodging.com. The Radisson Fort Magruder is only one-half mile from the Historic Area and a mere two miles from Busch Gardens. It’s convenient for shopaholics; an array of outlet stores just ten minutes away.

History buffs will want to explore beyond the boundaries of Colonial Williamsburg. Six miles from the city you’ll find Carter’s Grove Plantation, founded in 1750 and open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, from March through Christmas. Sherwood Forrest Plantation, the largest frame house in the USA, was the home of both President Harrison and President Tyler; the Tyler family still welcomes visitors for guided tours on a daily basis. Evelynton and Edgewood Plantations are also open to visitors.

Throughout the year Williamsburg’s shops pull in a slew of East Coast travelers. Serious shoppers gravitate to town simply for the shopping. The Williamsburg Outlet Mall features over 60 name-brand retailers. Nearby, the Prime Outlets of Williamsburg mall offers deep discounts on name brand merchandise. Close to those two you’ll find The Shops at Carolina furniture, which specialize in home furnishings at outlet prices. The Williamsburg Pottery Factory has acres of merchandise, ranging from the global to the local. In the Historic District you’ll find stores recreated to capture the ambiance and merchandise of the colonial period as well as the Campus Store for those essential College of William and Mary t-shirts.

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