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Williamsburg, Va trip

Add to Your Calendar: 09/06/2019 09/06/2019 America/New_York Williamsburg, Va trip Williamsburg, Va trip Home School Academy LEAH hsaleah@gmail.com true mm/dd/yyyy aUinrLWZczwYavqgBmQP30959

Date

September 6, 2019

Additional Information

I still have some units available - contact me if interested!

Weeklong Vacation/ Historical field trip to Virginia 

Hey Everyone,

I grew up in Virginia; my family loves to vacation there, HSA has been studying American History, and I have always wanted to arrange a trip for HSA families, so here it is! In short, it is a week at a resort in a condo with a full kitchen and laundry facilities, two days in Colonial Williamsburg, a day at Jamestown (1st permanent English settlement in America), a day at Yorktown (site of the end of the Revolutionary War), a day at the beach, and the possibility of a day at another attraction in the area such as Busch Gardens for those who like amusement parks. The price will depend on your family, but I have worked to make it as affordable as possible. And though I am arranging your stay, I will not micromanage your time, so you will have a lot of freedom to do what you want to do and go at the pace that is best for your family (or whatever group that you pull together to go with).

Your “travel agent” for the week,

Lorane Dreyer

When? 7 nights in the week of Sept. 6 – Sept. 15

You will need to choose your exact dates; all stays are for a full week – 7 days and 7 nights.  You can choose Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday check in and check out. (Note that you will have to go around Washington D.C. to get there, so Saturday or Sunday would be better check in days for traveling unless you leave really early or around noon or get a few extra free days as described below) In order to coincide with Jamestown, Yorktown, and Colonial Williamsburg’s homeschool days (and awesome rates), we will start classes one week later next year, so families can go on the trip if they want. The group part of the schedule will be to go to Jamestown on Monday, Yorktown on Tuesday, Va. Beach on Wednesday, and Colonial Williamsburg on Thursday and Friday, but you do not have to stay with the group and can move at your own pace.  (If you check in on Thursday or Friday, you should probably go to Colonial Williamsburg on Saturday and Sunday instead.)

Accommodations

I am using my timeshare membership to get you deals at various resorts in Williamsburg. (You will not be required to take a timeshare tour). We will not all be at the same resort. All resorts are roomy with full kitchens, so you will not have to eat out unless you want to. (Super Walmart and Aldis are right in town). Pots and pans, dishes, bedding, and towels are included. They also have pools and activities on site. The most available unit is a 2 bedroom that sleeps 6 with a king size bed in the master bedroom, a queen or two twins in the second bedroom, a pull out sofa in the living room, and at least 2 bathrooms. t is also fine to put a couple of kids on the floor. There are also some one or three bedroom (adjoining) units. The current cost for the full week in a two bedroom of accommodations is $600 (including tax). Unfortunately, the one bedroom condos are only $50 cheaper. The fees on larger ones vary, so you need to talk to me if you want a larger one. The only extra fee is a possible activities fee of $25-$40 for the whole week, depending on the resort to cover wifi and activities such as pools, basketball courts, etc. They will also offer other activities for an extra fee if you want them (ranging from painting a vase, to playing miniature golf, to a tour somewhere).  If your whole family can not go, think about splitting the cost of a unit with a friend!  I do not know how long I will be able to get this cost, and the availability of units will change as they are claimed, but there is a lot available now. Some of the possibilities are:

King’s Creek Plantation https://www.kingscreekplantation.com/

Colonies at Williamsburg https://vacationvillageresorts.com/colonies_williamsburg/resort_images.html

Williamsburg Plantation https://vacationvillageresorts.com/williamsburg_plantation/index.html

Greensprings Vacation Resort https://www.diamondresorts.com/destinations/property/Greensprings-Vacation-Resort

Holiday Inn https://members.holidayinnclub.com/explore-our-resorts/williamsburg-resort

Historic Powhatan Resort https://www.historicpowhatanresort.com/

Additional days:

If you have time and want to go up early, my ownership at The Colonies in Williamsburg offers this deal: take a timeshare tour, and they will give you 2 - 3 nights and $100 for your time. (They say it takes 90 minutes, but it is generally about 3 hours). I encourage you not to purchase unless you have been on a number of tours and really acquainted yourself with the business; timeshares are great, but the sales people lie a lot, and re-sales are available for deep discounts. This offer is available to anyone at any time. Just call 877-820-2345, tell them that you are interested in visiting (and coming from New York if you want three nights); please tell them Lorane Dreyer sent you and give them this membership number: #9701882, as it gives me credit too. You actually can do this anytime or without staying the full week, but it is a very long drive for three nights. You could tack it onto another vacation though!

