ATTRACTIONS

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, and you can relive those days in a huge part of the town restored by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to function as a living history museum. It's populated with actors dressed up in period costumes -- powdered wigs for the men, long dresses for the women -- and you can stop into the shops to watch blacksmiths and other tradespeople go about their business and into the taverns to eat traditional colonial meals. You can tour the former Capitol and check out a hospital, a church, and the Governor's Palace, and there are museums dedicated to folk art, the decorative arts, and more.

Outside the restored area is a modern city with plenty of restaurants, shops, and places to stay. The Busch Gardens amusement park (www.buschgardens.com) is nearby, as are several other historic sites, including Jamestown and the Yorktown Battlefield.

Website: www.colonialwilliamsburg.com