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One of the best things about a vacation to Williamsburg, Virginia, is the variety of fun places to stay. The destination mixes living history—Colonial Williamsburg and the Jamestown Settlement—with very modern thrills at nearby Busch Gardens and Water Country. The lodging options for families reflect that mix of old and new and at a range of price points, with plenty of familiar chain hotels for families who want the savings and reliability they offer, as well as more upscale and one-of-a-kind options. Here are six hotels, resorts and inns that welcome families, and that you and your kids will love.
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A resort hotel close to Colonial Williamsburg
You’ll find a variety of resorts in the area that cater to families but the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites has the advantage of being next door to the Colonial Williamsburg visitor center. The historic town is a short walk or trolley ride away, which means you can park at your hotel and do quite a bit without needing to drive.
On top of its ideal location, it has comfortable rooms, a large pool and splash pad area for kids, mini-golf and other games, a small playground, woods to roam around with small kids, and nightly entertainment like bumbling magicians. It also has access to off-site tennis and golf.
A typical but ample hotel breakfast is included with your room rate. At dinnertime, the onsite restaurant, Huzzah’s is a good fallback after a busy day out. Kids will like the make-your-own pizza, while parents will appreciate the local microbrews, salads, burgers, and decent barbecue. You can pick up a beer or cocktail here to take to the pool, a nice perk after a long day of colonial living.
Book Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites here!
A unique Williamsburg experience
Photo courtesy of 20 Colonial Houses and outbuildings
Imagine walking out onto the streets of Colonial Williamsburg in the early morning, before the crowds of tourists arrive, after spending the night in your own colonial-era home. There are more than 20 Colonial Houses and outbuildings that have been outfitted for guests who want 18th-century details mixed with a little 21st-century comfort. Some are roomy two- or three-bedroom houses; others are detached kitchens or workshops that have been converted into cozy one-bedroom cottages.
It’s not your usual vacation home stay, so expect upscale period details like canopy beds and winged-back chairs by the working fireplace. Some have small private yards or gardens. But bathrooms are definitely modern. Even the buildings that were kitchens don’t have full kitchens but you can expect a coffee maker, microwave and small refrigerator.
Guests have privileges at the nearby Williamsburg Inn, including use of its pools and patio. And they receive reservations priority at the hotel’s golf course and tennis courts, and the Spa at Colonial Williamsburg. But the real attraction is staying in a home with an authentic colonial pedigree, and to experience the streets of old Williamsburg in the early morning and evening when you have it mostly to yourself.
Book 20 Colonial Houses and outbuildings here!
A no-risk kid pleaser
You might wonder why a family would stay at a Great Wolf Lodge when there is already so much going on in the Williamsburg-Yorktown-Jamestown area. For one thing, it can be easier to relax when your kids can roam free in an environment designed for them. Also, almost all of the area attractions are outdoors. If you catch a rainy day, Great Wolf has a built-in plan B your kids will be happy with. And if smaller kids might hit living-history overload early in the day, they’ll welcome a return to a hotel full of kid-size fun that includes arts and crafts, yoga and story time, as well as the indoor waterpark. Plus, all the standard rooms have a microwave, refrigerator and small table, plus a partly separated living room—amenities parents always appreciate. You can upgrade to suites that give kids a bunk-bed area that’s almost its own room within the room. The room rate doesn’t include breakfast, but there’s a Dunkin’ Donuts on hand, along with other casual dining.
Book Great Wolf Lodge here!
A community for families who want space
Photo courtesy of Marriott’s Manor Club at Ford’s Colony
Marriott’s Manor Club at Ford’s Colony is a self-contained community with bike trails, a playground and indoor playroom, indoor and outdoor pools with whirlpools, tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, and golf. It even has a movie screening room, and a small market with coffee, prepared foods and pantry items. One and two-bedroom villas come with fireplaces, pull-out sofas in the living room, and full kitchen and dining areas. There are shared gas grills available, and a small restaurant and bar that serves local wines, in case you don’t feel like cooking. It’s a bit further from the main attractions than some places, but ideal for traveling with extended family or for families who want to spend as much time chilling out at as they do sightseeing.
Book Marriott’s Manor Club at Ford’s Colony here!
A charming, kid-friendly B&B
Not everyone wants to give up the experience of staying at a charming, intimate B&B once they have kids. Not surprisingly, even some of the smallest inns in Williamsburg are kid-friendly. In particular, the Williamsburg Manor is a family-friendly B&B near Merchant’s Square. Families with smaller kids can book a the two-bedroom family suite while those with teens might want to book multiple rooms. The property has a lovely patio for enjoying your morning coffee, and some gardens for roaming around. Your kids will love the all-day pantry with jars of candy and cookies while parents will appreciate the high-tech coffee machine (and the cookies, too; who are we kidding?). Ample breakfast spreads might include house-baked muffins or biscuits, loaded pancakes, egg dishes with seasonal vegetables, and extras like baked apples or blueberry cobbler. They like to do weddings so book ahead. If they’re tight on space you can ask if there’s room at the Manor’s sister B&B, the Williamsburg Sampler, where two-room family suites have pull-out sofas.
Book Williamsburg Manor here!
A boutique hotel with built-in luxury
Photo courtesy of Williamsburg Inn
From the bellman who greets you and your kids at your car to the Scottish smoked salmon at breakfast, the five-star Williamsburg Inn is the hotel to choose when being on vacation means being well taken care of. Two pools (one heated), plus roomy rooms, spacious public terraces and a nature trail that begins just a few steps away, all make families feel welcome. The tennis club, golf course and Spa at Colonial Williamsburg are on hand for parents craving a little adult time. When hunger strikes, the onsite restaurant offers upscale versions of Southern dishes like black-eyed peas or pimento cheese at dinner. Breakfast is an additional charge, but the two-course meal that includes dishes like fluffy lemon-ricotta pancakes, yogurt parfaits, and a blue-crab omelet will keep you going until dinner.
Book Williamsburg Inn here!
Eileen Gunn
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