We took to the road for the Fourth of July weekend, visiting a couple of Virginia towns that figured prominently in the birth of the United States. Here’s a quick recap of our visit.
On day one, we drove to Alexandria, Virginia, just south of Washington, DC. We stayed in the city’s Old Town area, a nationally designated historic district located right on the Potomac River waterfront. It’s a beautiful mix of restored 18th and 19th century architecture and an eclectic collection of modern restaurants and retail. We took the mile long walk down King Street, soaking up its historical perspectives, and ending with a beautiful view of the Potomac. There’s plenty more to see and do, but we only had one night to spend.
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Photo by Jack Prommel on Unsplash
Old Town Alexandria is home to several great locally-owned restaurants, including Le Refuge for wonderful French cuisine and Hank’s Oyster Bar, where you can sample the freshest local seafood dishes as well as oysters from all over North America. We chose Landini Brothers, where the owners’ Tuscan roots permeate every item on the menu. Mrs. E had a cold lobster salad with crabmeat and asparagus that she’s still raving about; my veal scaloppine Landini was perfect.
The Morrison House Hotel, Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.
We stayed at the Morrison House in Old Town, one of the newest hotels in Marriott’s Autograph Collection of boutique hotels. I had stayed there several times in the late 90’s on business trips when it was a part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. It’s a beautiful 45 room hotel done in Federalist style architecture, and it brings the historic feel of the area inside it’s comfortable surroundings. It’s a great place to use a 50k Bonvoy certificate for a free night, and the front desk was nice to upgrade us to a suite. The bar and restaurant weren’t fully open yet, but both are due to reopen this month. Nightly wine tastings and grab-and-go breakfasts have filled the gap nicely in Covid-world, but when that bar reopens, it’s a great place to stop for an apertivo or a nightcap (or both). The only negatives were the slightly musty smell in our room and the absence of a fitness center, although guests can use the fitness facility at their sister hotel, The Alexandrian, a five-minute walk away.
We were back on the road the next morning for the three-hour trip to Williamsburg. . .which turned into a four-hour trip due to holiday traffic. After picking up daughter J at the Richmond airport, we made it to Williamsburg in time for lunch and a quick walk around town. Much like Old Town, the city of Williamsburg features modern day restaurants and retail, set in an area with an 18th century vibe. The downtown area is sandwiched between the beautiful campus of William & Mary, whose famous alumni range from US presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe to Glenn Close and Mike Tomlin, and Colonial Williamsburg, the largest outdoor living museum in the country. The depth and breadth of the programming available at Colonial Williamsburg is only surpassed by its sprawling physical size of over 300 acres. There’s something here for everyone, young and old, where we can learn about life in the Virginia colony before and just after it became a part of the fledgling United States.
Photo courtesy of Marriott’s Manor Club
We stayed at Marriott’s Manor Club at Ford’s Colony, about a 15 minute drive from downtown Williamsburg. It occupies a beautiful location in the middle of a residential community and is across the street from the Ford’s Colony Country Club, home to 54 holes of championship golf. Reuniting with daughters C and R, their husbands, and two granddaughters, we had a couple of two bedroom units and a one bedroom unit, each featuring a full kitchen and living area. The Manor Club is a great place for families, with two outdoor pools and an indoor pool, tennis and basketball courts, fitness center and several other family-friendly amenities. The grandkids especially enjoyed the pool complex that included a Splash Pad and convenient snack bar.
What is there to do in the Williamsburg area? Plenty! If Colonial Williamsburg doesn’t satisfy your appetite for history, Jamestown and Yorktown are both nearby, as are several Civil War battlefields heading west toward Richmond. Looking for theme park thrills? Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Park USA are ten minutes away. Craving some beach time? Virginia Beach is about an hour away, and many nice beaches along the James River are even closer. The Williamsburg Tasting Trail is home to five local breweries and the Williamsburg Winery has attracted national attention with its award winning Virginia wines.
Photo courtesy of Berret’s Seafood Restaurant and Taphouse Grille
There are plenty of great dining choices in the Williamsburg area as well, starting with the restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg, where you can eat and drink like it’s 1699 at the King’s Arm Tavern or Chowning’s Tavern, both open to the public (but you’ll need a reservation). The seafood choices couldn’t be fresher in the entire Tidewater Virginia area, and there are several local restaurants that offer terrific choices, like Berret’s Seafood Restaurant and Taphouse Grille and the Fat Tuna Grill. The Blue Talon Bistro serves up delicious “Serious Comfort Food” with a French twist, and La Piazza is a great choice for innovative pasta dishes.
Whether you’re looking for a place for a family get-together like ours or a weekend away for two, the Williamsburg area is a terrific place to visit, with plenty to see and do. Have you been to Williamsburg? Please share your favorite experiences in the comments section below.