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Colonial Williamsburg is a wonderful travel destination with plenty of historical charm & intrigue – but unfortunately you may have a kid who doesn’t exactly appreciate history yet. So does that mean you shouldn’t take a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia with kids? I say absolutely not! There are definitely enough fun things for kids to do in Williamsburg, and I’ve made a list of a specific 30 activities kids can enjoy.
Busch Gardens: Your kid will definitely love a day (or multiple days) at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. There are multiple sections & attractions aimed just for kids, like:
Land of the Dragons: A whimsical mythological land with a lot of of play areas and rides for kids – and much needed benches for adults. Attractions include:
- Tree House & climbing nets: Children can explore the treehouse and play on the rope obstacle course (a really great way for kids with extra energy)
- Flutter Sputter: You and your child can fly on your dragon
- Eggery Deggery: A pint-sized ferris wheel
- Chug-A-Tug: A kiddie boat
- Bug-A-Dug: Spin around on the wings of a ladybug
- Brooks Play Area: Kids can splash around in the water play area
Sesame Street Forest of Fun: Another great area for kids at Busch Gardens, this one with a Sesame Street theme, with the following activities:
- Grover’s Alpine Express: A fun ride where you and your kids can swoosh through snow-capped mountains along with Grover
- Bert & Ernie’s Loch Adventure: A flume adventure for kids
- Prince Elmo’s Spire: A children-sized shot-n-drop tower
- Oscar’s Whirly Worms: A rock-n-tug ride
- Oscar’s Yucky Forest: A playground where kids can play and explore
- Elmo’s Castle: A water play area that’s perfect on hot days!
There are other great attractions throughout the rest of Busch’s Gardens themed areas (Italy, Germany, etc.):
- Der Autobahn Jr: Bumper car fun for kids
- Der Roto Baron: Pre-school kids will love flying this World War I fighter plane
- Li’l Clydes: Kids can ride the world famous Clydesdales on a carousel style ride
- Elephant Run: A bobsled ride sized down for your kid and you to enjoy
- The Little Balloons: Watch your kid float up & down on this fun children’s ride
- The Little Gliders: Kids love this flying machine ride
- Wirbelwindchen: A child-size version of the classic swing ride
Water Country USA: Williamsburg, Virginia can get very hot over the summer, and a water park can be the perfect remedy to cool off. If you’re worried that only older children will enjoy Water Country USA because it has a lot of thrill rides (which it does), you don’t have to because there are actually three water play areas.
- H20 UFO: A water play area your kid will think is out of this world
- Cow-A-Bunga: Another water play area for children, this one cow-themed
- Kritter Korral: Another water play area for kids, this one with a sea theme
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum & 4D Theater, conveniently located on Richmond Road, has a variety of fun activities kids will love.
- Odditorium: Your kid will be wowed by the over 350 exhibits & artifacts found at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
- 4-D Theater: Watch a fun 3-D movie (like Angry Birds, Dino Island II or WInter Wipeout) with 4D qualities, meaning you’ll blasted with air, misted with water, your legs will feel tickled, etc.
- Mini-Golf: Catfish Cove Mini Golf has 18 fun yet challenging holes throughout waterfalls & ponds.
Colonial Williamsburg: I couldn’t get through this list without mentioning Colonial Williamsburg, could I? Here are some of the best activities for kids I’ve found is available at Colonial Williamsburg (and if you want the best prices for Colonial Williamsburg admission, use Reserve Williamsburg).
- DIG! Kids, Dirt & Discovery: A hands on program for kids which provides a brief introduction to archeology. Great for curious kids who like to explore and don’t mind getting their hands dirty!
- Ghost Walk: Does your kid like ghost stories but you worry it will be too scary? Well, Colonial Williamsburg has multiple options for ghost walks, from a Junior Ghost Walk for ages 4 to 7 years old, the Official Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Walk for ages 8 and up and Ghosts Among Us which is recommended for ages 13 and older (though when I went on this ghost tour, there were kids who went and were not too scared – use your own discretion, but if your kid isn’t easily scared I think they would be fine on this tour; otherwise, stick to the other ghost tours).
- The Goat in the Rug: Kids can enjoy a weaving craft activity at the art museum exhibit “Navajo Weavings: Tradition and Trade.”, included in your art museum admission
- Halloween Party: This is obviously seasonal, but the Haunting on DoG Street is a great Halloween event for the whole family where you’ll see haunting horsemen, the return of Blackbeard & his band of pirates, a haunted auction at Raleigh Tavern, a Pumpkin Patch Dance Party with live music & trick-or-treating around Colonial Williamsburg!
- July 4th: This is again obviously seasonal, but you can enjoy the 4th of July on the historic Duke of Gloucester Street where there will be hands-on activities for kids, musical performances & great fireworks to top off the night.
