Visiting Colonial Williamsburg is a vacation rite of passage for many American families. My husband traveled there as a kid, and I’ve not only visited Williamsburg but also lived there for four years as a college student at William & Mary. I’ve gone back many times in the years since, and now I’ll be frequenting the area once again since my daughter just started her freshman year at my alma mater.
And while I’ll always recommend spending time in Colonial Williamsburg, especially if you’re a first-time visitor, there are plenty of other things to do in the historic Virginia city. Sure, history takes center stage here, but if you’re traveling with kids who aren’t exactly passionate about the past, here are seven things you should do in addition to touring Colonial Williamsburg.
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1. Ride roller coasters 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 years in a row. It takes design inspiration from Europe, with “villages” evoking Parisian streets, Scottish hamlets, and the Oktoberfest celebrations of Germany.
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The theme park is just as exciting as it is beautiful, too. Busch Gardens Williamsburg marked its 50th anniversary in 2025 with the launch of new family-friendly inverted roller coaster Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge. The park’s iconic Loch Ness Monster—the world’s first interlocking loop coaster—recently got new thematic and experiential elements, and DarKoaster is North America’s first all-indoor straddle coaster.
2. Admire art—for free!
I’m embarrassed to admit I only recently made my first visit to the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. And I’ve been missing out on this free two-for-one spot that houses both the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. The site displays everything from American antiques to dollhouses and toy soldiers. Kids will love the “Down on the Farm” exhibit featuring colorful folk art paintings, while the “Upholstery CSI” exhibit makes for an engaging 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 showcases both special exhibits and items from its permanent collection, one of the oldest campus-based collections of art in the United States. And it’s also free to visit.
3. Visit a pancake house for breakfast
Williamsburg has a surprising number of pancake houses ready to feed hungry tourists before a day of traveling back in time. Mama Steve’s House of Pancakes has been serving up flapjacks since 1968 and draws crowds. Not Another Pancake House is a newer breakfast spot with a CinnaSwirl pancake that’s out of this world. If pancakes just aren’t your thing, join the line at The Bake Shop. Order a coffee of your choice accompanied by a seriously good bagel or one of the pastries of the day.
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4. Get out in nature
Waller Mill Park is a peaceful spot to spend an hour or a few. There’s a 360-acre lake for kayaking, canoeing, and pedal boating, and walking trails wander along the shore and through the woods. Playground equipment and a disc golf course provide other ways to burn off some energy.
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Freedom Park’s another place to get active outdoors, with more than 20 miles of mountain bike trails and the Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park. For quieter pursuits at the park, there’s the Williamsburg Botanical Garden and an interpretive center displaying artifacts recovered during the construction of the park.
5. Hunt for ghosts.
With its long history of inhabitation, Williamsburg has some ghost stories to tell. Haunted Williamsburg is the official ghost tour of Colonial Williamsburg and the only ghost tour that goes inside historic buildings.
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But the one-hour candlelit walking tour isn’t the only option in town. The Original Ghost Tours offers its own creepy candlelit 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 sojourns.
6. Raise a glass
Williamsburg has a lively beer scene, with several breweries and brew pubs calling the area home. Precarious Beer Project is right in the colonial area, pouring seasonally inspired brews in a fun, family-friendly beer hall setting with an on-site arcade. Other choices include Billsburg with a waterfront tap room; Alewerks, which also serves scratch-made pretzels at its Brewery Taproom; and Frothy Moon Brewhouse, which brews both coffee and beer.
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Williamsburg Winery is a different option for an adult beverage. You can do tours and tastings at its Wessex Hundred farm or enjoy a flight at its wine bar in Colonial Williamsburg’s Merchants Square. Either option is a good choice.
7. Listen to live music
Fifes & Drums Marches frequently take place down Colonial Williamsburg’s Duke of Gloucester Street (which you can stroll along for free), and Bruton Parish Church hosts free Candlelight 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 brings an outdoor music festival to the lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. And you can often find someone strumming a guitar or singing a tune at the bars and restaurants around town.
Where to stay in Williamsburg
For a special family vacation or couple’s getaway, book a room at the luxe Williamsburg Inn. The property’s been welcoming guests since 1937 and provides easy access to the colonial area.
Williamsburg Lodge, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, offers 323 rooms (including some that are dog-friendly) across six guest houses, plus three pools and preferred reservations for Colonial Williamsburg’s restaurants. Kingsmill Resort is also one of the best U.S. family resorts for a vacation to remember.
Bed-and-breakfasts are popular choices for couples’ trips to Williamsburg. The Cedars of Williamsburg Bed & Breakfast, Fife & Drum Inn, Inn at 605, and Colonial Gardens Bed & Breakfast are great picks for that type of stay. And you can find all manner of chain hotels near the historic area of Williamsburg. So, no matter your budget or brand loyalty, there’s an option nearby.
