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ShannonJ
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| Posted: Sept 15 2011 at 10:10pm | IP Logged
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For those of you that have been to Williamsburg, VA could I get your insight as to the best way to spend a day? We live about an hour out and I'm thinking of trying to go sometime this weekend during the Fall Homeschool Days, although I may end up just waiting until the Spring. I'm so indecisive! 
How much is there to see and what attractions or activities would be at the top of your list? We will probably take several short day trips over the course of the next three years, but I would love to get a nice overview for our first visit!
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~Shannon
Mom of dd 12, ds 9, & dd 5
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guitarnan
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Hi Shannon!
I am so happy to see another Navy wife and mom here! (There are a few of us...but the other branches of the Armed Forces predominate here.)
All of the programs sound great to me, but I have to confess that Life of a Soldier is most intriguing. I realize that your daughter might not be very interested...so perhaps you would want to investigate Great Hopes Plantation and Revolutionary City.
I have to say, Colonial Williamsburg can be dull for younger children because they don't know who lived/worked there during the pre-Revolutionary period. We delayed taking my daughter until she was 7 or 8 and could really appreciate what was going on. Were I you, I would carefully plan so that you could attend a musket or cannon demonstration or other event that would appeal to your son, as well as do some things your daughter would enjoy.
Did you know that Yorktown Victory Center and Jamestown Settlement also offer homeschool programs? They are geared a bit more toward younger children, and they are very affordable. My children loved them. Even though we froze...the March we participated was very un-Springlike.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Becky Parker
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guitarnan wrote:
I have to say, Colonial Williamsburg can be dull for younger children because they don't know who lived/worked there during the pre-Revolutionary period. We delayed taking my daughter until she was 7 or 8 and could really appreciate what was going on. Were I you, I would carefully plan so that you could attend a musket or cannon demonstration or other event that would appeal to your son, as well as do some things your daughter would enjoy.
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I highly agree with the above! We've gone a couple of times and the older kids always get a lot out of it. The younger kids like it, but not quite as much.
I would like to add that my kids, especially the boys all enjoyed the blacksmith. My daughter enjoyed the dress maker. All of us really really enjoyed eating lunch and dinner in period style restaurants. This is not something we would normally splurge on but we did and we're really glad! I can't think of the names of the restaurants we ate in but when I do I will post them.
One other thing, if it ends up being cold and rainy, DON'T cancel the trip! the last time we went it was so cold and windy and rainy. Very miserable. We drove 13 hours to get there so there was no way we weren't going to go though! We discovered that it was our best trip yet because, since it WAS so cold and rainy, the kids were quite happy to stay inside the various shops and actually learn what was going on there. The time before that it was like 90 degrees and there was no way they wanted to stay inside the Blacksmith's shop (or any of the non air conditioned shops for that matter) just to hear what the people had to say!
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Becky
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guitarnan
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The gunsmith is another fascinating craftsman to visit.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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kristinannie
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I have to admit that we have been to Williamsburg a lot and haven't taken the kids to Colonial Williamsburg yet. It is expensive and they won't get much out of it (my oldest is 5). We just go to Busch Gardens. You can get a cheap season ticket if you are from VA. They have different European countries there that you could talk about and lots and lots and lots of great rides for littles! OK...maybe I just need justification for making that choice! 
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ShannonJ
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| Posted: Sept 16 2011 at 11:56am | IP Logged
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guitarnan wrote:
Hi Shannon!
I am so happy to see another Navy wife and mom here! (There are a few of us...but the other branches of the Armed Forces predominate here.) |
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Nancy, Thank you for the warm welcome!  It is nice to see other Catholic military homeschool families. We so often feel in one minority or another and usually live off base quite a ways as well. What a wonderful, warm and nuturing way to connect with everyone!
guitarnan wrote:
| I have to say, Colonial Williamsburg can be dull for younger children because they don't know who lived/worked there during the pre-Revolutionary period. We delayed taking my daughter until she was 7 or 8 and could really appreciate what was going on. Were I you, I would carefully plan so that you could attend a musket or cannon demonstration or other event that would appeal to your son, as well as do some things your daughter would enjoy. |
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You know this is just what I was wondering! We visited St. Augustine in FL several times and the kids had several hands on activities that they could participate in that really peaked their interest. I think this insight into the Spanish colonial life may help with spotting some differences and similarities with English colonial times. The musket or canon demonstration will be a must for my son!
guitarnan wrote:
| Did you know that Yorktown Victory Center and Jamestown Settlement also offer homeschool programs? They are geared a bit more toward younger children, and they are very affordable. My children loved them. Even though we froze...the March we participated was very un-Springlike. |
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I hadn't heard about these yet. Thanks for letting me know! I will definitely be looking into them. This area is just so rich in history.
