Short Getaway Ideas for Theater, Museums, & Shopping in Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg

Restored City

With the multitude of things to do in Williamsburg and surrounding areas, you could spend years seeing all the sights and visiting all the attractions. If you have a limited amount of time available, here is a list of must-see stops.

For Everyone

• Colonial Williamsburg. Take a step back in time and see how people lived in the time before and during the Revolutionary War. Many recreations of historical events are held daily as well as demonstrations of local life. See blacksmiths using the same methods used in the 17th century and how brooms, glass and pottery were made.
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Rated one of the best amusement parks in the world-and this park deserves it! Busch Gardens combines 17th century atmosphere and architecture with 21st century technology. Learn history in one of the most fun ways possible, while strolling through the six countries of Busch Gardens. Ride some of the best roller coasters available anywhere like the Loch Ness, the Alpengeist, or try the heart stopping Irish Thunder. With over 40 great rides and the entertainment shows, this could be the best time you'll have in Williamsburg.

For the Shopper

• Williamsburg Pottery Factory. Located on over 200 acres, there is nothing you can't find here in the way of pottery. Celebrating its 65th year in business, this large mall with over 50 vendors is a perennial favorite with visitors and locals alike. Find pottery, china, glassware, wine, cheese, baskets and much more.

For the Curious

• The Hauntings of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. Take a candlelight journey through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg and hear tales of the various ghost haunts and creepy sightings. Hear the tales of: the only witch trial in Williamsburg, Blackbeard and his crew, and the "Wagon of Death" which is the wagon that carried prisoners to their deaths on the gallows. By the end of the evening, you may hear the wheels of the wagon coming toward you or maybe even catch sight of a lonely spirit. This tour is based on the book "The Hauntings of Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown" by Jackie Eileen Behrend. With knowledgeable licensed tour guides, you can enjoy the creepy sights and sounds after dark in Williamsburg.
• Haunted Dinner Theater. This is a family-friendly mystery show. With a 71-item all you can eat buffet, this is an evening's entertainment the entire family can enjoy. The show combines mystery, clues, bribe money, special effects and magic.

For the Golfer

• Golf at the famous Kingsmill Resort. The Kingsmill Resort offers three challenging courses - the River Course, home to the LPGA Tour's Michelob Light Open; the Plantation Course designed by Arnold Palmer; and the Woods Course designed by Tom Clark. The Kingsmill courses are built around a natural landscape of lakes, ponds and trees and have won many prestigious awards.

With so much to do you may want to stay and enjoy more. Williamsburg is not just for history.