The Best Things to Do in Williamsburg for the Whole Family

We got to see something almost nobody else had seen yet.

The day before “Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation” opened to the public at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, we walked through it first.

It is Virginia’s signature exhibition for the nation’s 250th anniversary, built around the people, events, and sites that made Virginia central to the Revolution. There is even a rare 1833 printing of the Declaration of Independence inside.

Standing in those galleries a full day before anyone else could is not something that happens on a normal trip.

That is the thing about Williamsburg, Virginia. The obvious stuff, Colonial Williamsburg, the trade shops, is genuinely worth your time.

But there is so much more here, for history lovers, for families, for a couples’ weekend, for anyone chasing something free.

Here is the real list of things to do in Williamsburg, sorted by exactly who you are traveling with.

Disclosure: I was hosted by Visit Williamsburg on this trip, but all opinions here are my own.

Colonial History You Can Walk Into

Colonial Williamsburg’s Trade Shops

This is where most people start, and for good reason.

Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the world, spread across 301 acres of gardens, historic sites, and working trade shops.

Walk Duke of Gloucester Street and pop into as many demonstrations as you can. The milliner, the printer, and the bookbinder were my personal favorites, and each one is staffed by someone who genuinely loves what they do.

Get a schedule of demonstrations first thing in the morning so you do not miss the one you actually wanted to see.

Historic Jamestowne

This is the real archaeological site of the first permanent English settlement in America, jointly run by the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia.

You can walk the site with an archaeologist or costumed interpreter and watch active excavation work happening at James Fort.

Jamestown Settlement

Right down the road, Jamestown Settlement tells the fuller story with replica ships, a re-created Powhatan village, and a colonial fort.

It covers the Virginia Indians who were already here, the English colonists who landed in 1607, and the first documented Africans who arrived in 1619.

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

This might be the single best museum stop on this whole list.

It tells a genuinely complete version of the Revolution, weaving in Black history and women’s history alongside the battlefield story, instead of treating either as a footnote.

Outside, there is a working recreation farm with real crops growing, and a live cannon demonstration in the Continental Army encampment.

The museum also runs rotating special exhibits. Through September 2026, that includes “Fresh Views of the American Revolution,” built around Bicentennial-era folk art and community art programs tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Steamer Wagon Battlefield Riding Tour

For something a little different, ride a replica Stanley Steamer Wagon through the Yorktown battlefields.

You will pass Redoubts 9 and 10, where Alexander Hamilton led a nighttime attack, and the Moore House, where the actual terms of surrender ending the Revolutionary War were negotiated.

Free Things to Do in Williamsburg

Bike or Drive the Colonial Parkway

The Colonial Parkway is a scenic, tree-lined road connecting Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, and it does not cost a thing to drive or bike it.

If you are staying at the Rochambeau Roadside Inn like we did, this one is especially easy. The inn offers complimentary bikes to borrow, so you can ride straight out onto the Parkway without renting anything.

Hike the York River Trails

The York River area has hiking trails through a coastal estuary, which is a nice, quiet contrast to a few days of dense historical sightseeing.

Ride the Free Yorktown Trolley

We used this ourselves on our way to the American Revolution Museum, and it is genuinely one of the easiest free perks in the area.

The trolley runs eleven stops around Yorktown, including the battlefield visitor center, Riverwalk Landing, and the museum itself, arriving every 20 to 35 minutes.

Relax at Yorktown Beach

On a hot Virginia summer day, and it will be hot, Yorktown Beach on the York River is a free, low-key way to cool off between historic sites.

Things to Do in Williamsburg for the Whole Family

Dinner and a Show at King’s Arms Tavern

This was the single best family-friendly evening of the entire trip.

King’s Arms Tavern serves hearty 18th-century American fare in a dining room full of costumed servers, and it turns dinner into an actual experience. Our server tied oversized linen napkins around our necks, explained the tradition (or at least the practical reason behind it, easier to swap out than laundering full tablecloths after every seating), and then a live fiddle and fife performance started up while we ate.

The onion pie alone is worth going for.

Kids get a kick out of the costumes and the music, and it does not feel stuffy or overly formal, so it works for a family table.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

After a few days of colonial history, Busch Gardens is the release valve.

Between the coasters, live shows, and animal encounters, it is a genuinely fun family day, and a nice contrast to two or three history-heavy days in a row.

One tip if you are traveling with younger kids: give this its own dedicated day rather than tacking it onto the end of a full history day. A theme park evening is a lot to ask of smaller legs that already walked all day.

Jamestown Glasshouse

This one is quick, maybe 20 minutes, but it is a great low-effort stop for kids.

Watch glassblowers demonstrate the same techniques used for America’s first industry, right next door to Historic Jamestowne.

Things to Do in Williamsburg for Adults

Williamsburg Winery

We did not make it here ourselves on this trip, but it is worth flagging for anyone building an adults-only day.

Williamsburg Winery sits on 400 scenic acres and produces European-style wines, with tours and tastings on-site. They also run a wine bar location right in Merchants Square if you want a taste without the full drive out.

Precarious Beer Hall

This one is easy to miss. It sits in Merchants Square, close enough to the Colonial Ghosts tour meeting point that we walked right past it without stopping.

If we go back, this is on the list.

Colonial Ghosts Night Tour

We did this one ourselves, so here is my honest take.

It was fine. By the time we started, we were hot, tired, and running on a full day of walking, and the tour itself could have done more to hold our attention.

If ghost tours are your thing, it is a reasonable way to see the town after dark. If your feet are already done for the day, it is skippable.

Unique Spots Beyond Colonial Williamsburg

William & Mary’s Historic Campus

We did not walk this one ourselves, but it is worth mentioning for anyone who wants something outside the usual Historic Area loop.

William & Mary is one of the oldest college campuses in the country, and it sits an easy walk from Colonial Williamsburg. If you want a quieter, less touristy stretch to wander, this is it.

Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters

We stopped here for breakfast in Yorktown, and the story behind it stuck with me more than the coffee did, and the coffee was great.

The building sits on National Park land, but owners Celeste and Jo lease it directly from the Park Service, out of the historic Cole Digges House. That is different from a typical park concessionaire, and it means this small, independent roastery gets to operate inside a piece of protected history on its own terms.

Practical Tips for Planning Your Trip

Best time to visit

We went in late June, and the heat and humidity were real. Expect a lot of walking across most of this list, so pace yourself and lean on a few healthy travel habits to get through full days outside.

Budget notes

Several of the paid stops on this list add up quickly if you are not planning ahead. Compare whether a bundled attraction pass makes sense for your trip, and look into ways to save on attractions before you book anything.

Since Historic Jamestowne is a National Park Service site, it is also worth checking whether an annual park pass pencils out if you plan on visiting other national parks this year.

How to fit it all in

This list covers a lot of ground, more than you will comfortably do in a single day.

If you want the full day-by-day breakdown of how we fit the colonial history highlights into one trip, including Busch Gardens, check out our complete Williamsburg itinerary post.

For anyone planning this as a multigenerational trip or bringing extended family, build in extra time and consider spreading the family-friendly stops across more than one day.

Before you go

Run through a pre-trip checklist a few days out, and check the Visit Williamsburg tourism site for current hours, seasonal closures, and any special exhibit schedules before you lock in your plan.

Final Thoughts

There are more things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia than most people plan for.

You could spend your whole trip in the Historic Area and leave happy. But between the free trails and trolleys, a genuinely great family dinner at King’s Arms Tavern, a wine and beer scene worth a date night, and a museum exhibit we got to see a full day before anyone else, this destination has layers most visitors never get to.

Pick the sections that match who you are traveling with, and build your trip from there.