fireworks??

We will be arriving on July 4th this year to stay in our rented house in Sandbridge. Can we just walk down to the beach and watch the fireworks?? Or maybe even see them from our house? We are renting Sand Witch.

Thanks!!

fireworks??

Virginia Beach%26#39;s are shot off from a barge around 20th and the boardwalk. I%26#39;m thinking because of the distance to Sandbridge and the lay of the land and the height of the fireworks, not those.

I haven%26#39;t been to Sandbridge on the 4th but I understand sometimes someone private will have some there just for fun.

But if you do go to the Boardwalk, get there early. It%26#39;s the type of holiday when people take off and spend all day at the beach, not leaving till after the fireworks.

July 4th along the Boardwalk are all kinds of festivities. You walk up and down and don%26#39;t even feel the distance passing. Surprisingly you might even see someone you know. Stranger things have happened. (Of course, you can park and use the trolley or bicycles and surries, too.)

Stars and Stripes Explosion is July 4th. There%26#39;s stuff going on at the stages at 17th, 24th and 31st along the Boardwalk. Among other things, Led Zeppelin Experience and a Tribute to the Beatles, etc. Then towards dusk is the VB Symphony Orchestra, a very good one...and as they time their finish the festivities will go right into the fireworks. (Except for extremely rough sea or pouring rain there%26#39;ll be fireworks.) At that point the sand is packed with people watching....and it%26#39;s a biiig sand area.

Are you taking part in the Girls Surf Camp in Sandbridge 7/9 %26amp; 10?

Check out www.vbfun.com

fireworks??

PS. Remember there%26#39;s fireworks just about every week on the Boardwalk. So you can also enjoy them July 8...and 12th if you%26#39;re still here.

So by us not being able to even pick up our key to the house until 3pm on July 4th or we even going to get close enough to be able to get to listen to any of the music in VB? We like both bands you mentioned. At that late in the day, what would be the best thing to do?? Not sure we will want to drive into alot of traffic after jsut arriving that day but then again, who knows, lol.Live music is always a plus with us and our three teens. Where would be a good place to park that late in the day in the area of the bands?

Thanks

Yes, just go! I would, even if I had been driving all day if for no other reason than the kids will love it and you%26#39;ll be the hero for getting the vacation off to a good start. Here is a link to info on the various places to park:

vbfun.com/visitors/鈥arking_Brochure_web.pdf

I suggest you try the 19th St Parking lot because that will put you in a good position to walk to whichever stage you want - it%26#39;s rather central.

Honestly, I wouldn%26#39;t worry about the traffic or crowds. Around here there are many venues for fireworks, so there are many places for locals to go - it%26#39;s not like we all show up at the beach for fireworks. Besides, most of the crowd will be comprised of people staying at the hotels, so they won%26#39;t be part of the traffic issue anyway.

You may or may not be able to see the fireworks from your cottage, but you definitely won%26#39;t hear the music from there.

Have fun!

Thanks for the parking info!!! I%26#39;m sure we will end up going down there anyway after getting groceries and letting the kdis swim for a bit. Where do you suggest going for groceries around Sandbridge? And we will be buying achohol also.

www.sandbridgebeachva.com/Shopping.html

Here%26#39;s a map showing some grocery stores. I think it%26#39;s out of date because it doesn%26#39;t show Bloom Grocery Store which is on Sandbridge Road. In Red Mill Commons you%26#39;ll find a Super Walmart as well as the ABC Store where you can buy liquor (you can buy beer and wine in the grocery stores).

As for which store you should shop, the best prices will be at Super Walmart followed by Food Lion. Farm Fresh and Bloom will offer a little more upscale products and slightly higher prices on some things, probably. Since you need to go to the ABC Store, you may as well shop Super Walmart since it%26#39;s in the same shopping center. (If you%26#39;re planning to grill hamburgers, Walmart has the best burger -- always lean with no chewy rubberbands in it. You know what I mean?)

thanks for the info!!

Yes, Wendy, I should have made clear when I started my response...';Virginia Beach%26#39;s resort strip%26#39;s fireworks';. I know people who go to high points to watch them.

Lorinjer, I guess you%26#39;ll pick up your key first? If so you%26#39;ll be almost going against any check-in traffic if you head into the boardwalk/hotel area as soon as you can. And anyone going will often have already gone to the beach earlier...or might be leaving a bit later.

Be flexible on parking. Last year the one at 19th was full by evening because that%26#39;s right by where the fireworks are. There%26#39;s one at 25th. Also, you can park a bit lower and enjoy the things/food along the boardwalk and Atlantic Ave (next from the beach) as you walk. There are ...they%26#39;re called municiapl parking lots...at 4th and 9th and 19th. Let me give you the city link, which will also have times and amounts...easier:

www.vbgov.com/vgn.aspx鈥?/a>

Public restrooms: 2nd, 17th, 24th and 30th

Along the boardwalk are several foot rinse offs and here and there are shower type rinse offs. One day I%26#39;ll make a note of their more precise locations during a walk...but they are here and there for people coming off the beach and trying to get the sand off, which might be helpful to you.

When you park, walk also along Atlantic a bit to be part of Beach Street USA from...17th to 21st I think are the boundaries. The performers are along Atlantic and at least one side street.

Check on the articles at the ';things to do'; option along the left here. This Family Travel article will be helpful: tripadvisor.com/Travel-g58277-s401/Virginia-鈥?/p>

The Boardwalk: In %26#39;09 it was ranked among the top 10 boardwalks. It%26#39;s 3 miles long. It%26#39;s concrete so no wooden slats, however romantic, to get wheets and flip flops caught it. The Boardwalk is terrific for walking, jogging, you%26#39;ll see moms with those big wheel baby carriages fast walking; great for skating, biking, fun in the surries with the fringe on top. The boardwalk is about 30%26#39; wide and has a beautiuflly landscaped, sometimes winding, adjacent path for bicycles and surries.

The ocean is, in some places, about 300%26#39; out...so you will all have lots of great sand to walk, run and play in to get the kinks out from the drive.

Some things along the Boardwalk. You will see the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum in the historic DeWitt Cottage at 11th, one of the oldest on the oceanfront;

The Virginia Legends Walk at 13th off the Boardwalk; honoring Virginians who have made important national and world contributions in their lives;

The Fishing Pier at 15th and the boardwalk;

a fun sort of old school amusement park is at 15th...I say ';old school'; in that it%26#39;s not one of the mega hyper commercial ones.

The Old Coast Guard Station at 24th and the Boardwalk in the historic 1903 Life Saving Station cottage.

The Naval Aviation Monument is at 25th and the Boardwalk. It is actually many bronze sculptures paying tribute to Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard from the early 1900s to the present. There are laser-etched granite storyboards since this is outdoors so you know what you%26#39;re looking at. The sculptures are of people in outfits from the period...real people...depicting significant events in history.

