If you’d like to stretch your legs a little longer, take a trek on the Greensprings Interpretive Trail. This 3.5-mile series of loops winds among forests, marshlands, and beaver ponds where red-headed woodpeckers and osprey roam. It’s part of the larger Virginia Wildlife & Birding Trail, an organized network of outdoor sites showcasing the state’s top stops for spotting animals and avians.
From exploring Historic Jamestown to stretching your legs on Greensprings Interpretive Trail, there is something for everyone here.
Experience Jamestown’s history, nature, beauty and more on your next trip.”
Three Remarkable Reasons Why It’s the Perfect Time to Visit Williamsburg
This surprising long-weekend itinerary unearths an enchanting trip through history, the outdoors and beyond.
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Jamestown
Spend your first day exploring Jamestown, North America’s first permanent English settlement. Established in 1607, the town (then known as James Fort) served as Virginia’s colonial capital from 1616 until 1699. Today, Jamestown is a historical site consisting of both national park land and a privately run living history museum. It’s also an active archaeology site. They’re all located together on Jamestown Island, a 1500-plus acre islet that’s also home to forests, marshes, and wetlands. Start things off with a visit to Historic Jamestowne, which along with the Yorktown Battlefield is part of the larger Colonial National Historical Park. Managed by the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia, this site is home to various monuments honoring its early days, including a larger-than-life bronze statue of Captain John Smith, a major force in Jamestown’s initial success, and one of Pocahontas, the Native American woman who helped negotiate the release of the settlement’s Powhatan prisoners. You can also discover the ruins of New Towne, a once-thriving area just east of James Fort, embark on an historic walking tour, or engage with expert tradespeople who can share what life was like on this swampy island 400 years earlier. Don’t miss Historic Jamestowne’s ongoing Jamestown Rediscovery Project, a program dedicated to excavation, research, and analysis of the local grounds. View active digs while hearing stories about America’s first colonists, sort through various uncovered artifacts at the historical area’s Ed Shed, and learn about some of the more than three million relics found onsite over the last 30-plus years of exploration.
At Jamestown Settlement, recreations of the three ships that brought permanent English colonists to Virginia in 1607 are open for the public to come aboard, although one ship is currently undergoing renovation.
Explore
Jamestown Settlement.
The park’s award-winning Nathalie P. & Alan M. Voorhees Archaearium houses some of the most spectacular of these remnants, including a writing slate adorned with words and pictures from the early 17th-century, a series of locally-made clay pipes emblazoned with the names of some of England’s colonial-era elite, and Virginia’s largest collection of American Indian artifacts. It’s also home to plenty of excavated coins, religious objects, and food remains. Continue your sojourn into the past with a stop at Jamestown Settlement, where history comes alive through various re-creations. Step inside James Fort, a re-creation of the Virginia Company of London's military outpost from 1610 to 1614, for a look at colonial life as it was in the 17th-century. Here among the thatched roof structures and a governor’s house, costumed interpreters forge metal, make leather, and prepare meals. Later, peruse gardens brimming with tobacco, corn, and heirloom vegetables, and then experience the Powhatan Indians in Paspahegh Town, a re-creation of the Powhatan site that sat closest to Jamestown. Authentic archaeological findings, oral traditions from Virginia's state and federally recognized tribes, and 17th-century illustrations were all referenced to help bring this town back to life. Once here, wander among the reed-covered houses, carved wooden posts, and cooking areas while learning about the Powhatan culture from historical interpreters who demonstrate everything from processing animal hides to weaving with natural fibers.
Paspahegh Town.
Left: A craftsperson works in Historic Jamestowne’s glasshouse. Right: Historical interpreters stand outside at Historic Jamestowne.
