Day 1: Williamsburg

In June we spent a week in Williamsburg, thanks to Mike's parents who traded in their timeshare for our use.  We were so excited for a family vacation together, and we've been dying to go to Williamsburg since we moved here.  It was the perfect combination of things to do that appeal to all of our interest levels.

I'm sorry for all of the pictures - the blog is a journal for our family as well as a way to share our experiences with friends and family, and so I'm not holding back on the pictures :)  It was such a fun vacation so I want to document it so we'll always remember.

Day 1

We drove down to Williamsburg (about 3 hours away) on Sunday morning, so went straight to Williamsburg for the afternoon.

Williamsburg was the Capitol of Virginia during colonial times.  Virginia was the largest and wealthiest colony by the time of the Revolutionary War, so Williamsburg was an important cultural and financial center.  The historic site is set in 1775, just just at the onset of the Revolution.  Homes and stores are reconstructed on the exact location of the original sites, and the city looks just like it did in 1775, including costumed interpreters who act like they're living in that time period, answering questions about their role in society, their trade, their lifestyle, struggles, concerns, etc.  It was an incredible!

We spent 4 1/2 days in colonial Williamsburg itself, and were busy from when it opened in the morning until close each night.  We were able to see everything, but our days were full, and we were never bored.  For us, it was the perfect vacation because it was a place that was interesting for everyone - Mike and I loved learning about the history, and all the different trades, and with so many children's programs and hands-on activities for kids, it really came alive for them and allowed them to learn something in a fun, interactive environment.  

Each day we'd drive to the visitor's center, and then walk about 1/2 mile to the historic site.  This is on our walk toward Williamsburg

Erin at the gateway, just entering Williamsburg

Making friends with the carriage horses

Erin and the carriage

The beautiful Governor's Palace, and the Palace Green in front

This man came up to Erin and was teacher her some popular games

Some 18th century clothing

The Shoemaker's Shop

At the shoemaker's shop

The shoemaker

The trades were so fascinating to learn about because everyone that works as a tradesman isn't just an actor, or pretending to make shoes, they are actual experts in this trade.  So, for example, the shoe maker is actually an expert in recreating shoes in the 18th century technique.  His job at Williamsburg is to create shoes for the purpose of his own business, but also to set himself in 1775 and answer questions and interact with tourists who come into his shop.  

Poor Erin got put into the stocks in front of the courthouse.  At first she thought it was pretty fun....

by the end of the day when we came back for her, she wasn't having as much fun.  

Lucky for her we couldn't find any tomatoes to throw at her!

The girls threw their Daddy in the stocks too.  We really wish we had some tomatoes on hand! :)

Inside the courthouse

Inside the magazine, where the guns and gunpowder were stored.  

Each of these rifles were made at the gunsmith shop (which we visited later in the week).  

These were two of my favorite costumed interpreters.  They came up to the girls and started commenting on how scandalous it was to see their bare legs, and teasing them having only half their shoe (they were wearing sandals).  They suggested we go have the shoemaker either fix their shoe or make them a new pair.  They gave each of the girls a fan to carry around as well.

I also loved that the costumed characters (most of them) were totally in character.  For the most part, they all seemed to take on the character of a person that actually existed and lived in Williamsburg.  They didn't talk about what their character "would have done" or how they "might have lived."  They wholeheartedly took on the character they played, and portrayed them in first person.  Early on I asked someone what happened to them at the end of the war, and they commented "well, I don't know what is to become of me in the future, but I suspect..."  They were so true to character and so immersed in 1775, that you had to read between the lines to determine what became of them, etc.  

We learned that wealthier men & gentlemen would wear short pants, and when he would bow to a woman, he would show off (and she would check out) his calves - an indicator of whether he was hardworking and physically fit!  

At the Bindery where books were made and bound.  So this man was an expert in book binding, particularly in the 18th century technique.  Fascinating!

Eighteenth century book binding tools

Cannons in the field

Some cute girls and the hats they had their eyes on all week long (until we finally bought one for each of them)

Site of the first English theater in the English colonies.  It was built in 1716 and called The "Play House."  We went to the theater to watch a Q&A with Benedict Arnold

This was fascinating to watch!  I didn't know much about him before, but read quickly about who he was before the Q&A.  It was fascinating to hear his side of the story and to really think on how conflicted colonists must have been on what the "right" thing to do was.