Did you check Colonial Williamsburg? Here are 7 other things you should do

Visiting Colonial Williamsburg is a rite of passage for many American families. My husband traveled there when I was a child and I not only visited Williamsburg, but also lived there for four years as a student at William & Mary. I’ve been back several times over the years since, and now I’ll be frequenting the area again since my daughter just started her freshman year at my alma mater.

And while I will always recommend spending time in Colonial Williamsburg, especially if you’re visiting for the first time, there are plenty of other things to do in the historic Virginia city. Of course, history takes center stage here, but if you’re traveling with kids who aren’t really into the past, here are seven things you should do besides visit Colonial Williamsburg.

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1. Ride the roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been named the World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park by the National Amusement Park Historical Association for 35 consecutive years. Its design draws inspiration from Europe, with “villages” evoking Parisian streets, Scottish hamlets and Germany’s Oktoberfest celebrations.

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The theme park is just as exciting as it is beautiful. Busch Gardens Williamsburg celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025 with the launch of new family inverted roller coaster Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge. The park’s iconic Loch Ness Monster, the world’s first interlocking loop roller coaster, recently received new thematic and experiential elements, and DarKoaster is the first fully indoor riding roller coaster in North America.

2. Admire art, for free!

I’m embarrassed to admit that I recently made my first visit to the Colonial Williamsburg Art Museums. And I missed this free two-for-one place that houses both the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum of Folk Art and the DeWitt Wallace Museum of Decorative Arts. The site displays everything from American antiques to dollhouses and toy soldiers. Children will love the ‘Down on the Farm’ exhibition featuring colorful folk art paintings, while the ‘Upholstery CSI’ exhibition is an interesting way to learn about the secrets of the 18th century trade.

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The Muscarelle Museum of Art, on the William & Mary campus, recently underwent a major expansion that tripled its size. The museum features both special exhibitions and objects from its permanent collection, one of the oldest campus-based art collections in the United States. And the visit is also free.

3. Visit a creperie for breakfast

Williamsburg has a surprising number of creperies ready to feed hungry tourists before a day of time travel. Mama Steve’s House of Pancakes has been serving flapjacks since 1968 and attracting crowds. Not Another Pancake House is a new breakfast spot with an out of this world CinnaSwirl pancake. If pancakes just aren’t your thing, join the queue at The Bake Shop. Order a coffee of your choice accompanied by a very good bagel or one of the pastries of the day.

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4. Get out into nature

Waller Mill Park is a peaceful place to spend an hour or a few. There’s a 360-acre lake for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboating, and walking trails run along the shoreline and through the woods. Playground equipment and a disc golf course offer other ways to burn off energy.

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Freedom Park is another place for outdoor activity, with more than 20 miles of mountain bike trails and the Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park. For quieter park activities, you’ll find the Williamsburg Botanical Garden and an interpretive center featuring artifacts recovered during the park’s construction.

5. Hunt ghosts.

With its long history of habitation, Williamsburg has some ghost stories to tell. Haunted Williamsburg is the official ghost tour of Colonial Williamsburg and the only ghost tour that takes place inside historic buildings.

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But the 1-hour candlelight walking tour isn’t the only option in town. The Original Ghost Tours offers its own spooky candlelight experience, as well as haunted pub crawls and a two-hour ghost hunting expedition with real paranormal investigation equipment. US Ghost Adventures also leads a number of spooky trips.

6. Raise a glass

Williamsburg has a bustling brewing scene, with several breweries and breweries calling the area home. Precarious Beer Project is located right in the heart of the Colonial Zone and offers seasonally inspired beers in a fun, family-friendly brewery with an on-site arcade. Other choices include Billsburg with a waterfront tap room; Alewerks, which also serves pretzels made at its Taproom brewery; and Frothy Moon Brewhouse, which brews coffee and beer.

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Williamsburg Winery is a different option for an adult beverage. You can take tours and tastings at his Wessex Hundred Farm or enjoy a flight at his wine bar in Colonial Williamsburg’s Merchant Square. Either option is a good choice.

7. Listen to live music

Fife and drum marches frequently take place on Colonial Williamsburg’s Duke of Gloucester Street (which you can walk for free), and Bruton Parish Church hosts free candlelit concerts that blend past and present. For a more modern vibe, the Merchants Square Concert Series takes place the first Friday of the month from May to October with artists performing everything from blues to alt-country.

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Every June, Williamsburg Live hosts an outdoor music festival on the lawn of the Colonial Williamsburg Art Museums. And you can often find someone strumming a guitar or singing a tune in the city’s bars and restaurants.

Where to stay in Williamsburg

For a special family vacation or couples getaway, book a room at the luxurious Williamsburg Inn. The property has been welcoming guests since 1937 and offers easy access to the colonial zone.

Williamsburg Lodge, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, offers 323 rooms (some of which are dog-friendly) in six guest houses, as well as three swimming pools and preferred reservations for Colonial Williamsburg’s restaurants. Kingsmill Resort is also one of America’s best family resorts for an unforgettable vacation.

Bed and breakfasts are a popular choice for couples traveling to Williamsburg. The Cedars of Williamsburg Bed & Breakfast, Fife & Drum Inn, Inn at 605 and Colonial Gardens Bed & Breakfast are excellent choices for this type of stay. And you can find all kinds of chain hotels near historic Williamsburg. So, whatever your budget or brand loyalty, there is an option nearby.

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