Friday, April 2, 2010

passes for Colonial Williamsburg

Are passes really necessary if I don%26#39;t want to go into the houses or museums.



passes for Colonial Williamsburg


Colonial Williamsburg is the most unique museum in the world in that it is spread out over 400 acres and people can enter the area and walk around and only pay to go inside historic buildings and participate in the programs and activities that go on each day. But considering that it is the largest living history museum and was the colonial capital city of the first, largest and wealthiest colony from 1699 until 1780, was where our nation%26#39;s founders argued and fought to bring this country into being, and is the worldwide epitome of restoration and historic research education; why would anyone come thousands of miles just to walk down the street?



passes for Colonial Williamsburg


Hi, SheaMe -- Of course we don%26#39;t want to discourage you from visiting Williamsburg, but Catneal has nailed it -- it is the research and interpretation that distinguish Colonial Williamsburg. If all you are going to (or can) do is glance around from the sidewalk, you might find yourself thinking it%26#39;s just another pretty little country town.





I would compare that kind of hands-off visit with driving past an amusement park. Yes, you see what it looks like. But you don%26#39;t experience it.





Having said that, you can park for free at the Visitors Center and walk the country path into the restored area and wander to your heart%26#39;s content. Retail stores (2 of them) selling reproduction merchandise will be open to you, as will the 4 colonial taverns which serve good meals in interesting settings.





And -- unlike the hustle and challenges of big cities, Williamsburg is very easy to visit!





Please let us know if there are other aspects you would like to hear about! Best.




I like nomo%26#39;s analogy of driving past an amusement park; I often say that not having a ticket at CW is like walking past a bakery. You can see the baked goods on display, and get a whiff of the delicious aroma, but you can%26#39;t buy and taste.



I think she had a typo, though. There are 6 retail shops in the Historic Area, in addition to two outdoor sales areas: at Market Square and at the Colonial Nursery, and there is the Raleigh Tavern Bake Shop in addition to the four taverns.




If the question is, ';Are there ticket-takers at the border,'; the answer is ';no';. You can walk up and down the streets, and no passes are needed to go into the stores and the restaurants. You can still get your picture taken in the stocks down by the jail (Williamsburg tradition). There are sometimes historical interpreters on the streets; when I was in college at W%26amp;M, for example, an interpreter raised the militia on the Palace Green every afternoon and got a group of tourists marching around to his orders. Like everyone else, I would encourage you to consider purchashing a pass and getting the full experience.




Thank you everyone for your help. I will be getting the passes but I have more questions...but I%26#39;ll make a new post.

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