The 10 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Greater Williamsburg, Greater Williamsburg

June 23, 2021 Claudia Navarrete

Discover the best top things to do in Greater Williamsburg, United States including Bassett Hall, Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park, Williamsburg Charter Sails, Virginia Musical Museum, Jamestown-Scotland Ferry, Colonial Escape Room, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Public Hospital Museum, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, Williamsburg Winery.
Restaurants in Greater Williamsburg

1. Bassett Hall

522 E Francis St, Williamsburg, VA 23185-4207 +1 888-965-7254 http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/do/revolutionary-city/tour-the-city/bassett-hall/
Excellent
81%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 360 reviews

Bassett Hall

Home of Mr. and Mrs. John Rockefeller Jr. decorated in 18th-century furnishings.

Reviewed By kingbyriverk - Mid Coast Maine, United States

Tour the Rockefeller’s country home and see why they loved it. We learned quite a lot about the birth of Williamsburg as well from the knowledgeable guide.

2. Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park

Excellent
89%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 275 reviews

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park

Go Ape is an unparalleled outdoor adventure experience in Williamsburg, Virginia. Guests tackle dangling obstacles, explore the trees from a new perspective and fly around on multiple ziplines from exciting heights. The Treetop Adventure and Treetop Journey ropes courses blend in with the forest environment, fostering a sense of natural wonder. With Go Ape Axe Throwing, park guests have another outdoor activity to enhance their experience. A fun option to toss hatchets, perfect for wannabe lumberjacks, group outings, team building and even birthday, bachelor or bachelorette parties.

3. Williamsburg Charter Sails

Excellent
97%
Good
3%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 475 reviews

Williamsburg Charter Sails

Enjoy the Zen experience of a private yacht that is safe, clean and easy to sail. Take the wheel or bring a bottle of wine. Up to six people sail the York River for three hours to see the scenery and learn a short history of the Battle of Yorktown from the perspective of the water. Join us any day of the week at York River Yacht Haven, 8109 Yacht Haven Road, Gloucester VA 230612. COVID-19 – Virginia reopened May 15 for sailing and fishing charters. He will meet you at the marina with a mask, removing it once we board the boat. We provide free masks for those who want one, and we practice social distancing. The boat is disinfected before and after cruises. We have hand sanitizer and hand wipes onboard. Your captain has had both Covid vaccine shots. He will inquire about having a fever and recent overseas travel.

4. Virginia Musical Museum

6316 Richmond Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23188-1734 +1 757-303-5907 http://www.virginiamusicalmuseum.com
Excellent
87%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 52 reviews

Virginia Musical Museum

Reviewed By VirginiaNan

Easily accessible at the intersection of routes 60 and 199, the Virginia Musical Museum is packed with yesterday’s musical treasures. Nickelodeons and music boxes, amusement park attractions (you’ll love Laffing Sal), self-playing pipe organ, self-playing banjo, a hurdy-gurdy, a piano gallery—all these await you in spacious galleries on two floors. The museum also pays tribute to Virginia-born musicians in the Virginia Music Hall of Fame, with photos and bios of such notables as Patsy Cline, Ella Fitzgerald, Statler Brothers, Charlie Byrd, Carter Family and many more. You’ll see Ralph Stanley’s custom-made banjo and even a 1978 roadster owned by Wayne Newton. If you’re lucky, owner Buddy Parker will be there to fire up some of those antique music players. But even if he’s not, the label copy is excellent and tells you what you need to know (you just can’t hear it). This was my second visit, but not my last...

5. Jamestown-Scotland Ferry

2110 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185 +1 800-823-3779 http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/ferry-jamestown.asp
Excellent
80%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 663 reviews

Jamestown-Scotland Ferry

Reviewed By kellydM575DY

A short (15ish minute) ferry ride across the James River affords a unique, from the water view of the Jamestown settlement much as it must have looked to settlers to the new world.

6. Colonial Escape Room

206 Packets Ct C, Williamsburg, VA 23185-5629 +1 757-345-6070 [email protected] http://www.colonialescape.com
Excellent
89%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 139 reviews

Colonial Escape Room

Looking for a fun challenge? Stop searching, unless you are in one of our escape rooms looking for the next clue! Test your wits as you try to solve all of the mind puzzling obstacles with your friends, family, or colleagues!

Reviewed By luckymbt

Enjoyed our first time at Colonial Escape so much we returned to do Cyber Punked! It was a challenging room and we did need two hints but we had success and Killed the Computer Virus!! Great staff! Heard they are expanding and adding new rooms we will be back! Do not miss your chance for some great fun

7. American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

200 Water Street Route 1020, Yorktown, VA 23690 +1 757-887-1776 http://historyisfun.org
Excellent
64%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,303 reviews

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

Museum where you can find all types of displays regarding the momentous events and activities during Revolutionary times.

