Williamsburg in Travel + Leisure: Great Press… Great Intentions… Let’s Talk About the Details

Feb 7 '26 February 7, 2026

By John Womeldorf (Mr. Williamsburg)

On January 27, 2026, Travel + Leisure published an article titled:

“This Quaint Virginia City Is Packed With American History and Fun for the Whole Family.”

And right out of the gate, let me say this:

I’m glad they wrote it.
I’m glad Williamsburg was featured.
I’m glad we’re still “hot” on the national travel radar.

We seem to land on these “favorites” lists every few months, and that’s not an accident.

This is a great town.

But…

(You knew there was a “but.”)

For an article published in 2026, it reads in a few places like someone dusted off their 2014 notes, updated a couple of restaurant names, and called it a day.

So today, I want to walk you through what they said, what they got right, what they missed, and what visitors and future residents should actually know.

With love.
And just a touch of local sarcasm.

The Big Idea: They’re Not Wrong

Travel + Leisure frames Williamsburg as a place filled with:

“charming inns, world-class museums, and one of T+L readers’ favorite resorts in the South.”

Fair.

They also say that people associate Williamsburg with:

School field trips
Family vacations
The Historic Triangle
Theme parks
And College of William & Mary

Also fair.

That is how most people first meet Williamsburg.

And they quote Colonial Williamsburg leadership saying the city:

“provides experiences and fun for all ages.”

Which, again, is true.

They even include Robby Willey from The Virginia Beer Co. reminding readers:

“This is not just the Williamsburg you visited in elementary school.”

Thank you, Robby.
Because that sentence should basically be on our town welcome sign.

The “Top 5 Can’t Miss” List — Good… With Asterisks

Their “Top 5” reads like this:

Stay at the Williamsburg Inn
Drive the Colonial Parkway
Shop in Merchants Square
Eat at The Cheese Shop
Ride coasters at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Honestly?

That’s not a bad starter pack.

My Local Translation:

✅ Williamsburg Inn — Still fabulous. Still iconic. Still where people go when they want to “do Williamsburg right.”

⚠️ Colonial Parkway — Great in theory. Complicated in practice (more on that later).

✅ Merchants Square — Still the heart of town. Still charming. Still dangerous to your credit card.

✅ The Cheese Shop — A pilgrimage site. Order confidently. Get house dressing. Don’t overthink it.

✅ Busch Gardens — Still one of the best theme parks in the region. Full stop.

So far, so good.

Best Hotels & Resorts: Solid Picks, No Complaints

They highlight:

Williamsburg Inn
Williamsburg Lodge
Williamsburg Manor B&B
Kingsmill Resort

This is one section where they mostly nailed it.

Each of these serves a different type of traveler:

Want “historic luxury”? → Inn/Lodge
Want “cozy and personal”? → B&B
Want “resort + water + golf + condos”? → Kingsmill

No argument here. Although there are a number of nice Airbnb’s in the area as well as some very nice timeshare resorts.

Best Things to Do: Strong Foundation, Narrow Lens

1. Colonial Williamsburg & Black History

They correctly emphasize that visiting Colonial Williamsburg without learning about enslaved and free Black Virginians is missing half the story.

That’s an important point, and I’m glad they included it.

2. William & Mary Nostalgia

They paint a nice picture of strolling through campus, the Wren Building, and the Sunken Garden.

Yes.
Do that.
Especially in fall.

3. “Sip Your Way Around Williamsburg”

They list:

Alewerks
Silver Hand Meadery
Virginia Beer Co.
Williamsburg Winery

All good.

But… this list feels like someone stopped updating it five years ago.

A Reality Check: The Colonial Parkway

Travel + Leisure says:

“Take the scenic route along the Colonial Parkway…”

Here’s the thing.

In 2026, that sentence needs a disclaimer.

The Parkway has been under major rehabilitation, with closures and detours.

So yes, it’s beautiful.

No, you should not plan your entire vacation around it without checking first.

Consider this your public service announcement.

Best Shopping: Merchants Square (Yes) — But That’s Not All

They focus heavily on Merchants Square and mention:

Peanut Shop
Campus Shop
Shoe Attic
Wythe Candy

All classics.

All still fun.

But Williamsburg shopping in 2026 is bigger than just one cluster of brick sidewalks.

New Town, Midtown, specialty boutiques, pop-ups, seasonal markets—none of that really makes the cut.

Again: not wrong. Just incomplete.

Best Restaurants: This Is Where Things Get… Interesting

This is where the article really starts to age itself.

