Williamsburg Springs to Life

The city of Williamsburg is a cultured escape blending timeless elegance with modern indulgence. Spring is an especially vibrant time to visit, as lush landscapes come alive with colorful blooms. Stroll through carefully maintained gardens, enjoy world-class dining, or explore art collections and boutique shops. While Williamsburg is ideal for multi-generational family visits, it also caters to those seeking a more sophisticated experience. If you’re looking for relaxation and elevated exploration for an adults-only getaway, a Williamsburg weekend will more than satisfy. 

Stay in style

For luxury, look no further than the Williamsburg Inn. Opened in 1937, the hotel is on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Hotels of America list and seamlessly blends dedication to its past while embracing modern tastes. The Rockefeller Suite — named for Abby and John D. Rockefeller Jr., whose philanthropy was instrumental in the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg — is styled to appear like a comfortable guest room in a private home. Or you can sleep like royalty in the Queen’s Suite, so named because it hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on visits in 1957 and in 2007. 

For a more rustic feel, try the Brick House Tavern, which has served travelers since 1770. The 16-room inn sits at the corner of E. Duke of Gloucester and S. Botetourt streets. The rooms are furnished with historic accuracy, and you can even unwind with a game of backgammon in the original brick cellar. 

Growing interest

Colonial Williamsburg’s gardens may not engage you as directly as one of the period-dressed historic interpreters, but they are worthy of attention. The Custis Tenement Garden, at 202 W. Duke of Gloucester Street, is laid out in a Union Jack design with crushed shell pathways. Recently restored, the space features blight- and disease-resistant boxwood edging and parterres filled with flowering spring bulbs. “It really does give the appearance of an early garden,” says Joanne Chapman, Colonial Williamsburg’s director of landscape services.  

At 222 W. Duke of Gloucester Street, the Taliaferro-Cole House Garden is a riot of mixed annuals and perennials. Just beyond a fence entwined with American wisteria is a pasture that in springtime might house frolicking lambs among the peach trees; it’s a great spot for a picnic.

Both practical and show-stopping gardens can be found on the grounds of the Governor’s Palace. A terraced vegetable and herb garden is tucked on a hillside that’s easily accessed from the nearby kitchen house. At the bottom of the hill, take a stroll along a secluded canal path. (The waterway, intended to connect Williamsburg to the York and James rivers, was begun but never completed.)

Behind the palace, thousands of daffodils and tulips are on display every spring in meticulously planned beds. Chapman notes that replanting occurs every year, filling in bulbs lost to hungry critters. Beyond the sunken garden, a low-hedge boxwood maze invites low-stakes wandering.

Indoor pursuits

The collections within the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum amplify the living history lessons found throughout Colonial Williamsburg. In hands-on classes, visitors can make art or discover how well they can quilt a square. 

Nearby, William & Mary’s Muscarelle Museum of Art has a fresh, three-story, 40,000-square-foot addition — the Martha Wren Briggs Center for the Visual Arts — designed by international architecture firm Pelli Clarke & Partners. The center’s inaugural exhibition, “Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine,” which runs March 6 to May 28, features nearly half of the surviving sketches made in the artist’s own hand for his masterpiece fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel as well as engravings, lithographs, and other materials. 

Back on Duke of Gloucester Street, historic Bruton Parish Episcopal Church, established in 1674, remains active with regular services. The church also hosts a variety of musical performances, including Bruton Baroque, an early music ensemble, performing April 5 and June 14 (tickets required). Or you can visit the Wren Chapel, on the historic campus of William & Mary, for a free organ recital offered most Saturday mornings at 10 a.m.

Fresh vantage points

Truly sophisticated pursuits in Williamsburg require some advance planning. If you and your honey want to explore the Historic Area by carriage, the best way to secure a ride is through a concierge at one of the Colonial Williamsburg properties, says Undra Jeter, the Bill and Jean Lane Director of Coach and Livestock. A 30-minute tour will take you from the Capitol to the Governor’s Palace and beyond. Jeter notes that both weather and staffing can affect the availability of carriage rides, so inquire early and be flexible. 

For a view from above, the Williamsburg Flight Center takes couples or small groups aloft in Cessna 172 Skyhawk planes to see the Historic Triangle. The three tours — 30, 45, or 60 minutes — will cover various locations in the region. Flights average 1,500 feet of altitude, high enough to be safe but low enough to see landmarks, which pilots point out. “We’re not historians, but we do know basic facts,” says owner Shaun Stewart, adding that the goal is for a relaxing tour. “We’re not trying to go somewhere; we’re trying to enjoy the experience.”

For true relaxation, plan a visit to the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg, which offers all the spa services you’d expect — facials, manicures, pedicures, massages, and hair styling — plus “wellness experiences” such as the “17th Century Replenish” and “19th Century Relinquish,” each using techniques and products reflecting approaches from those time periods. Couples can also book one of two suites specifically designed for privacy with two treatment beds, two-person tub, and private bathroom. The spa’s shop also carries the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare line and Eminence Organic Skin Care products. 

Experiences to savor

When it comes to sustenance, options range from historically inspired to downright decadent. King’s Arms Tavern, an authentic 18th-century-style public house, offers dishes based on traditional recipes, such as Peanut Soupe or Game Pie. A local favorite in Merchants Square, Fat Canary is an upscale bistro known for its expertly crafted American fare and fine wines. The Cheese Shop, housed in the same building, is a must-visit for artisanal cheeses, specialty foods, and beverages. Stop by for a leisurely lunch on the patio.

Less than 15 minutes from the Historic Area, The Williamsburg Winery is renowned for its range of wines, including Reserve and Estate Series selections, as well as labels in the Limited Release line. For a more immersive experience, book the Extensive Tour and Reserve Wine Tasting in the private wine cellar, or enjoy a daily wine flight in Susan Constant Hall. The Gabriel Archer Tavern is ideal for lunch or Sunday brunch, and its Outdoor Pavilion, open seasonally starting in May, offers stunning views of the albariño and petit verdot vineyards and is exceptionally enjoyable for springtime sipping.

Score something special

No indulgent getaway is complete without leisurely browsing in shops that hold extraordinary finds. Merchants Square, adjacent to the Historic Area, comprises a cluster of stores that run the gamut from the practical to the sublime. The dedicated links-lover can indulge in a pair of new golf shoes made from ostrich, python, or deerskin leather at William & Harry. J. Fenton and Blink both have an array of comfortable and stylish clothing for women, accessories, home décor, and gift items. 

Beyond downtown, Williamsburg Premium Outlets has more than 100 stores with clothing, shoes, games and toys, and collectibles. If your stay in luxury accommodations has inspired a desire to redecorate at home, stop in at Williamsburg Wicker Patio & Home, which can furnish every inch of living space — indoor and out. Be sure to check out their collection of pillows, lamps, and rugs, which add the finishing touch to any room.