Informal II Resort for kids in Williamsburg

[csmith3pmg]

My family is looking for an early April week in Williamsburg (or Gatlinburg) and I am having a tough time pinning down which resort would work best for us. I am looking for something with activities to keep the kids busy and having fun. They are 5, 7, and 9 years old.

I know that we will spend a day at Busch Gardens and some time in colonial Williamsburg but we are going to need some filler time. This is our first exchange and we don't want anything stuffy. Relaxation and fun is what we are after.

Anybody have any suggestions? Our options right now on II look like:

Club Sunterra @ Greensprings Plantation

Club Sunterra @ Powhatan Plantation

Colonial Crossing of Williamsburg

Fairfield Williamsburg@Governor's Green

King's Creek Plantation

Marriott's Manor Club Sequel

Marriott's Manor Club at Ford's Colony

The Townes at King's Creek Plantation

Westgate Historic Williamsburg

Williamsburg Plantation

Any help or suggestions would be very appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Chris S.

[littlestar]

Westgate Smoky Moutains has a terrific new indoor water park. My nephews loved it.

[wackymother]

King's Creek doesn't have many activities, but the atmosphere is relaxed and they have a very nice indoor pool with a zero-entry side. The cottages are nice because they're like little separate houses--and the 2br sides are big. The townes are very big. If you can get a 3br, take it, because that means you're getting a whole cottage to yourself. The kids can have the little 1br side and the grown-ups can have the big side!

We stayed at Colonial Crossings a couple of years ago and the unit itself was nice and very large (a 1br), but at that time all they had was an outdoor pool. I know they've been doing a lot of construction and they might have something more there.

[luv2vacation]

Make sure you check the schedule for Busch Gardens. For that time of year, they may have very limited hours and may only be open on weekends.

[csmith3pmg]

Thanks. I already called Busch Gardens because the kids would have been crushed if they were closed (straight out of National Lampoon's Family Vacation).

Anybody know of ones with planned kids activities?

Thanks again,
Chris S.

[JoeMid]

Originally Posted by csmith3pmg

Thanks. I already called Busch Gardens because the kids would have been crushed if they were closed (straight out of National Lampoon's Family Vacation).

Anybody know of ones with planned kids activities?

Thanks again,
Chris S.

Listed below is Powhatan's current activities for young and old, I would expect more of the same in the Spring.

Autumn Activities at Powhatan
Call or e-mail Activities for more details
757-220-1200 extension 13716
ppactivities@Sunterra.com

Mini-Golf Tournaments
Excitement and competition for the entire family on our newly renovated course.

Wine Tasting
Taste a selection of wines from the Williamsburg Winery and learn the nuances of the various varieties offered by our local winery

Crafts for Adults and Children
Something for everyone from ages 2 to 102
Learn new skills... make something you will be proud to display... spend an hour or two relaxing and discovering your creative talents....enjoy a little "me time" while your kids are having fun. Scrapbooking...twisted paper pineapple...leathercraft...stained glass...scrimshaw....

...And Much More

Bingo...Scavenger Hunt...Historical Perspective...Town Meeting with Martha Washington...Parachute Games...Volleyball and Basketball Tournaments...etc...etc.

Tickets and Tours now sold at the General Store
A wide variety of tickets for local attractions and guided tours. Stop by the General Store for information on where to go and what to see in the area.

[Big Matt]

If you want a lot of relaxation and filler time, I wouldn't go to Williamsburg in April. It will be too cold for outdoor pools. None of the resorts will have a ton of things to do every day for kids that age. Williamsburg isn't like Orlando.

If you want to do Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens...they could all take more than one day, but they require a lot of walking.

[NTHC]

We have stayed at them all and my kids(as well as all 5 nieces and nephews) hands down will pick Powhatan everytime. Kingsgate would be second.

Early April for sure can be chilly, but take bikes if you are able....mine have spent hours biking all over the property.

Have a great time!

Cindy

[pjrose]

We've stayed several times each at the Marriott (Fords Colony + Sequel - different sections of the same resort), Williamsburg Plantation, and Fairfield. We go every year or two, and have since our kids were probably about 4-5 years old through teenagers. The resorts have very little in the way of kids' activities - a few things here and there, but nothing to keep them occupied for long. Also, the indoor pools at all of them are far from the cleanest - the pool decks are not mopped nearly often enough - and the hot tubs are murky. (The kids still use the pools, but definitely wear flip flops and then shower afterward!) Each of these has nice grounds for general running around, playing ball, and so forth.

However, we've always found tons for our kids to do in the area. We generally spend 3 full days or more half days at Colonial Williamsburg, another half-day each at Jamestown and Yorktowne (for each there are two sites, totaling four). There are so many things to see and do at all of these sites! Colonial Williamsburg has various activites planned specifically for kids (go to history.org and click kids toward the right). There's so much to see by just wandering around, looking at the animals, going to the stables, etc etc.

We've never been to Busch Gardens and never missed it, and the kids were quite happy to spend down time at one of the pools and just relaxing with a DVD. Using the Jacuzzi in the resort was also a treat for them (the ones at Williamsburg Plantation are huge).

[musical2]

We've always enjoyed the Marriott Manor Club. Our daughters always seem to enjoy going there too. We've been there in the Fall, Spring, and Summer. They usually have kids activities. There is an indoor pool, so they can do that in April. It is off the beaten path however.

Bart

[Bill4728]

If you choose King's creek make sure you choose King's Creek not The townhouses at Kings creek.

The cottages are a huge 2 bedroom house with big upstairs, huge downstairs and 3 bathrooms. The Townhouses are much smaller apt. like units.

Do not accept a "1 bedroom" in the cottages as they are tiny.

[Big Matt]

Bill4728,
I'm not sure if there are more than one type of townhouse, but the 2BR we stayed in last spring was huge. It had to be upwards of 1400 square feet. The master bedroom also had a sitting area entered through french doors with a sleep sofa and 32 inch TV with a playstation. In essence there were 3 private sleeping areas. The kitchen was small and there was no balcony though.

We actually had a 4BR unit, but it was two 2BR units like described above but not accessible through the same front door. They shared a vestibule.

[wackymother]

That's what I was going to say--I remembered the 2br Townes as being even bigger than the (very big) 2br side of the Cottages at King's Creek. Here's a floor plan of the Townes.

http://www.kingscreekplantation.com/kcp/townes.cfm

[dougp26364]

We have stayed at only two resorts in Williamsburg. Of the two we felt that Marriott's Manor Club Sequel was the better resort but, if we had taken children with us I think that Greensprings Plantation offered more for the kids to do.

I have pics of both resorts and their amenities if you'd like to look them over. Just click on the pics below and it will take you to the appropriate Webshots photo pages.

[pjrose]

Originally Posted by dougp26364

....we felt that Marriott's Manor Club Sequel was the better resort.

I agree that the Marriott was the best of the three we stayed at - either the Sequel or the original part, it doesn't much matter, I'll choose whichever is available next time we go.

[maddruid]

We stayed in a 2BR at Powhatan and liked it a lot. The kids bedrooms were upstairs and the master BR and living area was downstairs. There was a park right down the road with a MASSIVE wooden play structure. We've thought about going back several times. We may be going in the next few weeks.

[coachb]

I'd opt for the Townes at King's Creek. I think the 2br Cottages are actually bigger but the sunroom in the Townes acts as a 3rd br. The pool area gets very crowded by the Townes but that shouldn't be an issue for when you are going. Very nice resort, family friendly.