COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY

Day One: Governor’s Palace and a visit to the Capitol

Equipped with a Colonial Williamsburg map and program guide, venture to the first significant building closest to the Visitors Center, the exquisite Governor’s Palace. The palace exuded elegance and nobility in its heyday and was once home to numerous royal governors. Take a guided tour and marvel at the immense wealth and authority associated with the historic place.

Afterward, spend an hour or so admiring the more than 30 lush historic gardens throughout the Historic Area, and the onsite arboretum. 

Walk from the Palace to the impressive Capitol. A replica building, the remarkable stand-in revives the historical struggles that colony representatives faced with the British governor. Tours are every 15 minutes.

Next, enjoy a quick bite at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg Café. Choose from robust salads, classic sandwiches, homemade soups, wraps, and desserts like rum cream pie and Colonial Williamsburg pecan pie. After lunch, explore both the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of American folk art, and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, which houses an extensive collection of both British and American decorative arts. 

After a quick respite at your hotel, join the group at Christina Campbell’s Tavern for a history-fueled dining experience. A favorite spot of George Washington, the tavern is prized for its incredibly fresh seafood and historic digs. The restaurant is a must-experience while in Colonial Williamsburg for unique dishes like Cod in the Dutch Manner, roast lobster, oysters on the half shell and their famed crab cakes, a tavern original. After a nightcap, head back to your lodging for the evening. 

Day Two: Visit historic trade shops and the historic Courthouse

Enjoy breakfast with the group at Traditions in the Williamsburg Lodge. Delight in local flavors inspired by the south. From healthy oat and fruit harvest bowls and cold-pressed juice to farmer’s omelets, French toast and bagels, everyone will leave satiated. 

After breakfast, spend time exploring the diverse Historic Trade Shops throughout the city. Witness life in the 18th century through skilled demonstrations of historical trades. From woodworking and apparel to metalworking and specialty trades.

Grab a bite from a local eatery of your choice and continue your Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia adventure at the historic Courthouse. Learn how court proceedings were conducted in early America from historic interpreters. Afterward, explore the Public Gaol (jail) on a self-guided tour. The site includes the cells of prisoners that would have included thieves, politicians and, at one point, a few of Blackbeard’s pirate cohorts.

Spend leisure time shopping at the numerous artisan boutiques and historic shops for unique Colonial Williamsburg souvenirs. Discover 18th-century hand-crafted jewelry, books, home furnishings, toys and games.Head to your group lodging to drop off gift bags and refresh before dinner.

Get together with the group for a spectacular meal at Sweet Tea & Barley, offering patrons an innovative experience in a casual nighttime atmosphere serving Southern comfort food. Their menu features hand-crafted drinks and local ingredients in dishes like shrimp and grits, fried catfish, airline chicken and collard greens. Enjoy a nightcap before heading to your accommodation. 

Day Three: The George Wythe House and the Raleigh Tavern 

Explore historic sites and meet the men and women whose ideas helped forge a new nation. The George Wythe House offers groups a look into how enlightenment ideas and thinking played a part in the Revolution and how enslaved people utilized them. The Raleigh Tavern was the site of essential discussions and intense debates, ultimately leading to America’s independence. 

Next, learn about the paradox of slavery at the Peyton Randolph House, home to 27 enslaved people and the Randolph family. Explore the places where people lived and worked on the property. Tours are every 15 minutes. 

Discover the history of an African American Baptist congregation at the African American Religion Exhibit, a self-guided site. Three days a week, the American Indian Encampment is open for self-guided tours. Learn about the 18th-century issues Indigenous people came to address with colonists and government officials. 

Take a stroll through the city to meet rare animal breeds like Bay horses, Dominique chickens, Leicester Longwool sheep, and other animals in Colonial Williamsburg that were a part of everyday life. 

Commiserate over one last meal with the gang at your chosen restaurant before departing Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.