Thanks again. Yes we will be picking up our key first, heading to the house, check it out, unload the vans, go to the gorery store, unload groceries then head out to the Vb area for the concerts and fireworks.

I have a question about fireworks on other dates in the summer. Does anyone know where I can find the schedule for the fireworks? We will be there June 13-20

grilling on the beach

can you take a portable gas grill and cook on the beach at Virginia Beach?

grilling on the beach

Nope.

Bounce Pass - Colonial Williamsburg

Will a Bounce Pass include a tour of the Governor%26#39;s Palace?

Bounce Pass - Colonial Williamsburg

Yes, it will.

Bounce Pass - Colonial Williamsburg

All passes include admissions to all sites and daytime programs, except the Capital City pass which does exclude the Governor%26#39;s Palace.

beauty advice

discount tickets to CW?

We are military and I read somewhere that we can get discount tickets to the CW area. What does this include and can we buy the tickets there or does it have to be on base??

Thanks

discount tickets to CW?

I Googled and found this:

http://www.herosalute.com/cavatx/index.html

discount tickets to CW?

thanks but that is for Bush Gardens , which we are not interested in going to. We wanted to do the Historical Triangle (CW, Yorktown, Jamestown) but its kind of expensive for 5 us to do. And we only have one day there.

Oh duh -- why did I think I read Busch Gardens? So sorry. Let me go get a second cup of coffee.

lol no problem, I do the samething.

How about this? Is this better?

history.org/visit/鈥ilitary

colonialwilliamsburgresort.com/tickets/disco鈥?/a>

Thanks!! I%26#39;m not sure our MWR sells tickets for CW, its not listed but I will find out for sure. If not, I guess we could stop by the navy base there???

At the very least, you%26#39;d qualify for a 10% discount at CW.

true but with 5 of that is still a lot of money. Not sure if we will pay to go into CW or not.

The MWR at Fort Eustis (about 15-20 minutes from Williamsburg) has CW tickets for $30.75. I don%26#39;t know if that%26#39;s a good deal or not, but you can call them 757 878-3694 to get additional details. They told me the tickets are available to both military and civilian. Hope this helps.

The website shows them for $4 more so that is like 10% jsut as someone else said we could buy at the ticket booth after arriving there. I seroiusly doubt we go to all 3 places with it costing for each place. Now to figure out where to go, lol

The MWR at Fort Eustis (about 15-20 minutes from Williamsburg) has CW tickets for $30.75. I don%26#39;t know if that%26#39;s a good deal or not, but you can call them 757 878-3694 to get additional details. They told me the tickets are available to both military and civilian. Hope this helps

networking

Theme parks in Williamsburg

Can anyone advise us what tickets to buy for Theme parks in Williamsburg Va.and what are the best options . We are a family of 2adults and 3 teens . staying in williamsburg for 2 weeks in july.

Theme parks in Williamsburg

i%26#39;m going next week. and i got the ';bounce'; tickets. it is the best deal. ( $98.80$ for an adult.) This is for 7 cons. days @ busch gardens,the water park and colonial williamsburg.

Theme parks in Williamsburg

Have you decided where all you want to go? The major attractions include Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown Battlefield, and Yorktown Victory Center. Most of the combo tickets are good for 7 consecutive days, and with you here for 14 days, that complicates things a bit. However, you could buy the Bounce Pass (CW, BG, WC) and use it for the 7 days, then get the pass that%26#39;s good for 7 days at both Jamestown sites and both Yorktown sites, or overlap the two a bit. Then you could use other days for daytrips to Virginia Beach, Smithfield, Richmond, Newport News, Hampton, etc.

Hi Anthonyo1,

Or if you are only interested in amusement parks w/ shows %26amp; rides, such as Busch Gardens %26amp; Water Country USA %26amp; not other types of attractions, the best ticket would be the Discovery Pass, which includes 7-consecutive days unlimited admission to those 2 parks %26amp; is only $20 more than the regular one-day pass to one of those parks alone. (I wasn%26#39;t sure if by ';theme parks'; you were referring to only amuseument-type parks like these, or were referring to attractions as a whole?)

However, if you are staying for 2 weeks, I would definitely recommend seeing more in the area w/ the places that Zoey mentioned as well. There is much to see!

As an added thought, I would recommend going to Virginia%26#39;s tourism website- www.virginia.org - and search for the types of things you are interested in with the ';Tidewater/Hampton Roads'; filter. You will find tons of information on Williamsburg, and the surrounding area.

kingsmill breakfast buffet

does anyone know which restaurant has the breakfast buffet that is included daily with the kingsmill packages? it doesn%26#39;t say on the website...

Thanks

Creeper Trail -- early start?

How early could we get started on the Creeper Trail if we want to rent bikes and go from from Whitetop to Damascus? Is it possible to rent bikes the night before, and stay near the trail head (inn or camping)? Our family of four would be going in early October.

I%26#39;m interested in an early start primarily for photography, and maybe miss any potential crowds. But would it be too much to bike the trail to Damascus, then drive to Williamsburg in one day?

Creeper Trail -- early start?

Check out http://www.virginiacreepertrail.com for information about the trail, lodging, bike rentals, shuttle, etc.

There are several shops that rent bikes and also provide a shuttle to White Top so you can bike down to Damascus (or you can bike up and down). I don%26#39;t know how early the shuttle begin but I%26#39;m sure they offer early times. If your plan is to shuttle up early, %26amp; ride down to Damascus but not ride to Abingdon, you could then make the 5-6 hour drive to Williamsburg and arrive late afternoon. Give one of the bike shops listed on the website a call for more details. There are several reviews on TA of the Creeper Trail, if you haven%26#39;t already, check them out...and please write a review of your experience in October.

Happy trails

Creeper Trail -- early start?

Sorry, I typed the web address wrong, the correct one is.........

http://vacreepertrail.com

The earliest shuttle from Damascus to Whitetop is usually 8:00 or 8:30, depending on which company you use. It%26#39;s supposed to be about a 30-minute drive to Whitetop, but if you get stuck behind a log truck or other monstrosity, it%26#39;ll be much longer.

We used Sundog -- great folks and equipment.

I just checked Mapquest and it is 360 miles from either Abingdon or Damascus to Williamsburg, or close to 6 hours+. Maybe you could stop on the way in Charlottsville or Richmond and save an hour or two. (Both are great cities!)

Great Wolfe Lodge PROMO codes for July 2009

Do you know any Promo codes for July 2009?? I am going for the first time. Is there anything you can tell me aobut this place?? Thanks!

