Editor's Note #1 - I couldn't separate the "Colonial Williamsburg" links by location - I guess they were in the ground floor of Website domain names, check it out: http://www.history.org/

July 15, 1966

.......But we went down to the Motor Inn Cafeteria by the Information Center and had five good dinners that were fairly inexpensive as Williamsburg goes . Then we went to see the introductory film that is history-
......Then we took the bus to stop # 1 and walked to the Brush- Everard house where they had the candles lit, though it was still twilight. We walked around as Kai had discovered the Archibald Blair house that was being restored - she went through the back
gardens. Then we went to the Conference Center by the Williamsburg Lodge and saw two movies -first one about a boy printer and the other about the restoration, starting with 1927 scenes - most interesting- Williamsburg must have been rather dreadful. (our friend Paul Houck from Westfield Historical Society had been a young architect there.) Came back and bob, Kai, and Robbo went swimming - had to call up to get our rollaway.
...... Tomorrow at 8:30AM the fife and drum corps are playing at the market place- we may or may not make it.

July 16, 1966

Made it to the Fife & Drum - it was interesting to hear the different beats of
communication. Marched seven or eight flags with music - but no N.J. Then to
breakfast.
Editor's note #2: We always had a "real complex" (to quote a 60's term) about being from New Jersey. Back then we were 8 million people who were never even mentioned on TV news broadcasts emanating from NYC or Phila.
This will probably be known in history as,

"THE DAY THAT MOTHER WAS LOST IN THE MAZE."

Graphic Courtesy of P.D. Eastman, Author of the Greatest Book Ever Written,

"GO DOG, GO!"

......We all were traveling together - happily viewed the gunsmith, the Capitol. Our goal was to leave having taken the standard stocks picture and we managed to all stay together through the Raleigh Tavern where we bought gingerbread. At the printer and bookbinders Rob and I were getting behind and when we found a boy making paper we had to see it! ......Kai met us but the message of where to meet was garbled. So we proceeded in triplicate to the Palace Green - the Wythe House looked uncrowded so we whipped in there - and it’s really the nicest of all. Kai went out first having admired the crewel work - suddenly Robbo rushed out saying, “ I see two familiar people in the garden.” By the timeI got out I saw no one. I checked the blacksmith’s and went back to the Palace, where I thought I’d meet them in the maze. But Kai and Rob were waiting for me somewhere in the Wythe garden and considerably relieved to see each other. They eventually met Daddy and Nan.
......I emerged from the Palace and grounds with the information that 3000 people would go through today. Went outside and sat, then went to Chownley’s and the Magazine to continue the search, then back to the Green. I decided to go leave a note on the car at the information center and go to the Folk Art Collection.
......So I dated it quarter of 1 and put it under the windshield wiper. As reconstructed - they went up to look in the car for me but Nancy missed the note as she was looking only for me. About 3 PM, I decided I had seen the Folk Art so I left a note with a very nice man at the museum to say that I would sit on the Green until found. They apparently made another trip back to the car. They obviously trailed me to the museum just after I left (1/2 hour?) and while Karen was upstairs in the museum looking at the wooden statue of Andrew Jackson commissioned by Mr. Kelly of Boston when the man gave her the famous note.
.......I was a bear who was very glad to see them when they came up the middle of the green. So we all went to Chownings Tavern and waited for a table- well worth it- Bob had Ale and a crock of cheese with “ snippets” and the rest of us had absolutely wonderful Apple- Pye and Cyder. Karen was the only mouse who had cheese with it- the rest had ice cream. Since the food is so good at both the cafeteria and the Chownings Tavern I would guess that the King’s Arms and the Christiana Campbell do have food that is worth going for.
......Chownings Tavern reminded us of the Cheshire Cheese in London - same high backed booths. The Abby Aldrich Rockerfeller Museum was well done - fascinating things. A collection of Pennsylvania Dutch birth certificates in “fraktur” - Several Edward Hicks “Peaceable Kingdom’s”, lots of primitive portraits and weathervanes, including a butterfly.

July 17th, 1966

.......The Thomas Nelson Motel was most satisfactory - best round ice cubes, too. Some slept late - started out at about 9 (?) . The breakfast places were few and far between - the only one that looked like anything was just over the Hampton Bridge-Tunnel and we whizzed by and got lost, mostly in South Norfolk. We passed the Great Dismal Swam on Rte 17 and ate at “ Vicki Villa” restaurant (motel) in Elizabeth City, N.C. Hominy grits were the side dish. Everybody was so cross with hunger that it was delightful to find Vicki Villa- what a name-and they had lacy iron grillwork. And the food was good. Saw the edge of the Dismal Swamp - and its canal.
 

Admissions

VSM98- First time I felt rich enough to pay admissions - 1rst trip when Nancy as a baby we decided we could afford just the Palace - and she of course slept on the sofa attended by “the ladies”. She was only 3 months old.
1994 For just the houses along the James we paid close to $30 for Karen’s “1-day”, maybe not that much. Nancy and I had to get yearly passes for Williamsburg with houses & Abby Aldrich Rockerfeller’s house included.