One of the things I like about living in Williamsburg is that it’s easy to find interesting things to do and equally easy to access them. I lived in Fairfax County, Virginia, for the first 50 years of my life. I’m not a Northern Virginia basher – it was a great place to live and raise my family, with first-class public schools and proximity to Washington, DC, where I went to graduate school, worked for several years and always enjoyed visiting (still do). But because the options for fun and recreation were so vast, it was hard to figure out what to do and then even harder to figure out how to get there.
In Williamsburg, the options are more limited, but it’s easy to figure out what they are and then prioritize them. This is what the story on the front page of today’s newspaper did – it provided a short list of ways to celebrate Mother’s Day that are close by and don’t require the investment of an enormous amount of time or money (although some of them are a little too pricy for my blood). Here are some things you can do:
Williamsburg Winery
There will be a Mother’s Day brunch here from 11-4:30, with live music from 2-5 pm. At $75.00 per person (kids eat for $45.00), this is not a cheap option, but it may be worth a splurge in honor of your Mom. This is a 15-minute drive from my house. If there’s heavy traffic, it may take 18 minutes.
Kingsmill Resort
The Kingsmill Resort (operated independently of the gated community of Kingsmill) is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch from 11-4 ($65.00 per person). You can also arrange a golf package or a spa appointment to pamper Mom. This is 20 minutes from my house. You’ll have to go through the security gate to get to the resort, but just tell the guards where you’re going and they’ll let you pass.
Williamsburg Inn
This is another Mother’s Day brunch, from 10-1:30. This one is also $75.00 per person ($32.00 for kids). You can also access two golf courses or relax at the spa. This is 15 minutes from my house.
Williamsburg Botanical Garden and Freedom Park Arboretum
This does not offer brunch, but it has the advantage of being free. You can bring a picnic if you want to eat. This park encompasses 600 acres of wooded land, with native plants, herbs, and wildflowers in the botanical garden. The park is open from 7 am – 7 pm every day. This is also 15 minutes from my house, and the route is free of stoplights or even any significant traffic. This location is not just the site of outdoor amenities; it was the home of one of the nation’s earliest Free Black Settlements in America from 1803-1850, and the park features three historically accurate recreated cabins furnished with items authentic to the period.
If your Mom is the adventurous sort, you can accompany her on the Treetop Adventure at “Go Ape,” a feature of the park. For $65.00, Mom can experience 2-3 hours of excitement, including 42-foot-high tree-to-tree crossings, long zip lines, and Tarzan swings. The more sedate Treetop Journey is only one hour long, with lesser heights and shorter ziplines ($35.00 a pop). Or you can take her axe-throwing ($19.95 an hour). As one does.
Jamestown Discovery boat tours
You can cruise around the James River on a guided boat tour. There are several themed tours on the days leading up to and following Mother’s Day, including sunset cruises and sightseeing tours. You can also book a private charter for Sunday. The website provides information about additional options – a Haunted Jamestown cruise, a Murder cruise, and a live entertainment sunset cruise. Cruises last an hour and cost around $30.00 per person, depending on which cruise you pick. The marina where these cruises begin is 5 minutes from my house. It has the advantage of being the location of Billsburg Brewery, so that’s another option for after your cruise.
Williamsburg Salt Spa
You can treat Mom to a salt therapy treatment at this spa. She can take advantage of several varieties of massages, a float tank, an infrared sauna, or a salt cave during her visit. To be honest, I don’t know what most of these things are but they sound interesting. I’ll just add this to the list of things I don’t understand. Costs vary, depending on the services you choose. This is 10 minutes from my house.
Axe Republic
What’s with the axe throwing? This is another place to celebrate Mother’s Day, because Moms throw for free on Mother’s Day. Good to know. For $30.00, you can reserve 75 minutes of throwing, including education/training from an AXEPERT (that’s what the website says).
They serve a variety of beers and munchies, although the rules say that you cannot throw while intoxicated. Good rule. You can join a competitive axe-throwing league (meets on Wednesdays). This is 15 minutes from my house. I have to confess I have never been here.
The article offers other options: taking a stroll through Colonial Williamsburg (15 minutes), hanging out at Jamestown Beach Event Park (2 miles away), or taking a drive along the Colonial Parkway to Historic Yorktown for a Mother’s Day Brunch at Riverwalk Restaurant or simply taking a walk along the beach (20 miles).
My mother’s been gone for over a decade, and my kids don’t live near me (although I’ll hear from them). But it’s still Mother’s Day and we’ll probably do something pleasant. I don’t think it will be axe-throwing or shelling out for an expensive brunch that’s wouldn’t be healthy for either of us. But maybe we’ll go to the Arboretum (although I don’t think we’ll be doing any sort of treetop adventure). It’s close by and we haven’t been there. This will be a good time to go.
Happy Mother’s Day to you and yours. If you still have your Mom, reach out to her and hug her tight if you can. If your Mom’s gone, hug the other Moms in your life.
Thanks, Karen! Happy Mothers Day to you!!
Axe throwing doesn't ring my bell, but zip line! oh, yeah!! love them. Did not know the 'burg had one. Will have to do that soon - before the hoards descend in June. Thanks for the tip. And Happy Mother's Day.