Great Wolfe Lodge PROMO codes for July 2009

Not sure if this is what you are looking for,

www.greatwolf.com/williamsburg/deals/deals

one day

We are only going to be in the Williamsburg area for one day. I think getting the traingle pass would not be worht it for one day. For those of you who have been, what areas would you go see and in what order? We will ahve one full day, from open to close to stay there. Yes its a long day but its are only long day for this vacation so that is okay.

one day

Would we have enough time to do CW, jsut the basic one day pass, then do Yorkstown and Jamestown??

one day

I do not want to be discouraging but it is very difficult to see much here in one day, especially at the price you would pay for the major sites. You may want to go to Jamestown or Yorktown instead of Colonial Williamsburg if only here such a short time. You can see either place in a day%26#39;s time. You can relegate CW to an evening stroll perhaps.

I should have suggested an evening program in CW if you are here that long. Go online (www. history.org) for a listing of programs available on the evening of your visit.

well we may not pay to get into the things that cost for CW, I%26#39;ve read that there is some things that are free. We will not be back in this area for long time so we want otget as much out of it as possible. any other ideas to help get thru the day???

Thanks

If you are going to be in the area for just one day, I would choose to see the sites in Williamsburg rather than Jamestown or Yorktown, especially if you won%26#39;t be returning soon. If you are going to do only one day in Williamsburg, I would advise seeing the following places: Governor%26#39;s Palace, the Capitol, the Courthouse where you can take part in a trial, the Peyton Randolph House, the George Wythe House, the Magazine, and trade sites such as the milliner, the wig maker, the bootmaker, etc. Check the map in the CW paper (available at the Visitor Center and on the shuttle buses) to map out what places to visit and in what order. I believe the Wythe House is open only in the morning. Have lunch outdoors at Chowning%26#39;s Tavern or stop in the Raleigh Tavern Bakery for a snack.

Thanks for the suggestions. We really want to see as much as possible on that one day.

anyone know the summer hours? The Springs ones are the only I can find right now. I would think they would be open later in the Summer, but who knows, lol.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. If anyoen has any idea on how to see all three places in one very long day, that would be great!!!

Summer hours for the Colonial Williamsburg historic area are 9-5, but that can be stretched at either end. Here%26#39;s a suggestion for a complete, full day at CW

Arrive and park your vehicle at the CW Visitor%26#39;s Center by 8:00 a.m. There%26#39;s a cafe (Huzzah%26#39;s) adjacent to the VC at which you can get morning coffee or breakfast. Purchase your tickets -- a one day Governors Pass -- at the VC; make an evening dinner reservation at one of the historic taverns, and then see the movie, The Story of a Patriot, at the west end of the VC. It%26#39;s well worth the time, as it puts the whole colonial period in perspective when you visit the old town.

Take the bus to the Historic Area, and get off at the Capitol Bus Stop. Tour the Colonial Capitol first, at the eastern end of Duke of Gloucester Street,and then make your way westward -- taking in those areas that are of interest to you. These may include the gaol (jail), apothecary, wigmaker, jeweler, etc. and so on down the street -- the map will show the locations. Lunch can be had at the Raleigh Tavern Bakery, at the Williamsburg Lodge, or at any of the fine eateries at Merchant%26#39;s Square, which is at the western end of Duke of Gloucester Street.

The Governor%26#39;s Palace is a very worthwhile visit, but its cost is an additional $10 per ticket which may not be worth the additional expense and time (approximately 45 minutes) in your single day. At the end of the day, if you have seen all of the historic area you want to see prior to your meal, spend some time shopping in Merchant%26#39;s Square -- everything from souvenirs to designer clothing and jewelry is available there. Or have a cocktail at one of the bars in the restaurants there.

After dinner in a Tavern, attend one of the evening programs. Since you%26#39;ve had a full day of history, something light and fun like the Tavern Ghost Walk (from the front of Shield%26#39;s Tavern) would be an enjoyable way to end your day. Again, that ticket may be purchased in the VC when you arrive. After the ghost walk, the bus will take you back to the Visitors Center, where you can be on your way, knowing that you just experienced a full, fun day in Colonial Williamsburg.

Excellent suggestions from BixDoc, with one correction. Huzzah! is not open for breakfast; currently it%26#39;s open for dinner only. However, in the Bookseller in the Visitor Center, Colonial Coffee and Tea has beverages and baked goods, and I think they open around 8:30 a.m. Also in the Visitors Center, get a copy of the one-pager that has suggestions for first-timers, or download it here: history.org/visit/…FirstVisit_Itinerary.pdf It tells you a little about some of the main sights, with a suggestion for how much time to allow for each one.

thanks for the idea!! We still need to get Yorktown/Jamestown in there, lol. What a crazy day that will be

beauty advice

get away with cheating

Mount Vernon Estate--for kids...

Hi,

What parts of the Estate would be of special interest to kids (6 %26amp; 9); would the mansion tour be boring for them?

Thanks!

Sam

Mount Vernon Estate--for kids...

Check out the Mount Vernon website. You can find out about the Adventure Map for Kids, the ';National Treasure'; tour, the Pioneer Farm site, the farm animals, etc. All of these should be of interest to kids the ages of yours.

I don%26#39;t know if the tour would be boring for your kids. Have they ever toured an historical house before? But note that the line to get into the mansion can be long and it is often hard for kids to wait patiently in line.

Mount Vernon Estate--for kids...

Yes the line can be long, but many kids play on the huge front lawn area, that helps to be able to run off the wait. The actual tour of the mansion is not but 15 minutes, I think any age would get something out of it. On the backside of the mansion is a beuatiful view of the Potamac-walk to the edge of the lawn and you will see some wildlife down by the water. We saw a phesant, and an eagle. Also interesting is the livestock and the museum-they will get a kick out of his teeth.

Prepare them by looking at the web site and reading some age appropriate material on Washington.

I have not heard great things about the National Treasure tour-seach on this site and the DC site for some threads about that.

I haven%26#39;t been, but I have good freinds who recently went on the National Treasure tour and they gave it two thumbs down.

They said you basically stick your head in a basement room you didn%26#39;t see before and it wasn%26#39;t worth all the extra effort/wait.

Yes that is what a friend of mine said about the National Treasure tour.

Skyline Drive

Planning to drive the Skyline Drive to Luray to visit caverns from Staunton. Would it be better to drive Skyline in morning to Luray or drive interstate to Luray and skyline drive to Staunton in afternoon? Any help is appreciated!