When we first arrived and were driving across the James River my daughter and I both marveled at the size of the river and the experience that the first explorers must have had.
Becky Parker wrote:
| I would like to add that my kids, especially the boys all enjoyed the blacksmith. My daughter enjoyed the dress maker. All of us really really enjoyed eating lunch and dinner in period style restaurants. |
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guitarnan wrote:
| The gunsmith is another fascinating craftsman to visit. |
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These sound perfect for us and may perfectly round out an easy day-trip!
Becky Parker wrote:
| One other thing, if it ends up being cold and rainy, DON'T cancel the trip! the last time we went it was so cold and windy and rainy. Very miserable. We drove 13 hours to get there so there was no way we weren't going to go though! We discovered that it was our best trip yet because, since it WAS so cold and rainy, the kids were quite happy to stay inside the various shops and actually learn what was going on there. The time before that it was like 90 degrees and there was no way they wanted to stay inside the Blacksmith's shop (or any of the non air conditioned shops for that matter) just to hear what the people had to say! |
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Thank you so much for letting me know Becky! This really helps me feel better about going during the chillier months.
kristinannie wrote:
| I have to admit that we have been to Williamsburg a lot and haven't taken the kids to Colonial Williamsburg yet. It is expensive and they won't get much out of it (my oldest is 5). We just go to Busch Gardens. You can get a cheap season ticket if you are from VA. They have different European countries there that you could talk about and lots and lots and lots of great rides for littles! OK...maybe I just need justification for making that choice! |
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Oh, I do intend on heading to Busch Gardens at some point. We were blessed with being able to visit Sea World and Disney while in Florida and the kids really loved being able to sample to foods from the different "countries" at Epcot.
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~Shannon
Mom of dd 12, ds 9, & dd 5
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JennGM
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We've gone a few years in a row to Williamsburg as a day trip. We have purchased the annual pass. Don't forget to mention you are a home educator, as you get a good discount.
My boys have enjoyed the visits. The highlights are seeing the horses, going near Christmas time and seeing all the decorations, visiting the cobbler, blacksmith, printer (one of our favorites), bookmaker, cabinet maker, wig maker. The gardens are wonderful, and great attractors to butterflies in the summer. The little one has gotten squirmy at some of the places, but outside is plenty of room to run.
We enjoyed the various impersonators. The boys seem to enter the "time" pretty well. My son was 5 or so for our first visit. We were familiar with Mount Vernon and George Washington a bit, so that helped entering into the time period. Getting them hats and allowing them to enter into the time period with their imagination (sticks for guns, etc.).
We haven't done Busch Gardens (yet).
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Jennifer G. Miller
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ShannonJ
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| Posted: Sept 16 2011 at 3:45pm | IP Logged
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One of the reasons that we were thinking of going during homeschool days is because the price is so reasonable, although I can never guarantee our schedule for the best prices. Do you think it would be worth it for a season pass?
Okay after further research I found that we can actually qualify for the Good Neighbor Pass for $10pp per year! 
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~Shannon
Mom of dd 12, ds 9, & dd 5
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ShannonJ
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| Posted: Sept 16 2011 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
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Oops. Our zip isn't included in the list. Oh, well. 
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~Shannon
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JennGM
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ShannonJ wrote:
| Okay after further research I found that we can actually qualify for the Good Neighbor Pass for $10pp per year! |
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Oh, then definitely do it!
The ideal times to go is OFF-SEASON. That gives more time for one-on-one observation and questions with the crafters. Crowds and heat are hard on kids! And since you're so close, it helps to take your time and enjoy smaller areas, and then come back for more.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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ShannonJ wrote:
| Oops. Our zip isn't included in the list. Oh, well. |
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Rats. Well, then call for the discount plans. I'm pretty sure you won't need to pay full price. And since you're a Virginia resident, maybe just a day pass on discount is worth it. We did the math and visiting only 2 times with the homeschooler discount paid us back plus extra for the annual pass compared to a day pass.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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ShannonJ
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| Posted: Sept 16 2011 at 4:08pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the link Jenn! I'm not sure how I missed those. I guess we'll be sitting down for a planning session this evening. 
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~Shannon
Mom of dd 12, ds 9, & dd 5
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Topic: Colonial Williamsburg
