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I’ve gone stand-up paddle-boarding from the marina and, a long time ago, sunbathed on the beach.
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We love Retro’s Good Eats on Prince George Street, too, where the custard is amazing.
Hans Christian Andersen said, “Just living is not enough ... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” And that’s spring in Williamsburg: touches of sunshine, freedom to get away, flowers budding and trees blooming, the strong wind blowing away the stale dust of winter.
Like many Williamsburg residents, I landed here from the frozen tundra of the North (aka Ohio), where spring is just another word for cold, snow, freezing rain, and … more snow—but not here, not in Williamsburg, where spring sets us free to kayak, bike, jog, kick, to our heart’s content.
Here are a few of my family’s favorite outdoor spaces in Williamsburg:
The DoG Street Walk (and Retro’s Custard)
A walk in the historic area, followed by ice cream. For our family of five, it’s a go-to outdoor excursion. We love Retro’s Good Eats on Prince George Street too, where the custard is amazing Sometimes, when our walk makes us hungrier, we have a ton of other tasty menu choices. Hello fried pickles and fresh-squeezed limeade!
Waller Mill
Hankering for time on the water? Head to Waller Mill, where there are a number of choices: kayaking, paddle boats, and rowboats. I’ve put a fussy toddler in a kayak and had him suddenly go silent from the startling movement, calm, and nature that surrounds us. The park is also home to Williamsburg’s local dog park and, if you cross the bridge, a number of playground and picnic sites hidden in the woods.
Colonial Parkway
There’s a reason tourists visiting our area drive so slowly on the Colonial Parkway. Let’s face it. It’s just so visually appealing and so rare to have a paved road through a national park, with views of two of the most historic rivers in America.
In the past I’ve chosen different little pull-offs on the parkway to write my annual birthday letter to myself. I took my dogs to play on the beach. We’ve brought a picnic and watched the boats go by. I’ve gone stand-up paddle-boarding from the marina and, a long time ago, sunbathed on the beach. I’ve taken my middle son on a kayaking trip where he screamed that every piece of floating reed we encountered was a “SNAKE, Mom! Snake!”
4H Club on the River
Did you know the little gravel road off the end of Centerville leads to a stunning piece of property on the James River? The sunset is glorious! Even if the weather is bad (as it was for the annual Kiwanis Shrimp Feast last year), that location is still worth visiting.
City Square
You may know the spot but have never heard of its name: City Square. It’s nestled between the Williamsburg Regional Library’s Scotland Street location, and the new Stryker Building.
It has a foundation of sculptures, the Frenchman’s map, and an open-air pavilion covered with wisteria vines. The first days of spring are perfect for sitting in the center of town and watching the world go by. Grab a book from the library and sit outside in a chair and enjoy the day.
WISC
As many Williamsburg parents can relate, I sometimes feel that I spend my whole spring and summer life at WISC (the Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex). But in the winter, I drive by the vacant baseball fields and the foggy soccer fields and dream of them full of kids playing in the sunshine. There are also basketball courts, a football field, lacrosse fields, a running trail, and at least two playgrounds. It’s a great way to get kids familiar with sports they are interested in, whether it’s just watching a baseball game you have no affiliation with, or signing up for a soccer league. Seriously, if you ever wondered why the town seems so quiet Saturday morning, it’s not people sleeping in; they’re at the soccer field.
Freedom Park
A partially covered playground for kids with an adjacent picnic pavilion, walking and biking trails, and Go Ape. That’s the heart of Freedom Park. The local scoop on that spot? Many people don’t know there are reconstructed historic cabins and well-maintained botanical gardens for all to enjoy, not to mention the secret paths and trails that your longtime Williamsburg friends might share with you if you ask.