Skyline Drive

I would prefer to make the drive from Luray to Staunton via Skyline Drive (ends at Waynesboro) in the afternoon. The reasons are....traveling south, most scenic overlooks are on your right making it easier and safer to pull in %26amp; out; depending on what time you travel, you may get to see the sunset (of course the may also get some sun in your eyes); deer are usually plentiful along the Drive, especially dawn and dusk hours so you%26#39;ll get to enjoy them just use caution around corners and if you see one, more are likely nearby. When you enter the Park, ask for the map/brochure so you%26#39;ll know what to expect during your 74 mile trip (from about milepost 31 at Thornton Gap entrance to mp105 Rockfish Gap entrance). The advantage of traveling Skyline Drive during the morning is that there would probably be less ';traffic'; compared to the afternoon. The speed limit is 35 mph, and keep the SNP information number handy, 540 999-3500. It%26#39;s a beautiful drive anytime of the day, enjoy it.

Happy trails

Skyline Drive

Thank you. That is exactly the info I was looking for.

another thing if you pick up the audio CD tour of the Skyline Drive it runs north to south only

Norfolk to Wilmington, NC - which route?

I will be driving from Norfolk, VA to Wilmington, NC on Sunday. Should I take US Route 58 to I-95 and then I-40, or should I go via the US Routes 13 %26amp; 17 through Eastern NC? Google Maps says taking Rte 58 to 95 to 40 will be quicker, but will I really save much time by taking such a round-about route? What do you think? Thanks, Johnny

Norfolk to Wilmington, NC - which route?

See my response in the NC forum...

Norfolk to Wilmington, NC - which route?

I went to Wilmington on Rt 17 and it did feel like a looooonnnggg ride, but we wanted the scenic route, not necessarily the fastest.

Voice of experience! Glad to hear it. Thank you. Not sure that I want THAT long of a ride, just to satisfy scenic.

Regards,

Johnny

wild horses in virginia

my daughter and i are looking for the best place to go see the wild horses either in virginia or NC. can anyone advise?

also, how long is the drive from VB to Assateague Island

wild horses in virginia

Wild horses are best spotted in NC up in Corova, which is a 4 wheel drive area.

The drive from VB to Chinco/Assateague Island from the VA side is about 2 hours. You can see wild horses there a bit easier than in NC.

Mount Vernon Estate--for kids...

Hi,

What parts of the Estate would be of special interest to kids (6 %26amp; 9); would the mansion tour be boring for them?

Thanks!

Sam

Mount Vernon Estate--for kids...

I have visited Mount Vernon occasionally, most recently was there last summer. The grounds are very spacious. Your kids will like seeing the sheep grazing, and they can walk the trail to the river shore. There is also a newly-opened museum there about George Washington.

On your way, stop in Old Town Alexandria. Sit on a bench on the boardwalk at the foot of King Street by the River where there are jugglers, balloon artists, a portrait artist, and a man showing his pet parrots; many people walking their dogs. Visit the free, Torpedo Factory Arts Center next-door (2 floors full of artists and craftsmens%26#39; studios) and on the next corner, visit either Pop%26#39;s, Scoops, or Ben%26amp;Jerry%26#39;s for icecream.

programming

Out of the Box Furniture Store-Earlysville

While on vacation last November, I purchased a bed at Out of the Box. I%26#39;ve been trying to get in touch with them by phone and email during this past week and there has been no answer.

Does anyone live nearby and could let me know if they are still in business? I last heard from them at the beginning of May and am wondering if something suddenly happened.

A pm would be greatly appreciated.

Out of the Box Furniture Store-Earlysville

You may know about every thing or get every kind of info such like that any sort of error or any complaint.Here you can criticism of game and etc.

http://www.griefster.com/

Out of the Box Furniture Store-Earlysville

I live about 1 1/2 mi from the store. They are in the process of selling off the inventory and it%26#39;s unclear if they are going to tear down the current store and rebuild or go completely out of business. The same family also owned the little grocery store across the street and have recently sold it. Try the Long Island store at (631) 650-9515 to see if they can give you some info.

Laura

beauty advice

Wedding day ladies luncheon

Need to plan a location for a Saturday in September ladies lunch or brunch for about 30 women. Many will be coming from out of town and are likely all to be staying at the Ramada Inn Oceanfront on Atlantic %26amp; 17th. Any recommendations for a close by restaurant, not all may have cars?

Wedding day ladies luncheon

I don%26#39;t see a Ramada at 17th. There is one at 6th St and one at 31st. Is it a different hotel or do you have the wrong street? I now hesitate to name restaurants in walking distance.

Wedding day ladies luncheon

Sorry, I believe it is the one on Atlantic at 6th.

Oh, in that case, you might enjoy Mahi Mah%26#39;s right in your hotel. Or you might like Waterman%26#39;s just a couple blocks south. Both would be lovely.

I just checked the Wave (trolley), and it runs through Sept, so for $1 a ride, you could use that rather than mess with the car. At 23rd St, you%26#39;ll find Tautogs, and that would be a VERY nice place. It%26#39;s not waterfront like the others, but it%26#39;s very cute and the food and service are outstanding. At 31st St is Catch 31 in the Hilton, which is a popular spot for weddings and receptions. OK - those are my picks. Maybe others will chime in.

I also recommend Waterman%26#39;s, it is on 5th.

Here%26#39;s the site http://www.watermans.com/

Thanks for the suggestions, I think they are having the reception at Waterman%26#39;s but I did have lunch at Catch 31 when I was down in May. If the trolley is still running then that may work out well, I%26#39;ll check the other one out as well.

Trip Report: Williamsburg, Part II, Accommodations

In mid-May, we spent at week at Wyndham Kingsgate Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia as part of a special promotion by RCI, the timeshare trading company. Our Trip Report on that trip is divided into three segments: travel and activities, accommodations, and restaurants. This is the segment on our accommodations.

Through a special promotion by the timeshare trading company RCI, we took a week in a one-bedroom unit at Wyndham’s Kingsgate Resort, just a short distance from the Williamsburg Historic District.

The resort is about half a mile off the US Route 60 Bypass, which is far enough away that you don’t hear the traffic noise or feel the hustle and bustle or sense of urgency you can feel at other US 60 locations. The property itself is attractive and appeared to be well-maintained. An on-site pond was serving as home to two separate families of Canada geese and a family of mallard ducks during our stay.

Check-in was easy and efficient with a good resort map and good directions to our unit, one of 600 or so on the property. The multi-unit buildings are patterned after colonial-style construction and are spaced in a way which makes the resort seem far more intimate than the number of units would suggest.

Our one-bedroom unit with a mini-kitchen lived up to the RCI advisory that “units with mini-kitchens are best suited for an adult couple or a couple with small children.” It was “snug” at best. The “kitchen” table had only two chairs; the sink was approximately ten inches on a side (making washing larger pots and pans a challenge); and the counter top provided a foot-square or less area not already taken up by the coffee-maker or toaster – not enough room to prep any substantial kind of meal, even for just two people. The bedroom was equally “snug” with room for a nightstand on one side of the bed but not the other (I always get nervous when the only place to put my eyeglasses overnight is on the floor beside the bed!). The “living room”, immediately adjacent to the kitchen table, consisted of a sleep-sofa, upholstered chair, coffee table and entertainment unit supporting the flat-screen television. The built-in sound system seemed nice, but required an I-pod, which we don’t have. In contrast to the rest of the unit, the bathroom was modern and spacious.

