Colonial Williamsburg | Dealing with Disappointment when Traveling

[@SteveNoblin]

I've lived in Williamsburg my whole life for 54 years. I can remember in the 70's and 80''s you could walk down Duke of Gloucester Street and the atmosphere of the place would make you feel like you were living in that time period. But now they have modernized it so much that it just dosn't feel that way anymore.

[@tinytim4657]

I hate to put it this way. Williamsburg is so far friendly because it is flat. I am a large sized woman and try going anywhere in the mountains in the summer and walk up those hills - it’s painful.

[@laurenburton226]

Colonial Williamsburg is a lot of walking, for sure ... but, I love it! It is definitely my happy place!

[@lisawiertel973]

Lived in Williamsburg for 12 years. I think that to have a fun day at Colonial Williamsburg, you need to look at the daily schedule and plan your day around that. Schedule your day around the tours and the events you would like to see. That was what I did when people would come to visit. We would go to the places/talks/events that they were interested in. If you don't do that, you end up walking around aimlessly in the heat and it's not fun. It's too overwhelming to do as a day visit.

[@lisahinkofer2085]

I went to Williamsburg a couple of years ago. I had a great time but don’t go in the summer. It’s to hot. I went in late October and it was beautiful. The weather was fabulous and the trees were turning and most of the things were open. Go in the fall

[@theknittingrev]

Seconding fall! So lovely!

[@kristenkindoll]

I stumbled upon your channel. Thank you for offering such a great perspective on travel. The best time to visit Colonial Williamsburg is the fall when the weather is just so much more pleasant for outside adventuring. In the summer, the heat is just horrid. Winter, it is freezing. Spring, you encounter a lot of rainy days.

[@AllBodiesTravel]

I’ve almost been convinced to try again in the fall from all the comments here!

[@triciabyrne7761]

Colonial Williamsburg is an old colonial town restored for visitors in the 21st century to learn about the 18th century. So like any town there is some walking involved, but there is a bus. I recommend visitors get off the bus at the first stop and tour the beautiful Govenor's Palace and gardens before visiting other historic sites or seeing live performances or taking a horse drawn carriage ride. There is also a museum, several taverns, and many trades people of all sorts to observe and speak with. It is very interactive. I love it and am a frequent visitor. There is always something new.

[@debbieb-c]

My family goes to Colonial Williamsburg at least once a year. We love CW! The key for us is to get the calendar ahead of time and look to see what is happening on the days we are there. Each member plans what they want to do: listening to a lecture, see a play, take a garden tour, visit some historic homes, listen to a musical performance at Burton Parish church, take a walk on the nature trail and learn about the flora and fauna, get a massage at the Spa,…. It’s always a good idea to pivot and embrace plan B or plan C. As stated by previous posters, the heat in the summer can be brutal, so we go in the spring or fall. Glad you came away with some positive experiences. Now the question is….what did you do with your tiny quilt square? 😀

[@AllBodiesTravel]

I put it in my scrapbook!

[@tinytim4657]

I am a larger size and have an annual membership to colonial Williamsburg and the historic Jamestown. I don’t go on a whim. I look at the events page and see the activities available for Saturday and sometimes I start looking on Monday. I do things in the morning because it’s hot as hell in the afternoon. I plan where I’m going to eat. The best thing to do is look on the map before you leave the house (the map is on line) and it has bus emblems on it and then you can keep up with the stops or I ask the driver if he would let me know when we get to the closets stop to the chosen activity. This is a place that you must see more than once because you can’t do everything in one day. I do one activity or 2 have lunch and go home.

[@AllBodiesTravel]

Thanks for the tips!

[@user-cs6jt6sz4g]

Sorry you had a bad experience, Williamsburg is a wonderful place, unique.

[@SheilaR.08]

I love Williamsburg! I live in Northern Virginia, so we visited on class trips, with family, and on my own.

[@madiantin]

This was so encouraging to hear! I have a big holiday planned this summer that I've been dreaming of for over a decade. As the time draws near I find myself beset with anxieties. What if it's not the dream holiday I thought it would be? What if it's not fantastic? What if it's not everything I hoped it would be? Your video is so helpful in helping my anxiety to calm down. I'll just roll with the punches and do what works on the day, even if it's not what I'd dreamed or planned.

[@AllBodiesTravel]

I’m so glad it helped! And yes, rolling with what you want to do or need to do each day is a great way to approach it. Enjoy your travels!

[@barbaraketchum8287]

I lived and worked in the Williamsburg area for many years. The dewitt Wallace museum was sooo interesting, especially the textiles. The tradesman area is a LOT of walking. I mainly like it at Christmas time when it's decorated with natural materials and there's an open air market. Bruton parish also has candlelight concerts at that time of year and it's incredibly beautiful!

