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By Robert and Mary Haught

A Colonial Christmas

If you have a yearning for an old-fashioned Christmas, the place to be this time of year is Colonial Williamsburg. We had a delightful holiday visit in a year when we didn't want to drive too far from our home in Madison County, Virginia. Williamsburg is only about three hours away.

This authentic reproduction of Virginia’s first capital is fun to see in any season, but it is especially beautiful and exciting during the holidays. You can walk the streets and talk to merchants and artisans, tour the Capitol and other historic buildings and relive the 18th century period when Williamsburg was the political, cultural, and educational center of what was then the largest, most populous, and most influential of the American colonies.

We timed our visit for mid-December, following the Grand Illumination – a holiday tradition which brings hordes of visitors for a gala celebration when candles are lit in public buildings, shops and homes – but before the days closer to Christmas when it becomes more crowded.

Arriving in the afternoon, we checked into the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel north of the historic area, which offers excellent lodging at more moderate prices than the elegant Williamsburg Inn and Williamsburg Lodge. It was part of a package that included admission passes, a lunch at the Inn and a Christmas decorations guided tour. Then we took a shuttle bus to Merchants Square, a village of over 40 shops and restaurants.

An evening excursion – we rode instead of walked – took us through the darkened streets where candle-lit houses invoked the spirit of Christmases enjoyed by our forefathers.

The highlight of our visit was the walking tour of more than a dozen houses, each decorated in its own special way with garlands of greenery, bright bows and ribbons and colorful wreaths. Our guide gave us information on materials and techniques used in making the wreaths. Because it was a special tour, we were allowed to go inside the yards of some houses and get a different view than strollers on the street.

(See these eye-catching decorations in the Photo Feature “Williamsburg Wreaths”.)

Dining in the Regency Room at the Williamsburg Inn is a memorable experience, and even if you don’t take a meal there it’s worth a stop to admire the splendor of this outstanding luxury hotel where Queen Elizabeth II stayed during her 1997 visit for Virginia’s quadricentennial celebration.

Williamsburg has so much to see and do that you could spend several days enjoying all the sights and activities. For a family, it’s not only enjoyable but also educational. The surroundings make history come alive, transporting you back in time to the early beginnings of America.

In fact, the address of the official Colonial Williamsburg Web site is www.history.org. There you will find all the information you need about planning a trip to this fascinating place – at Christmastime or another time of the year.

We also recommend side trips to two other spots in the Historic Triangle, Yorktown and Jamestown.

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