A Little Fiesta to Kickoff our Visit
The drive from DC to Williamsburg was an easy one and we got a late start after visiting the final resting place of the space shuttle Discovery. We arrived at our lodging a bit later in the evening and didn’t want to go shopping for food so we went to the local Mexican eatery Jose Tequila. I only mention this place as it will have some significance later in the visit. For now, I will leave you with this photo to ponder.
We spent a week in the Historic Triangle area. This area consists of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. From a historical perspective, this was a great stop for our lessons as this area sees the end of the American Revolution and the birth of America. We started in Jamestown, which was the first English settlement in North America. It’s amazing to think that the first explorers to North America choose these very shores on which to make landfall. It’s nice to see these sites being preserved if only to acknowledge the feats and follies of our every evolving nation.
Jamestown
The actual historic site for Jamestown is an actual archeological site. Archaeologists are still excavating and finding remnants of the settlement. We were able to view some of the work in the old chapel on the site. (Cool in a nerdy sort of way) After hanging at the historical site for a bit we ventured over to the much more kid-friendly Jamestown Village. The kids loved this part. The settlement is an interactive experience which features a recreated Native American Village, a working Jamestown village, and replicas of the three ships that brought the first settlers. People were dressed in historically accurate garb and spoke with a bit of the ole’ brogue from that age. We got to speak with all the characters and learn how the old villages worked and what the villagers daily life was like. We loved it, cool experience for the family.
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is a fun place for the family. It’s built on the foundations of many of the historic buildings from the late 1700’s the people are dressed in period garb and there are many shops and historical reenactments to make you feel like you’ve gone back in time. We went in the off season so there weren’t many people there. I also think this is the reason only about half the shops were open. They have a schedule of events everyday which tells you what’s open and closed. Maybe it’s the season or a bit of a game to sell more tickets, but you would need to spend at least two days in the park to see everything open. We felt that one day was enough for us. We saw cabinet makers, blacksmiths, an apothecary, a weaver and much more. Ther wig shop was closed, which our friends said was a highlight for their kids. My oldest could have spent more time here but we knew our 7 and 4-year old didn’t have the stamina. The good news is that there is so much to see doing another trip would not be out of the question. I’m trying a new idea with this post in that I’m letting the pictures tell most of our story and trying to have less of a wall of text. We’ll see how it pans out.
Yorktown
Yorktown marks the last battle fo the American revolution. A fitting capstone to our historical journey that started all the way in Boston. There are two sites in Yorktown. A car tour of the battlefields and a really nice museum with movies, interactive displays, and some replica outdoor experiences. What amazes me most about this journey through history is the enormity of the distances and the communities that were affected. You really get a sense for how the American Revolution and the Civil War just turned life on its head for much of the population of the time. Katie and I have such a deeper appreciation of the sacrifices and impossible decisions that were made to create the nation we have today. I think that the kids have retained some of this great knowledge as well which we hope will serve to make them inquisitive about our country, the world and people around them. E Pluribus Unum – From Many One.
All Hallow’s Eve
Such a good Halloween this year! We were worried that being on the road would be tough for the kids, but our reservations were unfounded. Katie did amazing makeup work, Halloween Express provided the outfits and we found an awesome neighborhood in which to trick or treat. Remember the image from the top of the post? Well, enjoy our sugar skull vamp Sienna!
Southern Vice
This trip wouldn’t be complete without sharing one of my many southern vices. Chicken and Waffles!!! So good…a little salty..a little sweet and add some spice!!! Just kill me now. (the globs of fat will get me later…haha) I also found that my girls and Lennox had a vice of there own…and it came with sprinkles!!
Fun in the sun to top it off
Most of the Airbnb’s we stay at are apartments or small homes but this was actually a part of a resort. Our 80-degree weather combined with pools and mini golf spoiled us. We enjoyed some relaxation, fun and lots of water time. Golf can be a little challenging with our ultra-competitive family as you can see from the photo below. If you’re looking for a great vacation Airbnb we recommend Kingsgate, Williamsburg.
