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Last week, I took a vacation with my parents to Virginia. We went all over the Williamsburg area and then some. Out travels took us to: Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestown, Yorktown Victory Center, Virginia Beach and Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello.
Before we left, the weather for the area had said it would be in the mid 70's, so we packed jeans and light jackets. Big mistake. It ended up being in the upper 80's with high humidity for all but 2 days. Not fun.
So, to start, here are some of the pictures from Colonial Williamsburg. Keep in mind that 90% of this place is all re-created because the major buildings burned down a few times since they were built in the 1700's. Some of the houses are are not city owned, so they weren't open. Williamsburg is one main street with some buildings in other areas, like the museum and the merchant square shopping area, but you could take the shuttle there if you didn't want to walk.
We took 2 days at Williamsburg because there was quite a bit of walking and lots to see and do.
The first thing they tell you you need to see is the Governor's Palace, which we later took a small tour of (not much to see). Many of our future Presidents lived there for a time.
This is the front of the Palace. The back was huge, many gardens, a small maze, a small canal, very nice in all.
All that is left of the original building is the cellar, which was open to the public.
This was a common sight in places such as Williamsburg and again in Monticello, Kegs of beer that was brewed on the property.
More bottles.
There wasn't too much to see inside the palace, but here are a few pictures that I took.
Weapons line the enterance.
The Ballroom wasn't much of a Ballroom like you would have expected.
The portraits hanging on the wall are of the King and Queen of England at that time period, there are many of the Royal family portraits from that time period hanging all over the city. They are covered to help preserve them.
Believe it or not, red checkered fabric was something only Royalty could afford.
What the bedroom of one of the daughters would have looked like.
A close-up shot of the gates and the Coat of Arms.
This is the capitol building. 2 buildings joined by a walkway. It also burned down twice and this is a replica of what it would have looked like when it was first built (the second time it was built a bit different apparently). Not much to see in there that I could get a decent picture of.
This is the courthouse where we got to watch a re-enactment of a 17th century trial (kinda boring actually, but they only went to get out and to mingle with other people). They met 4 times a year. The re-enactments were packed and we had to line up half an hour early to get a seat.
Not comfortable on my neck at all!
We also saw the public gaol which is where Blackbeard's men were held (one of the few original buildings).
Williamsburg is also the site of the College Of William And Mary so I got to see a little bit of their campus.
It was a very pretty city, we got see see the Revolutionary City, which is a re-enactment of the events leading to the Revolutionary War (it took place along the far end of the colonial city in different locations, so it was hard to see and hear all that was going on with mobs of people moving from one location to the next to watch), we got to watch shoes being made (the guy talking and demonstrating was quite interesting - we stayed there for over an hour watching and listening!)
It was a ton of walking each day in the humidity but it was a nice place to visit and take pictures.
Next up: Jamestown (Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne) and Yorktown.
Before we left, the weather for the area had said it would be in the mid 70's, so we packed jeans and light jackets. Big mistake. It ended up being in the upper 80's with high humidity for all but 2 days. Not fun.
So, to start, here are some of the pictures from Colonial Williamsburg. Keep in mind that 90% of this place is all re-created because the major buildings burned down a few times since they were built in the 1700's. Some of the houses are are not city owned, so they weren't open. Williamsburg is one main street with some buildings in other areas, like the museum and the merchant square shopping area, but you could take the shuttle there if you didn't want to walk.
We took 2 days at Williamsburg because there was quite a bit of walking and lots to see and do.
The first thing they tell you you need to see is the Governor's Palace, which we later took a small tour of (not much to see). Many of our future Presidents lived there for a time.
This is the front of the Palace. The back was huge, many gardens, a small maze, a small canal, very nice in all.
All that is left of the original building is the cellar, which was open to the public.
This was a common sight in places such as Williamsburg and again in Monticello, Kegs of beer that was brewed on the property.
More bottles.
There wasn't too much to see inside the palace, but here are a few pictures that I took.
Weapons line the enterance.
The Ballroom wasn't much of a Ballroom like you would have expected.
The portraits hanging on the wall are of the King and Queen of England at that time period, there are many of the Royal family portraits from that time period hanging all over the city. They are covered to help preserve them.
Believe it or not, red checkered fabric was something only Royalty could afford.
What the bedroom of one of the daughters would have looked like.
A close-up shot of the gates and the Coat of Arms.
This is the capitol building. 2 buildings joined by a walkway. It also burned down twice and this is a replica of what it would have looked like when it was first built (the second time it was built a bit different apparently). Not much to see in there that I could get a decent picture of.
This is the courthouse where we got to watch a re-enactment of a 17th century trial (kinda boring actually, but they only went to get out and to mingle with other people). They met 4 times a year. The re-enactments were packed and we had to line up half an hour early to get a seat.
Not comfortable on my neck at all!
We also saw the public gaol which is where Blackbeard's men were held (one of the few original buildings).
Williamsburg is also the site of the College Of William And Mary so I got to see a little bit of their campus.
It was a very pretty city, we got see see the Revolutionary City, which is a re-enactment of the events leading to the Revolutionary War (it took place along the far end of the colonial city in different locations, so it was hard to see and hear all that was going on with mobs of people moving from one location to the next to watch), we got to watch shoes being made (the guy talking and demonstrating was quite interesting - we stayed there for over an hour watching and listening!)
It was a ton of walking each day in the humidity but it was a nice place to visit and take pictures.
Next up: Jamestown (Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne) and Yorktown.
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