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Virginia's Historic Triangle: The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary


Welcome to The Historic Triangle in Virginia! This refers to a region encompassing three of the state’s most significant historical sites: Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. These locations are integral to early American history and represent key events in the colonial period and the American Revolution!


HOW MANY DAYS?

I recommend 3 days to see it all, so you can dedicate one day to each city. If you have more time, you could see it at a slower place and revisit spots you really enjoyed.


WHERE TO STAY:

I recommend staying in Williamsburg, as they have the most accommodations and is centrally located.


Either way, here is my perfect 3-day itinerary.



DAY 1 - Yorktown


9am American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

Tickets: $20 for adults

This museum is open from 9-5pm daily. It explores the American Revolution, has an outdoor portion with the Continental Army Encampment and a Revolution-era Farm with interpreters.


Bring your lunch or have it in the 1781 cafe (open 9am-5pm) at the Museum.


12pm Yorktown Battlefield

Tickets: $15 for adults, or National Parks pass

Arrive at the Battlefield Visitors Center, open from 9-5pm and purchase your ticket for the driving tour of the battlefield. You download the Yorktown app, follow the red arrows, and you can get out and walk at the stops as well. There is also an additional tour of the Allied Camp Tour, follow the yellow arrows.


Historic Yorktown

1pm Little York Confectionery

This adorable shop is open from 10-5pm, but closed Monday & Tuesday. They have homemade chocolates, candy and ice cream. (For vegans: They had one vegan bon bon and one flavor of sorbet.)


1:30pm Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters and Petite Cafe

This super cute coffee shop is open from 9-4pm. They roast their own beans so their coffee is actually really good! We even got a decaf pumpkin spice latte with oat milk, and it was delicious! (They even have gf and one vegan pastry)


2pm Historic Main Street Tour

Using the Yorktown app, take a walk along Main Street and check out some of the historic buildings still standing today. The app plays the historical facts as you walk along.

Stops:

The Old Custom House (c.1720)

Nelson House

Dudley Diggs House

Yorktown Victory Monument - Memorial column with a liberty statue on top that commemorated the1781 battle and peace treaties.


3:30pm Take a walk along the Riverwalk Landing

This is the picturesque red brick walkway that takes you along the shore.


3:45pm Check out Cornwallis’ Cave

This "cave" was used to store food & munitions during Civil War. Legend has it that Cornwallis hid in here during the battle of Yorktown.


4:00pm Admire the Yorktown Beach

This is a beautiful sandy beach located on the York River with a huge bridge in the background. It has a 4.5 rating on google.


4:30pm Stop in at the Yorktown Pub

This local pub is open from 11am-11pm. Large drink selection and seafood.


6:00pm Grab Dinner at:

Umi Sushi

This is a Japanese eatery open from 11:30am-7:30pm, closed Sun-Tues. They have veggie sushi options for vegans.


7pm Dessert at Ben & Jerry’s

This is an ice cream shop open from 11-11pm. They have non-dairy options.


If you'd like to watch my full day in Yorktown, you can here:


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DAY 2 - Williamsburg



9am Arrive at Colonial Williamsburg

Tickets: $37.50 for adults

Annual Pass: $75 for adults

Colonial Williamsburg is open from 9-5pm daily. I recommend getting there right when they open and staying the whole day! There is so much to see and do, you don't want to miss anything. If you live in Virginia, I recommend getting the annual pass as it makes up for the cost if you go twice in 1 year. You will want to go back once you've been once, there is just so much to see and do!


My Best 10 Tips for Visiting Williamsburg:


Lunch: I recommend going to a restaurant in the downtown area. It is so cute and has tons of shops too! One of our favorites is Mellow Mushroom (110 S Henry St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, open daily 11am-10pm) because they have vegan pizza and you can dine outside.


Dinner: 

I recommend getting a reservation (they accept walk-ups too) at the Christiana Campbell's Tavern (101 S Waller St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, 4-8pm, closed Sun & Mon). It has that colonial charm and theming for Williamsburg, as well as great food and great servers. We loved the live harp music and the tasty food!


If you have time in the evening after dinner, I also recommend taking a Ghost Tour called Haunted Williamsburg (https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/events/haunted-williamsburg/) through Colonial Williamsburg themselves. You can get the tickets at one of the ticket offices there.


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DAY 3 - Jamestown



9am Arrive at Jamestown Settlement

Tickets: $20 for adults

Jamestown Settlement is a living-history museum in Williamsburg, Virginia, that tells the story of America’s first permanent English colony, established in 1607. It’s part museum, part living history. After wandering the museum head outside to see a recreated Powhatan Indian Village, James Fort and two of the ships the settlers arrived on, the Godspeed and Discovery.


Open daily from 9-5pm and located near the original historic Jamestowne site, Jamestown Settlement is a must-visit for history buffs, families, and anyone curious about the roots of American history!


Bring lunch or have it at the Jamestown Cafe (open 9am-5pm daily) located inside the museum.



Arrive at 1:30pm Historic Jamestowne

Tickets: $15 for adults

Inside the Vault Tour: $30 for adults

Historic Jamestowne is the original site of the first permanent English settlement in North America, established in 1607. Located on Jamestown Island in Virginia, it is part of the Colonial National Historical Park and operated jointly by the National Park Service and the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation. This site offers a deep dive into the early history of America, focusing on the real stories and archaeological evidence of the settlement.


Must-Visit:

James Fort: Archaeologists have uncovered the foundation of the original 1607 fort, along with numerous artifacts that tell the story of the settlers' daily lives. The site also includes the ruins of a 17th-century church tower, one of the oldest standing structures from the colonial era.

The Archaearium: This on-site museum displays thousands of artifacts found at Jamestown.



Inside the Vault Tour:

Tickets: $30 for adults

They only do this tour once a month but it is incredible! They take you behind the scenes to the archeology lab. You get to see the conservation and collections projects in progress, plus many exclusive items. This tour was amazing & I learned so much.


Dinner:

Billsburg Brewery

This is a local brewery open from 11am-10pm daily with amazing water views. They normally have 1-2 food trucks on site for food.



I hope you found this itinerary helpful! There are more blogs on my website about other spots around Virginia, as well as Richmond tips.


You can also follow me on YouTube for my travel videos or Instagram for daily updates. Feel free to DM me with any questions! Have a great trip!


💚Lauren Z Ray

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