The Americans do this sort of thing so well! (Williamsburg)

Member Name: jdidlock

Product:	Williamsburg
Date:	05/05/01 (102 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Historic

Disadvantages: A very busy area

Williamsburg, or more correctly, Colonial Williamsburg (Williamsburg itself is a modern city) is on a very busy peninsula on the south side of Chesapeake Bay. From the north, you approach this (over and under) the Chesapeake Bay Causeway and Tunnel. Driving on the causeway is the oddest sensation, you feel as though you are driving on a boat the water surface is so close!

The Peninsula itself is stiff with history from the first settlement at Jamestown to the place where the Brits finally threw in the towel and ended the War of Independance. There are also Civil War sites and, maybe the best of all, old plantations, to visit.

Being the USA, they do things on the grand scale and get it right! Despite the general bustle of this area (big Navy and Air Force bases are nearby), between Jamestown and Yorktown, taking in Colonial Williamsburg en route, runs a Park Way, a road built simply for tourist traffic, no lorries and restricted access, so not much use to locals going to work or shopping! It's bliss, you are transported to another time (despite the air conditioned car) on a lovely quiet road.

I mention plantations. There are several to visit but, we only had time for one, Shirley, but it is quite beautiful overlooking the James River. The house is still in private hands (I am talking 10 years ago) and descendants of the original family still live there, so the tour is of the ground floor only. But it is fascinating and includes viewing a haunted portrait. The story is that this portrait objects to being hung anywhere other than on its "own" wall. They once sent it to NY for an exhibition and it shook itself off the wall! It's a good yarn and whether you believe it or not, standing before it being told that story makes the back of your neck go all tingley!

When I was there, Jamestown didn't amount to a great deal, it has been left to the depradations of the swamp for too long, but looking at a web si
te recently, it is evident that in the 10 years since I was there, a lot of archeological digging has gone on and a great deal more has been found out about it, so I'd love to go back.

But stop and consider the names. Just about every one goes back to Colonial days, Jamestown, Williamsburg, William and Mary University (a lovely, leafy campus worth simply driving past if you are short on time), Yorktown etc. etc.

And the locals really DO say things like, "Where y'all frum?" and "Y'all cum back, now!" One lady at a supermarket checkout engaged us in conversation for some time, holding the queue up in the process, but no-one minded, she was perfectly at liberty to welcome the English visitors - "Y'all cum back, now!" Made us feel REALLY welcome!

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