Student Discovery Tour in Williamsburg, VA

Student Discovery Tour*
4 Days/3 Nights

Leave the classroom behind and embark on an amazing educational tour!  From fine arts and history to physics and biology, here in the Historic Triangle, we embrace all the learning essentials!

Day One: Twisted Physics & X-treme Education

Kick off your learning experience with Busch Gardens Williamsburg's X-treme Physics Program.  On this self-guided tour, the students will receive workbooks to help them with their "scientific research."  They will learn about accelerations, energy, weightlessness, power and inertia as they twist and turn through the air on the park's roller coasters and other extreme rides!  Take a break between thrills to catch a show or browse through the shops.  Enjoy dinner at one of the park's many eateries.

Please click here to download information and resources for the X-treme Physics Program. 

Day Two: Winning Wars & Clashing Cultures

Go back in time and visit the site where English America began - Historic Jamestowne!  Through one of the site's educational tours, you will visit the original English Fort and learn how archeologists unearthed the important clues to our nation's past.  Forensics and puzzle solving emerge in this program, igniting and reinforcing the students' interest in the mysteries behind this land.

Head on over to Jamestown Settlement and enjoy lunch in the cafe.  Explore the ships, Indian Village and English Fort outside and tour the museum exhibits inside.  Immerse yourself in the different Cultures at Jamestown.  The Powhatan Indians, English and Africans converged together creating both exciting exchanges and clashing ways of life.  This program offers interactive activities, including role-playing and the study of period illustrations.

Travel the scenic Colonial Parkway to Yorktown Battlefield and explore both American and British camps in a Siege Line Walking Tour before discussing how Washington finally surrounded and defeated Cornwallis and the British Army.

Next, treat yourself to a dose of Colonial Medicine at the Yorktown Victory Center.  History and science come together as you'll learn about the early and interesting techniques used by colonial families and doctors.  From dentistry to amputation, this fascinating program is sure to grab your attention.  A resource book about Colonial Medicine is available to download here.    

For curriculum guides, lesson plans, videos, teacher packets and other classroom materials on Jamestown and Yorktown, please click here.

Cap off your day by visiting Presidents Park which features larger-than-life statues of all United States Presidents!

Studying history can work up an appetite.  Check out the Group Tour Planner or click here for a listing of great dining opportunities.  After dinner, spend the rest of the evening at the Prime Outlets.  Even student tour groups deserve a little shopping time!  For more group shopping information, you can click here.

Day Three: Revolutionary Rebellion & Historical Hauntings 

Spend the day at Colonial Williamsburg.  Begin with an orientation walk for the latest information on sites and events.  On the Becoming Americans guided tour, you will receive admission to the exhibition buildings, trade shops and colonial homes.  You will also get a chance to visit the Governor's Palace and the Museums of Colonial Williamsburg - including the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and Bassett Hall.  Please refer to Colonial Williamsburg's website for additional information on their educational programs. 

Next stop: Revolutionary City!  This dynamic two-hour program, located in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg, allows its participants to take part in the events that defined the United States of America.  On Fridays during the spring and summer, the citizens are at war in Revolutionary City!  On any given day, you may hear citizens talk about revolution, rebuilding the country and even war!  You may even witness General Washington speak to his troops before the Battle at Yorktown!

To learn more about Colonial Williamsburg's educational programs, events and activities, please click here to download their 2008 Vacation Planner.

Have dinner at one of the local taverns before embarking on a different kind of colonial tour!  With a variety of ghost tours to choose from, your guide will take you on a journey through Williamsburg's spooky past and haunted memories.  As you walk through the Historic Area, you'll learn all about the local legends, myths and folklore.  Consult the Group Tour Planner for more information on these thrilling ventures. 

Day Four: Artistic Academia, Nautical Navigation & Area Animals

Put your creative mind to work at the Muscarelle Museum  located at the College of William and Mary.  Being the only fine arts museum in the Historic Triangle, the Muscarelle regularly brings in new exhibits and collections from all over the world.  The permanent collection includes English and American portraits, Japanese prints, African art and abstract paintings, drawings and watercolors.  At the end of your visit, rest on one of William and Mary's lawns and discuss what you liked and disliked about the different pieces.  Write a critical review of your favorite artworks. 

Continue the day by traveling to the Mariners' Museum in Newport News.  There you will immerse yourself in the Age of Exploration.  This popular program takes the students back to a time when the world was still being discovered.  Learn the process of cartography; discuss the economy and culture of the Old World; even examine the navigational instruments used by early explorers!  Upon completing the program, YOU will become the explorer in a Museum Scavenger Hunt!  Enjoy a boxed lunch provided by the museum.  For additional information and online exhibits, please click here.

Head over on to the Virginia Living Museum where you will learn all about the region's plant and animal life.  Choose one of the museum's Meaningful Watershed Programs, including "Life in the Chesapeake Bay," "It All Flows Downstream," and "Pond Life."  These activities offer a hands-on experience to educate and inform the students about aquatic life and environmental issues.  Go here for additional resources designed for both teachers and students.  

For more information, contact Jo Slack, Senior Sales Manager, Tourism.

Please feel free to read about other student educational options here.

*The above itinerary is only suggestion.  For a more customized tour to match your group's wants and needs, feel free to browse our group tour attractions, shopping, dining and lodging options OR contact one of our local tour operators - no one knows the ins and outs of the Historic Triangle better than they do!  Should you have any questions or comments about this itinerary or simply want to start planning your trip, please contact our group tour specialists via email at Jo Slack or Vivian Bunting, or call 800-368-6511.

We strive to keep all information accurate and updated.  If you notice any mistakes or changes, please contact Joanna Old, Tourism Information Specialist, via email or call 800-368-6511.