Williamsburg tickets

[michigander]

Any suggestions on which type of Williamsburg ticket to purchase? We want to visit Colonial Williamsburg and also Yorktown and Jamestown. It seems confusing to select between different combination ticket options. I don't plan to go to a timeshare presentation to get one "for free".

Thanks for any suggestions you have for our upcoming trip -- we leave on Nov 1 and hope to see some pretty fall colors on our drive from Michigan.

[wackymother]

If you're a teacher or a member of the armed forces (active or retired), there are discounts. Just wanted to toss that out there because we all tend to forget.

[luv2vacation]

Here are 2 websites for Williamsburg. We bought a combo ticket for Yorktown/Jamestown. Sorry, I don't remember how much it cost.


http://colonialwilliamsburg.com/

http://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/index.aspx

[Big Matt]

Go to the second web site the Luv2Vacation mentions.

Navigate through the site and find packages. Select the option where you already have your lodging (tickets only).

Select the "historic triangle package). $65 per adult gets you into CW, Jamestown, Yorktown for up to five consecutive days. That's a pretty good deal if you want to go to any of them for more than one day.

Be darn sure you need a ticket to see the attractions that aren't free at CW before you spend that much. This is the largest portion of the cost if buying a la carte.

[pjrose]

AAA has a pretty good discount (at least in our area) if you buy the CW tickets in advance. We always buy the 1 year ones, as we spend ~4-5 days there and then try to go back just before the end of the ticket year, and they aren't that much more than the ones that are good only for a few days.

As I recall the Jamestown and Yorktown combo wasn't too expensive, and you didn't have to do both in the same day.

Don't forget that Jamestown and Yorktown each have two sites - one state and one national parks, I think. All four are worth going to.

[michigander]

Thanks so much for these specific ideas. Are there "must see" places in CW that require a ticket?

[Big Matt]

Governors Palace and gardens
Capitol Building
Blacksmith
Powder Magazine
Cabinet Maker

many others....

Originally Posted by michigander

Thanks so much for these specific ideas. Are there "must see" places in CW that require a ticket?

[pjrose]

Originally Posted by michigander

Thanks so much for these specific ideas. Are there "must see" places in CW that require a ticket?

Also evening shows and day/evening tours that you can sign up for, such as
archaeology labs
stables
how the other half lives (slaves)
an evening (or afternoon) with a well-known figure such as Thomas Jefferson or Martha Washington
ghost tour

Some of these cost extra on top of the CW Pass, but there are many activities you can sign up for that, while they require a reservation and ticket, are no extra cost above your regular CW pass.

Without a CW pass you can wander the grounds and go into the stores and restaurants, but not the museums, houses, craftspeople's business, etc.

Go to http://www.history.org for lots of information

[michigander]

Thank you all so much for your help. I feel well equipped now to plan our days in Williamsburg.

[wammie53]

You may want to look into driving out to the plantations. Many are still working plantations and have ancestors living there. Berkeley Plantation was especially neat...home of both President Harrisons.....we liked going to them almost more than CW so thought I'd pass this on.

[michigander]

Thank you for the suggestion. We'll give this a try. Leaving t omorrow....