Discounts for Residents of Williamsburg: Jamestown Settlement & Yorktown Victory Center

Inexpensive and educational outings, in my own backyard. That is just ONE of the reasons that I love living in the Historic Triangle. I spend a lot of time talking about just one of the corners of the triangle. Today, I want to discuss two others: Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center. History is an adventure and here, at Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center, you can experience the story of America’s beginnings.

Jamestown Settlement

When one arrives at Jamestown Settlement, they prepare to embark on a journey to 17th-century Virginia: the first permanent English colony. This museum comes to life through film, gallery exhibits and outdoor living history. Walk through a recreated Continental Army encampment, where historical interpreters depict the daily life of American soldiers. We’ve even walked through a re-created 1780s farm (house, kitchen, tobacco barn, crop fields, and an herb and vegetable garden).

Each time we visit, we take in one exhibit as there are so many to choose from – several inside galleries and recreated and replicas, outside. For instance, outside, we can board the replicas of three ships – including the Susan Constant and walk through a colonists’ fort and a Powhatan village. Interpreters, in full costumer, bring the museum to life – staying in character, with amazing amounts of 17th century knowledge.

Yorktown Victory Center

See the battlefield where allied American and French forces won the decisive battle of the American Revolution, in 1781. From colonial unrest to the formation of our new nation, this museum chronicles the entire Revolutionary period. The indoor galleries highlight the people that left their impression and experiences – and show how they shaped a new society. You’ll see how many different cultures came together to develop a new government with the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Presently (Summer 2014), the Yorktown Victory Center is underway towards a new facility with enhanced outdoor interpretive areas – but the entire museum is still open. This project should be complete Fall 2016, and will be renamed the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

History is fun!

History is an adventure at Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center.  Immerse yourself in hands-on history at the two museums on the other corners of Williamsburg’s Historic Triangle.  If you’re a Virginia resident, save more than 40% with the online purchase of an American Heritage Annual Pass. Proof of Virginia residency or Commonwealth of Virginia employment identification at check-in is required. Purchase tickets here: www.historyisfun.org  Finally, I saved the best part for last: if you are a resident of Williamsburg – you get in FREE – to both places – just show your ID with your current address or bring a utility bill with your photo ID.  Enjoy!

Have you liked us on Facebook, yet?

 

 

Rolf Kramer, REALTOR®, ABR, SRES, e-PRO 757-564-4455 Licensed in Virginia with Liz Moore and Associates, 5350 Discovery Park Blvd, Williamsburg, VA 23188 Williamsburg has become a Mecca for retirees over the past dozen years because of its history, charm, vacation amenities, proximity to major cities and airports, and affordable cost of living. Check out www.retiringinwilliamsburg.com for information about the Williamsburg community, lifestyles available, and search for homes for sale.

 

Pay for a 1-day Colonial Williamsburg Pass and get the rest of the year FREE

If you are a Virginia resident, you have an opportunity to pay for a 1-day Colonial Williamsburg Pass and get the rest of the year FREE!

The “Salute to Virginia” was only valid to purchase (online) through May 31. 2014 (and is good through December 31, 2014), but you can buy a one-day pass, as a Virginia resident, still and use the pass all year long.  Because although walking around Colonial Williamsburg is free to anyone, “Revolutionary City” keeps encroaching on the open-to-the-public streets. And most buildings (and the free buses) are only open to people with passes.

Colonial Williamsburg appeals to anyone who loves history and wants to see the gardens in the springtime and the Christmas wreath making and the Grand Illumination in the wintertime, because this pass is good through the end of the year – for the price of a one-day pass.

Each time of the year has different exhibits and the interpreters tell different tales, but there are several highlights, in 2014:

• Revolutionary City has daily presentations. This award-winning, interactive outdoor street-theater presentation is a Do-Not-Miss
• “RevQuest: The Old Enemy”
• Independence Day fireworks
• Grand Illumination celebration
• Over 30 exhibitions and 19 Historic Trades shops
• Includes all the museums
• 25% discount on evening programs and discounted ticketing for your guests

To purchase Salute to Virginia Passes, visit http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/  or telephone (855) 296-6627. Admission ticket income supports the mission of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Have you liked us on Facebook, yet?

 

 

Rolf Kramer, REALTOR®, ABR, SRES, e-PRO 757-564-4455 Licensed in Virginia with Liz Moore and Associates, 5350 Discovery Park Blvd, Williamsburg, VA 23188 Williamsburg has become a Mecca for retirees over the past dozen years because of its history, charm, vacation amenities, proximity to major cities and airports, and affordable cost of living. Check out www.retiringinwilliamsburg.com for information about the Williamsburg community, lifestyles available, and search for homes for sale.

 

Spending New Year’s Eve on the Streets of Williamsburg

First Night Williamsburg is an evening that welcomes children, families and visitors. This New Year’s Eve event celebrates our cultural and artistic community throughout Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg City and on the campus of the College of William & Mary. Thousands attend this family friendly, non-alcoholic celebration, and if you’ve never attended First Night Williamsburg, (VA) you don’t know what you’re missing!

Public buildings, churches, theaters, and classrooms at the College of William and Mary are turned into performance venues to showcase incredible local and regional talent. As a non-profit organization, First Night Williamsburg relies on button sales to cover the expenses and the cost of a button is only $15 per person (and children under 6 are free). The button gives access to all the entertainment, more than 30 performances – everything within easy-walking distances. And Williamsburg celebrates the dawning of a new year, at midnight, with a spectacular fireworks display at Zable Stadium, at the College of William & Mary.

Always a centerpiece of First Night Williamsburg, The Children’s Program begins the day’s entertainment, running 3pm – 7pm, at Matthew Whaley Elementary School. Kolonial Klowns, a magician, and a puppeteer are part of the stellar family entertainment at Matthew Whaley. At 7pm, the children’s fireworks are set off and then the adult entertainment starts – which all happens to be family friendly and alcohol free (and children are welcome – should you want them there!).

