Williamsburg
The Williamsburg Winery
May 1, 2013 by Laura Aragon
After hearing that it offers free wine tastings for students, my friends and I recently made our first trip to the Williamsburg Winery. Only a five-minute drive from campus, the Winery has a great wine selection and a beautiful vineyard that includes two restaurants and a gorgeous indoor venue for formal events.
After a short tour that showcased the Winery’s history, equipment and wine-making processes, we were taken to taste a few wines. Along with wine lists, pairing suggestions, and background information on each wine, the Winery also served crackers and Gouda cheese, which was a delicious surprise. Visiting the Winery was a tasty and informative change of pace from the college routine, and I highly suggest all the 21 year olds out there make the trip.
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- On the tour at the Williamsburg Winery.
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- The evolution of wine bottles at the Williamsburg Winery.
A Trip To Williamsburg Isn’t Complete Without…
April 12, 2013 by Admission Ambassador
A blog series from your Admission Ambassadors…
Now that the weather is FINALLY starting to get a little warmer (come on, Virginia!) here is a list of my favorite things to do in Williamsburg during the springtime.
- Colonial Williamsburg. This answer may sound a bit cliche, but Colonial Williamsburg is absolutely gorgeous in the spring. When it starts to get cooler, one of my favorite things to do is wake up early—not too early of course, and jog down Duke of Gloucester (DoG) Street. Last year, a few of my friends in my a cappella group would head over to the lawn on the Governor’s Palace most Fridays and eat a Cheese Shop Picnic.
- The Farmer’s Market. Although I have only been once or twice, the Farmer’s Market takes place most Saturdays on DoG Street. Check it out for some great vendors—crafts, foods and more!
- Busch Gardens. If you haven’t ever been (a surprising number of W&M students haven’t gone!) GO! Busch Gardens is a fun, clean (as far as amusement parks go) way to spend your Saturday when the temperatures get a bit warmer. Most of the time, the Student Assembly on campus holds a W&M Day at Busch Gardens where students get half price off tickets!
- Fridays at 5. These are one of my favorite events in the Spring. Alma Mater Productions (AMP for short) puts on concerts each Friday at 5 on the Sadler Terrace. It is a great way to de-stress from work and welcome the fun of the upcoming weekend.
- Screen on the Green. Another AMP event! Screen on the Green is a large event held on the Sunken Garden from W&M students. AMP provides snacks (popcorn, cotton candy, drinks) and always shows two popular movies. Some of my best times at W&M have come from hanging out with my friends at Screen on the Green!
-John
A Trip To Williamsburg Isn’t Complete Without…
April 11, 2013 by Admission Ambassador
A blog series from your Admission Ambassadors…
MUST EATS:
- Paul’s Deli – a local bar and restaurant that I have memories from since my days in baby W&M cheerleading uniforms and Green & Gold club t-shirts. Located on Scotland St. right across from campus, Paul’s Deli is a local favorite to watch big sports games or to see old college friends. Their Italian Sub and Hot Holly are to die for.
- The Cheese Shop – just a must eat. I think saying “Cheese Shop” to any student or local will initiate Pavlovian responses unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Get the Virginia Ham. You won’t regret it.
- Sno-To-Go – not just shaved ice. It’s a snow cone but BETTER. It will solve any worries you may have from April to October. And if you really want to make your dreams come true, ask for it stuffed and then thank me later.
- Five Forks Café – definition of off the beaten path. Make the trip down Route 5 for this heavenly Southern food. This is that Sunday-after-church food that makes your soul feel good, but you get to eat it whenever you want! If you don’t want to venture out to try it, try Honey Butter’s off Monticello. (owned by the same people. The menus are only a little different.)
- Pierces Pit Bar-B-Q. I don’t even have anything else to add. I think that says enough.
MUST DOS:
- Visit the Parkway Beaches. When people say go to your happy place. I actually go here. College Creek is a good one and so is Yorktown, at the end of the Parkway. Yorktown has some great shops and diners to grab food too. Ben & Jerry & Kelley- yes please.
- Take a trip to the Prime Outlets. I know saying this makes me sound like a stereotypical girl, but I’m okay with that if it gets me 20% off. Also, most stores give you a 15% additional student discount. You get to go to William & Mary and J.Crew rewards you for it? Um, I can live with that.
- CW Mug. This may be the best advice I ever give to incoming students. In Colonial Williamsburg, at the Taverns and canteens, you can buy a mug for ten dollars and get unlimited refills for an entire calendar year. Not only are you getting free drinks, but also soft serve ice cream for a whole year. ROOT BEER FLOATS ARE THE KEY TO MY HEART.