All of the kitchen appliances worked well and there was a generous supply of dishes, cups, glassware, flatware and utensils – to the point that there was literally no unoccupied drawer or cabinet space for groceries or other storage! We were most thankful we’d planned to keep our in-unit meal prep to a minimum.

Overall, the unit seemed a bit “dark”, with just one standard-sized window each in the living room and bedroom to provide outside light – and the living room one was tucked in under the overhang for the porch providing access to the front door of our half of the building.

The resort staff was friendly and helpful. A call to the front desk regarding a burned out bulb in one of the lights brought a maintenance person with a replacement bulb, which he happily installed for us, in less than half an hour from the time we called.

The Activities Center was as good as we’ve seen at other timeshares -- with an indoor pool, an outdoor pool (not yet open for the season), a miniature golf course, a multi-station computer center, and a large, modern arcade which included a Wii game set-up, complete with special hours set aside for “senior” users. The resort does charge a mandatory $5 per day per unit activities fee whether you use the activities center or not. And their only access to the Internet other than their computer center (included in the activities fee) is through a local, contracted Wi-Fi provider whose fees make the computer center (or one of the local sandwich shops or fast-food outlets) a better economic choice.

All told, Kingsgate provides a clean, centrally-located, convenient base for a multi-day visit to Colonial Williamsburg and the surrounding area. Next time though, we might ask about the cost of an upgrade to a slightly larger unit.

Unfortunately, our experience with the on-site Wyndham timeshare sales staff completely overshadowed the more positive portions of our visit. Don’t confuse the sales staff and resort staff – the resort staff was terrific; the sales staff abysmal!

It began at check-in, where the “Welcome Desk” (separate from the registration desk), invited us to a free “RCI 35th Anniversary Breakfast” at another Wyndham resort nearby “to discuss your RCI opportunities and experiences.” When we declined, saying we’d had previous bad experiences with Wyndham sales representatives and suggested it would turn into a sales presentation, they declined to say it wasn’t a sales presentation and continued to press their “free breakfast” offer, stopping only when we declined more firmly and walked away. They then phoned our unit on three successive mornings (waking us up on two of them) to repeat their invitations, despite our repeated responses that we were not interested in their breakfast or their presentation. It was only after some forceful language on our part that they agreed to stop calling. A similar experience with the Wyndham timeshare sales folks in Williamsburg last year suggests that they have no problem being less than truthful to get you to one of their sales presentations and no respect for your responses as a potential customer!

Apparently it hasn’t occurred to their sales staff that potential customers aren’t likely to be in the mood to buy anything whatsoever if they’ve been lured to the sales presentation under false pretenses or attend only to stop the harassing phone calls from ruining their vacation. Accept their invitations at your own risk and believe their assertions at your own peril!

More hotel questions

We have stayed at the Springhill and enjoyed it very much. Due to illness we have walking difficulties. Can anyone suggest an hotel on Beach Street with an outdoor pool and easier parking? Thanks.

More hotel questions

These hotels have an outdoor pool:

Ocean Beach Club -- they have valet parking, so that tells me the lot must be across the road or down a ways. Is that ';easier'; for you or worse?

Courtyard by Marriott North - valet parking

Hilton Oceanfront -- valet parking

Sheraton -- valet parking

Holiday Inn Sunspree -- valet parking

Ocean Suites -- free onsite parking

Quality Inn %26amp; Suites Oceanfront -- onsite parking

There are some others, but the reviews are iffy. If you wish, I can list them as well.

More hotel questions

Do you mean like all parking in a parking lot on street level? I%26#39;m familiar with the levels of parking at Springhill Suites and that one needs to go to the first level to enter the hotel.

If all parking were on one level it would need to be a tremendous oceanfront lot and not a good use of space so some hotels have decks on site, some decks across the street. I%26#39;m thinking of some that have onsite street level parking but if you take the car out instead of walking to nearby places you run the risk of the onsite lots being full on your return and then needing to use the nearby municipal parking, say a block or so away.

So I%26#39;m wondering if your safest bet would be to look into the places with valet parking? At Ramada on the Beach...with decks across the street....it%26#39;s free but we tip. Can%26#39;t remember exactly about the others.

If you%26#39;d like that then take a look at vbhma.com and click on %26#39;accomodations%26#39; and then check %26#39;valet parking%26#39;

What are your thoughts?

We%26#39;re so enthusiastic here we both responded about the same time:)

2 minds with but a single thought :-)

We stayed at the Ocean Beach Club last summer and loved it. The parking garage is across the street to the rear of Pie Pizzeria.They do have valet parking and a great outdoor pool area that has entertainment at night also. We didn%26#39;t use the valet last year, so I%26#39;m not sure if is free and a tip , or if there is a charge.Their phone number is (757) 213-0601.

Good luck, Andy

Comfort in AT the Beach has an outdoor pool and on site garage parking with elevator access on each level. They are also right next to a wooden walkway leading right to the ocean so that you don%26#39;t have to walk through the sand. They are also right next door to the 24th street park so entertainment is just steps away.

I also have difficulty walking due to severe arthritis in my right knee.

Comfort Inn at the beach used to be station one before it was totally renovated. I have stayed at Station One every year for the past 13 or so years.

Thanks to LeisaRN for mentioning the Comfort Inn. My in-laws stayed there when it was Station One and really liked it. And yes, the parking garage is onsite.

Good thought Lisa. I%26#39;ve always thought those were a great idea. They%26#39;re at 8th, 17th, 24th and 30th Streets.

I started a ... what used to be called Insider Page...now I think ';article'; re Travelers With Disabilities. Lisa, Unassuming, anyone please add/edit it as you find info. Click on ';Before You Go'; along the left margin here. You will see Traveler Articles (at the top of today%26#39;s page) and click on ';Travelers with Disabilities';. You%26#39;ll see it was started in %26#39;06 when they were calling people %26#39;guest%26#39;. Then Glyph edited but took out some items that would be handy for people with any disability to know. I think Glyph thought he/she was editing a general review instead of something this specific. I think I put a lot of it back in eventually when I noticed this with a comment (like how significant it is for people with disabilities to have valet parking)

Do add more based on your experiences. You%26#39;ll see the little ';edit'; box in the review. Personally I think it%26#39;s very significant if one finds particular hotels that fit the bill...also, since one disability can be very different than another. So mention ease/lack of ease at hotels/restaurants, etc.

