This museum has a mix of everything: marine life, wildlife, plants and a planetarium. It's a golden opportunity to see wolves, sea turtles, sharks, coyotes, pelicans and the solar system in one dizzying day.The operators are pioneers in their field; when it opened in 1987, it was the only living museum East of the Mississippi River. Its focus on public education makes it a popular destination for families. Group rates and member discounts are available. Opening hours change seasonally; check the website for details.
The Colonial National Historical Park is made up of some of the most important battlefields in the nation's history and memorials to famous war heroes and figures. This park includes Historic Jamestown, Yorktown Battlefield, Colonial Parkway and the Cape Henry Memorial. This vast park lets you travel back to 17th Century colonization and the American Revolutionary War. There is a bevy of family and kid activities including guided tours by extremely knowledgeable historians that will even dress the part of a 17th-century pilgrim, or you can travel by car through the beautiful Colonial Parkway and stop along the way to check out all the sites. Visitor centers and museum shops are located throughout the park so you will never get lost trekking back through history.
The Governor's Palace was the home of Colony of Virginia's Royal Governors and later post-colonial governors Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. Built in the early 1700s, the main building was burned down in 1781 and was reconstructed in 1930. The reconstructed building was based upon the original architectural design as well as influenced by Jefferson's suggested renovations while he was a governor. Visitors can tour this elegant residence which was built to showcase the Crown's influence. After seeing the Palace, make sure you explore the gardens outside and see if you can navigate your way around the boxwood maze.
Established in 2000, The Williamsburg Botanical Garden is a gorgeous botanical garden that is home to over 2000 trees and other flora. The property consists of more than 15 species of daffodils in the bulb garden, lilac and wildflowers like rattlesnake master and blanket flower. However, the most popular area in this green cover is the butterfly garden where visitors can marvel at hundreds of butterflies. Besides the scenic beauty of the landscape, Williamsburg Botanical Garden is also known for its sustainable gardening practices like its green roof pavilion. Visitors can not only enjoy the natural scenery, but they can also participate in educational tours.
Explore sunken ships, wander past waterfalls, and look for gold - all with a golf club in hand. Pirate's Cove offers 18-holes of pirate-themed mini-golf that is sure to delight players of all ages. The course winds its way through perfectly curated pirate scenes, including a giant pirate ship that 'launches' canons overhead.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is an award-winning and eco-friendly adventure park started in 1975. Its many awards include the accolade of “World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park,“ “Golden Ticket Award” and “Applause Award.” This theme park recreates European villages, trains, tulip gardens and rides that make it a thrill-seeking mecca. If you're brave enough, hop onto Alpengeist, one of the tallest inverted coasters with a complete circuit in the whole world. Built to simulate an Alpine ski lift, albeit a slightly scarier version, it reaches heights of 195 feet (60 meters) and hair-raising speeds of 67 miles (108 kilometers) per hour. You can also embark on animal tours, adopt a dog for a day or two, visit the haunted house Howl-O-Scream, and Christmas Town for festive fun. Shop for German cuckoo clocks, Italian candles, wood carvings and Caribou pottery; then learn to make your own craft items at the workshops. Busch Gardens also features restaurants serving authentic British, Irish, German, French, Italian and Scottish cuisines. The park timings vary every week; the complete calendar can be found on the park website.
Kayak Nature Tours host a great range of water-based tours around Virginia. Intrepid adventurers can get up close to dolphins, or see ospreys and bald eagles in the peaceful surrounds of First Landing State Park. You can choose between single kayaks or two-person kayaks and whilst the trips are seasonal, there is a trip available for most times of the year. Kayaks are also available for individual hire if you fancy exploring the waterways of Virginia independently. Call for more details.
The American Rover Tall Ship Cruises offer visitors a unique way to tour the Hampton Roads harbor. Easily visible with its distinctive red sails, tours leave daily, rain or shine, from their dock by Town Point Park. Each tour is narrated and passengers can participate in the ship's operation. See their website for tour times and ticket prices.
The Norfolk Botanical Gardens offer many different signature and theme gardens for guests to stroll around, such as the Virginia Native Plant Garden, the Bristow Butterfly Garden and the Enchanted Forest. In addition to the numerous beautiful gardens, the Norfolk Botanical Gardens also put on special events and exhibits. Among these are bike nights, sculpture exhibits and guided tours of the gardens.
See Norfolk by water as well as by sea on one of the Victory Rover Naval Base Cruises. This two hour narrated tour departs from Nauticus and cruises through Hampton Roads Harbor and on the Elizabeth River to give you a glimpse of the Naval Base from this aquatic view point. You will sail past submarines, aircraft carriers and other impressive military vehicles and installations. The interior of the boat is air conditioned and there is also a gift shop and snack bar. Check the website for schedules.
The Colonial National Historical Park is made up of some of the most important battlefields in the nation's history and memorials to famous war heroes and figures. This park includes Historic Jamestown, Yorktown Battlefield, Colonial Parkway and the Cape Henry Memorial. This vast park lets you travel back to 17th Century colonization and the American Revolutionary War. There is a bevy of family and kid activities including guided tours by extremely knowledgeable historians that will even dress the part of a 17th-century pilgrim, or you can travel by car through the beautiful Colonial Parkway and stop along the way to check out all the sites. Visitor centers and museum shops are located throughout the park so you will never get lost trekking back through history.