Condos Surrounding 18th-Century Manor near Williamsburg

The Historic Powhatan Resort’s manor house in Williamsburg, Virginia, dates back to 1735—an etching of “1643” on one of its bricks refers to the year of its land grant from King Charles I. Built with 20-inch-thick brick walls and distinctive T-shaped chimneys, the two-story structure survived the American Revolution and a fire during the Civil War that ravaged the surrounding plantation. Today, the house stands amid carefully manicured gardens and rolling hills on the resort’s more than 256 wooded acres, the perfect setting for families visiting Williamsburg for its historic colonial attractions.

Powhatan’s spacious one- and two-bedroom units are located within several buildings surrounding its 18th-century showpiece. Each unit contains a kitchenette or fully equipped kitchen, where you can cook up meals since they are stocked with all the necessary dishes and cutlery. If you’d rather eat out, the resort’s restaurant, The Powhatan Bar and Grille, serves breakfast and dinner daily and lunch every Friday through Sunday.

In between visits to Williamsburg’s historic sites and theme parks, feel free to take part in one of the resort’s organized activities, which range from painting classes and bingo to ghost tours of the manor house and water aerobics in the indoor pool. Check the calendar for a rundown of events.

Williamsburg, Virginia: Art and Entertainment in Historic Colonial Town

Part of the Historic Triangle of Virginia (along with Jamestown and Yorktown), Williamsburg was the capital of the colony and it played a central role during the American Revolution—American forces gathered here in 1781 to march to Yorktown for the war’s final battle. The city pays homage to this patriotic past with a living museum where fifers march in Revolutionary War regalia and costumed actors portray everyday colonists. Historians have carefully preserved and restored dozens of 18th-century structures within the town; buildings of note include the opulent Governor’s Palace, built in 1722 to house the British governor, and the residential home of George Wythe, the first Virginian to sign the Declaration of Independence. Yorktown Battlefield is only a short drive east; here, park rangers tell the story of the Revolutionary War’s final siege.

Back in Williamsburg, the 18th-century-style boutiques along Merchants Square sell everything from whimsical toys to hand-cooked Virginia peanuts. In addition to its historic sites, Williamsburg boasts a thriving artistic community, with original folk art and paint-by-number self-portraits of the Founding Fathers displayed at several galleries and art exhibits throughout the city.

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