My wife and I are trying to plan a vacation.

We were thinking baout Virginia - Williamsburg.

Does any one have any recommendations or criticisms?

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Ryan
1689 London Baptist Confession

http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/
http://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/

I just drove through Williamsburg today. It's a great place to visit -- not necessarily so on Memorial Day.

Colonial Williamsburg is a must-see for every American, I think. This happens to be a big year for history in Virginia, since Jamestown was founded in 1607 and the quadricentennial is approaching. Jamestown and Yorktown are also worth visiting, if you can. I have French Huguenot ancestors who pastored churches in that area, notably Yorktown. The area is rich with history that is exciting for most. Be prepared for traffic and tourists. Especially around the Old Country -- Busch Gardens, that is.

Also in the area, if you have time and interest, is Virginia Beach, Norfolk and the Eastern Shore -- all of which are fun to visit in the summertime.

If other parts of Virginia may be included on your itinerary, let me know. Virginia has mountains as well as beaches, shopping as well as history, and lots to see and do! And if you happen to be in north central Virginia, we would love to see you and your wife, Matt. You're most welcome to visit and even worship with us.

Meanwhile, God bless your trip with safe travelling mercies and a good time!

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Andrew Myers
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We just got back today from visiting my parents in VA. We went to Williamsburg for 2 nights. A note: it involves a lot of walking, so if you have children, be prepared for possible hot weather. It was a wonderful experience. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, and it was rather nice there (it's new). Parking is easy at the visitor's center, and passes for more than a day are about $50 / person (I don't know about children). The whole set-up is very convenient and educational!

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Casey Bessette
Westminster OPC • West Suburbs of Chicago

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Be prepared that the ticket fee is pretty steep. My wife and I went a number of years ago. You can walk around the town without paying anything but you can't get into to see all the really cool places without a ticket.

Near that area as well is an amusement park and water park.

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Rich
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If you're near Williamsburg visit Gettysburg too -- really cool museum/information center...

I would recommend reading Michael Schaara's Killer Angels before you visit Gettysburg.
Reed

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Reed Munson
Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA) - Farmington MN
Lakeville, MN

Matt -

Not knowing what your family enjoys I can safely say that Williamsburg will appeal to all tastes. Besides Colonial Williamsburg and Bush Gardens is the shopping free-for-all of the Pottery. I like to call it a flea market on steriods. There are a number of famous battlefields and settlements if you are in to that sort of thing. Yorktown, Jamestown settlement, Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg (both 90 minutes north up I95). Reed mentioned Gettysburg. That would be a four hour drive from Williamsburg. If you enjoy the beach there is always Virginia Beach. A neat drive would be across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. It connects Norfolk with the eastern shore of Virginia. It is a 20+ mile bridge and tunnel system. When you get out in the middle you cannot see land in any direction. You literally have the not-so-distant illusion of being on a bridge in the middle of the ocean.

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how's the weather up there in late may? I'm planning to go there next year

[Edited on 5-31-2006 by bigheavyq]

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Jonathan Qualls
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Clearwater, FL

My relatives live near Yorktown (actually have a Yorktown address). I have visited the Victory Center there and walked the battlefield. You can walk in the old town there, preserved (but without as many attractions you see at Williamsburg). Down below the town, at river's edge, you can see the cave below the bluff where Cornwallis sheltered his headquarters.

Williamsburg also has The College of William and Mary, one of the first colleges on the continent, and named for the Restoration monarchs.

Jamestown would also be handy, and all of these historic places are within very short driving distance. I've never visited the historic sites at Williamsburg, however.

Other things to do: Busch Gardens amusement park, Water Country USA, The Mariner's Museum, Newport News (a terrific, and underrated museum).

AND (!) of course, you want to know where you can worship, correct? Calvary Ref. Pres. (PCA) church in Hampton, just south of Williamsburg, "Pete" Hurst, pastor (my uncle was an elder there until he died of cancer). Another church (a bit further away): Immanuel Pres. (PCA) in Norfolk, Bill Harrell, pastor.

