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Trav L. Moore
Trav L. Moore and his priceLESS peeps are eager to offer you their two cents on where to go and what to do to find the most fun for the least funds.
Moore U.S. of YAY Things to Do on the Cheap in Williamsburg
Looking for ways to celebrate the Red, White, and Blue without bleeding green? Here are some colorful tips from Trav on what not to miss.
Stars and Tykes
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Visit Kidsburg at Veterans Park in Williamsburg for a historic playdate. This Jamestown-themed playground is perfect for pint-sized patriots. A 17th-century replica ship complete with portholes, rope bridges, and the sounds of the sea (it even has an interactive harbor bell and cannon that goes "BOOM") will transport your kids to the 1600s. And that’s just where the fun starts. There are two ziplines, endless climbing structures, log tunnels, and barrel hideaways to spark their imagination. Plus, an adjacent settlement fort with a lookout bubble telescope, a land-locked cannon, a dinghy that rocks, and a two-wheel cart with a double slide inside for even more creative play. If your kids prefer to just swing, there are lots of those, too. Admission is free.
Branch out and head to the Virginia Living Museum for a wild day of fun. Nowhere else can your kids experience a steamy cypress swamp and cool mountain cove, explore the underwater world of the Chesapeake Bay, and dive into the underground realm of a limestone cave in one place. This all-in-one zoo, nature park, aquarium, science center, planetarium, aviary, and botanical preserve is home to more than 250 Commonwealth species. There are endangered red wolves, fish with no eyes, and frogs that change color to see, live horseshoe crabs and sea stars to touch, dinosaur and Ice Age fossils to dig, and so much more. Admission is $16.95 for kids aged 12 and under.
For historic adventure, take your fam on a Spooks and Legends Haunted Tour while you’re here. On this spirited after-dark walking tour of colonial Williamsburg, you’ll visit haunted landmarks like Raleigh Tavern, Bruton Parish Church, and the Peyton Randolph House while hearing dramatic stories about pirates, mischief, deceit, and ghosts. Meet your costumed guide at the Capitol Building and set off for an unforgettable night of spooky tales, ghostly legends, and plenty of history. Kids under the age of six can attend for free. Admission is $20 for guests aged six and older.
All In The Pursuit of Happiness
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Head to Bush Neck Farm for one of summer’s sweetest traditions: berry picking with the kids. This spot overlooking the Chickahominy River outside of Williamsburg is a perfect place to pick. You and the fam can grab a bucket and wander through acres of blooming blueberry bushes bursting with gumball-sized beauties for as long as you want while you pick as much as you want. The farm opens July 1 for the 2024 blueberry season. Call (757) 258-0114 to confirm U-pick availability before heading over. Visits are free. The berries you pick are just $2 per pound.
You can also pack up the littles for a day of scentsational fun at Sweethaven Lavender. At this little slice of heaven, you’ve got your pick of activities to choose from. There are flowers, lambs, lemonade, picnics, and so much more. Want to spend time among the rows of fragrant lavender and gather a bouquet to take home? Grab a basket. Kids can make friends with the farm’s flock of baby lambs and bunnies in the meantime. Prefer to chill? How does some fresh lavender lemonade sound, or a family picnic in the shade? How about a summer evening of live music and wine under twinkling lights? This charming oasis with its porch swings, magical story times, playhouses, and lavender-spun cotton candy makes it easy to create memories that will linger long after the day has ended. Admission is $5 Tuesday through Friday afternoon and $7 on Saturday. U-pick bouquets are $8 each.
Give a nod to the sweet Land of Liberty. Visit the Wythe Candy & Gourmet Shop in Williamsburg’s Merchants Square. A Hampton Roads sweet spot for more than 50 years, this sugar hive is known for its mesmerizing array of sweet and savory treats that run the gamut from traditional to bizarre. You’ve got confectionary classics (more than 60 different dipped, dunked, drizzled, and dressed truffles) and childhood favorites (some 200 candy bars and counting), character candy novelties, sugar-free options, and even lollipops with crickets, scorpions, mealworms, and ants (yikes!). You’ll find imported chocolates alongside their fresh, shop-made all-American fudge and fancy apples. And fancy is an understatement–these babies are coated in caramel, chocolate, and peanut butter, rolled in sprinkles, nuts, candy, or cookies, and then drizzled again in another flavor you get to pick. Really, does it get any better than that?
Fun Made for You and Me
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Strike the perfect chord with a trip to the Virginia Musical Museum and Hall of Fame. This fascinating collection of the state’s musical history includes rare antique instruments, mechanical music machines, and phonographs along with the largest collection of letters, pictures, music, and memorabilia from some of Virginia’s most legendary performers. Among the pieces you won’t want to miss is an 18th-century Joshua Shudi harpsichord (one of only two in existence), a 300-year-old hurdy-gurdy, a phonograph made by Thomas Edison, and Wayne Newton’s roadster. Admission for kids is just $5.
Leave’em spellbound. Book tickets to the Wagsters Magic Theatre for a night of mind-bending illusions, breathtaking sleight of hand, how-did-he-do-that mind reading, and daring escapes. This award-winning show will have you and the kids on the edge of your seats from the second the curtain opens to the final jaw-dropping moment. Admission is $24.95 for kids aged 3-10.
Ready to roll? After a day of absorbing history and new places, head to Williamsburg Resort’s four-lane bowling alley for some more family fun.
br> There you have it. Proof big fun doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. But make no mistake—this is only a start. There are plenty more ways to create priceLESS vacation memories in Williamsburg.
Any information provided is solely as a courtesy and is not due to compensation or business partnerships with Holiday Inn Club Vacations. Prices subject to change.