Dearest Gentle Reader,
If you’re already a Bridgeton fan, I hope this opening got your opulent, Regency Era wheels spinning. For the fandom, the Williamsburg area is the perfect place for a Bridgeton-inspired vacation—timeless elegance and romantic strolls easily spring to mind.
But even if you’re not a fan of the series, you’ll still find that Williamsburg (with its unique experiences and rich history) is a destination that will surely intrigue and excite you.
George and I stole away to Williamsburg for a romantic getaway and I can’t wait to share it all with you.
Here’s where we stayed: Williamsburg Inn, known for its elegance and iconic luxury, is one of the most elegant hotels I’ve ever seen. It was established by John R. Rockefeller in 1937 and boasts 62 expansive regency-styled rooms that will definitely make you feel like the Queen (or King of the castle).
The Williamsburg Inn is also part of Colonial Williamsburg Resorts, which includes several other fabulous places to stay, including the Williamsburg Lodge, The Griffin Hotel, Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites, and The Colonial Houses.
Here’s what we did:
I really wanted our Bridgeton getaway to feel authentic, but timely. Bridgerton (although fictional) evokes the Regency Era, so I wanted to embrace the history and cultural richness that Williamsburg embodies. My husband is a big history buff and really appreciated that, too.
We visited two museums:
The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown is a living history museum with immersive galleries and outdoor recreations, where we lucked out with a cannon-firing demonstration.
The Art Museums of Williamsburg features colorful and whimsical folk art along with an extensive selection of decorative arts. It also had a fashion and music exhibition (very Bridgerton-ish, I might add). You can visit the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum of Colonial Williamsburg or the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.
We also took a Secrets and Untold Stories (walking) Tour of Colonial Williamsburg with Junket Tours, where we learned some very interesting tidbits about the prominent historical figures who lived there (our guide was an excellent storyteller). Speaking of stories, they offer a Ghost Tour too. I am hoping to visit again in the fall for that one. Shivers.
And of course we stopped by Tarpley, Thompson & Co. in Merchants Square for a little shopping. The icing on the fruit-covered Bridgerton Sponge Cake was when we were able to transform ourselves by trying on 18th-century clothing (pictured above). It couldn’t have been more fun.
We also went to the Gabriel Archer Tavern at the Williamsburg Winery for lunch and had a Reserve Wine Tour in the cellar room. This was not your average tasting; it was definitely a royal experience made even more enchanting by our outgoing Sommelier, Matt. Fun fact: George and I were married at the winery over a decade ago, but the Reserve Wine Tour was a new venture for us.
We completed our trip with a self-guided tour of Historic Jamestowne which was just as scenic as it was intriguing. We learned about the early struggles of the English settlers and the arrival of the first Africans in 1619.
Where we dined:
If you have been following my travel guides, you know that the culinary scene ranks very high on my list when traveling. There isn’t anything that I love more than a decadent, memorable meal on my vacations. Colonial Williamsburg (and the neighboring Riverwalk Landing & Historic Yorktown Village) offered many palate-pleasing meals in inviting settings.
We had lunch at Umi Sushi, which not only serves the best rolls (get the Yorktown Roll and thank me later) but also has a warm and welcoming atmosphere where George and I made a few new friends.
Riverwalk Restaurant is where I enjoyed the most succulent scallops and a refreshing Aperol Spritz while dining al fresco just off of the shore.
The Gold Course Clubhouse Grill had a spectacular view of the famous Gold Course at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club and a vegetarian French dip that I’d seriously make another trip for. Fat Canary is a culinary delight and a must-add to your list. Your trip also wouldn’t be complete without an exquisite dinner there. The Cheese Shop is right next door serving up tasty sandwiches that are deserving of the line snaking around the shelves of gourmet spreads and treats.
We had an elegant multi-course dinner in the Rockefeller Room, which had the most refined service I’ve ever experienced. The meal was just as impressive.
And we enjoyed a lovely breakfast at the Terrace Room; both of the aforementioned dining options are nestled inside the Williamsburg Inn.
It really was an enchanting trip where I got to bring my Bridgerton dreams to light while also delving into our colonial history with the British.
And last but not least, we did some things we always love doing on vacation:
We golfed at the Golden Horseshoe Green Course and not only enjoyed 9 rounds of golf to start our day but met a gentleman from North Carolina who golfed with us and has been traveling to Williamsburg annually over the past 25 years.
We shopped at the Williamsburg Farmers Market, which was bustling with both vendors and patrons. At the Chef's Tent, we had shrimp gumbo cooked for us, and we browsed the varied vendor booths. The market is open on Saturdays from March to December.
We visited the spa which always makes our list, but this time we visited the Salt Cave at The Williamsburg Salt Spa together. George was very impressed and relaxed after our session there.
It was a beautiful, romantic trip that I’d highly recommend exploring. A friend on Instagram reached out during my stories and mentioned wanting to do a Bridgerton-themed birthday trip. It would be perfect for that as well. Colonial Williamsburg also offers carriage rides, which would definitely have been on theme.
And of course, it’s family-friendly as well. I hope you visit Williamsburg soon and when you do I can’t wait to hear how much you enjoyed it, too.
By the way, I love Colonial Williamsburg's mission: “That the future may learn from the past.”
Yours Truly,
Tonya Parker