Enjoy Williamsburg’s finest professional entertainers: comedians, singers, instrumentalists, magicians, storytellers, puppeteers, acrobats, face painters, jugglers, clowns, bands, and the MUSIC: Celtic, Rock, Bluegrass, Folk, Storytelling, Classical, Gospel, Blues, Jazz, Shag, Patriotic, Country, and a Big Band orchestra. First Night has it all! Be aware that the 2014 button provides admission to every show, on a first come, first served basis. Some venues will have you leave at the end of a performance to get back into line for the next performance because of the venue sizes, so study the program carefully and have a back-up plan should your performance be “sold out.”

The full program (to include the schedule, a list of artists, food locations, transportation route, and a color coded map of all venues) can be found here. This celebration makes hearts sing, hands clap, feet stomp, bodies dance, faces smile, children laugh and spirits soar. With more stages and entertainers than ever before and continuous performances from early in the evening until fireworks at midnight, it’s an event for all ages. It’s all great fun, affordable, safe and all venues are alcohol free. Make your plans now to join your friends, family, and friends-to-be, at First Night Williamsburg, on December 31^st, 2013.

Have you liked us on Facebook, yet?

Rolf Kramer, REALTOR®, ABR, SRES, e-PRO 757-564-4455

Licensed in Virginia with Liz Moore and Associates, 5350 Discovery Park Blvd, Williamsburg, VA 23188

Williamsburg has become a Mecca for retirees over the past dozen years because of its history, charm, vacation amenities, proximity to major cities and airports, and affordable cost of living. Check out www.retiringinwilliamsburg.com for information about the Williamsburg community, lifestyles available, and search for homes for sale.

Christmas Spent in Williamsburg – a Hallmark Card?

In the year of 2013, our Christmas season typically starts near Thanksgiving and comes to a screeching halt by Christmas dinner. There is much anticipation for the day of Christmas, itself, but it is an entire season of mini celebrations leading up to Christmas day. We try to extend and more fully savor the most joyful season of the year. Living in Williamsburg, during the holidays, sometimes feels like a Hallmark Card or like you are living in the perfect holiday scene, in a snow globe (forget the frigid temperatures  – we only get light dustings of magical snow), in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Let me draw you a December picture: Christmas celebrating starts with Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination. In the 18th century, illuminations, which included the firing of guns and lighting of fireworks, were held to celebrate major events, such as great military victories, the anniversary of the reigning sovereign’s birth, or the arrival of a new colonial governor. Each year, on a Sunday afternoon of December, families stroll through Colonial Williamsburg’s Revolutionary City to view unique decorations, listen to musical performances and watch THREE fireworks displays (Capitol, Magazine, and Palace), at dusk. The Grand Illumination is many a resident of Williamsburg’s highlight of the Colonial Williamsburg holiday season.

The Historic Area is trimmed with handmade decorations from fresh greenery and fruit. Chestnuts will be roasting on the sidewalks and costumed interpreters transform the pedestrian streets to earlier time. More times than not, during the month of December, as the daylight fades, the Fifes and Drums Corps marches down Duke of Gloucester Street, led by torches. The colonial taverns serve Christmas teas with interpreters. Story tellers recite “A Christmas Carol” in old English or you can even hear the more humorous version of “A Christmas Carol” in a one-man interpretation, in Merchants Square, where you’ll also hear live Christmas caroling and see Father Christmas strolling about.

Switching gears to the thrill seekers: view millions of holiday lights illuminating the European flair and fun of Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration, where you can get a close up view of live penguins in an ice-themed world of dazzling lights and snow, explore the Scottish countryside under a star-filled wintry sky where you can tour the Highland Stables, featuring Scottish Blackface sheep, border collies and Clydesdales.

Let’s not forget the holiday shopping, in Williamsburg! There are 20 Williamsburg-brand stores in the Merchants Square area of Williamsburg, Santa’s daily visits to the Yankee Candle, and longer hours at Williamsburg Pottery and the Williamsburg Premium Outlets.

Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center participate in the traditions of a colonial Christmas, through accounts of Christmas and winter in military encampments during the American Revolution and glimpse holiday preparations on a 1780s farm. In historic Yorktown, view the Christmas Tree Lighting, which starts with a Fife and Drum march to the Victory Monument. A Yorktown favorite holiday pastime is to watch the lighted boats, on the York River for the Yorktown Boat Parade. In recent years, Yorktown has added a Toyland Parade, for the children, that is complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus and a ride on the Polar Express.

There seems to have been no special notice of New Year’s Eve in colonial days, but in 2013, in Williamsburg, there is much to celebrate. There is a Scottish New Year’s Eve celebration in Colonial Williamsburg as well as First Night Williamsburg (link to blog) to help friends and neighbors ring in the new year with the arts, on the streets of Williamsburg.

I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse of the glorious Christmas season, in present-day Williamsburg. Clearly, traditional holiday customs derive from many inspirations and most people are extraordinarily attached to Christmas traditions, but now that you are retired – Williamsburg Christmas magic should be part of your new tradition!

Have you liked us on Facebook, yet?

Rolf Kramer, REALTOR®, ABR, SRES, e-PRO 757-564-4455

Licensed in Virginia with Liz Moore and Associates, 5350 Discovery Park Blvd, Williamsburg, VA 23188

Williamsburg has become a Mecca for retirees over the past dozen years because of its history, charm, vacation amenities, proximity to major cities and airports, and affordable cost of living. Check out www.retiringinwilliamsburg.com for information about the Williamsburg community, lifestyles available, and search for homes for sale.