Merry Christmas Camping

Perhaps you are much like us here at Williamsburg KOA. The idea of camping during the holidays simply tickles your fancy.

Whether you chose to camp this holiday with a handful of immediate family. Or the whole family, included Grandma, Grandpa, Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, and Nephews!

This is sure to be an exciting and special Christmas. The more people the better of course!

Bringing more people not only means more supplies, but more holiday cheer of course! The kids can play with their cousins, while the adults indulge in deep conversation and drinks.

Having more people means more supplies. It means some members of the family are camping, some have trailers or RV’s.

Some family members have special supplies, like Side-by-Sides, ATV’s, dirt bikes. Maybe Grandpa has a fancy traveling BBQ, or other great camping cooking supply!

Between the whole family, you will be set on plenty of cooking supplies for the trip. Which means more space to cook your large holiday meals!

Perhaps uncle Benny has a horse shoe set he brought? Don’t forget to pack up the corn hole game for the whole family to enjoy!

• Let us forget the past and start anew,
  wishing to see you this Christmas!

Celebrate Veterans Day in Virginia

The men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country are honored on the National Veteran’s Day holiday, since President Woodrow Wilson dedicated November 11 as Armistice Day in 1919.

Armistice Day became a legal Federal holiday in 1938, and in 1954 changed to Veteran’s Day to honor American soldiers who fought in any war, not just World War I and II. There are now ceremonies and parades held across the country to commemorate the holiday, including those in cities all across Virginia.

Check https://www.vetfriends.org/ for more celebrations taking place across Virginia. Visit https://virginiacampgrounds.com/ to find RV camping or cabin rentals nearby any of these celebrations and find more news and events for Virginia Campgrounds.

Start an RV Thanksgiving Tradition

Wanting to switch up your traditional Thanksgiving festivities? This could be your best decision yet! Camping and Thanksgiving just naturally go together. It’s as simple as that. From the beautiful Scenery and relaxing aura, to the family feasts and the most important thing to remember- Feeling thankful and giving thanks. Thanksgiving camping is an awesome way to enjoy this year’s holiday to its fullest!

Thanksgiving Camping Ideas with The Kids:

While Moms busy preparing dinner why not entertain the kids with a few thanksgiving themed campsite activities to get them in the spirit?

Here’s a few awesome ideas for camping activity ideas brought to you by Creative Youth Ideas.

Pumpkin Seed Toss

Need a carnival game for Thanksgiving? Participants toss a Bean Bag into the opening of a pumpkin to win prizes in this Thanksgiving themed game. It also includes a small devotional on either “Goals” or “Wholesome speech”

Thanksgiving Bingo

In this Thanksgiving themed variation of “Bingo”, the first person to get all of a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally yells out “Gobble, Gobble, Gobble”

Cluck, Cluck, Gobble

This Thanksgiving party game is played similar to the classic children’s game “Duck, Duck, Goose” but with some variations to make it a little more sophisticated for youth and adapt it to the Thanksgiving theme.

Another fun and easy thing to do with the kids is bird watching. All you need is a pair of eyes and some binoculars. Super easy yet fun for the whole family.

Last Minute DIY #HalloweenCostumes

Are you excited for Halloween but does the question: “What should I be for this Halloween?!” pop up in your mind every time you think about it? No stress!

If you’ve waited until the very last moment and you need your costume within a few hours and the stores are closed already, there’s no other option than being creative. But don’t be sad. It’s fun and the possibilities are endless. Just dive into your wardrobe, (or your father’s, mother’s, brother’s, sister’s,) and you’ll find something useful; I promise. For example, use an umbrella and crepe paper to make a jelly fish costume. Or use a cap, a ball and blue dungarees to dress as your Pokemon trainer. Another fun option: grab a striped t-shirt, white gloves and some make-up and you instantly look like a pantomimist. Easy and fun, right? So, you’re sure to make the best of your Halloween this year!

Why Thanksgiving Camping Is The New Favorite Thing:

Some families may wonder why anyone would want to go camping, on a holiday? Aren’t you supposed to be home and tucked in for the day on Thanksgiving or Christmas? 

Here are 3 great reasons to go camping on Thanksgiving.

1.      Time to slow down. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day we take into account all of the things we have to be thankful for. We slow down our schedules and our commitments, and we just relax together. Whether it’s football, a card game or telling embarrassing family stories that gather us around the table. Camping is the perfect way to gather everyone together and focus on what’s most important in life! 

2.      Family Time! If you’re like any average family, you may find it challenging to get in a word between TV and texting. Getting your gang outdoors and away from all the distractions is a great idea! Go outside in the fresh air to toss a football, go hiking, or tease each other with old tales, is a fun way to connect with your family and closest friends.