- Ride the Ferry. Our Ferry leaves from Jamestown Island and deposits you on the other side of the James River in Surry. Surry has some of the best diners and will make your heart happy. You can also find strawberry farms that let you pick your own strawberries. YUM.
- Go Ape. But seriously. Go Ape! A high ropes course designed to let your inner primate out. Take the family to the park off of Centerville Road and test your limits.
-Kelley
A Trip to Williamsburg Isn’t Complete Without…
April 11, 2013 by Admission Ambassador
A blog series from your Admission Ambassadors…
Duke of Gloucester Street, or DoG Street as we locals refer to it, is a must-see in Williamsburg. There are dozens of historical shops, exhibits, and restaurants along the street that are open for the entire community. I always love stopping at the Capital at the end of the DoG Street, as well as at the printing shop, where I get to watch a colonial man use an old printing press machine. All of these different sites definitely give tourists an understanding of life in the colonial era. However, hands down, my favorite place in Williamsburg is the maze behind the Governor’s Palace. I used to come to Williamsburg every summer with my family, and my sister and I would spend hours running around the maze. Even my parents enjoyed going through the maze with us! It is definitely a fun and enjoyable part of the Colonial Williamsburg experience that all visitors should take advantage of.
After spending a long day at Williamsburg, you will need to find a good place to eat! Williamsburg has a plethora of wonderful places to dine right across the street from Colonial Williamsburg. One of my favorite places to grab a warm hot chocolate or a tasty tuna sandwich is Aroma’s. Aroma’s is a cute, relaxing, and cozy place to grab something light and enjoy the soothing ambiance. If you are looking for a little more of an upscale experience then I recommend the Blue Talon. This restaurant is right across the street from Aroma’s and has a fantastic assortment of entrees! You can’t go wrong with the French onion soup or macaroni and cheese at the Blue Talon! And if you simply want a quick snack to munch on then you need to go to the Peanut Shop! There are dozens of free samples throughout the store and I guarantee you will fall in love with something you try. Eventually, you’ll probably end up buying some amazing Virginia peanuts to take home with you. These are just a few of my favorite places in Williamsburg. Although it’s small, the city has plenty of variety for people to explore!
-Grace
A Trip To Williamsburg Isn’t Complete Without…
April 11, 2013 by Admission Ambassador
A blog series from your Admission Ambassadors…
1. A stroll down Duke of Gloucester (DoG) Street: I love being able to step off campus and take a walk through Colonial Williamsburg (CW). It is a great break from work and extracurricular activities, plus an opportunity for some fresh air is always a good idea. When my best friend from high school, Ella, comes to visit each year from Washington D.C., we always make it a priority to spend some time soaking up CW. Our favorite place is the colonial coffee house; the twenty-minute tour includes information about what the coffee house was used for in the late-18th Century and a tasting of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. I always go for the hot chocolate; it’s delicious!
2. Tasting the samples at The Peanut Shop: The Peanut Shop offers countless types of nuts, particular all kinds of flavored peanuts. Everything is open for sampling, which makes for a really fun shopping trip. I always pick up a can of Virginia Honey Roasted Peanuts for my little sister; she can’t get enough of them. There are almost always students inside enjoying some free samples, plus students get a 10% discount with their ID. A stop at The Peanut Shop is a must when family or friends are in town!
3. Enjoying a Stuffed Snoball from Sno-to-Go: Sno-to-Go is a local dessert stand that offers tons of flavors of shaved ice ranging from Blue Raspberry to Frog in a Blender. Their specialty is layering the shaved ice with vanilla soft-serve, called a Stuffed Snoball. My family loves Sno-to-Go; we always make a stop when they’re in town. I even got my sister one of their signature t-shirts that reads, “Where it’s okay to eat yellow snow!” We will definitely make at least one stop during graduation weekend for old time’s sake and to beat the heat!
-Jordan
April Showers
April 8, 2013 by Admission Ambassador
Springtime for CW
Benjamin Franklin once said, “nothing is certain but death and taxes.” At W&M, we can add one more thing to this list. Rain. As may be expected from our swamp locale, it rains a lot here. It rains when you least expect it. It rains when your iPhone predicts sun for three days straight. It rains when you’re wearing flats and your umbrella is carefully lodged somewhere in the back of your closet. Our rain knows no bounds. Before I scare you off entirely, there is an upside to this gloomy weather.
