Meet historical interpreters throughout Colonial Williamsburg.

Colonial Williamsburg with Kids: What to Know Before You Go

Admission to Colonial Williamsburg

While it's totally free to walk around the historic area, you'll need to purchase admission tickets and wear a wristband to enter buildings and take part in programming. The easiest way to get tickets is to buy them online (where they're 10% cheaper), then pick up your wristbands at the Visitor Center, the Lumber House Ticket Office, or the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. Tickets are also available for purchase at these sites, where you can also get maps and learn about special events going on that day. Kids 5 and under are free!

Operating Hours

Colonial Williamsburg is open 365 days a year. Most historic trades and sites are open from 9am-5pm, while the Art Museums are open from 10am-5pm.

Getting Around Colonial Williamsburg

There are no vehicles allowed in the historic area, so your best bet is to park at the Visitor Center for $10 per day and take the free bus service to the historic area. There are also several paid parking garages in the area that often fill up quickly, so it's best to reserve those ahead of time online. Or, stay at one of the Historic Williamsburg hotels and walk!

What to Wear

Comfortable walking shoes are a must for everyone, as you'll be doing a lot of walking. The summer can be very hot, so sunglasses and hats are recommended. In the winter, don't forget coats, warm hats, and gloves. In fall and spring, be sure to have layers, as temperatures can run the gamut throughout the day.

Stroller Accessibility

If bringing a stroller, it's best to have one with larger wheels that can handle brick, cobblestone, and gravel surfaces. Keep in mind that many of the historic buildings and trade shops don't allow strollers inside, so you'll need to park them outside.

Enter historic trade shops to see artisans at work. 

Things To Do in Colonial Williamsburg with Kids

1. Historic Trade Shops

Try to enter as many of the historic shops as you can. You'll know which ones are open because they'll have the Union Jack flag waving out front. Once inside, costumed interpreters will demonstrate their trade and sometimes even give kids a chance to get hands-on. Some of our favorite shops/artisans to visit were the shoemaker, the carpenter, the printer, the weaver, and the silversmith.

2. Courthouse

At the courthouse, visitors can participate in mock trials based on historical records, and potentially be selected to be jurors or play other roles. Be sure to put your head, arms, and legs through the wooden pillory and stocks next to the courthouse for a fun photo op!

3. Historic Homes

Several historic homes are open to visitors, including the grandest one of all—the Governor's Palace. Take a guided tour of the palace from 9am-4pm or tour it on your own from 4-5pm. Be sure to visit the gardens out back and work your way through the hedge maze—it was my kids' favorite part of the palace! You can also explore the homes of Peyton Randolph (first president of the Continental Congress), George Wythe (one of America's Founding Fathers), and more.

4. Capitol

Take a guided tour of Colonial Williamsburg's Capitol building, the center of British authority in Virginia for most of the 18th Century. Many pivotal events, including the trial of Blackbeard's crew for piracy, took place there, so it's pretty amazing to get to go inside!

5. Weapons and Artillery Demonstrations

Want to really wow your kids? Visit the Magazine Yard for a demonstration of a firelock gun, which typically happens five times a day. Or, head to Market Square North behind the courthouse to see—and hear!—a cannon fire, which typically takes place at 3:30pm daily.

6. Horse and Carriage Ride

Taking a colonial carriage ride is a fun way to rest those tired little legs and feet. Stop by the Lumber House Ticket Office as soon as you can in the morning to buy tickets, as rides sometimes sell out on busy days.

7. Walking Tours

Colonial Williamsburg offers several guided walking tours that give guests a glimpse into the history of the area. I did the 90-minute Secrets of Colonial Williamsburg tour with my 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, and we all enjoyed it equally! This tour reveals the true, dark, and unbelievable stories of the giants of American history who lived in Williamsburg, including a few tales of places that are said to be haunted! Our young tour guide was so knowledgeable and funny, so the kids really enjoyed talking to him.

If your kiddos enjoy spooky stories, try a nighttime ghost tour! I know many families who have taken these tours and loved them. The Original Ghost Tour is a popular one. Colonial Ghosts, the same company that ran our Secrets of Colonial Williamsburg Tour, also has some great options. If you want to actually go inside the historic buildings at night, go with Haunted Williamsburg, the official ghost tour of Colonial Williamsburg.

8. Soldier Training

Kids ages 6 and older (and grown-ups, too!) can experience being a Revolutionary War soldier with Under Arms, a roughly 40-minute program that typically takes place daily at 11:25am. Falling in on the Palace Green, recruits of the Williamsburg Independent Company will be briefed on the current predicament before being marched to the Public Magazine for drills, training in the manual exercise., and an inspection by Captain James Innes.

9. Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg

The Art Museums are two museums under one roof. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum houses colorful and whimsical folk art made by amateur artisans, while the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum features objects that are both useful and beautiful.