[@callitags]

I live about 30 minutes south of Williamsburth currently, and grew up in southeastern Virginia. I have to agree with some of the other comments that summer is definitely not the best time to spend wandering around CW. There's so little respite from the heat and humidity. It's really beautiful in December, when things are decorated for the holidays, and we can have some pretty mild winters, so a lot of days can be just sweater weather at the coldest, especially if it's sunny out. It definitely does take some planning, seeing what's open that day, what programs there are, if there are specific things you're interested in. We don't go a lot, but I particularly like the daily programs vs just wandering about all day... things like sitting in on a trial in the courthouse, the different presentations and performances by the costumed actors, the demonstrations of the different trades, etc. You can wander across those by happenstance, of course, but I find I also do better there when I have some sort of plan of action, even if I don't stick to it entirely. As for dealing with disappointment when traveling, I feel the same... sometimes you have to pivot, and being able to let go of what you'd planned and still make the most of your day, whether that's resting or doing a different activity is really the key to feeling good about the trip and the memories you take away from it.

[@AllBodiesTravel]

Great tips - thank you!

[@wufflemann]

I have been 9 times and my next trip is in Oct. I don’t go in the summer as its too hot for me. I also plan events and evening programs in advance to have a loose schedule. I going solo this trip and plan to focus on talks and shows staying 4 days 3 mights. I take Amtrak in from NYC and pack-a picnic from the Cheese shop . To me its a nice quiet escape from the city.

[@AllBodiesTravel]

That sounds lovely! I hope you have a wonderful time!

[@caraziegel7652]

I live only about 90 minutes away from Colonial Williamsburg. I went once as part of a homeschooling group, and my husband came with us. It was in the 90s and my younger kid, esp, was hating it and I was pretty miserable too. We only stayed about 2 hours and went to Five Guys - that was absolutely the highlight of the trip. Failed like a homeschooling fail but thats life.

[@AllBodiesTravel]

Aw, that’s too bad! Sometimes that’s just the way things turn out, you’re right.

[@rfmee]

I've been to Colonial Williamsburg as a kid and as an adult. I will echo the folks that say that one day is not enough time for it. It's very much like an open-air museum and if you're not up for wandering for whatever reason, it can kind of kill the vibes. Fortunately, there's a lot of stuff within about a 20 minute drive that you can do in the area, though most of it is more museum/history stuff.

[@ednahoogewind5700]

I live in Williamsburg and find the Colonial area to be a wonderful place to visit and explore. if you are familiar with the history of the area then you will enjoy Colonial Williamsburg. Perhaps you should have booked yourself with a tour group since you are a travel agent but not familiar with the history.

[@AllBodiesTravel]

That would have been one option, but I also wanted the chance to go at my own pace.

[@danielleS257]

Love love love CW. And love the CW Inn & Lodge. It’s beautiful. Definitely a lot to take in.

[@AllBodiesTravel]

It really is!

[@JL-hn6hi]

Colonial Williamsburg is fantastic. The longer the visit the better. Warmer/more humid days can be accommodated with an earlier start and finish.

[@AllBodiesTravel]

I might try again in the late fall or winter, and go with someone else.

[@marywells9162]

I enjoyed it my first visit in the 80’s. In early 2000’s we returned. It had changed so much and was disappointing. I do agree with you about being flexible and change of plans can be enjoyable even if different from original expectations.

[@AllBodiesTravel]

Interesting! I wonder what’s changed since the 2000s!

[@kathyaakananabluebird]

We took my mother who was in her 70s in a wheelchair the whole trip and also my self age 55 with sciatica. Wheelchair ride was bumpy for her with the bricks but we made it fun. I had to sit down a lot and there were not enough benches for the amount of Sr citizens visiting that day. But overall we were glad we went. WHen it rained we did notice a mad rush for the shops to get under cover and there was not enough room so maybe they could add a few covered sheds or something that looks time appropriate.

[@janebrandi8095]

Visited CW in April 2024. I found it a bit confusing, I stayed at the Hotel by the visitors center and it was lovely. But walking around the historical area was disappointing because it was not easy to see what buildings were open to explore. I felt like every place I was interested in was only doing tours. I didn't want to sit around in a cue waiting half an hour till the next timed tour. I did wait at the Governor's Palace but they herd you through and you truly can't see much of the rooms. There were too many people in the way and you get rushed through. The guide was lovely and interesting but I would have enjoyed just being allowed to wander through on my own. Anyway, I am glad we went and the food we had at the Kings Arms was very good. My husband and I both feel like once is enough for that place.

