Half Day? Don't Pay!
by Karnubawax
If you've been reading through the Williamsburg tips, then by now you've figured out the ticket structure... but here it is again...
Colonial Sampler - $34 ($15 youth) - One day admission, but does not include Capitol, Governor's Palace, DeWitt Museum & Bassett Hall. Essentially worthless.
Governor's Key-To-The-City - $48 ($24 youth) - Two day admission and includes all of the above, but does not include Walking Tours and Behind-the-Scenes Programs. A much better value.
Freedom Pass - $59 ($29 youth) - Good for unlimited admission for up to a year, plus 50% discounts on Walking Tours and Behind-the-Scenes Programs.
Independence Pass - $72 ($36 youth) - Same as Freedom Pass, but you get free tickets to Colonial Evening Performances (except dining events and certain holiday times), and the ability to reserve time slots for the Capitol and Palace tours (avoiding the huge lines).
If you only have a half day at Williamsburg, don't bother paying. Just stroll around for free.
You should really plan on spending two full days at Williamsburg, or at least a day and a half. One day is just not enough time, and the one day Colonial Sampler is a colossal waste of money - the ticket omits all of the best attractions. If you arrive in the middle of the day, I would strongly suggest going to the Visitor's Center, picking up the free "This Week" guide, and taking the brief walk to the historic area to soak up the ambience, and make plans for a full day tomorrow. Then, since you have a two day ticket, plan to spend the following morning at Williamsburg before hitting the road - or stay all day.
Pictures with costumed staff
by matcrazy1
The Colonial Williamsburg employs numerous staff including guides, trades, hstorical, character and tavern interpreters. They helped me understand Colonial Williamsburg's culture and history. They were dressed in costumes of colonial era, so I surely took a lot of pictures of them. The one, in the picture, knew Nat from his numerous visits with friends in the past. When we finished to visit inside of the Capitol, I asked our guide to pose for a picture together with Nat and Urszula. Hmm... I should ask someone to take a picture of us four. As a photographer, I am out of this picture. Anyway, I have a very nice memento from Williamsburg.
Breeches, leggins and boots
by matcrazy1
The coachman of the governor's carriage was worn in breeches, leggins and boots for his work as you can see on my picture.
BREECHES
Breeches were seen in many forms and lengths since late 16th century until the early 19th century. They were worn by all levels of society but those of the lower class were usually made of durable linens instead of aristocratic and expensive soft silk or cotton, wool or leather.
Breeches of 18th century were cut just beneath a knee, tight and revealed the shape of the leg. The breeches of the governor's coachman and generally the upper class gentelman were made of silk and had button-side, decorative fastening on both legs.
LEGGINS
Leggins were seen below the breeches. They fully covered the lower leg from a few centimeters/inches above the knee extending to cover the top of the foot and were made of stout woolen or linen cloth or of leather. Leggins and shorter (from mid-shin to foot) spatterdashes were worn mainly for outdoor activities by the laboring men, sporting gentlemen and the military. Otherwise the gentelmen wore stockings or hose. The leggins of the coachman were supported by a garter tied up below his knee and fixed to the leg of his boot.
BOOTS
Leather boots of many sorts but usually black were worn for sporting, riding and working by upper class gentelmen in the 18th century. These ones of the governor's coachman had high (above-knee) legs which were turned down below a knee. Thus the brown color of the internal layer of the boots was seen.
Hmm... currently we say "tough as old boots" which means very strong and not easily weakened. The expression originates since times of fast industralisation era of late 19th century when boots were worn as protective footwear by workers.
Mini Golf
by bugalugs
The nearest I come to doing sports, but really good fun. A lovely course, we were there in the evening and its all lit up. It has been designed really nice, with waterfalls, hills, bridges, streams, ponds, flower and shrubs. It was very popular and we had a wait at each hole.
There are three courses to choose from:
Blackbeards Challenge & Captains Course.
Both $6.00 for adults $5.50 for children
36 hole Adventure Course is $9.50 adults $8.50 children.
Open until 11pm in the summer.
Open from end of April until middle October
Colonial houses
by matcrazy1
When we arrived to visit Williamsburg's Capitol we had to wait approx. 20 min. to join the guided tour around its interiors. There is green space covered by still green (in October) grass around. These lovely buildings with numerous, tall, side chimneys, on my picture, stood south of the capitol at a distance of 100 yards (m).
I got to know that they are residential houses closed to the public except the Gunsmith which we didn't visit.
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Fireplace in Governor's Palace kitchen
Candle Light Kitchen
The Godspeed
The churchyard