3.      Shortened Meal Prep. This could be one of the best reasons of all! Everyone knows how long it takes to prepare the traditional Thanksgiving meal! From desserts to favorite sides, and homemade bread, the work is astounding. Then the cleanup lasts for hours. Campfire meal prep for Thanksgiving ensures a drastically reduced meal prep time and clean up time while still allowing for post-turkey napping and football, live of course.

Do something different this Thanksgiving, Go Camping at Williamsburg KOA!

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens

Every fall, the idyllic promenades of Busch Gardens transform into alleyways of fright. You'll probably want to bring a friend or two - and keep them close - when you enter the park during Howl-O-Scream. Once the sun goes down, the ghouls come out. Lurking around the park are all kinds of creatures whose sole job is to scare you! 

There are six dedicated scare zones across the park, each with their own dedicated theme. In those zones you'll have the chance to explore any of six haunted houses with names like "Demented Dimensions" or "Circo Sinistro." In addition to all this, you can check out live music shows or try your luck in one of two escape rooms. For those perhaps not so keen on the jump-scares but still wanting to celebrate the spirit of the holiday, the park offers more mild experiences during the daytime. All the friendly attractions for your younger ghouls and goblins are open until 5 PM. Howl-O-Scream begins on September 14th and runs until October 27th. 

Go Hiking....it's Cheaper than Therapy!

Hiking is one of America's favorite outdoor pastimes, and why wouldn't it be? With all of the beautiful things in nature, hiking is great for exercising both mind and body. Studies have shown that spending time in the Great Outdoors can improve blood pressure, improve mental health, and decrease the risk of cancer. So don't sit around this month, come on down to Williamsburg KOA, where we have miles of gorgeous wooded hiking trails, and the York River State Park right in our backyard!

The York River State Park has a unique ecosystem where salt and freshwater meet. The Taskinas Creek has some nice freshwater fishing for sunfish and largemouth bass. The park also has salt water fishing off of their 360 foot pier along with a nice boat dock. Croaker, spot, and catfish can be caught in the York River. The park has over 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails for you to explore. Whether you want an easy relaxed walk or a challenging hike, the York River State Park has what you are looking for.

Take some binoculars along and keep a look out for the national bird, the bald eagle. There are also many local and migratory birds that can be spotted along your hike by river or in the woods. Maybe you'll see an elusive Pileated woodpecker or a beautiful wood duck on your walk. Some common mammals you may see, could be the perky gray squirrel or an adorable cottontail rabbit. The outdoors can offer many opportunities for bird watching, healthy exercising, or just some peace and quiet, all available at the Williamsburg KOA!

Where the Locals Go

Everyone knows of Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, and the rest of the Historic Triangle, but every place has its secret spots; its little-knowns and much-beloveds. These are some of those places as told by a few members of our staff.

A Meal at Food for Thought
Food for Thought is a restaurant on Richmond Road. I heard of it first when I began working at the KOA in 2011, but I would not eat there until two years later. As fate would have it, that first meal was my first date with my now wife. It has become a tradition of ours to eat at Food for Thought every year on the same day, and plenty of times in between. It is easily our favorite restaurant in Williamsburg. The food is great. They serve great steak, crab cakes, breaded flounder, pot roast, along with daily specials. The staff is impeccable and the atmosphere is always a treat. Posters of famous thinkers and inventors adorn the walls along with quotes from philosophers, authors, and leaders throughout history. Each table has bits of trivia and conversation starters to keep each meal interesting. We'll sometimes spend hours just sitting and talking while enjoying our meals. We always take friends and family when they come into town.

--Robb, Assistant Manager

Picnic at Colonial Williamsburg
Relax and soak in the beautiful surroundings at Colonial Williamsburg. It's nice to go there on a beautiful day just to enjoy the surroundings. My favorite thing to do is get lunch from the Cheese Shop, located in Merchants Square, and have a picnic on the Courthouse Green or Palace Green. There's nothing better than sitting out on the grass and just enjoying the fresh air and sunshine and spending time with loved ones.

--Kendall, Office Assistant

A Trip to New Town
I love going to New Town to walk around in the afternoon. There is such a variety of restaurants and shops that you have tons of options on what to do. They will often on the weekends have different types of entertainment which is really fun to check out. They also have small parks where you can relax while being surrounded by nature. You can grab some dinner at Opus 9, then head over to Sweet Frog for some frozen yogurt, catch a movie at the New Town Theater, or read a book and relax at the Barnes and Noble. There really is something for everyone there.