First, as that other famous adage goes, April showers really do bring May flowers. Our campus in the springtime is absolutely stunning. Around mid-April, everything seems to suddenly burst into life. School becomes a lush, green, paradise filled with flowers of every shape and color. If you visited campus during late spring, you know what I’m talking about.
Although the rain may get dreary and frustrating, it gives us one of the most beautiful, verdant campuses in the nation. As I write this post, I am sitting outside on a bench facing the Sunken Garden. I have an Einstein‘s bagel in my hand. The sun is shining, there are flowers everywhere, and I’m thinking to myself-all that rain was worth it.
-Joanna
A Few of my Favorite…Study Spots!
March 27, 2013 by Admission Ambassador
I know, I know. The last thing you want to hear about after you’ve JUST gotten into college is where you should study at said college next year. You’re second semester seniors!! What is this thing called “studying”? Honestly though, W&M (and the general Williamsburg area) has some pretty sweet places to hit the books. They might even become places you just want to hang out (heads up: the place I’m about to mention does not contain the phrase “Swem.” You can thank me later!). First off, my personal favorite spot isn’t even on campus. Sometimes, the atmosphere at W&M can get a little overwhelming, especially around high-stress times like midterms and exams. To get away from it all (and get to a place with a top-notch magazine selection), I love to go to Barnes & Noble to study. It’s down DoG street right before the colonial district begins. Conveniently, it’s also our official college bookstore! So if reading magazines isn’t your thing, you can take a study break and browse all of the W&M merchandise downstairs. My favorite place to curl up and hunker down on a Sunday is the second floor lounge area. There’s a Starbucks, a plethora of cozy chairs and tables, and that tempting magazine rack. My friends joke that if you’re looking for me, you can probably find me up there. For me, it’s really important to have a change of scenery from campus. There’s something inexpressibly nice about being surrounded by a group of people who are most definitely not within an 18-22 age range. One caveat – you may have to casually stalk tables for access to a charger on the weekends. Don’t worry though; by the end of the semester you’ll be a pro!
-Joanna
My Weekend: Busch Gardens’ Edition
March 25, 2013 by Admission Ambassador
My Weekend:
As you walk in, excitement fills the air. Kids, college students, and adults run up to the entrance. You can just barely hear the whoosh of roller coasters hurtling down steep drops at 60 mph and the terrified screams of riders. It’s spring W&M Day at Busch Gardens and it is awesome. In case you haven’t heard of it, Busch Gardens is a theme park about a ten-minute drive from campus. Once a semester, W&M students get half-off tickets sold through the school and free transportation to the park! It’s a great deal, and lots of students take advantage of it. The park is divided up into different European countries: Britain, France, Italy, Ireland and Germany. Each “country” is a Disney-fied version of itself, ie. France has a café serving croissants and hot chocolate, and Ireland has a store called “Girls Sham-rock!” (Hehhehe). So it’s definitely not the most authentic European experience, but it is a TON of fun. For any roller coaster fan, Busch Gardens provides endless options. My new favorite is Verbolten, a wild ride through Germany’s Black Forrest in faux Mini-Coopers (Hint, there’s a surprise in the middle!). Note to self for next time: do not eat the slightly suspicious “German hotdog” (really a bratwurst wrapped in a pretzel) AND the cinnamon pretzel bites before this ride. I have to warn you, because the pretzel smell is very enticing…. You can also take a picture with the Easter Bunny…which I never got to do as a child (aka I made everyone in my group stand in line amidst a crowd of four-year-olds to take a picture. While normally my weekend is not as exciting as sitting front row on the Griffon (two vertical free falls), the W&M day at Busch Gardens is a great example of all the fun activities available to you as a W&M student!
-Joanna
2012: A Year in Review by Jordan
March 14, 2013 by Admission Ambassador
2012 was a great year, so far 2013 is sure to be even better!