Later, view a scale model of Paspahegh at one of Jamestown Settlement’s expansive indoor galleries. Along with exhibits highlighting the culture of the Powhatan Indians, these galleries also detail the many English colonists and West Central Africans who also find their way to 17th-century Virginia. Even in Jamestown, the journey to get here is just as important as the destination. Climb aboard a re-creation of one of the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia in 1607—while the Susan Constant is currently being renovated. Historical interpreters are on hand to share what life was like during the four-and-a-half-month voyage at sea. They’ll also occasionally demonstrate skills such as knot-tying and 17th-century piloting and navigation. Experience both the island’s natural beauty and history with a drive (or bicycle ride) along the Historic Jamestown Island Drive, a three or five mile loop route that features nearly a dozen historic stops. These include one detailing Jamestown’s role in the Civil War, and another highlighting the island's early African residents. Along the way you’ll also encounter some of the island’s wetlands and piney woods, prime places for spotting bluejays, sparrows, and bald eagles (look for their nests around the island). Or set out on foot along the Jamestown Island loop trail, an easy 1.4-mile hiking route that is also a prime path for birdwatching.
See our next day’s itinerary
As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026, there’s no better time to visit Williamsburg and its storied neighbors. Together with the communities of Jamestown and Yorktown, Williamsburg makes up what’s known as the “Historic Triangle,” a trio of towns that highlight the earliest chapters in American history. This long-weekend itinerary unearths an enchanting trip through the Triangle’s unique heritage, as well as the many iconic sites, family-friendly activities, and outdoor experiences showcasing why now is the perfect opportunity to explore these three incredible places.
As one of the largest living history museums on the planet, Colonial Williamsburg offers a window into an 18th-century America brimming with the principles of revolution and independence. Spend a day exploring this once-capital of the Virginia Colony, a place where the streets come alive with historical interpreters portraying colonial life and are lined with iconic sites steeped in history. Grab-an-ale and “pye” at one of the local taverns, engage with a tailor as they clothe 18th-century Americans, or tour a world-class art museum. From community-oriented coffeehouses to guided tours, Williamsburg is awash with things to see, do, and experience. Start your day in Colonial Williamsburg’s historic district, a 301-acre, paid-admission space that’s home to 88 original 18th-century structures (everything from smokehouses to sheds). It also features hundreds of houses, shops, and sites reconstructed on their original foundations, as well as museums and gardens that offer an additional look into period life. To see which places are open to the public, simply look for a Grand Union Flag—the first national flag of the United States.
Williamsburg
Enjoy a guided tour of the Capitol at Williamsburg. Reconstructed on its original foundations after multiple fires, this once-center of British authority offers a peek into colonial legislature. Step into the rooms where both the Governor’s Council, whose members were appointed by the King or Queen, and the House of Burgesses—which included many of Virginia’s leading revolutionaries, such as Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry-met. Or book an evening visit to attend the re-created trial of Israel Hands, an 18th-century pirate and member of Blackbeard’s crew. Guided tours are also given within Williamsburg’s reconstructed Governor’s Palace, formerly home to seven royal governors, Virginia’s first two elected governors, and hundreds of servants and enslaved people. To explore either the palace or the Capitol at your own pace, visit daily between 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Governor’s Palace is known for its extensive gardens, including a delightful boxwood hedge maze. Designed in the tradition of 18th-century European mazes, this intricate labyrinth of twists, turns, and various dead ends calls to mind the local elite’s leisurely pursuits of the time, and fun for the whole family. Colonial Williamsburg’s historic area is also home to world-renowned experts who share the stories of colonial America's diverse working people through more than 20 diverse trades and skills. Meet an 18th-century printer who sets type and uses reproduction printing presses to manufacture colonial newspapers, and a wigmaker who fashions “perukes” as status symbols. Additional trades include brickmaking, shoemaking, and carpentry. For a taste of historically-inspired cuisine, try one of Williamsburg’s traditional taverns—a mainstay of colonial life. Enjoy a meal at the King's Arms Tavern, where servers donning period dress dish out a menu based on colonial recipes but reimagined for modern palates (think peanut soup, prime rib of beef, and onion pye). Dimly lit pewter candlesticks set the tavern’s 18th-century ambiance, as do live musicians performing songs and ballads of the era. Christiana Campbell's Tavern, where George Washington was a regular customer, is known for its exceptional seafood, as well as being a gathering place for lively conversation. The food here—which includes crab, shrimp, and oysters—is locally sourced. Harken back to the indulgent feasts of the 18th-century with a family style “groaning board” of sumptuous treats at Shields Tavern, serving guests since 1709.
