Williamsburg in the 21st Century: An Insider's Guide - Remodelista
On a recent three-day trip to Greater Williamsburg, Virginia–Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown–my husband, two kids, and I hit the ground running. Along the way, we found a thriving cultural scene, sophisticated restaurants, and a natural landscape that in itself is reason to visit. Written and photographed by Justine Hand. We started our visit at the small but wonderfully varied Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William & Mary. Rotating exhibits feature everything from American naturalism to kabuki theater woodcuts. College of William & Mary The Millington Greenhouse at the College of William & Mary is a treat for those who appreciate exotic specimens. On the second day, we sailed out of Yorktown aboard the Schooner Alliance, a 105-foot gaff-rigged schooner. As we took in the Chesapeake Bay, we got a unique vantage of modern-day Greater Williamsburg. I discovered that Greater Williamsburg is a gardener’s mecca. And at both Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown’s 1780’s farm, you can take hands-on horticultural lectures. Shopping in Greater Williamsburg is not your usual touristy fare. Aromatic bayberry and beeswax candles, shown above, are among the goods at Prentis Shop at Colonial Williamsburg. For lunch one day we had to try James Beard award-winning chef Marcel Desaulniers’ Williamsburg cafe, Mad About Chocolate. I highly recommend the nutty chicken salad with micro greens and Billy Bread, and everything he does with chocolate. The food and decor at Opus No. Surrounded by floor-to-ceiling wine bottles, I sipped a California Cabernet and was served one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. Greater Williamsburg Scenery We spent a morning taking a refreshing walk on the Greenspring Interpretive Trail in Williamsburg. Along the way, displays describe the local eco-system and farming practices. The drive between Greater Williamsburg sites, we discovered, is often as engaging as the places themselves. Wedged between the James and York Rivers, the natural scenery of the region ranges from verdant forests to coastal views, rivers, and rolling farms. Wanting a bit of history, we drove 45 minutes from Williamsburg through woods and fields to Shirley Plantation (see below). Located on the banks of the James River, Shirley Plantation is a well-preserved Georgian estate that remains family-owned-and-operated–the 11th generation of the Carter-Hill family lives in the mansion. Behind the scenes at Jamestown: the costume storage room houses spare attire for the historic interpreters, including shirts, shoes, doublets, bodices, and “bum rolls” (the pillow-like things on the shelf that ladies wore to make their skirts fuller). Led by museum programs assistant Lea Ann Bryant and historical clothing manager Chris Daley, From Leather to Linen took me all over the settlement and behind-the-scenes to the costume shop to experience the fashion of the colonists, the natives, and the early African settlers. Unbeknownst to most, you can spend the night at Colonial Williamsburg in one of 25 restored guest houses.