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Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photography
Williamsburg
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Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photography
Museum of the American Revolution
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Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photography
Amber Ox
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Chris Militzer/Miliman12 Photography
Williamsburg
I admit, I long thought of Williamsburg as a target for the fourth grade field trip. A place to visit ye olde candle maker shop to see how home lighting was created before there was Home Depot, or to catch a few winks while a well meaning re-enactor went through their performance. However, the area has really come into its own these days.
With an emerging culinary scene, new craft breweries popping up, and a youthful entrepreneurial spirit, the Greater Williamsburg area is making its case for being a destination well worth your weekend. Don’t get me wrong, you can still visit the wig shop to see the amazing effort that goes into creating those things, and talented actors still roam the streets of Colonial Williamsburg lending an authenticity unlike anywhere else, but now their show is artfully crafted with diverse perspectives in mind, and ye olde candle shop is a 45,000 square foot Yankee Candle flagship con-taining nearly a half million candles.
Staying at Kingsmill Resort
With its two 18-hole championship golf courses, and 1, 2, or 3-bedroom condos, traditional guestrooms, and even vacation homes, Kingsmill Resort shows why it has earned its AAA Four-Diamond review. This really is a beautiful property: The early morning marina views are simply outstanding if you’re an early riser.
If not, the indoor/outdoor pools, spa, fitness center, four restaurants, and more will be there waiting for you when you manage to get up and out. My in-depth research has shown that night owls will appreciate that good times are to be had at a few of those restaurants (Elements 1010) until late at night.
Williamsburg is also home to another one of the best hotels in North America, The Williamsburg Inn. A top-notch luxurious experience, with no detail overlooked from furnishings to food and beverage, this places takes pride in its service. It features in-house fine dining, spa service, swimming, and views of a photo-worthy golf course from the upgraded Social Terrace and its 7,000 square feet of entertaining area.
History
My goal in this visit was to showcase some of the other activities available in the Greater Williamsburg area that maybe aren’t as well known in Northern Virginia. I love walking around Colonial Williamsburg and seeing history come to life, or roaming the grounds of Jamestown and literally seeing history unearthed. Busch Gardens’ Loch Ness Monster will always be my favorite roller coaster, but we already know and love those places.
What surprised me was just how much I liked the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. The museum provides an ex-citing new experience that tells the story in a fun and interactive way with period artifacts, artillery demonstrations, and honestly the best and most-captivating “museum film” I have ever seen. I shouldn’t even describe it as such, as it is much more with an enthralling story line shown on a 180-degree big screen, superb sound effects, and — if that didn’t catch my interest enough — the fog filling the theater while we watched transported me right onto the battlefield. A highlight of my trip.
FOOD AND DRINK
Amber Ox. Created by two long-time friends, The Amber Ox Public House features a Southern-styled menu that changes with what is seasonally available. The new entrepreneurial drive that is going strong in this community flows right into the Amber Ox concept, with the owners helping support more than 20 local farmers and fish suppliers, while at the same time providing fresh ingredients to diners. The southern country ham board on the menu is a ridiculously good way to start your meal. After taking down the S. Edward & Son Country Ham, Johnston County prosciutto, bacon jam, pimento cheese and biscuits, you might be inclined to call it quits. But in the Revolutionary way, soldier on and try the chicken and waffles or the beef braised short rib… you will thank me. Be sure to wash all of that goodness down with one of their Precarious Beer Project brews! Precarious is the brewing project started inside Amber Ox, which due to its success should be branching out into its own beer hall in the summer of 2019. theamberox.com
La Tienda. This Spanish market and restaurant carrying products from all over Spain should be on your list. I wish I had more time to look through all of the foods and handmade products available here, but the smells from the kitchen proved too strong to fight. Give yourselves a few extra minutes to browse before moving on to what was the best paella I have ever had. All of the tapas I was able to try were delicious, including creamy ham and cheese croquettes, as well as perfectly fried calamari — but the paella will stick with me until my next visit! tienda.com
The Williamsburg Winery. Located right in the sweet spot of Virginia history, the Williamsburg Winery is surrounded by Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown, and all just a short drive away. A perfect spot to take a break while visiting those places, but also a spot worthy of its own trip. The staff is friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable about the wine making craft with delicious varieties of Virginia wine. It must have to do with the classical tunes being played to the wine filled barrels as they spend their days getting ready for your visit. Wine aside, a hidden gem is the food coming out of here from Chef David McClure. Seriously: He got me to eat beets and left me wanting more, yet another significant moment in Virginia history. Everything coming out of the kitchen is delicious here, and well-paired with the home grown wines. williamsburgwinery.com
Craft Beer: The Virginia Beer Company. One of my favorite stops along the route for this trip had to be The Virginia Beer Company. Founded by former classmates at William and Mary, both were sucked into the world of finance until making their triumphant escape to return to what they loved: beer. Ok, they also loved the Williamsburg area, their school, and giving back to the communi-ty, but ultimately they wanted to make really good beer in a fun atmosphere. They like what they do and it shows. Sixteen rotating beer selections are available, with new ones being created weekly to keep your interest. These guys aren’t afraid to try new things, so in that spirit and with some prodding by owner Chris Smith, I stepped outside my bitter IPA world and tried a pumpkin beer, one of my least favorite types of brews out there. I thoroughly enjoyed it, lived to fight (drink) another day, and I’d happily follow these brewers into any beer battle. virginiabeerco.com
OTHER THINGS TO TRY
Resolved, An American Experiment. This is a well-written and nicely performed piece of museum theater which immerses you into the happenings of the 5th Virginia Convention. You get to see the actions and feelings of the diverse population of that time, not just the history as told by the Founding Fathers. It’s an interesting and important view of the decisions that began our country and well worth a watch. colonialwilliamsburg.com/plan/calendar/capitol-immersive-theatre-experience
Colonial Williamsburg Taste Studio. This was another very fun surprise on this journey, and one that was filled with more delicious food, so no complaints there. It’s a full demonstration kitchen where the outstanding chefs of Colonial Williamsburg interact with an audience as they create culinary masterpieces, you then get to eat. Providing a cooking lesson as well as insight into the workings of the Colonial Williamsburg Resorts’ gastronomical scene, all while consuming some really great food and maybe a beer or cocktail sampling to go along with it all. colonialwilliamsburg.com/eat/taste-studio-resorts
Yorktown Riverwalk Landing. Set alongside the York River with picturesque views is a collection of locally-owned shops and restaurants. Try the Riverwalk Restaurant, serving steaks and seafood, or grab a Sunday brunch during your stay. Patriot Tours and Provisions has bike rentals and even guided Segway tours to help you explore the riverside when you're done eating. During the warmer months you can even hop on a schooner here and sail the river for a while before heading back home.
What’s old is new again. Just 2.5 hours down the road, Williamsburg is working on reinventing itself using the same spirit and innovation that started our country. I really enjoyed my time there in seeing what they are coming up with, and how they are making even the familiar seem fresh. This is a quick weekend trip that should definitely be on your roadmap.
