Episode #30: Virginia’s Historic Triangle with Kids: The Ultimate 2-Day Itinerary for Jamestown, Williamsburg & Yorktown
2 Days in Virginia’s Historic Triangle with Kids
Photo from travelwithlolly.com
Jamestown, Williamsburg & Yorktown Family Travel Guide
If you’re planning a family road trip on the East Coast and want something that’s both educational and actually fun for kids…
Let me introduce you to one of the most underrated destinations:
👉 Virginia’s Historic Triangle
This includes:
Jamestown Settlement
Colonial Williamsburg
Yorktown Battlefield
We visited as part of our “9 states in 9 days” spring break road trip (listen to Episode 28 for the full itinerary!) and spent 2 days exploring the area before heading to North Carolina.
👉 Next up on the podcast: Myrtle Beach with kids 🌊
Our 2-Day Itinerary in Virginia
If you want to see a behind the scenes look at our trip, check out my highlight bubble ‘Colonial VA’ on my Instagram to see what we did and even more tips!
Day 1: Yorktown + Hotel Check-In
We drove in from West Virginia and made a quick stop at Yorktown Battlefield before heading to our hotel.
What we did:
Watched the visitor center film (great quick overview for kids!)
Drove through the battlefield
Saw real trenches, mounds, and battle formations
💡 Tip: Even 30–45 minutes here is worth it to give kids context before visiting the other sites.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at a Marriott Vacation Club property nearby—and it was perfect for families.
Why we loved it:
2-bedroom setup (game changer with kids)
Colonial-style decor that matched the experience
Space to relax after long walking days
That night, we kept things simple:
Watched Night at the Museum 2
Kids filled out their travel journals
🎬 Fun idea: This movie is a great tie-in if you’re also visiting Washington, D.C. (Episode 29!)
Day 2: Jamestown + Colonial Williamsburg
Stop 1: Jamestown Settlement
This was one of the most hands-on, engaging stops for kids.
Highlights:
Climbing aboard replica ships
Exploring the colonial fort
Walking through Indigenous village exhibits
Live demonstrations we loved:
Canoe-making using fire
Tool-making from bones and wood
Musket firing demonstration (huge hit!)
Hallowed out canoe demonstration
💡 Tip:
Bring a stroller! It’s very walkable—but a lot of ground to cover.
Stop 2: Colonial Williamsburg
Capitol building in Colonial Wiliamsburg
This is where history truly comes to life.
Important tip:
Grab your tickets ahead of time here. You’ll park at the visitor center and take a free shuttle bus into the historic area.
What we did:
Capitol building tour (timed perfectly when we arrived!)
Explored trade shops like the silversmith
Learned about colonial taverns and daily life
Visited the Governor’s Palace
Must-see highlight:
The Governor’s Palace entrance—filled with dozens of muskets and swords displayed as a symbol of wealth and power. So cool!
Govoners’s Palace
What We Didn’t Get To (But You Should!)
You could easily spend 2 full days in Williamsburg alone.
If you have more time, don’t miss:
Hedge maze behind the Governor’s Palace
Interactive workshops + trade demonstrations
Live reenactments and performances
Kid-focused activities and programs
End of Day Reset
After a full day, we skipped going back out and:
Grabbed dinner from Blaze Pizza
Relaxed back at the hotel
💡 Tip: Build in downtime—especially with younger kids.
Day 3: Headed to North Carolina
We packed up and continued our road trip south toward North Carolina…
🎧 And next week’s episode is all about Myrtle Beach with kids!
More Family-Friendly Things to Do in the Area
If you’re staying longer, here are some amazing add-ons:
🎢 Busch Gardens Williamsburg
💦 Water Country USA
🏖️ Yorktown Beach (great for a break!)
🚲 Colonial Parkway scenic drive
👻 Ghost tours in Williamsburg (great for older kids!)
Top Tips for Visiting the Historic Triangle with Kids
✔ Start with Yorktown for context
✔ Bring a stroller (seriously!)
✔ Plan for LOTS of walking
✔ Take advantage of tours when timing lines up
✔ Don’t try to do everything—pick your highlights
✔ Build in downtime (hotel nights matter!)
Canopy bed in the Governor’s Palace that my daughter now wants in her room :)
Why This Trip is Worth It
Your kids may not remember every historical detail…
But they will remember:
Climbing on ships
Watching muskets fire
Walking through a real colonial town
And those shared experiences?
That’s what makes family travel so powerful.
Want More Family Travel Tips?
Grab my FREE guide:
101 Sanity-Saving Tips for Traveling with Kids
👉 Head to the link in the show notes
👉 Or comment TIPS on any reel on Instagram and I’ll send it your way!
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