Another good thing about Comfort Inn at the beach, especially for those who have difficulty walking very far, is that they are next to the visitor%26#39;s information kiosk where a lot of the tours are picked up by buses in the mornings.

Also, make sure you purchase a Wave pass to ride the trolleys. You can get on and off unlimited times with a day, 3 day or 5 day pass. There are stops just about every block or two. There is a little vending machine right outside the kiosk at 24th street (not sure if you can get them at the kiosk or not).

Bed and breakfasts in Appomattox

Should I choose Longacre or Spring Grove? Inquiring minds want to know?

Bed and breakfasts in Appomattox

I have friends who have been to them and I%26#39;ve been by them but haven%26#39;t stayed. Some differences that might help you choose are

Longacre is in town and you can walk to the historic Main St and the little shops...arts and crafts, antiques, quilts, gifts, jewelry, tea room, an antique mall. Longacre is on three lovely acres.

Spring Grove Farm is off the beaten track and on a 200 acre plantation. But you can drive quickly to anyplace you need to see.

Longacre is a Tudor style built in 1930s.

Spring Grove was built in 1840s.

I think Longacre has a pool.

Both have beautiful rooms.

To me, it might be a difference of which style architecture I preferred; which age home I was in the mood for; which surroundings/setting I was in the mood for.

Bed and breakfasts in Appomattox

Thank you for your kind reply. I am more of a price monger than anything so it seems like Longacre would be more of my style. Besides its only a one night stay and I might get in late so the decor wouldn%26#39;t matter much. ( so why don%26#39;t I just go to the Super 8, huh?)

On a lark, did it say you were an expert on Va. Beach? Well my trolling along will ultimately bring me to Top Sail Beach N.C. Do you know anything about that vacation resort? (or any historic and or sites between Appomattox and Top Sail?Your indulgence of me would be much appreciated!

Tobykinsmax

time controlled application running

Best day of the week in August for Busch Gardens

Hello - We are going to Virginia Beach the week of August 22nd. We are planning on a day at Busch Gardens. What day of the week do you recommend and is August a crazy time in Williamsburg?

Thanks!

Best day of the week in August for Busch Gardens

August can be crazy hot in August, but the crowds will not be crazy. We save that for Grand Illumination Sunday in December (Dec. 6 this year, in case anyone was wondering). As was mentioned on your thread in April, avoid the weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) mainly for traffic reasons. Also try to time your comings and goings to avoid rush hours during the week. Since BG will be open until 8 p.m. during that week, you can stay until 6 (or later) and avoid the evening rush.

Best day of the week in August for Busch Gardens

Hi,

Tuesday and Wednesday are your best bets.

Have fun!

Hi joenronnie, we are seasons-pass holders so we go to BG quite frequently %26amp; we prefer Sundays when it comes to avoiding both crowds %26amp; traffic. We live about 20 minutes from the park, so we travel the interstate just as you would be doing, %26amp; Sunday interstate traffic really isn%26#39;t bad going towards Williamsburg. It%26#39;s usually worse going towards the beach, but only during the day, so if you spend the day at Busch Gardens %26amp; will be heading back toward the beach in the evening it should be smooth sailing for you.

Any weekday would probably be ok regarding crowds for the most part (although many families do choose the weeks in August for their vacations before school starts). But the weekdays are so touch-n-go regarding traffic. If you do choose to go during a weekday, try not to be driving around morning rush hours- 7am-9am (BG doesn%26#39;t open until 10am anyway), also the lunch rush hour-11:30am-1:30pm, %26amp; evening rush hours-4:30pm-6:30pm.

And, yes for both traffic %26amp; crowds combined, definitely stay away from Fri %26amp; Sat!

Hope that helps!

Thanks everyone.

You guys mind if I ask this hear, rather than creating a new thread...?

In the past we%26#39;ve visited Williamsburg during the week immediate following Labor Day (staying Tuesday through Monday, effectively). It%26#39;s always been great... The weather was warm though not too bad, and BG/WC was only open on the weekends and the crowds were minimal.

We haven%26#39;t visited in a few years, and this year we%26#39;re going to instead be visiting the week right before Labor Day, leaving the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend (8/29-9/5).

So, long story short, since we%26#39;ve always visited while the travel season was ';over';, we%26#39;ve always taken the light crowds for granted. My question is, how much difference does a week make (at BG/WC/CW)? Does anyone have a good idea of how much (if at all) busier everything will be?

Sorry about the typo, above (hear rather than here)...

Local schools start September 8 this year, so there%26#39;s a good chance that last week before Labor Day could be pretty crowded, as families try to get their last visit in before the start of the school year.

We are arriving June 13 around noon, and will be there Saturday, Sunday, and Monday before leaving on Tuesday (quick trip). Hoping we are good for timing!! And VERY excited!

For a Saturday afternoon - would it be best to just avoid?

Bicycling around CW with kids 8 and 10.

Hi, we are visiting the CW area and I would love to take the kids bicycling. My daughter gets tired easily and I was hoping to rent bicycle and do some easy to medium trails. One, are there any child friendly trails in CW and two, can you give me some bicycle rental shops names? Thank you so much if you respond. We usually end up at the theme parks - which we will do too, lol - but I would like the kids to see some historic stuff too and I figure bicycling would keep them interested. : )

Bicycling around CW with kids 8 and 10.

There are several bike shops in the area, I made a quick call to one, Conte%26#39;s, and they do not rent bikes and don%26#39;t know of a shop that does. However, you are welcome to investigate; Conte%26#39;s 757 565-1225, Bikebeat 757 229-0096, Bikes Unlimited 757 229-4620. If you find bikes, I do not suggest riding on the Colonial Parkway. Although it%26#39;s a beautifully scenic road, the speed limit is 45mph and many drive much faster....not safe for most kids or casual riders in my opinion. I%26#39;m sure some of the local, less travelled roads would be fine. Ejnoy the area.

Bicycling around CW with kids 8 and 10.

I cannot speak to renting bikes, but I can tell you that you can definitely ride around the historic CW area....bikes ARE allowed, and I think it%26#39;s much more fun to bike around CW than to walk. You just need to be a bit careful if the place is crowded. I personally find the Colonial Parkway to be a perfectly lovely place to ride, but perhaps not for kids that tire easily, since although there are scenic turn offs, there are not any bathrooms or places to eat/drink along it. However, I could highly recommend the path that is at the end of the historic Jamestowne (the Jamestown that is part of the Park service, not the Jamestown settlement). There is a very lovely road/path that runs along the end of Jamestown Island that is VERY VERY easy (flat, shady, and paved) and I think your family would enjoy....

Hi, rob -- You don%26#39;t mention where you will be staying, but if it is at a Colonial Williamsburg property, you should be able to rent bikes from CW. Possibly even if you are not a guest. You should call 1-800-HISTORY. Pasted below is something I found on the website by using the search box for ';bicycles';.

