aaplank Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I am planning a family trip to Williamsburg and need help deciding on the best time to go. We are studying American history this year and I want the kids to have the whole Williamsburg experience I remember when I was a kid. My kids have never been and I want to make sure that we spend enough time there to make the most of every opportunity. I also want to hit Jamestown and Yorktown. We were thinking of going either late February or mid-April. There are some homeschool days in February and March but I wasn't sure if everything in Williamsburg is up and running. I'm also afraid that mid-April will be a big field trip time for local schools. So if you were me what would you do? Go late February or mid-April or maybe you have another suggestion for the best time to go. Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*lifeoftheparty* Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Mid-April from your dates... But fall is always my favorite :) We go at the end of September when they do Homeschool days- but I bet October is *fabulous*!! And I really want to go at Thanksgiving... Jamestown and Yorktown have neat Thanksgiving programs. I would pick fall above all the other times to go- hands down. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Yorktown is doing a huge renovation to be completed by the end of 2016 -- unfortunately a year too late. :( We are doing American History this year, too; however, we are going to wait until the renovation is completed. I would be more concerned about weather than I would about field trips. YMMV, but cold weather is not my friend. I think that early June would be a lovely time to go. Most of the school kids will have (probably) already had their field trips, but they won't be out of school yet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renthead Mommy Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I do NOT recommend January/start of Febuary. It was cold. Bitterly cold. Extremely windy and bitterly cold. And I like cold. I actually really like colder weather and do not like heat/summer, and I was miserable it was so cold. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 We were booked to go to the homeschool days in February this year. I ended up cancelling in time to get a refund because they were forecasting a major ice/snow storm that we'd be driving through. It was a really good thing we did. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I am planning a family trip to Williamsburg and need help deciding on the best time to go. We are studying American history this year and I want the kids to have the whole Williamsburg experience I remember when I was a kid. My kids have never been and I want to make sure that we spend enough time there to make the most of every opportunity. I also want to hit Jamestown and Yorktown. We were thinking of going either late February or mid-April. There are some homeschool days in February and March but I wasn't sure if everything in Williamsburg is up and running. I'm also afraid that mid-April will be a big field trip time for local schools. So if you were me what would you do? Go late February or mid-April or maybe you have another suggestion for the best time to go. Thanks for your help. Spring would be a wonderful time to go to Williamsburg. Because Spring. I don't even care about homeschool days. My Williamsburg philosophy is that we meander from place to place, hanging out for as long as anyone in the group (family) wants to at any one place, moving on when everyone is ready. I don't try to make things more educational; we just want to enjoy our time. Of course, you have to see the movie at the Visitor's Center. We go to the Governor's Mansion, even though you have to pay extra for it. Sometimes it's a great tour, sometimes it is not. Doesn't matter. :-) We like to have breakfast at the Old Chickahominy House (only breakfast and lunch are served; I prefer the breakfast menu). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 As late as you can for weather reasons. We went last September, and it was great. Don't miss Yorktown and the other national parks nearby. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaplank Posted November 4, 2015 Author Share Posted November 4, 2015 Thanks for all the great suggestions. After reading your replies, I've nixed going in February. Just have to figure out spring or fall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Yorktown is doing a huge renovation to be completed by the end of 2016 -- unfortunately a year too late. :( We are doing American History this year, too; however, we are going to wait until the renovation is completed. I would be more concerned about weather than I would about field trips. YMMV, but cold weather is not my friend. I think that early June would be a lovely time to go. Most of the school kids will have (probably) already had their field trips, but they won't be out of school yet About that Yorktown renovation.... The new museum is under renovation. BUT! They have what they call an outoor interpretive area...and it's magical. We went this past spring. It was the highlight of our trip to Wburg. You walk around a recreated village, but it feels entirely real. At each "station" people are there to explain things and at set times they have really well done demonstrations. We made cornbread, we almost shot the cannon (legally at the end the guide had to take over the actual firing, but we helped prep), and we cut wood with a colonial saw. And there was a lot more. We walked in a garden, walked inside a tiny cabin, etc. I can't express enough what a special time it was with my family. We were there in May juuust before it got too hot. The sky was beautiful. The kids were enchanted. It was not crowded. It was medium paced and calm and we learned a ton. We got to interact at almost every station. So, who cares if the indoor museum isn't done? Get outside to the interactive part which is most likely a richer experience for the kids. It was better than Williamsburg itself and my kids remember it as one of our favorite days out as a family. It wasn't huge. It was just a small encampment, but packed a big punch. We were there for about 3-4 hours. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 About that Yorktown renovation.... The new museum is under renovation. BUT! They have what they call an outoor interpretive area...and it's magical. We went this past spring. It was the highlight of our trip to Wburg. You walk around a recreated village, but it feels entirely real. At each "station" people are there to explain things and at set times they have really well done demonstrations. We made cornbread, we almost shot the cannon (legally at the end the guide had to take over the actual firing, but we helped prep), and we cut wood with a colonial saw. And there was a lot more. We walked in a garden, walked inside a tiny cabin, etc. I can't express enough what a special time it was with my family. We were there in May juuust before it got too hot. The sky was beautiful. The kids were enchanted. It was not crowded. It was medium paced and calm and we learned a ton. We got to interact at almost every station. So, who cares if the indoor museum isn't done? Get outside to the interactive part which is most likely a richer experience for the kids. It was better than Williamsburg itself and my kids remember it as one of our favorite days out as a family. It wasn't huge. It was just a small encampment, but packed a big punch. We were there for about 3-4 hours. Thank you, Garga! I didn't know this was there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoObvious Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Homeschool days are a huge savings, but I would pay extra to not have to go in Feb. We always went during homeschool days in Sept. Yeah, don't worry about the museum at Yorktown. I don't even remember it! Everything cool was outside. Also, don't miss the glassblowing on the way to Jamestown and make sure to visit historical Jamestown, not just the interpretive center. The museum out there is really interesting and it's amazing to see the actual site. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbbulliv Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Jamestown was my favorite. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Do both the National Park Jamestown site and the living history center. Like others said most of the stuff for Yorktown is outside. I don't even remember the indoor part and I know we went through it. I'd go late April/early May or late September/early October. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innisfree Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 October. Or right now. If you go in the spring, prepare to be either in a small group which gets added to a school group going through a building or in a group squeezed into a time slot in between two school groups. BTDT. The interpreters do the best they can, but the school group numbers are overwhelming. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Also, Williamsburg has a beautiful event in December. Something about Lights. It's lovely. I went to school there and remember walking back to the dorms singing Christmas carols as a light snow was falling. So I vote December. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Also, Williamsburg has a beautiful event in December. Something about Lights. It's lovely. I went to school there and remember walking back to the dorms singing Christmas carols as a light snow was falling. So I vote December. this event occurs one Sunday night in December. If one wants to see it, one should book a hotel for that date now. There are fireworks, strolling musicians and entertainers. It is fun, but it only happens one night. I also have fond memories of seeing it in college. I took my dd and younger ds 5 years ago when they were 13 and 9. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderchica Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Just not summer! Very hot and dusty. Although being there for the 4th of July was a cool experience. It pumped up the patriotism. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratford Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Our two favorite trips there were in May and October. May was nice, but the October weather was fabulous and there were fewer crowds. (Lots of local field trips in May.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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