Colonial Dining Establishments

While AHP Seminar registration includes meals on Friday and Saturday, you might want to know the dining options that Colonial Williamsburg offers. This post focuses on restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg or nearby. The town of Williamsburg offers a wide variety of 21st-century restaurants and food chains.

Williamsburg Taverns

In the 18th century, Williamsburg’s taverns provided comfortable lodgings for travelers as well as serving as places to gather for meals, conversation, and entertainment. Proprietors prided themselves on serving filling meals using the freshest ingredients. Today, Colonial Williamsburg’s historic dining taverns carry on these traditions by providing a relaxed and comfortable setting for diners to experience some of the flavor of the 18th century—through atmosphere, entertainments, and food.

*Please note that reservations are required for dinner. To make reservations, call (757) 229-2141 or 1-800-447-8679.

Christiana Campbell’s Tavern
George Washington was a faithful customer of this establishment known for Giving Satisfaction to Travelers and Townspeople with a Taste for Seafood.
Tuesday–Saturday
Dinner: from 5 p.m.* 

Chowning’s Tavern
Josiah Chowning opened his tavern in 1766 appealing to the “ordinary sort.” Popular lore asserts that the modern sandwich has its origin in the 18th century and was named after John Montagu, the fourth earl of Sandwich.
Monday–Sunday
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Dinner: from 5 p.m.*

Chowning’s Gambols
Experience an evening in an 18th-century alehouse! Join in rousing period sing-alongs and learn to play popular games of the day.
Gambols: from 9 p.m.

King’s Arms Tavern
The King’s Arms Tavern opened in 1772 and became one of the town’s most genteel establishments.
Thursday–Monday
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Dinner: from 5 p.m.*

Shields Tavern
In the early 1740s, James Shields assumed proprietorship of the tavern that his father-in-law had operated several decades earlier. Tavern guests dine on southern comfort foods inspired by “colonial receipts.”
Tuesday–Saturday
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Dinner: from 5 p.m.*

For menus and more dining information:
http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/diningExperience/


Colonial Williamsburg Hotel Restaurants

Williamsburg Inn

Williamsburg Lodge

Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel
Huzzah’s BBQ Grille
Monday and Wednesday through Saturday 5p.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Sunday and Tuesday
Second Street Restaurant
An award-winning bistro located only 5 minutes from the Woodlands.
Complimentary Daily Continental Breakfast Hotel Guests only

Merchant Square Shopping and Dining
http://www.merchantssquare.org/

Located adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area, Merchants Square is an 18th-century style retail village with over 40 shops and restaurants.
List of restaurants: http://www.merchantssquare.org/dining.html

NOTE: AHP attendees staying at the Woodlands Hotel will receive a “fifteen percent (15%) off” shopping coupon to be used at any official Colonial Williamsburg store located in the Historic Area Shops, Merchant’s Square Shops, Visitor Center and Resort shops (see coupon for details and participating stores).

Navigating Colonial Williamsburg

To experience Colonial Williamsburg, you will travel back in time to when the city was the thriving capital of Virginia. From 1699 to 1780, the dream of American freedom and independence was taking shape and Williamsburg was the political, cultural, and educational center of what was then the largest, most populous, and most influential of the American colonies. 

Near the end of the Revolutionary War, the capital of Virginia was moved to Richmond. For nearly 150 years, Williamsburg transformed from the bustling center of activity to a simple, quiet college town, home of the College of William and Mary.

In 1926, the Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, rector of Bruton Parish Church, shared his dream of preserving the city's historic buildings with philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. What began as a modest project to preserve a few of the more important buildings, progressed and expanded to include approximately 85 percent of the 18th-century capital's original area.

Surrounding the restored colonial capital is 21st-century town of Williamsburg. The only way to travel the main thoroughfare, Duke of Gloucester Street, is on foot, horseback, or by horse-drawn carriage as the street is not open to vehicle traffic. Vehicle parking is very limited in the Historic Area. The easiest way to get to the Historic Area is via the complimentary shuttle buses that travel between the Visitor Center and the Historic Area between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Fortunately for AHP seminar attendees, the Woodlands Hotel is next door to the Visitor Center.

There is also a 500 foot pedestrian bridge near the Visitor Center with a walking path to the Historic Area, a distance of approximately 2-3 blocks or .03 miles. But keep in mind that you will do a bit of walking around the Historic Area so you might want to make note of the bus stops in case you want to catch the shuttle bus back to the Visitor Center and hotel.

The Woodlands Hotel offers complimentary guest parking and having a car is handy if you need modern day conveniences, supplies, toiletries, or late night munchies, especially after hours. The Historic Area closes at 5:00 p.m., but the taverns and restaurants offer dinner hours. Late night entertainment seekers will have to venture outside the colonial boundaries. The Woodlands Hotel has one restaurant, HUZZAH’s, but it is closed Sunday and Tuesday and is only open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday through Saturday. There are a number of restaurants within a short distance of the hotel, but like I mentioned, that’s when having car is handy. During the seminar, meals will be provided on Friday and Saturday and the Woodlands Hotel offers a complimentary breakfast daily to hotel guests.

My recommendation would be to download the maps of the HistoricArea and the Williamsburg Area to provide you with an overview of the area. We’ve visited Colonial Williamsburg twice within the past two years and we were glad to have a car. On the other hand, I don’t think we ever took the same route twice back to the hotel. My advice is to be prepared to ask for directions until you get the lay of land or bring your horse.

Navigating Colonial Williamsburg will only be difficult if you try to keep a 21st-century pace in an 18th-century world.

Teeing Off in Williamsburg

It isn't because there is not enough to do in Colonial Williamsburg with the seminar and tours. However, if you love playing golf on different courses like horse people enjoy seeing horses in different parts of the country, well then you are in luck.

Judy's husband, Gary Lincoln, is an avid golfer and he provided this information for anyone who wants to say they golfed in Colonial Williamsburg.

The Golden Horseshoe Golf Club consists of three courses and is located approximately two miles from colonial Williamsburg. There are two 18-hole courses and one 9-hole executive course. The 18-hole courses are the Green and the Gold courses while the executive course is Spotwood. The rates included below are the conference rates.

The Gold course is very narrow and difficult to play. Average play is 4 hours 40 minutes for the 7120 year course because people spend extra time looking for their golf balls. According to the course manager, the Gold course can “eat you up.” The rate is $149 per round every day of the week.
The Green course is the course that is more often played by people attending conferences or on vacation. It plays in 4 hours. The rate is $89 Monday through Thursday and $95 Friday through Sunday.

For people looking to fit in a round around other activities, the Spotswood measuring 3746 yards is only $27.

All prices include the cart rental.

Tee times may be made up to 21 days in advance but may also be made the day before play.

For more information, check their website at www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/golf/index.dfm.

Hit them long and straight. Good Luck.

Nominate your “Great American Horse”

 

AHP MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO NOMINATE THEIR FAVORITE GREAT AMERICAN HORSE.

Nominations will be narrowed to a field of FIVE horses.

AHP "Ride Into History" attendees at HUZZAH! Hurray for Horses and Students Party on Friday, June 1 will VOTE for AHP's "Great American Horse."

 

CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION

Horse is deceased.

Horse must have been born in America.

Horse must have had a major impact on the horse world.

 

Nomination Deadline Date is MONDAY, APRIL 16

Submit nominations to Judy Lincoln at ahorsepubs2@aol.com