OK - we won't be brains in jars next week and I will admit is it somewhat unlikely an event for 2005...so a question for the crowd - does anyone have any experiences with visiting Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia? It is worth the stop? If it is, what should we look forward to seeing?
Comments
Lisa Howard - February 9, 2005 2:22 PM
How old are your kids? Little kids, if they're the right age, might like this kind of thing.
Alan - February 9, 2005 2:25 PM
Under 7 but in school.
John of Argghhh! - February 9, 2005 3:57 PM
If you go, let us know - it's on our list of places to visit.
From the brochures and others we know who have visited, it's a living history park, with all that implies, without the 'amusement park' atmosphere many places like that develop.
Alan - February 9, 2005 4:07 PM
Will you try to sway my pacifist socialist children to the libertarian's right to bear arms?
Hans - February 9, 2005 4:09 PM
I went there when I was 8, on the way back from Florida. After Disney World and Sea World, it was a bit of a let-down at the time. Also, it was in March and, that year anyway, it was alot colder in Virginia than in Florida.
On the other hand, if it is anything like Louisbourg in Cape Breton, it may be very good. I went to Louisbourg when I was 11 and really enjoyed it. It was even cold that day, too, but my enjoyment was unimpaired.
Stephen - February 9, 2005 5:11 PM
I've been. It was alright. It's pretty much what you'd expect.
Alan - February 9, 2005 5:14 PM
That is pretty unexcited. Would I be better off sitting on another beach for another couple of days or hunting out the local BBQ or seafood shack?
Stephen - February 10, 2005 1:10 AM
Busch Gardens is nearby. Virginia Beach is nice (maybe not in February).
Alan - February 10, 2005 8:33 AM
We are talking July.
Linda - February 12, 2005 12:57 AM
It'll be plenty hot in July. Weigh the beach option carefully if you want to maximize their vacation enjoyment.
We were there in April when the critters were about 3 and 6. It was a trial for the 3 year old, but I didn't care. It's not always all about them, dammit! Plus we had my brother in tow (who was a local at that time) so we pushed the mewling 3 year old off on him. Worked great!
Seriously, they have some pomp and circumstance parade type stuff with carriages that the kids liked. And a military encampment with reenactors. That was pretty cool, but I'm sure it's hit-or-miss.
In my opinion, livestock is critical to successful touring of living history museums with little kids. We went to Plimouth Plantation right after the mad cow bru-ha-ha caused them to evacuate all the livestock. It was wretched. If they got a herd of sheep or something at Williamsburg, you're golden.
Overall, I think we'd give a higher rating to Mt. Vernon. Smaller, more intimate, lots of sheep.