[@suew2928]

CW is one of my favorite places, and I just did a solo trip in April for 3 days....which is way too short of a time there, IMHO, because there's so much to see but that's the time I had. There IS a lot of walking with what can be uneven ground esp if you go off DoG St, so that creates issues if mobility is a challenge. And just wandering around, exploring the gardens and back streets etc is probably my favorite thing to do there. I recommend going off season when the weather is cooler....it's beautiful during the Christmas season, and I also recommend going to dinner at one of the taverns. I give myself a lot of grace when I solo travel though - I don't always go go go, but I take my time and enjoy doing what I feel like doing on a given day...so even if I don't do everything on my bucket list for the trip, I have a great time.

[@hazelmeldrum5860]

On escorted trips, I always look in advance to see which day I can drop out even for half a day I know that I need a break I am the noisy one always trying to be cheerful. That time for me is alone quiet time.

[@SaucySeamstress]

More buildings are open on Saturdays. You can check their website to see what's open and happening each day to be able to plan what you want to see. Virginia heat is no joke though.

[@AllBodiesTravel]

I checked the website but didn’t make a list. Next time I will!

[@deloresredman4792]

That's why I can't plan trips too far in advance. Like u said if you are not in that headspace, it just feel like a chore.

[@jeanhallada5292]

We have been to CW 15 times. First time I did intense research and made a spreadsheet. Now we drive 16 hours to get there. FYI The Husband is 72 and I’m 68.

[@wendysherbert3257]

Oh I am so sorry you had an odd day at CW! I live in VA and I visit at least once a year. I however, would avoid it in the summer like the plague..lol It is too hot 🥵 and humid. Ick. If you ever return, choose early December, not Xmas week. It is much cooler and the garlands are beautiful. But you are right about accessibility being a bit tricky for sure.

[@MsVictory1945]

I'm really sorry you did not enjoy Williamsburg. To me it is one of the most amazing, peaceful places i have every been. the map is very helpful in seeing what is open and not. It really is a magical place but maybe it just wasn't your day. I hope you enjoyed Jamestown more!

[@AllBodiesTravel]

I did, actually! I also went in with no expectations, though, so that probably helped.

[@lindahavely4820]

Oh, geez, I literally mouthed "don't work out" with you in your intro. Popcorn, please.

[@Suejd1001]

Its a great place to visit. Just not in dead summer!

[@cindymichel4870]

My son went there about 20 years ago. He liked it but said it felt like a death march to get around the whole thing. 😅

[@AllBodiesTravel]

Hahaha!

[@kurtthecat3995]

I was there a year ago, 2023, visiting many historical locations around the state and surrounding states. Williamsburg seemed to me overpriced and underwhelming.

[@nadinestapler3881]

As people may say, it’s not what it used to be.

[@bethanyreeves2643]

Actually reading reviews is why we have never made a point to travel out there

[@marg6196]

Cicada sized quilt😂

[@AllBodiesTravel]

The cicadas were in my brain! 😂

[@GygaxGirl]

Sorry you had a miserable time. Maybe a mobility scooter would have helped. Keep working on walking. I am too.

[@amyhollahearn1661]

There is a local company that drops off the scooters at CW and then picks them up at the end of the day. Many mobility scooters around CW!

[@Videos-mm2eo]

We live about half an hour from CW and have been going there several times a year for the past twenty five years. Some things have changed and some things have stayed the same. We love it year round but our favorite time is in the Fall and early Winter. But to truly enjoy you must walk and you must walk up and down the side streets and enjoy the gardens the backs of the homes the different streets.. It may not be for everyone , but it is one of america's treasures. The title of this video is misleading.Colonial Williamsburg was not disappointing.It was your lack of ability to truly enjoy it.That was disappointing to you .

[@AllBodiesTravel]

Part of my experience was disappointment. Yes, part of that’s because I can’t walk a lot, but also I wanted to talk about what happens when you do end up disappointed in a place you visit-for any reason. That was the point of the video. 😊

[@Videos-mm2eo]

The part I have the problem with is your video headline makes it seem like Colonial Williamsburg was a disappointment and it's not. If your videos about disappointments and travels make a broader view of different places not single out just one. It is a place worth visiting. Alot of good places you have to walk to enjoy the full experience. It just seems like a very interesting and important place was given a bad rap by your video headline.

[@theniddhogg799]

Im in a large body, at 6'3 I didnt have any problem getting anywhere

[@AllBodiesTravel]

That's great! I'm glad you didn't.