If you've got a young history buff, Colonial Williamsburg is the perfect weekend getaway from DC that's both educational and fun. The world's largest living history museum at over 300 acres, Colonial Williamsburg immerses visitors into life in America in the 1700s.
Many of Colonial Williamsburg's 89 original buildings and hundreds of reconstructed ones are open to visitors. Inside, you'll meet costumed interpreters who will demonstrate 18th-century trades, give tours, and more. No vehicles are allowed in the historic area, which makes for a truly authentic experience as you stroll the brick sidewalks or take a carriage ride down cobblestone streets.
But Colonial Williamsburg isn’t all muskets and tri-corner hats. Right next to the historic area is Merchants Square, which blends 18th-century architecture with modern shops and restaurants. It's really cool to see the past and the present come together.
I have fond memories of visiting Colonial Williamsburg as a kid, and my own children have enjoyed going there just as much (both as younger kids and as tweens and teens). Here's everything you need to know about visiting Colonial Williamsburg with kids. Make a whole weekend—or week!—of it with our list of things to do in Williamsburg, VA, including our guides to visiting Yorktown with kids and visiting Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