 

Visiting Colonial Williamsburg

  • This “18th-century city is the world’s largest living history museum, boasting over forty sites and trades, four historic taverns, and two world-class art museums.”  It is similar to Genesee Country Museum, but larger and with more staff and tradesmen, fife and drum corps, and a full schedule of workshops and speakers each day. See more information here: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/
  • Online activities for kids can be found here: https://www.history.org/history/teaching/resourcelibrary/index.cfm and here: https://www.history.org/kids/visitUs/index.cfm
  • For “Homeschool Days”, we can get an exceptional price for tickets. The price for two consecutive days (my recommendation as there is so much to see and do) is $15 for a student and $22 for an adult. The price for one day is $10 for a student and $12.50 for an adult. They have not put there sign up on the web yet, but I will let everyone who signs up know when it is available. The plan is to go to Williamsburg on Thursday and Friday.

 

Visiting Jamestown and Yorktown

  • Two different destinations (2 day trips) on one ticket! Jamestown has an archeological dig, James early settlers’ fort, Powhatan Indian village, and replicas of the ships to visit, and a museum. Yorktown has the American Revolution Museum, a Continental Army encampment, and a Revolution-era farm. For more info, see video here:https://www.historyisfun.org/visit/
  • There are a lot of other fun educational videos, interactive activities, etc. based on your student’s grade level here: https://www.historyisfun.org/learn/homeschool-scouts/
  • You must order your own tickets online. You will need one ticket for each adult and each child. Tickets are $12 each and allow you to visit both Jamestown and Yorktown as many times as you like during our stay and include a family guided tour at the Jamestown Settlement and one at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Tickets for children 4 and under are free, but you still must get one. The price is a significant discount off the normal rate! Go here to purchase your ticket and please specify Monday, Sept. 9, for your Jamestown tour and Tuesday, Sept. 10, for your Yorktown tour. Choose either the 10am or 2pm time for your tour, depending on what best fits your family: http://jyfemail.jyf.virginia.gov/eStore/Content/Commerce/Products/DisplayProducts.aspx?ProductGroupCode=9000&ProductCategoryCode=9560

 

Some suggestions of other area activities to fit in:

Close by in Williamsburg:

1/2 to 1 hour away:

  • Virginia Beach (Planning to guide whoever wants to go on Wednesday of our trip, weather permitting)
  • Virginia Zoo virginiazoo.org

(All of the following museums are part of the ASTC Travel Passport Program that is included in membership of the RMSC and gains you significant discounts or free admittance. Take your membership card and call to find applicable rates.)

 

Visit Washington D.C. too?

Always wanted to visit the Nation’s Capitol? Add it to your trip! Leave a day early, and stay somewhere on the route, but not all the way into Washington (unless you are willing to pay the higher hotel cost). Choose a hotel (or friend) somewhere in PA along Rt. 15 or Maryland along Rt. 270. (Frederick, MD, would be a good option.) Drive into Washington D.C. after rush hour or on a weekend morning. You can find a parking lot with all day weekend rates (less than $20) by looking here: http://washingtondc.bestparking.com/index.php. Bring good walking shoes and explore the museums of the Smithsonian and National Landmarks for free! Then drive to Williamsburg (2.5 to 4 hours, depending on traffic. The later you go, the easier it is.)

 

Would you like to go?

This is what I need from you:

Call me at 585-334-2965 or email me at hsaleah@gmail.com with:

Name of adult that you want the reservation in.  (There must be an adult in each unit.)

Address and phone number for the reservation.

Check in day (Sept. 6, 7, or 8)

*All reservations will be for the full week: Sept. 6-13, Sept. 7-14, or Sept 8-15.

Number of people in party (you think).

Size of desired unit (2 bedroom being the easiest to get).

If you have a preference in which resort to go to, or a desire to be at the same resort as another family, let me know, and I will see what is available.

I will be looking for a deposit of $300 (with other $300 due by mid-July). It can be given to me (or delivered through Shannon) on Tuesday or mailed to me at 1349 Middle Road, Rush, NY 14543. Check should be written to Lorane Dreyer, not to HSA.  I would like to move on reservations ASAP, so let me know if you KNOW that you will go AND can guarantee the money, but you need an extra couple of weeks to pay for the down payment.

God Bless,

Lorane

 

Williamsburg Vacation Update:

A few of you are new and have not received this information before, but below is the basic information that I sent out about the opportunity to go to Williamsburg, Virginia, for homeschool days in September.  We currently have 15 families signed up to go and several others in the works.  The really good news is that as I have reserved units for families, the resort company that I am using has made more units available, so there is still plenty of availability, and I am happy to extend the offer to your homeschooling friends and family as well.  A few things that I would add:

* I snagged two two bedroom units at the Colonies that are side by side for the Saturday, Sept. 7, check in, so if anyone wants to have their friend or family next door, let me know!   This is also available at Williamsburg Plantation, but they are upstairs and downstairs units, and one does not have an oven.   

* Three Thursday check-ins are also available for those who need to be back for the weekend of the Sept. 14.  (If you check in on Thursday or Friday, you should probably go to Colonial Williamsburg on Saturday and Sunday instead of Thursday and Friday.)

*There is a Friday and a Sunday check-in at King's Creek that are a 2 bedroom connected to a 1 bedroom unit, both with pull out couches in the living rooms, so they sleep 10.  They are $950 for the full unit.