JAN 20 2015 BY JULIA 

Exploring Colonial America takes the visitor back in time to offer an unsurpassed experience of early America. XplorMor Team has explored the historic Virginian towns of Colonial America on several occasions, experiencing lovely sunny days featuring reenactments of colonial events and sipping hot cider by small bonfires on wintry nights. No matter the time of year, visiting Colonial America is a memorable experience into the history and founding of the United States.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia by Julia at XplorMor

The area is compromised of three main sites known as the Colonial Triangle: Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestowne and its recreated Settlement, and Yorktown. I asked one of our team members, Bryan Davis, about his experience with Colonial America as he was raised in the area and has seen its transformation over the years first hand. His reply, “The Colonial Triangle has gotten better and better. The committees and foundations responsible continuously make improvements to offer the colonial experience as close as possible to reality from the architecture to the role players use of 18th century colloquialisms.”

Replicas of the Colonial Ships, Jamestown Settlement by Julia at XplorMor

This level of accuracy in every detail is astounding, and creates a truly unsurpassed look into 18th century life and the beginnings of American society, culture, art and government.  Exploring Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown could be enough for visitors, but the parks have taken experiencing Colonial America to all levels.  Talks are offered with costumed character interpreters and tradesmen demonstrating historic crafts. There are costumed glassblowers at the Glass House demonstrating one of the first industries attempted in the colonies. Visitors may try on 18th-century-style clothing and armor, join a military drill, play a game of quoits or even help water vegetable and herb gardens as the settlers did over 300 years ago.  At the Powhatan Indian village, visitors may help grind corn and make cordage, which is the traditional method of making rope. There’s something for everyone.

Replica of James Fort, Jamestown Settlement by Julia at XplorMo

Yet if partaking in such first-hand activities is not for you, there are reenactments to watch, museums to meander, driving tours of battlefields, earthworks and siege lines, walking tours of archaeological digs, colonial city life and recreated farmsteads. There’s purveyor shops to buy reproduced colonial wares and restaurants to enjoy traditional colonial fair with a pint of ale. So once again, in exploring Colonial America, there’s something for everyone at America’s Colonial Triangle.

Colonial Canon on the historic battlefield site, Yorktown by Julia at XplorMor

One of my favorite offerings? That you can take a postcard or card or letter to the re-created, functioning Post Office on Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg to be stamped with the same postmark as used in colonial times and mailed out. Brilliant.

To continue exploring Colonial America watch the slide shows from XplorMor Colonial America Expedition. Comments are always welcome!