They focus on:

Paul’s Deli
College Delly
Green Leafe
Blackbird Bakery
Cheese Shop / Fat Canary
Colonial taverns

Let’s unpack that.

First: Closures & Changes

Blackbird Bakery — Closed
La Piazza — Closed
College Delly — Temporarily closed

So… three of the highlighted spots are already problematic.

Not ideal for a “fresh” article.

Second: Paul’s Deli Reality

I love Paul’s.

Everyone loves Paul’s.

But calling it a top “destination restaurant” for visitors is… generous.

It’s comfort food. It’s tradition. It’s nostalgia.

It’s not why people fly here.

Which is like reviewing Williamsburg music and only mentioning marching bands.

The Real 2026 Food & Drink Scene (Quick Update)

If you want to understand Williamsburg now, you need to know:

Dining

Amber Ox Public House
Casa Pearl
The Ember Restaurant
The Bake Shop
Opus 9
Masala Craft

Craft Beer & Spirits

Precarious Beer Project
Billsburg Brewery
Frothy Moon
Copper Fox Distillery
Williamsburg Winery.

And they arely shows up in the article.

Best Time to Visit: Fall (Correct, Obviously)

They argue fall is the best time to visit.

They’re right.

Cooler weather.
Football.
Festivals.
Leaves.

No notes.

How to Get Here: Practical, No Drama

Airports.
Amtrak.
Driving.

All accurate.

Moving on.

Neighborhoods: A Start… But Only a Start

They cover:

Edge District
New Town
Midtown / High Street

Good picks.

But Williamsburg leaves a lot out when you stop there.

Residential communities, lifestyle-driven neighborhoods, waterfront living, golf communities, retirement enclaves—none of that gets explored.

Which makes sense for tourists.

But not for people thinking, “Could I live here?”

Why This Article Feels “Almost Right”

Here’s my honest take.

This Travel + Leisure piece is:

Well-written
Positive
Thoughtful
Respectful

But…

It’s a surface-level snapshot.

It tells you how to visit Williamsburg.

It does not tell you how Williamsburg actually works in 2026.

It doesn’t capture:

How fast the food scene has evolved
How entrepreneurial the town has become
How year-round life feels
How interconnected everything is
How much is happening under the radar

It’s Williamsburg for first-timers.

Not Williamsburg for people who want to understand it.

Why I Write Posts Like This

This is exactly why I write these articles on MrWilliamsburg.com.

Not to “correct” national media.

But to add context.

To say:

“Yes, that’s true… and here’s what they didn’t tell you.”

After 20+ years here, I’ve learned something:

People don’t fall in love with square footage.

They fall in love with:

Coffee shops
Trails
Farmers markets
Favorite booths
Friday night spots
Neighbors
Traditions

That’s what turns visitors into residents.

And residents into lifers.

Final Thoughts (With Affection)

I’m grateful for Travel + Leisure.

Truly.

Any time Williamsburg gets national attention, it helps our businesses, our tourism economy, and our brand.

But we’re better than a recycled checklist.

We’re deeper than a “Top 5.”

We’re more interesting than a field-trip town.

And we’re still evolving.

So yes, I’ll celebrate every feature.

And I’ll also keep telling the fuller story—one neighborhood, one restaurant, one conversation at a time.

Because every home has a story.

And so does every great town.

One thing I should probably admit right up front: this list barely scratches the surface. After more than two decades of living, working, and exploring in and around Williamsburg, my personal “favorites” list is easily pushing 100 places — and growing all the time. From tucked-away coffee shops and hidden history spots to longtime local institutions and brand-new standouts, there’s simply too much good stuff here to fit into one article.
That’s why I’d love to turn this into a conversation. If you were visiting Williamsburg for the first time — or showing it off to friends and family — what would your top five must-see, must-eat, or must-experience spots be? Drop them in the comments and tell me why. I’m always looking for new places to explore, and some of my favorite discoveries over the years have come directly from recommendations from locals, neighbors, and readers just like you.

About Me

Hi, I’m John Womeldorf, also known as Mr. Williamsburg.

I’ve been helping people buy and sell homes across Greater Williamsburg, Richmond, and Hampton Roads for over 20 years. Just as importantly, I see myself as a local guide and community ambassador—helping people understand not just where to live, but why they’ll love living here.

If you’re planning a visit, considering a move, downsizing, or investing, I’m always happy to be a resource.

📞 Call/Text: 757-254-8136
📧 Email: John@MrWilliamsburg.com
🌐 Website: https://mrwilliamsburg.com

Let’s make sure your Williamsburg story starts on the right foot.