Wedding Vacations on the Shores of the James River
As destination weddings take off again along with a resurgence of travel, Kingsmill Resort is an ideal location not just for the wedding party but also for all the guests. It’s a perfect place to turn a wedding celebration into a long weekend or even a family vacation.
First, the resort offers a variety of stunning settings for the nuptials, from panoramic water views to dramatic sunsets on the James River. And it has hosted everything from traditional and multicultural weddings to large and intimate weddings — literally, anything the couple can imagine.
But the resort also shines in its accommodations and amenities, which cater to every wedding guest. Staying on site is convenient for family and friends, thanks to a variety of lodgings from condominiums to five luxury cottages to three corporate homes, most with multiple bedrooms. The four-bedroom, 7,000-square-foot Estate at Kingsmill offers luxury accommodations on a bluff overlooking the James River.
The range of facilities ensures that all the wedding guests will have plenty to do — from the 15 tennis courts and two 18-hole championship golf courses to the pampering spa, kid-friendly river pool, and full-service marina, which rents jet skis, pontoon boats, kayaks, paddle boards, and fishing poles. Not to mention sprawling landscaped grounds to explore on hikes or bike rides (rentals are available).
Kingsmill dining also stands out. Perched on the James River at the Kingsmill Marina, the patio at James Landing Grill is the only waterfront dining in Williamsburg. Enjoy fresh, locally sourced seafood along with beautiful sunsets over the James River.
For Families:
The kids will flip over the Busch Gardens theme park, home to European-themed hamlets, entertaining shows, and, of course, lots of scream-worthy roller coasters. Or let them get all wet at Water Country USA, Virginia’s largest water park, with rides named Jet Scream, Big Daddy Falls, and Colossal Curl as well as fountains and splash pools for the little ones.
For Couples:
Wander the cobblestone streets of Colonial Williamsburg, America’s largest living history museum, then slip into a horse-drawn carriage for that clichéd, but most romantic of rides through town.
Every couple needs a fairytale bridge. According to the legend, if you kiss your sweetheart on Crim Dell Bridge on the campus of William & Mary, the two of you will marry someday. Whatever your intentions, it’s a charming bridge in a dell and a perfect sanctuary for two.
For Outdoor Lovers:
Bird watchers will love exploring the tidal wetlands, swamplands, hardwood forests, and open meadows on one of New Quarter Park’s nine trails. The park’s landscapes are home to a variety of avian species, including American bald eagles, wild turkeys, and red-tailed hawks.
Stop and smell the roses and many other blossoms and plants at the Williamsburg Botanical Garden, which also hosts more than 200 butterflies.
Take a hike on one of many trails through forests, wetlands, and fields. They include: the Greensprings Greenway Interprative Trail, the 52-mile Virginia Capital Trail, the 2-mile Powhatan Creek Trail, the Island Loop Drive in Historic Jamestowne, and the trails in York River State Park.
Press pedal to the metal at more than 25 cycling routes, featuring historic sites, peaceful farmland, and scenic back roads. Pedalers’ favorites include the Colonial Parkway, the Virginia Capital Trail, the Historic Jamestowne Island Loop Drive, and Freedom Park, with more than 20 miles of mountain bike trails winding through forests, meadows, and historical sites.
For History and Culture Aficionados:
The area’s museums, festivals, and concerts offer everything from contemporary, folk, and classical art to living history to music concerts throughout the year.
Head to the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, the first of its kind in the country dedicated to American folk art, such as quilting, ship painting, folk music instruments, and dollhouses.
Enjoy the finer things at The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum of Colonial Williamsburg, including the world’s largest collection of Southern furniture and one of the largest collections of British ceramics outside England.
The Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William & Mary boasts a permanent collection with more than 5,000 works, including English and American portraits from the 17th century, European and American prints, drawings and paintings from the 14th to 21st centuries, Japanese prints, African art, and Asian ceramics.
Amble through America’s largest living history museum, Colonial Williamsburg. Walk down Duke of Gloucester Street to explore the food, crafts, and stories of a revolutionary time 250 years ago with the characters who lived then.
Dive deeper into history at Jamestown Settlement by grinding corn, digging out a canoe, or trying on armor. You’ll find a recreation of 17th-century life from the Powhatan Indian village to the James Fort to the ships that transported colonists to Virginia in 1607. Clamber up the gangway to the Susan Constant, where you can steer with the tiller, tie sailors’ knots, and climb into a sailor’s bunk.
Tour the Yorktown Battlefield where Gen. George Washington defeated British forces under Lord Charles Cornwallis in 1781, which led to U.S. independence. Then find a new understanding of our nation’s beginnings at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, where you can explore re-creations of a Continental Army encampment and 1780s farm.