Pre-planning your trip
Colonial Williamsburg – Colonial Williamsburg is operated by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, which is a not for profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the world's largest living museum, which is the town of Williamsburg. Their mission statement reads in part, “In this historic place, we help the future learn from the past.”
The very first stop in Williamsburg should be the official web site. From there, you can see the robust programs that are available for everyone to see, and get a good sense of things that may be of interest. You might be happy with a simple walk through town. You might like a guided tour of some of the buildings, or enjoy a chat with some of the interpreters that are usually available to answer questions. Some of these folks are “in character” for the period, and some are simply very competent craftsmen and women who know a great deal about the times and the work they're interpreting.
At the Williamsburg Visitor Center, you can further research your activities and buy tickets for the town. Technically, you don't have to buy tickets. You can walk around the town, but you don't have access to the tours and other features that a ticket can buy. Remember that this operation is a not for profit corporation. They put everything back into operating the facility, and our experience tells us that every cent spent on tickets is worth it for the enhanced experience. Tickets also get you on the shuttle buses, which not only take you to Colonial Williamsburg (we preferred the short walk), but also to Jamestown and Yorktown. During peak tourist season, the bus might be the way to travel to these venues.
Our favorite activity at Williamsburg was to wander the streets and stop in at the various shops where craftsmen were working. The cabinet maker, the wheel maker, saw mill, and saddle maker are all examples of interesting places. If the interpreters were giving a presentation, as they often were, you could see a great deal about the work and craftsmanship that it took to make ordinary life possible in this colonial time. If no presentation was underway, you were free to ask questions.
Our overall impression after visiting Colonial Williams burg was that we had a good understanding about how life was in the 17th and 18th century in the most important colonial town. The interpreters, whether craftsmen or actors “in character” captured the feel for life in colonial times.
Jamestown – Part of “America's Historic Triangle”, Jamestown is a significant destination for anyone interested in America's past. Operated by the National Park Service and the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA). As with Colonial Williamsburg, any trip to Jamestown should begin with a tour book, or a visit to one of several web sites.
Jamestown consists of basically two places to see. First, there's Historic Jamestowne, which is located on Jamestown Island. This is the original site of Jamestown, where you can see the site of the actual Jamestown settlement. For the most part, few buildings remain, but many foundations are visible, and significant archaeological excavation of the town is usually underway. On the island, there's a reproduction of the glass works, staffed by artisans who make glass objects in much the same way as it must have been done in the 17th century. There's also a three and five mile auto/bike self guided tour that describes the island.