7 Fun Activities In Williamsburg To Do With Kids Besides History

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Williamsburg is most well-known for its incredible live history experiences and attractions, making it one of the best travel destinations in the U.S for history buffs. But what about families? I don’t know about you, but our kids are not mad about history. However, they really enjoyed their trip to Williamsburg, exploring the historical landmarks like Colonial Williamsburg, downtown Jamestown, and Yorktown – and that’s because there were plenty of other adventurous activities to do.

There are a plethora of activities that provide thrills and adrenaline boosts in historic Williamsburg – it doesn’t all have to be about historic buildings and history museums. Take your pick from ziplining, Segway tours, thrilling roller coasters, or even a touch of ghostly shivers – there is something for everyone in your family to get them excited and entertained.

1. Go Ape Zip Line and Treetop Adventure Park

We’re not a family to shy away from a high-ropes obstacle course. The girls amaze me with how fearless they are, high above the ground with skimpy ropes under their feet. Go Ape Treetop Adventure is a unique outdoor activity through the canopy of the forest, though admittedly, not unique to Williamsburg, as they have branches all over the world. If you’ve never been to a Go Ape before, you’re in for a treat! The goal is to navigate through a variety of suspended obstacles that include single cable lines, rope ladders, Tarzan swings, and swinging bridges, culminating in a thrilling 600 ft zip line.

Go Ape in Williamsburg, VA, also has a junior adventure course, which reaches heights of 20 feet and has two zip lines. You get one hour on the Go Ape Treetop Junior course. Children under 5 require adult supervision on the course. We were able to sit down and let the girls go around and around on their own!

There is a minimum age of 10 for the adult course. Kalyra would have done it for sure, but because of Savannah’s age and time limits, we stuck to the junior course. Parents, you may just want to whiz around the junior course once with the kids and then let them go at it. The upper cable is low down, as it is a junior course, and so it can get in the way of your crossings and rub along your back. However, it does make it more adventurous as you feel a little less stable walking across some of those crossings! Perhaps you could sneak away to the adult adventure course next door, zip line into a giant net, and climb your way back out.

There are other attractions at Go Ape worth exploring as well, to make a full day of it. You can try your hand at Forest EscAPE, a 60-minute forest escape room, or do some axe throwing, or play a game of mini golf.

2. Get your thrills at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

If fast-paced roller coasters are your thing, then Busch Gardens Williamsburg should not be skipped! They have more roller coasters than you could poke a stick at. It has made the top 10 best theme parks in the USA list by USA Today every year since 2023, reaching the number 7 spot in 2026, and The Griffon, Alpengeist, and Apollo’s Chariot made the best roller coasters in the country list by Amusement Today.

Busch Gardens had only just opened for the season when we arrived, and we timed it perfectly with warm weather and small crowds. We had a blast and consider it one of our favorite theme parks in the USA. The theme is classic Europe with artfully landscaped villages, like the Parisian streets of France, the hamlets of Scotland, and the Oktoberfest celebrations of Germany. There are nine villages centered around six countries for you to explore, and the circular design makes it easy to move around and explore.

There is a thrilling roller coaster to experience in every country in Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Our favorites include The Griffon (possibly the most terrifying ride I’ve been on but the most fun!), The Alpengeist (Kalyra’s favorite ride) and The Verbolten (there’s an awesome surprise on this one!). And the Loch Ness Monster (fun and furious with interlocking loops and travels across a couple of lands).

Busch Gardens Williamsburg also has plenty to do for younger kids, with some rides with thrill levels with more sedate, as well as live shows and other entertainment. There are flume and rapid rides and a relaxing river cruise, as well as typical favorites such as spinning tea cups and carousels.

The Sesame Street Forest of Fun and the Little Dragon play area are designed for smaller children, and the park has KIDsiderate® offerings around the park. Look for the K sign on your map to find the child ride areas. To avoid waiting in queues, consider getting the Quick Queue pass, particularly during busy periods. It will give you more time to experience more thrilling adventures!

3. Put the pedal to the medal at Go-Karts Plus

NASCAR and Formula One lovers, strap yourself in and push that pedal to the medal. It’s time to live out your racing car fantasies at Go-Karts Plus. It’s a thrill ride park designed for families, but there is more family fun here than Go-Kart racing – they have mini golf, bumper cars, and even roller coasters!

