Spring In The Historic Triangle
For many years I have gone on family vacations to Williamsburg, Virginia . Even though I have been there countless times I always find new places to explore and revisit some old ones. Colonial history is a love of mine that has fueled my fascination with the Historic Triangle which encompasses Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. Each of the cities holds a piece of my heart and memories. Below I have pieced my favorite moments of my trip last Spring!
Williamsburg
A majority of my time that week was spent in the large living-history museum of Colonial Williamsburg. The flowers were blooming in each of the garderns and the trees budding with fresh leaves. Walking the streets I feel as if I was home that leads me to thinking I could have lived a previous life time there! I find what is wonderful about being there is you go to taverns or even just sit on benches while watching the everyday bustle of the establishment. It can be extremely relaxing sitting by the market place and being able to see many of the buildings and interpreter performances. I found all of the interpreters and workers had a large quantity of new information to share from recent discoveries and archaeological finds.When being led through the R. Charlton’s Coffeehouse, the interpreter shared new photos and pamphlets pertaining to the finds over the last 3-5 years of food, drink and pottery used in building during the 18th century surrounding the coffeehouse. This trip was as well my first time seeing the art museums’ behind the Public Hospital. I was thoroughly impressed with the collections amount of artifacts from old portraits to pianos from multiple centuries. It amazes em how much the foundation does to preserve and use the items to help tell the story of the beginnings of this country. Overall I suggest if you are near Williamsburg, take a few days to explore the massive area and shops. Sometimes I go into the buildings or even mindlessly walk around taking in the smell of fresh air with hints of tobacco and burning firewood. I do have to say if you want an authentic experience go to the coffeehouse and try traditional hot chocolate. You won’t regret it!
Yorktown
In 2017, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown was opened to the public and it became the top of my bucket list to see. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by it. It took a full day to tour it for there is so many indoor and outdoor exhibits to see. The collections were expansive with Revolutionary War artifacts as well as everyday items of early colonist in the area. You can even practice how to stamp goods with an old fashioned press in the Stamp Act exhibit. Outside the farm and battle encampments of the Continental Army are built with such precision and filled with items that helped place you in the 18th century. I enjoyed visiting the surgeons tent and learning about all the herb treatments the medical units used during the war. The short films through out the museum inside were my favorite part by far. At the entrance you can view Liberty Fever film, where a 19th century gentlemen recalls stories of people who fought and lived during the war. The film used beautiful scenery and the actors told the narratives beautifully. Yet by far my favorite was the experimental theater show about the siege of Yorktown. With the screen enveloping around the room, it made you feel as if you were alongside the soldiers fighting in the battle with smoke from cannons flowing along the floor and the surround sound of gunfire from behind you. I recommend to visit here if you are near the Yorktown area!
Jamestown
Personally I find Jamestown Island the best place to escape from the modern world. There is an eerie quietness around you. I am not going to lie, visiting by myself it feels as if you are being watched through the trees by something or someone from another time.To me it puts you directly into what the original colonists of Jamestown would have seen when they landed here. The trail you can drive, bike or walk the whole length of the island. I enjoy bringing my camera and writing materials to sit for a while and soak up the sun. One of my favorite spots to see is the glass blowing house. You are able to view tradesmen pour and temper the glass as they did back in the day. They enjoy showing you each step and will answer as many questions that you have. On the way out of the building you can see all of their beautiful finished pieces for sale in the store. I do regret that I did not go into the Jamestown Settlement during this trip. They have expanded their museum which I plan to see all the new exhibits and artifacts the next time I am in Virginia.
This post makes me wish I was sitting in the Governor’s Palace Gardens reading or writing. I do not know how to describe it but I always feel pulled and called back to visit. Every time I leave Virginia I feel a part of me stays there. The state as a whole has so much history to share with everyone that one trip there can never cover it. Please comment below about where I should go next time I visit the Historic Triangle or even what you love about the places mentioned!