[Edited on 5-31-2006 by Contra_Mundum]

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Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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Virginia in May is beautiful. It can also be hot. Yesterday it was 95 degrees. Usually in late May I would expect the high temperature in the Williamsburg area to be around 80 degrees with moderate humidity. It's good place to walk around, see the sights, and then head for the beach or waterpark or a cool air-conditioned room or hotel.

That's cool, Bruce! I have an ancestor who was the first professor of Oriental languages at W&M (1727-1749), and a cousin who graduated from there.

Here is a bit about him and his church from a previous thread:

I was just at the Mariners' Museum this past weekend too. It's a great place to visit for those who enjoy all things nautical. They are undergoing extensive renovations currently. This site has useful links and info for those visiting the museum or travelling to the area.

I have worshipped at Calvary many times, and also Immanuel. I had a good chat with Mike Bushell there this past Lord's Day.

Unless you are really wanting to go to Virginia, I would like to suggest Charleston, South Carolina. If you have never been and you are looking for a relaxing vacation, that would be a good place to go. Charleston has a lot of history and it is beautiful this time of year.

BTW, I am from SC.

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Joshua Parker
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Charleston is a beautiful city.

It also has a strong Huguenot heritage.

Now I see why you're the Board Optimist.

[Edited on 6-1-2006 by Ivan]

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Consider visiting my hometown, on a detour on the way to Williamsburg, which is less than 3 hours and 44 minutes awy...



B E A U T I F U L D A N V I L L E , V I R G I N I A, which served as the Last Capital of the Confederacy, and strangely hasn't been on the rebound yet economically since 1865!

Plus, every tourist dollar spent helps unemployed people be less unemployed in the future...

Some Interesting Facts about Danville

Danville has suffered double digit unemployment since 2001 and currently has the highest jobless rate in the state and the eighth highest in the USA. It's almost 12% now. A considerable portion of the local populace just lounges around getting checks from the government doing a whole lot of nothing.

Danville is home to the defunct textile manufacturer Dan River Mills, famous for its Bed In A Bag bedding which has been conveniently outsourced to India and Mexico.

Danville is home to other defunct mainstay enterprises, such as Dimon Tobacco, that showed its support for the community, by getting the heck out of here. Their decision to leave, probably has nothing to do with our enlightened city council members saying that businesses are attracted to higher taxes, because higher taxes means better provision for municipal services.

Incidentally, some of the cooler jobs in the city I have found, include strict commissioned sales jobs, where you can dress up in a suit and pretend to be an affluent business professional and go around trying to sell stuff like insurance or mortgages to people / companies without any money to buy your products.

The Danville-Pittsylvania County region carries the distinction of taking top honors at the highest rate of venereal disease infections in Commonwealth.

Danville public schools carry the distinction of having among the lowest standards in the Commonwealth, which means prospective employers should see us as valuable market for cheap unskilled hand laborers with poor "grammer."

Crime has also increased dramatically in Danville in the past five years with a national crime index of 166. So, you tourists can help support our local muggers by getting mugged, and losing your wallet. I can tell you the best neighborhoods to get mugged in. And every Dollar stolen from tourists helps stimulate the local economy, as muggers are known to purchase lottery tickets (which pay for our schools) and cigarettes (made with locally produced tobacco), which support local businesses.

Maybe, I should apply at the Tourism and Visitor's Bureau... I'm a natural salesman at marketing my community.

Hi my name is Ryan, and I'll be your tour guide today.
We're walking, we're walking, we're stopping...

We're walking, we're walking, we're stopping...

We're walking, we're walking, we're stopping...

We're walking, we're walking, we're stopping...

Thank you for visiting Historic Danville today. Please stop by the Capital of the Confederacy Cafeteria on the way out today and enjoy a refreshing Confederate Coca Cola!

Maybe this is a bit over the top... and I shall refrain from such sarcasm in the future. Though, it might convey the fact that my community is in the doldrums-- spiritually and economically -- and it's pretty depressing place to live at, much less think about.

That's Co-Cola to you!

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