It has been vastly improved since we visited. When we went, there was one NASCAR-style race track that was a high-banked oval shape (probably the Rookie track today). Now, it has a new Skyline Super Speedway, which features a 35-foot-tall spiral track, and then it rockets down the back stretch. It’s a track for the more advanced drivers. There is also a Euro Track for intermediate drivers (a Figure 8 track, which is more of a Grand Prix-style course, competing with other cars, racing around curves and over and under a bridge) and a Rookie track, which is best for those with kids.

We had a lot of fun when we visited. It was neck and neck between Savannah and me, and Craig and Kalyra for most of the race. Savannah and I managed to find an open spot on the final bend to drop in front and win!!

4. Splash around at Water Country USA

If you’re visiting in the summer and need an activity in Williamsburg to cool you off, then move your thrills to the pool!  Water Country USA is Virginia’s largest water park, spanning 43 acres and solely dedicated to waterslides and thrill rides. With names like Jet Scream, Big Daddy Falls, and Colossal Curl, you know you’re going to scream your way through the wet zone. But it’s not just thrill waterslides; there’s an easy pace to enjoy in the park as well.

Soak up the sights on a free-floating river ride, cool off in the wave pool, or explore the park’s KIDsiderate® water playgrounds. Just like its sister park, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, kid-friendly areas are denoted with a K!

5. Go kayaking

The Greater Williamsburg area is surrounded by natural beauty by the water: the York and James Rivers and tidal creeks leading to the Chesapeake Bay. What better way to enjoy it than from the low seat of a kayak? You can learn about the history and wildlife on narrated, guided tours in New Quarter Park and other area locations with Bay Country Kayaking. Look out for otter, muskrat, crabs, and deer.

James City County Marina on the historic Powhatan Creek, behind historic Jamestown Island and across the street from Jamestown Settlement, offers kayak rentals for trips up the creek where you might see bald eagles, osprey, and great blue herons. You can also kayak along the York River or soak up the serenity at the York River State Park during sunsets on a Sunday.

6. Look for the Ghosts of Williamsburg

With a city as historic as Williamsburg, VA, you can bet there are some spooky stories to tell and paranormal activity to experience – don’t leave all your thrills for the daytime and those of the human form.

Williamsburg has a reputation for being the most haunted city in Virginia, so if you’re a fan of the paranormal, seek out the spirit world with the Original Ghost Tours Candlelight tour of Williamsburg. Although ghosty, it is a family-friendly tour and is largely based on the book The Ghosts of Williamsburg by L.B. Taylor. The tour is offered nightly at 8 p.m. 

Take a leisurely walk through the cobblestone streets of Colonial Williamsburg while hearing eerie and spooky fun folklore from local guides. If you want to up the shivers, find a sitter for the kids, and join the Extreme Tour for some professional ghost hunting. You can even bring your own ghost-hunting equipment.

7. Have Afternoon Tea at Williamsburg Inn

So far, we’ve presented you with some adventurous and thrilling things to do, but if you’re looking for a delightful experience in the historic area, then consider afternoon tea at the opulent Williamsburg Inn.

This is a five-star hotel known for hosting special guests such as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip on their royal visit, so expect a high level of sophistication. While you might be thinking – hang on, you expect me to take my kids to an intimate dining experience? Yes! We’ve taken our girls to high tea several times when they were young, and they loved it. They can pretend to be princesses or rich aristocrats and have a tea party. What’s more is that the atmosphere is a great way to learn about model behaviour.

So if you’re thinking of visiting some cafes or modern restaurants for a place to eat, up the adventure level and take them for high tea instead – it will offer endless fun and build lasting memories. One thing to consider, though, is that afternoon tea is not offered all the time at the Williamsburg Inn, so you will need to call up or check the website to see when they are serving the next one.

Where to stay in Williamsburg, VA

Most properties in Williamsburg are located a few miles out of downtown since most of the buildings in downtown are historic, registered buildings. So, if you want to stay close to the top attractions and also be within easy distance of restaurants, shops, and evening entertainment, try to stay in downtown Williamsburg in one of the historic homes!

Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites is an official Colonial Williamsburg Hotel just down the road from the visitor’s center and offers both resort facilities and historic charm! It has a fitness center, a seasonal outdoor pool, and a children’s playground where kids can play in the summer, and all rooms are spacious and cozy, designed with traditional colonial-era decor and furnishings.

Final thoughts

So there you have it, those are some of the best activities to do in Williamsburg besides visiting world-class art museums, historical attractions, and museum exhibitions. Of course, you cannot visit Williamsburg without taking a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum, but we hope this guide shows you there is more to see and do than just history. If you need more inspiration for things to do in Williamsburg, here’s a complete guide! What are you most excited to see and do? Let us know in the comments!

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