In the 18th-century, coffeehouses were places that Williamsburg’s citizens and visitors often met to share important events and debate politics. Today patrons discuss news of the day pulled from colonial newspapers at the Charlton Coffeehouse, which served as the setting for an important 1765 protest of the Stamp Act. Or catch a theatre show at the open-air Play House Stage, standing right on the site of the American colonies’ first purpose-built theater, opened here before 1720. Souvenir seekers and other shoppers should head to Merchants Square, adjacent to Williamsburg’s historic district. Inspired by 18th- and 19th-century architecture, this planned shopping district is home to over 40 shops and restaurants, specializing in everything from Williamsburg logo souvenirs to custom furniture. The collections of Williamsburg’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and its DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum are conveniently located under one roof. Each free to enter, the former features changing exhibits of colonial and contemporary folk art made by amateur artisans, while the latter houses the planet’s largest collection of Southern furniture and one of the largest collections of British ceramics outside of England. Exhibits both ongoing and temporary shine the spotlight on life in Virginia and America before, during, and after the Revolution. At the end of the day, lay your head at one of Williamsburg’s unique lodging offerings, making the city your base for exploring Virginia’s “Historic Triangle.” The luxurious Williamsburg Inn has been welcoming guests—including Queen Elizabeth II—since 1937. Guest rooms are dressed in elegant regency-style decor, and the property itself features a spa, two 18-hole championship golf courses, and a 9-hole course. Or opt for one of the city’s colonial houses and tavern rooms, which provide a taste of the past with easy access to the historic district’s interactive street performances and evening ghost tours.
Governor’s Palace, Colonial Williamsburg.
With so many revolutionary ways to explore history, art, culture, cuisine and more, Williamsburg is the perfect home base to explore Virginia’s “historic triangle.”
Carriage rides, Colonial Williamsburg.
Above: Williamsburg is home to numerous museums covering art, history and more. Below: Whether at a contemporary brewery or historically-inspired tavern, enjoy a local beverage during your visit.
History and fun for the entire family collide on a visit to Williamsburg.
Williamsburg is the perfect home base for exploring Virginia’s “Historic Triangle.”
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Begin day three with a visit to Yorktown, a historical gem on the banks of the York River. It’s one of the eight original shires (also known as “counties”) formed in Colonial Virginia in 1682, and like Williamsburg, an important colonial settlement. In the 18th-century, Yorktown became an important tobacco inspection port, and high-quality tobacco was also the town’s main money crop. In 1781, Yorktown became the site of the last major battle of the American Revolution, which essentially ended the war. From spring through early autumn, free trolleys provide transport around the village of Yorktown. While here, take in a spirited performance of the Fifes and Drums of York Town—originally formed in 1976 to present Revolutionary War era military music to the public. They play most Saturdays at the Yorktown waterfront (10 a.m.), following an hour later at the Yorktown Victory Monument. Delve into Revolutionary War history at the Yorktown Battlefield, part of the larger Colonial National Historical Park. This is where the culminating battle of the Revolutionary War took place from September 28 to October 19, 1781. Known as the “Siege of Yorktown,” this pivotal land and sea campaign resulted in the surrender of Britain's General Cornwallis and his army to George Washington and the French Fleet. The park’s Yorktown Victory Monument commemorates this triumph, as well as the alliance between the Continental Army and France.