 January: My social sorority volunteers a few Saturdays a semester at the Heritage Humane Society in Williamsburg. My roommate and sorority sister, Amanda, and I got to walk some dogs on a warm, January Saturday! |
 February: As my best friend prepared to graduate in May, we made a list of all the things we wanted to do together before then, including a trip down DoG Street in Colonial Williamsburg. A picture in the stocks is a must during any trip into CW! |
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 March: The first full week of March is Spring Break at William & Mary. I drove to Disneyworld with my best friends, Megan and Kevin, before they graduated in May. We definitely made a lot of memories there! |
 April: In April, my parents drove down from Illinois to visit me in Williamsburg. Even our dog, Rory, loves Thomas Jefferson! |
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 May: On a warm day in May, Megan and Kevin, graduated from William & Mary. While a sad day, I was so excited to spend this special moment with them and their families. Luckily they come back to visit often. |
 June: In June, I began my summer internship at the Meridian International Center in Washington, DC. This is the metro stop I got on every morning to get to work, Washington was a big change from college life in Williamsburg! |
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 July: As I spent more time in Washington, I got more comfortable exploring the city. My friends and I spent a lot of time exploring the National Mall. I loved walking by the Capitol Building. |
 August/September: When I returned to campus in late August, my life centered around Formal Sorority Recruitment as the Panhellenic President. I was so lucky to work with these sorority women, we made a great team! |
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 October: Every year in October, Busch Gardens Williamsburg hosts William & Mary Day. The school offers discounted tickets and transportation to the park. I’ve gone with my freshman hall mates, Anne and Claire, every year! This year we rode the water ride, Escape from Pompeii, and got totally soaked. |
 November: The Rec Center hosts an annual 5k run, free for all participants, called the Bee and Goody. This was the first race I had ever completed, I loved being able to cross the finish line with my freshman hallmate, Claire! |
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 December: My favorite William & Mary tradition is the December Yule Log Ceremony. Students receive a sprig of holly and toss it into the Yule Log fire as a symbol of good luck for the year to come. It was bittersweet to throw my sprig of holly into the fire for the last time as an undergraduate! |
- Jordan
Campus Culture Shock
March 14, 2013 by Sarah Nicholas
I’ve made two weekend mini-pilgrimages back to campus since I arrived in Washington DC, the first for a cappella auditions and the second to haggle with advisors, the registrar, and the financial aid office. Without being Captain Obvious, I’d like to make it very clear that Williamsburg and Washington DC, two capitals in their own regard, should not be paralleled more than necessary.
The most obvious distinction is the urban lifestyle. Life is faster in the city. Walk, train, walk, work, eat, walk, train, eat, sleep, rinse and repeat! It’s an entirely different atmosphere, heightened emotions can easily compare to Swem during finals week. The pace is professional, everyone is constantly efficient. While it might be threatening and intimidating at times, it is always interesting to be in the hustle and bustle of it all.
Public transportation is very much a “thing.” Living on campus, I generally avoided using the Williamsburg bus system, as it is unreliable, slow, and not cost efficient. I’d only take the trolley to New Town in a desperate search for Sweet Frog frozen yogurt. In DC, public transportation is an absolute must-use. The cost of gas alone is a sufficient deterrent from traveling independently. The Metro is cheap and comes frequently during peak hours (traveling at night can sometimes take a little longer, and in some parts of town is not particularly safe), and there is a public bus stop literally on every street corner.
Dress for the weather. I think this might be specific to college-aged people, but we often tend to under dress for the weather, especially in Williamsburg, monsoon season aside. No self-respecting adult walks around in only a North Face jacket or goes out with friends on the weekends wearing only a micro-skirt and tank top when it’s practically snowing. There is a time and a place for everything, age appropriate attire!
Speaking as a true food junkie, Williamsburg is not known for having great dining. In the city, the options are endless. You can eat empanadas and Korean BBQ and Chipotle all on the same block. Wawa is not the only dining option open past 8pm. I took advantage of DC Restaurant Week and treated myself twice to three-course meals that would normally cost me a month’s savings.
There is no such thing as weekend boredom. In the ‘Burg, once you’ve explored Colonial Williamsburg, there is nothing to do “off campus” on the weekends. DC is the Disney World of free things to do on the weekend. I’ve been to all of the Smithsonian museums in addition to countless art galleries. I’ve toured the Capitol and will be touring the White House in March. I have every intention of walking around the Mall and seeing the Cherry Blossoms once spring is in season. Every weekend there is some sort of cultural activity, fair, festival, or parade worth enjoying, and it’s only a short metro ride away!
And then there are the frequent moments that just take your breath away. Surprises as simple as getting a phone call at work from a high-profile opera star, to attempting to cross the street in the middle of the Presidential motorcade, to turning the corner and bam! There’s the Capitol, or the White House, or one of the most important buildings in the free world. I even saw John Boehner walking into a bar when I was on the Hill and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Washington National Opera – how’s that for a casual encounter! Sure, the Sunken Garden is beautiful at the height of fall foliage, and it’s always hysterical running into a man wearing a tri-cornered hat and full colonial garb at Food Lion, but it’s hard to predict what is going to happen next in this concrete jungle.