Reviewed By CatyRay

This is a great museum and living history site that explains the Revolution from the time when Britain imposed taxes on the colonies to make up for the huge cost of the French & Indian War, to the Treaty of Paris in 1783. It isn't just about the Yorktown battle, American victory and British surrender. You walk from room to room in the indoor exhibit area (one-way now), viewing artifact cabinets and large, easily readable text on plaques. Two films available now. The second, about the Siege of Yorktown, has loud noise (canon fire) and smoke. You feel like your in the middle, as the benches seem to shudder with each blast. Outdoors, there is a recreated military encampment and working colonial farm. The guides are very knowledgeable, and with only a dozen visitors wandering around, had time to answer questions and engage in a deeper explanation/discussion. I have been interested in the Revolution since childhood (Dad was active in the Sons of the Revolution and I'm a DAR member) and have degrees in history. This museum was a great refresher . I would not advise brining small children if you want to take your time and read everything in the exhibits. The "hands on" features (push button for short a video, for example), have been turned off. Well worth the $15.25 adult admission. Glad we went and I will go back when the next special exhibit opens about November. I was hesitant, at first, to book, since I've been to historical sites that seem to have been a little too commercial for my taste. This is run by a foundation (including the Jamestown Settlement) that gets some state funding for the educational purposes.

8. Public Hospital Museum

325 W Francis St, Williamsburg, VA 23185-4103 +1 757-229-1000 http://www.history.org/Almanack/places/hb/hbhos.cfm
Excellent
55%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 504 reviews

Public Hospital Museum

The first mental institution in North America.

Reviewed By Y9641RRjoep - Bangor, United States

As others have indicated, the display is a small wing to the left as you enter. The self guided tour doesn't take long. We were asked to store our backpack and umbrellas in nearby lockers, although that was more for the patrons entering the museum downstairs. We came through here four days on our stay, the first to see the Hospital and displays, twice more to hear special programs in the auditorium (the Road to Yorktown with Hamilton and Washington was great!), and the final time to meet for the hour long Mental Health in America tour. For this last one, we unexpectedly spent more time in the museum than in the Public Hospital - but we learned a lot from our guide.

9. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum

301 S Nassau St, Williamsburg, VA 23185-4103 +1 877-848-8039 http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/locations/abby-aldrich-rockefeller-folk-art-museum/?utm_source=tripadvisor&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=business_listing&utm_content=abby_aldrich_museum
Excellent
77%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 663 reviews

Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum

19th-century folk household objects (toys, kitchenware, paintings, furniture, etc.) are on display at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.

Reviewed By I4669MGjohnn - Jamestown, United States

Folk art ain't Fine art. It was created by common people for use by common people. This eclectic collection puts the fun into art. The portrait art gallery gives lessons thru placards, on why most portraits follow a certain patterns, i.e. - why no one smiles, why clothes all look alike. Another gallery displays iron work like fireplace screens, stoves etc. and displays how iron works were created. Other galleries include handmade German toys, weather vanes, early advertising signs, a room with painted decorative features painted on the walls instead of wallpaper, a Navajo rug exhibit, and sailing ship portraits. I found this museum a wonderful learning experience. This museum is one part of the Art Museums of Williamsburg. The other museums are the Decorative Art Museum and the Public Hospital Museum. The museum is entered through the Public Hospital where you then crossover to another building that houses the Folk Art museum. On the lower level is a collection of firearms used by troops from both sides of the American Revolution, a fire pump used in colonial times, harpsichord and grand piano and a display of the creation and purpose of coffee houses. A small cafe is available and there is also a fine gift shop. The museum is undergoing a massive reconstruction and many of the galleries are closed. What remains is still worth the visit. Admission is included in the price of the Colonial Williamsburg tour package or can be purchased for $14.99 onsite to see only the three museums. See colonial fork art at its finest.

10. Williamsburg Winery

5800 Wessex Hundred Off Lake Powell Road and Route 199, Williamsburg, VA 23185-8063 +1 757-229-0999 [email protected] http://www.williamsburgwinery.com
Excellent
54%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
4%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 899 reviews

Williamsburg Winery

With over 40 acres of vineyards, a bountiful on-site garden, a hotel and two restaurants, The Williamsburg Winery is more than just a Winery. Wessex Hundred, the 300 - acre farm that is home to The Williamsburg Winery, Wedmore Place, Café Provençal and The Gabriel Archer Tavern, offers an unforgettable wine and culinary experience in the heart of Colonial America.

Reviewed By frankp192 - Richmond, United States

This past weekend, my wife and I spend one of the most enjoyable weekends in Williamsburg. We had the pleasure of staying at the Wedmore Place (see separate review) on the grounds of the Williamsburg Winery. Our room rate came with two passes to tour the winery and a tasting. After checking in, we were greeted by our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable of the history of the winery and the various fermentation processes. Our tasting was in a private room. The wine tastes were mostly whites, with a few reds, a rose and a choice of dessert wine. The rose was so good, we purchased a bottle. Being from Richmond, my wife and I spend allot of time in Williamsburg. We would recommend the winery to anyone who enjoys good wine and are looking for a relaxing afternoon. We will definitely be back.

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