**Hikers and cyclists will be delighted with Colonial Williamsburgs extensive nature trails and bicycling routes. The Historic Area also is ideal for riding, jogging, power walking or leisurely strolls. The Tennis Pro Shop rents a selection of bicycles, from those with training wheels for beginners to six-speed and tandem bicycles for adventurous cyclists. Complimentary helmets are provided for safety. Hour-long bicycle tours offer an introductory overview to the Historic Area ,and events guests may wish to pursue during their stay. Strollers and bicycle child seats also are available.

Assorted recreational activities are available at the Woodlands Hotel %26amp; Suites. Scenic forest paths wind past a miniature golf course, picnicking and table tennis area, horseshoe pits, a childrens playground, and tennis, badminton, shuffleboard and volleyball courts.**

You will all have great fun!

Thanks so much for all the info. I actually looked up a couple of state parks, First Landing and James River, and they rent bikes and have trails. It sounds perfect and Va. Beach sounds like a good ride too. I can%26#39;t wait to go now. :)

First Landing SP is a great place to bike. The main trail, Cape Henry, is 6 miles one way and a scenic, interesting ride. The trail is not paved but is good for riding and mostly hard packed with a few sandy spots and few roots...fairly easy to maneuver. At the 64th Street end of the trail is an inland beachy area on the Linkhorn Bay. It%26#39;s a nice place for a rest, picnic lunch, watch boats, and bathrooms are available next to the boat ramp. If you will be in the area for a while, also consider the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail in Chesapeake....unique trail for biking or walking. If interested, check out a review I wrote by putting the trail name in the search box.

Happy trails

beauty advice

Vacation in VA

We are three days from our anniversary trip to Charlottesville. Any suggestions about a nice place to take by hubby for dinner would be great. We aren%26#39;t into fancy food, but I would like a place with a good atmosphere. Also would appreciate advice on a few good pubs, maybe ones offering specials or happy hour. We will be staying at the Holiday Inn Monticello (not my first choice, but everthing else was booked because of HS graduations). Anything within walking distance? We both enjoy walking, but I realize that it would depend on the location.

Any other suggestions on things to do/see would be great! We will be in town for five days. Plan on doing winery/brewery tour, Monticello and go hiking one day. Thanks ahead of time for any suggestions!

Vacation in VA

Nothing within walking distance of the hotel. What kind of food do you like? That could help narrow it down. Second Street Brewery near the downtown area is a pub with good food and a choice of microbrews. Continental Divide o W. Main St. is a fun Mexican food restaurant with tons of tequila choices. There%26#39;s usually a line to get in on weekends. There are a lot of nice places to eat along the Downtown Mall and along surrounding streets. Eating in our out is an option.

Laura

Vacation in VA

As far as food, I love Seafood, hubby likes steak. But, with that being said we also like to try different types of food. If the weather is good, I would love to be able to dine outside, possible with a great view. We have friends who will be joining us for a few days on our vacation and we plan on hitting the downtown mall area, and also Monticello and tour a few breweries. Still trying to decide if we want to book with a company to do a wine/brewery tour. Its rather expensive, but it does sound wonderful.

Almost every restaurant on the Downtown Mall has outdoor seating. Just plan on getting there a little early if it%26#39;s a weekend night. Blue Light Grill and Raw Bar has decent seafood. Escafe usually has a fish and beef choice- consistently good food. The ';steak'; restaurant, Downtown Grill, has not been consistent with both my experience and many friends who like to dine downtown. Other favorites include Enoteca (Italian wine bar with sandwiches and huge salads), Bang (Asian tapas- great fun with friends- you can order a number of them and share, they have an outdoor courtyard), Bashir%26#39;s (Mediterranean fare). Cassis is a great French food choice, I%26#39;ve only been to Il Cane Pazzo once but really enjoyed it and it%26#39;s little courtyard...so many to choose from. By the time we try all the restaurants, some close and new ones offer. Check www.downtowncharlottesville.net to check out all your options.

When I first saw the cost of the winery/brewery tour I thought, ';wow, so expensive';. But, considering that the wineries are not on main roads and getting around Albemarle County can be daunting, it%26#39;s probably your safest bet unless you have a GPS. Another benefit, it not worrying about driving after sampling.

Have fun!

Laura

Road Trip: Driving from CO to Alexandria VA-which route?

Hi. My daughter is entering Georgetown for grad school and we are planning to drive out the end of June. We have three options to get there 1-70, 1-80 and 1-81 south from St. Louis. Going the 1-81 route will add a couple of hours time. We are totally unfamiliar with the landscape in the area. Is it worth driving through the I-81 route or should we just try to speed along on I-70? We don%26#39;t mind a little longer drive for a more scenic trip.

Thanks to all.

Road Trip: Driving from CO to Alexandria VA-which route?

Are you talking about taking I-64 from St. Louis to pick up I-81 in VA? I-64 is pleasant through Kentucky, a little scary in WVA. You%26#39;ll see mountains on I-81 in VA, but for me it is an unpleasant interstate to drive on because of the combination of steep hills and many tractor-trailers. They slow you down on the uphill and scare the daylights out of you on the downhill. There are a few pleasant stretches, but not worth it in my opinion.

You%26#39;ll cross the mountains on I-70 also, in MD if you take I-68, but it should be a quicker trip. Coming through the Cumberland gap is scenic. I would take I-70 out of St Louis. Pick up I-79 outside Pittsburgh, to I-68 to I-270.

Road Trip: Driving from CO to Alexandria VA-which route?

Congrats on your daughter entering Georgetown. What a great area and marvelous University. Wonderful times and relationships for life lay ahead.

We%26#39;ve gone from St. Louis to north Va a few times and family goes back and forth that way often.

Ok, when you said you had those three options from St. Louis Missouri to DC I thought, well, there%26#39;s two main east-west routes out of St. Louis so how would I-81 be your third option from St. Louis since it%26#39;s a north-south route. And I-80. If you took that anywhere near DC it would be way further north than you would need.

I think the options from St. Louis would be either I-64 straight east or I-70 straight east. I don%26#39;t think I-81 is an east-west option from St. Louis unless there%26#39;s another I-81. I-81 is generally north-south.

I-80 goes through the middle of PA and does cross I-81 but much further north than you would want.

The way we go is I-64E to I-79 (sometimes we%26#39;ve taken 77 up to see historic Parkersburg though) to 68E to 70 briefly to 270 to the Beltway around DC.

We generally stop overnight, like in Charleston WV.

From Charleston WV we have also taken 64E to stop at Tamarack arts center near Beckley WV. We%26#39;ve even stopped at Greenbier and the Homestead at various times and hooked into I-81 and took that north to I66E to the DC Beltway just to change it up a bit.

