Families rave about visiting both the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art and the DeWitt Wallace Museums. Both museums are located inside a building that once housed mentally ill patients. Abby, the wife of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., was an avid collector of folk art and left a fascinating museum brimming with items kids love to see including antique dollhouses and period toys. Kids will also discover small hands-on activities like drawing projects scattered throughout the museums. Two particularly kid-friendly exhibits are Down on the Farm (follow the story of a wooden dog on his adventures) and Sidewalks to Rooftops: Outdoor Folk Art (cool items that kids enjoy).
For teens look for a special audio tour written and recorded by teenagers called "Teen Takes: A New Angle on Art."
The DeWitt Wallace museum offers two great exhibits for kids called Crack the Code involving real codes used by George Washington and Conservation: Where Art and Science Meet explaining the myriad ways museum objects are preserved through time.
Colonial Williamsburg Attractions
Colonial Williamsburg Attractions
 | Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art and DeWitt Walla 326 West Francis Street Williamsburg, VA • 757-220-7693 Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Animals in Colonial Williamsburg Scattered throughout the historical neighborhood Colonial Williamsburg, VA If your kids, like mine, adore animals they'll be excited to hear that Colonial Williamsburg is home to many fur people -- pampered and protected ones at that. As you walk the Historic Area take a close look at the animals living in the pastures. Belonging to Colonial Williamsburg's Rare Breeds program that begun in 1986 to preserve genetic diversity in livestock, breeds include Leicester Longwool sheep, American Cream Draft horses and America Milking Red Devons. These rare breeds have fewer than 200 animals registered annually in North America. The signature animals of Colonial Williamsburg are those gentle giants trip-tropping through the streets pulling period replica carriages behind. Not rare, but just as wonderful are the well mannered dogs on leashes (locals, I presumed) who are on every street in Colonial Williamsburg walking their well-mannered people. Dogs are allowed on the streets, but can't enter the buildings. And, Molly, a kitty adopted when she was just six weeks old, calls a behind-the-scenes barn home. She might grace you with her presence if you take the Bits & Bridles tour (great for horse-loving-kids or children ages ten and up). Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Carriage Rides Colonial Williamsburg, VA Not that I was in the running, but I lost any shot I had at the Mother of the Year award when, after my boys looked at the carriage rides and politely asked if they could take one, I yammered on about the meaning of a dollar. And now I look back in regret. Compare how often your kids ride a roller coaster to how often they ride like the colonial kids did? Apparently most parents don't make the mistake I did. Carriage rides are popular and fill fast -- reservations required. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Costume Rentals Colonial Williamsburg, VA Kids love to dress up especially in period clothing -- and in Colonial Williamsburg you've hit the mother lode! Boys and girls receive a detailed costume and plenty of admiring smiles as they wear it all day long through the Historical Area. Children's costume rentals are available daily in the Visitor Center's Costume Rental Center and at the booths on Market Square. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Courthouse Colonial Williamsburg, VA Every morning an exciting "Order in the Court" session presents a fun interpretation that audience members can participate in. These sessions are popular so arrive early. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Fife & Drum Parade Colonial Williamsburg, VA The Fife & Drum Parade is a lump-in-the-throat experience for parents and a gleeful sight for the kids. Every day the Fife and Drum Corps parades up the Duke of Gloucester Street streaming music into the air old-fashioned style with rousing drums and high-pitched wooden flutes. Visitor participation is encouraged so don't be shy, start marching! Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Governor's Palace Palace Green Street & Scotland Street Northern End of Palace Green Colonial Williamsburg, VA Impressive architecture, beautiful gardens, period replica antiques -- adults love to tour this grand Palace. For kids, the best part of the Palace is checking out the foyer where the most impressive display of firearms criss-cross the walls and ceiling. Originally installed as a display of power on the part of the British King, today it's truly a wonder to behold. A tour of the Palace can get long for kids, so ducking out early and heading for the maze in the back might make the overall visit more successful. With six foot tall walls, a maze lies behind the Governor's Palace. Exciting short cuts and steep steps to climb in the far back to the ice house kids delight in running this maze. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Grand Medley of Entertainments Kimball Theater -- Located in Merchant's Square Duke of Gloucester Street between Boundary & Henry Streets Colonial Williamsburg, VA A fun variety show with silly comedy, skits and jokes. Ideal for elementary aged kids but even three- and four-year-olds will enjoy the antics. Arrive early to score a good seat for the performance. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Patriots from the Past Colonial Williamsburg, VA Interpretive programming is one of the highlights of a visit to Colonial Williamsburg. My family had the chance to listen to General George Washington speak just before the Yorktown Battle. The man we've seen in pictures our entire lives gracing school room walls came to life. Fiery, commanding and no-nonsense Washington answered audience questions. Sometimes audience members had a tough time remembering that the Washington before us was the man preparing for battle at Yorktown in the fall of 1781. One audience member used the term "founding father" in her question. Washington curtly replied, "I do not know the term you refer to, Madam." Later we somehow scored a front row seat (in front of the Capitol) for Benedict Arnold's passionate speech. Actors and actresses positioned in the audience hurled insults at the traitor and the traitor yelled right back at them. Don't miss an opportunity to see any of the top-notch interpreters including Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Public Gaol Nicholson Street Colonial Williamsburg, VA Not the place you'd want to find yourself in colonial times, but an interesting visit today -- especially for kids. The colonist spelled it "gaol," but pronounced it "jail" as we do. Debtors, runaway slaves and the mentally ill spent time in the Gaol. During the Revolutionary War, tories (American who supported the British), spies, military prisoners, and traitors were imprisoned here. Blackbeard's pirates were also held in the gaol before they faced the gallows. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Special Programs for Kids Colonial Williamsburg, VA Families are welcome all year long at Colonial Williamsburg, but in the summertime the Historic Area caters to kids with fun programs and activities. For example -- this July and August 2011 only -- Colonial Williamsburg is offering a free program for the kids called RevQuest. In the Historic Area, at the sign of the rhinoceros, kids unlock clues that help save the Revolution. Kids begin the game at home online, and continue to play once at Colonial Williamsburg. Through interaction with "spies" in the Historic Area and text messaging at certain stops, kids are led to secret hiding places, decipher codes, and listen to spy stories. RevQuest is open to any guest with a Colonial Williamsburg admission pass. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12) |
 | Trade Shops Found throughout the Historical Area Colonial Williamsburg, VA Teens and adults easily dive into absorbing discussions with the trade folk of Colonial Williamsburg -- the printer and binder, the carpenter, the apothecary and so many more. Kids can be another story. The key to helping your kids enjoy the trade shops is to take a moment before you enter the shop and help your child connect to what they're about to see. Share why the horses had to wear shoes and how the blacksmith made it possible for the horse to be such a functional part of colonial life. Or ask your child to remember last year's Easter basket -- and then ask him or her to imagine that in the colonial days baskets were an important part of life and every person in the family would weave strong baskets by hand, even the children. Other trade shops attractive to kids are the brick maker, the wig maker, the cabinetmaker and the milliner. Keep your visits short and sweet. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
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