Yorktown
For further insight into the battle itself, the Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center offers an immersive 15-minute orientation film that recreates the event, complete with gunpowder smells and rumbling seats. After catching the show, peruse exhibits relating to the campaign, including a table used by General Cornwallis during the siege and portions of the headquarters' tents used by George Washington while here in Yorktown. Along with a weekly roster of ranger guided tours and programs—such as battlefield walks and non-firing artillery demonstrations—Yorktown Battlefield features two self-guided driving tour routes. Set out on the six-stop red route to see some of the battlefield’s most important spots, such as the British Inner Defense Line and the Surrender Field, where 7,000 British soldiers laid down their weapons before the American and French armies. Or opt for the yellow route, an allied encampment tour that visits spots where the American and French troops slept, performed drills, and stored equipment.
Yorktown Battlefield is also known for its historic buildings. These include the 1730 Nelson House, an excellent example of early Georgian architecture and the former home of Thomas Nelson, Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Informal tours of the house’s first floor are offered throughout the year, though be sure and call ahead. Representatives from both sides of the Revolutionary War met at the Moore House to negotiate terms and surrender and end the 1781 siege, while the park’s National Cemetery Lodge features exhibits highlighting Yorktown's Civil War history. Adjacent to the battlefield is the Yorktown National Cemetery, where both Union and Confederate Civil War soldiers are buried. After a few hours exploring the battlefield, pay a visit to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, a living history museum that tells the story of America's struggle for independence through various displays and onsite demonstrations. Peruse 22,000-square-feet of permanent exhibition galleries that showcase everything from the personal stories of soldiers to a 1776 broadside printing of the Declaration of Independence, as well as additional dioramas and hundreds of rare artifacts. Back outdoors, discover the life of a Revolutionary War soldier by stepping inside a re-created Continental Army encampment, see the steps to fire and load a flintlock musket, or learn about the 18th-month process of growing tobacco—from planting seeds to making a profit—at a re-created Revolution-era farm.
Take a stroll along Yorktown’s River View, a brick waterfront pathway that runs a mile-long between the Yorktown Battlefield and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. It offers stunning views of the York River, as well as Coleman Bridge, a double swing span that connects Yorktown with nearby Gloucester Point. Shops and eateries line Yorktown’s Water Street, serving up handcrafted art, custom-made jewelry, and plenty of fresh seafood. Yorktown is even a stop on the Virginia Oyster Trail, highlighting restaurants, seafood companies, oyster farms and tours throughout the state’s coastal and tidewater areas. Discover what it’s like to make a living on the water at Yorktown’s Watermen’s Museum. Galleries document the history of Chesapeake Bay watermen from Algonquin-Speaking People to present-day fishers, and on-hand artifacts demonstrate the tactics settlers used to build wooden canoes and other survival tools. The museum is home to model ship replicas like the Hermoine, designed after the original 1779 Hermione ship that brought General Marquis de Lafayette to the United States in 1780, allowing him to rejoin the Continental Army during the American Revolution. There’s also an exhibit spotlighting the effects of climate change on the planet’s saltwater and freshwater supplies, including the Chesapeake Bay. If getting out on the water sounds appealing, Yorktown Sailing Charters offers sailings aboard classic tall ship cruises, April through Labor Day. Enjoy some time on the York River, keeping an eye out for dolphins and osprey, savoring an afternoon of sightseeing or a sunset sail, and experiencing 300 years of history. Kids especially get a kick out of the pirate adventure cruises, hands-on sailing that allow them to set the sails, steer the ship, and even get their own temporary tattoos. Patriot Tours & Provisions rents out kayaks and paddle boards (with lessons available by appointment) for river outings, as well as e-bikes, beach cruisers, and 3-speed bicycles perfect for a leisurely meander throughout town.
A cannon demonstration at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
Left: The Yorktown Waterfront offers scenic river views. Right: Just beyond the city, York River State Park offers a brilliant natural escape.
In the 18th century, Yorktown was the site of the last major battle of the American Revolution. Today, you can revisit the area’s rich history while exploring its numerous outdoor wonders and riverside vantages.
Yorktown Battlefield.
Left: Spend a day on the water with a classic chartered boat trip. Right: Unwind and enjoy the ambiance of the Yorktown Waterfront’s lively dining scene.
After a visit to the American Revolution Museum, spend the day on the water with a chartered sail.”
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