Located on the banks of the James River in Virginia is the Jamestown Settlement, which was first permanent English colony in America. The first colonists arrived in 1607 where they lived and worked to establish a foothold on the continent. Today, the Jamestown Settlement provides visitors the opportunity to climb onboard replicas of the ships that brought the settlers on the arduous journey across the Atlantic Ocean, participate in reenactments, and see the archeological efforts that are still ongoing today.
Participating in ReenactmentsYou Can Ask Questions at the Exhibits
It is a great place to learn about the history of the people who ventured to the “New World” and the difficulties that they faced. The Jamestown Settlement is located near Williamsburg, Virginia and combining a visit to both locations is a great way to follow the history of the people who went from a rustic settlement with wooden buildings to the first capital city of Virginia with its mansions and cobblestone streets.
Demonstrating Firing a RifleYou Can Climb Onboard the Ship Replicas
There are obviously plenty of restaurants, shops, and places to stay in the area. We visited many years ago at this point, when our children were old enough to appreciate the significance of the Jamestown Settlement. All these years later, it is still a location that they remember seeing and enjoying their experiences there. Admission is only $10 for anyone older than 16 and those under 16 are free, making this an easily affordable adventure for the whole family.
Making Bullets to Protect the Settlement Learning to Fire a Cannon
When we visited Williamsburg in Virginia back in June of 2001, it was a fascinating experience with many different reenactments and interactive activities. From what we have read, it seems to still be the case today as well. Williamsburg was once the capital of Virginia and was also one of the wealthiest colonies in America. Many of the historical buildings remain in tact such as the governor’s palace while some have been rebuilt like the original Capital building. There are also plenty of recreations to represent what life would have been like hundreds of years ago.
Working WindmillConstruction of a Building UnderwayHall Where Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Others Met and Debated Independence
It was the delegation from Williamsburg that first introduced the resolution for independence from British rule. You can even visit the room where it was signed by some of the founding fathers of the nation. There are plenty of activities for people of all ages as well as places to eat and have a local ale. Expect to enjoy hands-on experiences involving some of the many actors and historians that are there to inform and entertain people who visit.
Children Working Clay to Make BricksGovernor’s PalaceOne of the Many Actors
We have gone to many different locations with actors dressed in historic clothing meant to represent the people of the time, but we have to admit that the people who work in Williamsburg are some of the best we’ve encountered. Considering that our trip was well before cell phones and digital cameras, our photographs might seem as antiquated as the period being reenacted. Be sure to enjoy seeing the militia marching and don’t be surprised if you aren’t conscripted to join in.
Operating the MillNative American Hut and FarmHistoric Building
Visiting Williamsburg is a wonderful experience, especially for families, with an incredible history and an opportunity to immerse yourself into the culture of the era. It can be quite hot and humid during the summer months and you can expect there to be plenty of visitors during the tourist season. We found that a full day there, including eating and shopping, was enough to do and see everything that we wanted.
Breckenridge is a resort town in the Colorado mountains that is quite popular for skiing during the winter and hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities in the summer. With so many things to do in Breckenridge, it is a great place to spend at least several days, if not an entire week. Not only are there plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy, but the town also has many wonderful restaurants as well as stores offering collectables, clothing, and art. Most everything can be found right off of main street, which is surrounded by a variety of condominiums, rental homes, and hotels.
Downtown Breckenridge
Putt Putt Golf
Statue in Breckenridge
Mountain Bikes for Rent
Families Playing in the Snow
Since we are avid hikers, we truly enjoyed getting out into nature like we did when we hiked Burro Trail. In addition, though, we also enjoyed our time in the town of Breckenridge as well. One of the things that we had heard about was the “Breckenridge Troll”, officially called Isak Heartstone, which is a giant wooden sculpture that has recently been relocated to near the ice skating arena. The creation is the work of Danish artist Thomas Dambo, who came back to Breckenridge to oversee the relocation of the piece of art. It is very large and dramatic.
Zip Lines
Shops and Restaurants in Breckenridge
The Breckenridge Troll
Historic Museum in Town
Alpine Slide
We also took the free gondola ride up to peak 8 where there are many activities for the entire family to enjoy, but especially children. There is a mountain rollercoaster, a zip line, maze, putt putt golf, as well as an alpine slide. For those that rent mountain bikes, there is a chair lift that will take you to the top of the mountain where you can ride down one of the many trails. Even though it was the middle of summer, there was still some snow on one of the ski runs for people to slide around and throw snowballs at each other. There are also a couple of restaurants to enjoy a cool refreshment and get a meal to keep your energy up for the activities.
Another Historic Building
Mountain Bikers Coming Down the Trail
Restaurant on Peak 8
River Running Through Town
Railroad Exhibit and Children’s Park
The town of Breckenridge is very walkable with many shops and restaurants along the streets, but there is also a free trolley that will take you throughout the area. Like most places in Colorado, the people are extremely friendly and very welcoming to tourists that arrive from all around the world. Another benefit of getting into the mountains during the summer is that the temperatures are much milder and it can even get a little cold in the evening. We really enjoyed our time in Breckenridge and found that it was certainly a wonderful place for people of all ages.