Just ideas for future trips.

Very helpful. Thank you 22Tango.

Thank you Explor--we%26#39;ll look at that route on the map. So

unds interesting.

FYI, In the route I described I-79 doesn%26#39;t come up till Charleston WV.

Trip Report: Williamsburg, Part 1, Travel and Activities

In mid-May, we spent at week at Wyndham Kingsgate Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia as part of a special promotion by RCI, the timeshare trading company. Our Trip Report on that trip is divided into three segments: travel and activities, accommodations, and restaurants. This is the segment on travel and activities.

As retirees not tied to a work schedule, we tend to plan our trips to avoid major highway congestion or long, long days on the road. With that in mind, our route from Maine to Williamsburg took us via I-95 and I-495 to I-90, the Massachusetts Turnpike (avoiding I-290 through downtown Worcester), west on I-90 and south on I-87, the New York Thruway (avoiding congested areas like downtown Hartford, Danbury and Waterbury, CT), west on I-84 to US 209 south through the Delaware Water Gap and west on I-80 to I-81 south (avoiding Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, where there always seems to be heavy construction-related slowdowns), south on I-81 and east on I-64 (avoiding the New Jersey Turnpike, Baltimore, the Washington DC beltway and the I-95 congestion from Washington DC to Richmond). A bit longer perhaps, but much, much more relaxing and scenic.

We favor Hampton Inns when we’re on the road and spent pleasant, predictable, comfortable nights at Hampton’s in Middletown, NY and Winchester, VA both coming and going.

Our check-in at Wyndham’s Kingsgate Resort was easy and efficient. For more details on this resort, see the Trip Report segment on Accommodations.

Of our seven days in Williamsburg, it rained all or part of six of them. Several days the weather forecasts included severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. We adjusted our planned activities on a daily basis, thankful we’d been to Williamsburg before and wouldn’t feel “cheated” if we didn’t do or see everything this time around. Busch Gardens was operating on a limited, pre-season schedule when we were there and really didn’t fit well into our other plans, so we skipped it this trip.

We found numerous “dry” things to do on rainy days, including visiting a local crafts fair organized by the employees of Historic Williamsburg, browsing (and buying) at The Book Exchange used book store in the Colony Square Shopping Center on Jamestown Road (very well organized with a friendly, helpful staff) and at the large Yankee Candle complex on US 60, riding the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry (it’s free!) for a relaxing drive through rural Surry County, shopping the outlet malls, and just doing a fair amount of “relaxing and reading” (our two favorite vacation activities) in our timeshare unit. For those who have never visited Williamsburg before, we’d also strongly recommend the Abby Aldrich Rockerfelller and Wallace DeWitt Museums at Colonial Williamsburg, and the museum at Jamestown Settlement as other ways to spend major portions of rainy days. We’d done both of them within the past year and didn’t feel we needed a repeat visit quite this soon.

On the one sunny day we had, we visited the Colonial National Historic Park – the official name for the National Park Services sites at Jamestown and Yorktown. The two locations, over a century apart in time, are connected by a pleasant, leisurely ride down the Colonial Parkway, providing an easy 23-mile drive between the two. The archeological activities at Historic Jamestown and the easy-to-follow, self-guided auto tour of the Yorktown Battlefield were interesting and informative. One of the main attractions of each of them was your ability to enjoy them at your own pace.

We did also manage to spend parts of a couple of days in the Historic District itself. When we visited just under a year ago, we bought a one-year admission pass allowing unlimited admissions, so we felt no compunction to “see everything in the rain just to get our money’s worth”, a real plus when the weather is changing rapidly every day. This year’s specific destinations included the cabinetmaker’s shop, the jewelry shop and lunch at the King’s Arms Tavern. It also was fun just strolling the street of the Colonial District enjoying the horse-drawn carriages, architecture and ambiance. Last year, we also attended several of the re-creations of key events of the time and took the Bits-and-Bridles tour, which provided a very interesting tour of the barns where the horses used for carriages and riders are kept when they’re not actually on the streets during the day.

Even with a week of mostly inclement weather, we found plenty of things to do depending on one’s individual interests. It’s a genuinely interesting area, rich in history, shopping and activities. It’s definitely on our list of places worth a recurring visit from time to time.

Trip Report: Williamsburg, Part 1, Travel and Activities

I enjoyed reading your trip reports and like the way you split into three segments. Your reviews are sure to help other visitors to the area.

Trip Report: Williamsburg, Part 1, Travel and Activities

This is a wonderful trip report!! Thank you so much. I don%26#39;t check the ';Virginia'; forum as often as I should, I%26#39;m so glad I checked today. You made some great suggestions of what to do on rainy days. I hope you will post your report in the Williamsburg forum also. Thank you, Mainer, I really am enjoying your report.

Greek bed set

Mariah's at Tower Hill

I would like to know if Mariah%26#39;s is still in business. I tried the number on the web site and was told it was disconnected. I would also appreciate some information on Tower Hill. There was a Tower Hill Plantation belonging to the Blow family but its suppose to be in sussex county. Does anyone have any information concerning this.

Thank you very much for your help,

Judi

Mariah's at Tower Hill

I would like to know if Mariah%26#39;s is still in business. I tried the number on the web site and it was disconnected. I would also appreciate any information on Tower Hill. There was a Tower Hill Plantation that belonged to the Blow family, but its suppose to be in sussex county, but I can%26#39;t find any information on it.

Thank you for your help.

Gabby95

richmond international raceway

Need a nice, but fairly inexpensive hotel near the racetrack. Any suggestions? Thanks!

richmond international raceway

Courtyard by Marriott on W. Broad or Holiday Inn on Staples Mill are good choices. Probably less expensive are Quality Inn and Comfort Inn, both on W. Broad.

richmond international raceway

If you are actually coming for the Race weekend, you are not going to find anything inexpensive near RIR. Most hotels within at least a 25 miles radius raise their rates substantially during the Spring and Fall races. My wedding was on race weekend, and the hotel that we recommend for out of town guests (a Days Inn, over 15 miles from the racetrack) raised the rates from $85 to $150 during the race.

If you are coming for an event other than the races, in addition to the hotels listed in the previous post, I would recommend a hotel near the airport. That way you could take a direct drive on Laburnum Ave from the airport area to the racetrack.

Thank you so much for your replies. I am booking the Marriott as we speak!

Just stayed at the Hyatt Place Richmond Airport and visited the Track. Was a great place to stay right off the interstate. Might be one of the closest hotels when arriving from the south. Just a few mile drive up the road from the hotel.. Head out of the hotel, go right at the light and continue straight to the raceway. It could not have been easier. Hotel is brand new as of may 09%26#39;

beauty advice