Resort on Former Plantation Close to Historic District
“Caesar had his Brutus, Charles his Cromwell, and George III may profit by their examples.” These fighting words were uttered by Patrick Henry over cries of “treason” as he denounced British tyranny during a Virginia assembly in 1765. Instead of being arrested, however, he went on to catalyze the American Revolution. You can still listen to Patrick Henry debate colonial rights today—sort of—at Williamsburg’s reconstructed brick capitol building. This Patrick Henry is an actor, of course, one of several appearing in daily historical reenactments in the historic district, where visitors can see sophisticated representations of daily life in the colony and in pre-colonial Native American tribes.
About 5 miles west you’ll find Greensprings Vacation Resort on the grounds of a former plantation. It’s a good home base for exploring the area’s historic attractions, but there’s also plenty to do onsite. You can take advantage of floodlighted tennis courts and indoor and outdoor pools.
The resort sits right next door to the Williamsburg National Golf Club, which has a Jack Nicklaus–designed course hailed by Golf Digest as one of the 10 best courses you can play in Virginia.
Williamsburg, Virginia: Art and Entertainment in Historic Colonial Town
Part of the Historic Triangle of Virginia (along with Jamestown and Yorktown), Williamsburg was the capital of the colony and it played a central role during the American Revolution—American forces gathered here in 1781 to march to Yorktown for the war’s final battle. The city pays homage to this patriotic past with a living museum where fifers march in Revolutionary War regalia and costumed actors portray everyday colonists. Historians have carefully preserved and restored dozens of 18th-century structures within the town; buildings of note include the opulent Governor’s Palace, built in 1722 to house the British governor, and the residential home of George Wythe, the first Virginian to sign the Declaration of Independence. Yorktown Battlefield is only a short drive east; here, park rangers tell the story of the Revolutionary War’s final siege.
Back in Williamsburg, the 18th-century-style boutiques along Merchants Square sell everything from whimsical toys to hand-cooked Virginia peanuts. In addition to its historic sites, Williamsburg boasts a thriving artistic community, with original folk art and paint-by-number self-portraits of the Founding Fathers displayed at several galleries and art exhibits throughout the city.
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