--Jonathan, Front Desk

Kayaking at York River State Park
York River State Park is by far my favorite place to kayak. It's a winding river, which is different then most of the other places around here, where you kayak in a lake.  I like to go at low tide and watch the river rise. Its such a quiet atmosphere and very scenic. There is a lot of wildlife to check out as well, I've seen otters, eagles and osprey along the river. The park also has some of the best hiking trails in the area.

--Peter, Assistant Manager

Care Camps Weekend Returns for 2019!

Camping is an experience that everyone should have a chance to experience. It's something young and old alike can enjoy, with activities and adventures that can relax, inspire, and create new and lasting memories. With KOA's Care Camps program, KOA ensures that children with cancer have a chance to experience all of those adventures and more without costing their families a dime.

The on-site medical facilities are staffed by caring professionals who are ready to administer any needed treatments, while camp counselors have undergone extensive training to be able to assist the kids with their unique needs. The majority of these staff members are volunteers in order to cover costs and to make sure the donations are used to give the kids a great camping experience.

Throughout their stay, kids get to choose from a plethora of activities including kayaking, paint races, and shaving cream fights. They also get the chance to experience some traditional camping activities like roasting s'mores and telling stories around the campfire. The Care Camps foundation works to make children's wildest camping dreams come true year after year.

Throughout the month of May, we are celebrating KOA Care Camps and donating to the cause in a couple of special ways. On May 10th - May 12th, we are participating in KOA Care Camps Big Weekend. Guests staying on Friday May 10th, receive Saturday May 11th for $20. Every $20 charge goes straight to KOA Care Camps! Get another chance to donate every Saturday in May and throughout the year at our weekly Charity Pancake Breakfast. Pancakes are free and money from drinks and coffee, along with any additional donations, are given to KOA Care Camps. So join us once again this year in our support for KOA Care Camps and give kids with cancer the chance to just be kids for a weekend.

Easter Weekend is a Blast at Williamsburg KOA!

Easter is just around the corner and the Williamsburg KOA has a lot planned for the weekend! Join us for the first taste of spring on our beautiful 180-acre campground. Easter is a time to celebrate life. What better way to celebrate than by going camping with friends and family after a cold winter? Join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt, and expect a visit from the Easter Bunny! We'll also be having a visit from the Teeny Tiny Farm Petting Zoo and more this weekend, so make your reservation today.

As if that isn't enough fun for your spring getaway, don't forget about what's happening in Williamsburg. Busch Gardens is open for Spring Break and filled with the best coasters, food, and shows in the state! Busch Gardens is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the beloved children's program by welcoming the Sesame Street Gang for extra fun for the little ones every weekend in April. Shake off the bitter cold of winter this month and throw yourself into a family vacation you'll never forget!

By staying at the Williamsburg KOA, you have easy access to tickets to Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown! Select discounted tickets are available. Check out our website for more details on ticket pricing, or stop by the campground General Store.

A Sesame Street Spring at Busch Gardens

As the trees turn green, the flowers bloom, and the birds start singing, the Sesame Street gang is getting ready for a party over at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. In April, visit your favorite Sesame Street characters during Busch Gardens’ Sesame Street Kids Weekends, with a special show, Let’s Play Together!, to celebrate their 50^th Anniversary.

            With over 50 years of experience creating fun and great memories, the Sesame Street gang knows how to have a great time. Enjoy story time on the stoop on 123 Sesame Street every weekend along with visits from some of your favorite characters.

 On April 5^th-7^th, join Rosita for singing and dancing while learning some Spanish along the way! Enjoy fun crafts and activities too all weekend long.

On April 12^th-14^th, let your imagination fly high with a visit from Super Grover! Enjoy exclusive activities like paper bag puppet fun as well as creating some of your own art for the Magic of Art Wall.

On April 19^th-21^st, satisfy your cookie cravings with a visit from the big, blue fur-ball we all know and love, Cookie Monster! Make your own cookies and enjoy a cookie scavenger hunt across the Forest of Fun this weekend and make your wildest cookie dreams a reality!

On April 26^th-28^th, take a trip to Elmo’s World for a visit with everyone’s favorite red monster! Add your personal art creation to the Magic Wall of Art, and enjoy other exclusive activities like card-making and some finger puppet fun.

While the little ones enjoy a Sesame Street celebration, the older kids and adults can still enjoy the best shows, food, and rides that Busch Gardens has to offer. Make sure to check out shows like Oktoberzest and Celtic Fyre and classic rides like the mythical Griffon, along with newer attractions like the VR ride, Battle for Eire.

Be sure to stop by our camp store at the Williamsburg KOA to get your tickets before you head to the park. We have One-Day Tickets for adults and kids for $69.99, Two-Day Tickets for $74.99, and Three-Day Tickets for $84.99! Check out these and other great deals at our camp store.