Trip Report (April 8 - 11)

We just returned from our trip to Williamsburg. Happy to answer any questions. Below is our itinerary:

Hilton Garden Inn - Richmond Road - a short car trip to the Visitor Center. Hotel was clean, people were friendly. Breakfast buffet included in our rate. Would stay at this location again.

Spent 3 full days touring Williamsburg with 10 and 11 year old children. Started at 9am and ended at 5pm - purchased 3 day passes (good for 1 year...yes they want to go back!). Participated in 2 evening programs - Lanthorn Tour and African American Music %26amp; Dance. Children loved the African American Music and Dance which takes place at the Great Hopes Plantation.

We had dinner at Christiana Campbell%26#39;s - unfortunately we were seated in the basement. Not ideal but the food was wonderful. We had lunch at the Kings Arms - lovely table on the 3rd floor. Again, great food. It was cold our first night and we ended up at Berrets (sp?) for clam chowder and appetizers before our Lanthorn tour.

Kids enjoyed the Pizza on the Square for lunch both days.

Happy to answer any questions.

Trip Report (April 8 - 11)

Hello MM,

Thanks so much for the post about your visit. I love the fact that your children want to return!

Campbell%26#39;s does have basement seating--you can usually avoid it by requesting to be seated on main floor or upstairs. This is for future reference.

Shield%26#39;s also has basement seating--or did a few years ago. Not sure if it is now used for large parties.

Anyway, thank you again for sharing your trip with us.

Colonialgirl

Trip Report (April 8 - 11)

Thanks for your report and willingness to answer questions!

Can you give details about the Lanthorn tour and your opinion of it? We have it scheduled with our 5 1/2 and 11 year old sons. If you think it was not too great, we may switch it out with something else.

TIA!

My children (10 %26amp; 11) enjoyed the Lanthorn Tour. We did this on our first evening and had not yet made it to any of the shops (furniture, blacksmith or silversmith and bindery. Our tour guide was very nice and interacted with the children. The children took turns carrying the lanthorn. It is kind of neat walking around the town in the dark as the historic area closed at 5pm during our visit. We did the 7 pm tour.

I would recommend this tour.

Thanks for the trip report. Glad your had a good time!

So was the Lanthorn Tour worth it you think? What exactly did they talk about?

We%26#39;re having lunch at the King Arms. How was the food? Was it worth the price. And my most important question, how was the atmosphere at lunch? Would you have rather have gone to dinner?

The AA Music and Dance program was fun you said? We thought we wouldn%26#39;t have liked it because we%26#39;re into learning about colonial times, not necessarily listening to music. What was it like? I really want to see the evening program that I%26#39;ll enjoy the most!

mm126Ny,

Another follow-up question about the Lanthorn Tour--you mentioned that you went on the tour your first night in CW, so you hadn%26#39;t been to any of the trade shops at that point. Our tour is scheduled after we have been there a few days. Do you think the fact that we would have already seen the trade shops through the week would detract from the tour?

Like the above poster, I would really love to know more about the particulars of the tour.

The Lanthorn tour began in the middle of town. Our guide escorted us to each shop. I think the tour is well worth taking. There were 10 people in our group and we were able to ask as many questions as we wanted. Visiting the shops during the day did not always allow this as there were many more people. Also, as we were walking from place to place the guide was more than happy to answer any questions about Williamsburg.

Yes, the African American Music and Dance program is about music and dance but it also teaches you what life was like on the plantation from a slaves point of view. This was probably the most educational experience my children had during our trip. The actors really bring to life what life was like. They also learned dances, game and songs which we sang for the rest of the trip!

I believe the $12 per person charge is a fair price and each event was well worth the $. If you purchase the 3 day (Liberty Pass - good for 1 year) -there is a 25% discount offered for the evening programs. We did not take advantage of this as I booked our programs well in advance since we were visiting during Easter week.

Hope this helps.

Kings Arms - We had a very nice waitress. I am not sure if the evening dinner would be more interactive. Food was good and we were exhausted so it was nice to be seated inside.

For those who may be planning a meal at a tavern -- be aware there is basement seating. Although until now I did not realize that Campbell%26#39;s had basement seating, I know for sure Shield%26#39;s does. (I do not have any information about the basements of King%26#39;s Arms or Chowning%26#39;s, but have never been seated down there at either.)

The basement (where the food and service are the same -- very good) is not a disappointment to some folks, who find it cozy and atmospheric, but to others it may be a let-down. I%26#39;m in the latter category. From what I%26#39;ve learned, basements in the 18th century were storage facilities, not dining rooms, so it is hard to imagine that there are good interpretive reasons for putting guests down there. Good economic reasons, of course, since it probably allows for the accomodation of 15-20% more guests at high-volume times. And if I had to choose between eating in the basement of a colonial tavern and having to get my meal in some 21st century eatery in a shopping area ... no contest. The 18th century wins.

But I would rather eat upstairs, with the creaky wood floors and the thick, wavy window glass, nurturing my conviction (however amateurish) that I%26#39;m having an experience that might have been familiar to Thomas Jefferson or George Washington.

If you have only one opportunity for tavern dining and this would be important to you, too, try to have your reservation annotated, or at least be explicit about your seating preference when checking in with the host or hostess.

Thanks to mm for sharing!

mm How long did you have to wait to be seated at kings arms for lunch. You cannot make reservations for lunch correct? I am going during memorial day weekend, and I just know I will be waiting. Please advise thanx

Thank you.