Day 13: Colonial Williamsburg, VA

By Patrick

Our long day back in the 18th century began with a breakfast of cereal and pop tarts at the campsite. To get into Colonial Williamsburg you have to walk or take the shuttle bus which departs from the Visitors Center and makes stops all around the Colonial Village.

From the Visitors Center, we split up. Mom and the girls went to the village and saw the very beginning of the day’s program, Revolutionary City in which the costumed workers at Williamsburg reenacted what the city was like just prior to the Revolution. While they went to the first program, Dad, Conor, Matty, and I watched a movie made in the 1950s about a member of the House of Burgesses, which was really the Virginia State Congress. The movie is said to be the longest continually run movie in the country. After the movie, Conor, Matty, Dad and I caught the shuttle bus and met Mom, Molly, and Bridget just as the next act was starting.

The acts were very cool and really gave you an idea of how they lived during the days leading up to the Revolution. There were arguments between the Lord Governor Dunmore and patriots. Patrick Henry read a proclamation and there were heated discussions between colonists about what step to take next on their strive for independence. The last program of the day began at noon and was the approval of the Declaration of Independence which made Virginia a part of the United States of America. The raising of the American colonial flag was followed by cheers and cannon shots.

We found a pizza place for lunch and devoured two pies. The two best things about the resteraunt though was that the TV right near our table had ESPN on and that there was a drink machine with unlimited refills. After the resturaunt we looked around in some stores and then entered the best store in the Williamsburg area -- The Peanut Store. You would think it was just another food store, but no, this food store had SAMPLES.

After mucho sampling, we dragged our sagging stomachs to some of the colonial trade shops and then to the shuttle buses back to the RV. We finished the day with a cool swim in the pool.