Kids will love the Down on the Farm exhibition, which follows a carved wooden dog as he sets out on a journey to find his cousin. In the exhibition, children can draw their favorite scene or color pages from the story. German Toys In America is another great exhibit for kids, featuring a variety of 19th-century wooden toys such as dolls, soldiers, and animals. And be sure to see Williamsburg's original 18th-century fire engine!

10. Shopping

Colonial kids didn't need video games to be entertained, and yours don't, either—right? Find out by bringing them to the William Pitt Store, which is chock full of old-school wooden games, instruments, dolls, tea seats, and more. The outdoor Market House is another fun place for 18th Century toys, hats, and trinkets. And if you're looking for more modern goods, check out the clothing and specialty shops in Merchants Square.

11. Bassett Trace Nature Trail

Need a history break? Take a stroll on this nature trail and learn about Virginia's wildlife and native habitats. Colonial Williamsburg Master Naturalists will discuss flora and fauna along the trail and the importance of conservation. The guided walk begins at the trail's head by the Griffin Hotel parking lot and is about a half-mile round trip. Afterward, you can walk the 1.4-mile trail, which ends at the Green Course Clubhouse. There is rough terrain and insects, so be sure to wear appropriate shoes and bug spray.

Best Colonial Williamsburg Restaurants for Families

12. Aromas Coffeehouse Bakeshop & Cafe

We loved this popular Merchants Square fast-casual breakfast spot so much, we went back the next morning! The massive breakfast sandwiches and coffee were to-die-for, and there were also yummy muffins, cookies, and other baked goodies. Aromas serves lunch and dinner too, with entrees such as sandwiches, salads, mac and cheese, and even fondue. Just beware: The line can get long, especially on weekends—we waited almost 45 minutes on a Saturday morning!

13. The Bake Shop

The Bake Shop is another great option for a quick and delicious breakfast just a few minutes' walk from Colonial Williamsburg. Enjoy handcrafted bagels, scones, sticky buns, and much more. There's also a variety of sandwiches for lunch. The Bake Shop features a rotating list of the regions best roasters, with an incredible espresso program as the cornerstone.

Retro's Good Eats serves up burgers, frozen custard, and more. 

14. Retro's Good Eats

This 1950s-style, fast-casual burger joint in Merchants Square was as fun as it was delicious! Retro's is known for its burgers and frozen custard, which my family can vouch for, but the menu also includes hot dogs, loads of sandwiches, chicken tenders, and lots more. Go hungry, leave full!

15. King's Arms Tavern

If you want to experience a true colonial meal, head to this authentic reproduction of an 18th century tavern in Colonial Williamsburg's historic area. The menu features actual colonial recipes, such as Cornish hens and crab croquettes, modified for modern palates. No worries—there's also a children's menu. My family enjoyed eating by candlelight, being served by costumed servers, and listening to musicians play period songs.

16. The Cheese Shop

We didn't get to eat here, but countless people have sung its praises to me, and it's been featured in many outlets like the New York Times. Enjoy all sorts of cheeses from artisan cheese makers in the US and Europe, as well as sandwiches on freshly baked bread, charcuterie, and more. There's also a wine cellar. No wonder this place is legendary!

17. Old City Barbeque

My teenage sons still talk about this laid-back BBQ spot less than a 10-minute drive from Colonial Williamsburg. Seriously, it was so good! We even bought some sauce to bring home with us. Between all of us we were able to try a wide variety of meats, from pulled pork and chicken to brisket and ribs. Chef's kiss!

18. Bruster's Real Ice Cream

We were thrilled to find a location of this popular ice cream chain in a shopping area about a 15-minute drive from Colonial Williamsburg. If you haven't tried it yet, go! The ice cream is to die for. Bonus: A Food Lion is in the same shopping center, where you can pick up drinks and snacks for your hotel room.

Family-Friendly Hotels and Resorts in and Near Colonial Williamsburg

19. Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection

We loved staying this 18th century-style hotel right in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg. We could easily walk to the historic area and Merchants Square, then back to the hotel when we needed a rest. The room had two queen beds and a queen sofa bed, so my family of five easily fit. There's also an indoor pool, two outdoor pools (a family pool and a tranquility pool, a fitness center, and two restaurants.

20. Kingsmill Resort

Kingsmill is a true oasis less than 15 minutes from Colonial Williamsburg. The resort features indoor and outdoor pools, a lazy river, a private beach on the James River, a playground, tennis courts, a gold course, a spa, and evening activities for families such as magic shows and movies. Accommodations range from private cottages where everyone can have their own bedroom to traditional hotel rooms. Kingsmill is also a stone's throw from Busch Gardens.

21. Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg

With more than 20 family resorts in North America, Great Wolf Lodge is a wonderland for kids and families. Enjoy a massive indoor water park, a magical scavenger hunt, bowling, laser tag, an arcade, gem mining, and so much more. Kids are gifted wolf ears at check-in and it's a wild, fun-filled adventure from there. Like Kingsmill Resort, Great Wolf Lodge is under 15 minutes from Colonial Williamsburg.

Photos in this post, unless otherwise specified, were taken by Mark Atkinson & Rich Grant, for Visit Virginia.

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