We didn't book our sunset charter in time and it was raining off and on - we thought a good view of…read morethe sunset was not in the cards for us tonight. We opted instead to take the scenic Colonial Parkway drive and perhaps catch some views over the river. We lucked out and found a free ferry that crossed the river just as the sun was setting. The storm couldn't hold back the sunset no matter how hard it tried and the ferry offered us the best views. In the end we got our sunset cruise and it didn't cost us a cent.

Getting on the ferry and off was easy and fast. More than enough space for all the cars. Didn't…read morehave to wait long and the ride was enough time to explore and take in the sights walking around and exploring the viewing deck.

Neat little airport! Great little diner in the terminal building serves up great food.read more

Colonial Williamsburg is the perfect place to relive history. Don't worry about what time of year…read moreyou go ... there will always be plenty of people there to share your stay with! The docents in their historic garb doing things we don't do anymore will absolutely blow you away! Don't wait ... go now!

Let's bring this one up to the current:…read more Since my last drivel about the CW Brickyard a lot has changed. First and foremost is their location. Until two years ago they were preverbally down in the hole off of Nicholson Street over by the Cabinetmaker. Now, they are off of Botetourt Street next to the Carpenter (who has only been there a few years from when they got moved due to the closing of Great Hopes Plantation). Why the visit and what's the big deal? It's all about the kiln baby. Why is it worth seeing? Because you simply cannot see bricks fired this way in this country anywhere else except here at this time. Normally once a year, in certain years they have done it twice and at different times but this is normally the pattern, in mid-November they fire up the kiln that they spent approximately five weeks building to solidify the bricks which were made from late-spring to early-autumn. This year, depending on which person you talk to, they're firing around 18-19K. A few thousand will be used at The Magazine for part of a new outer wall they'll do next year (The Magazine is currently closed until '25 for archeology/renovation work), most will be used for the rebuilding of the First Baptist Church - www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/research-and-education/archaeology/first-baptist-church/. Fwiw, if you got the dough, the bricks can flow. Part of the total are 800 for a private individual that is doing an outdoor hearth. Pricing is $5.25 per brick (faint). Also neat is that while all of the CW trades close for the day at 5pm, a random one or two at 4:30pm, during the kiln firing the brickyard stays open until 10pm. Yes, at 10 they very politely ask you to leave and yes, several staff members from different trades stay out all night long for the five days it takes the process to unfold. The staff that work here are arguably the best CW has to offer. Whether it's answering the same question for the millionth time or answering a very technical question from someone who knows something about bricks, they handle it professionally and some with a good sense of smart-ass humor. The rest of the year the brickyard open Wednesday-Sunday from 9am-5pm but if you can swing it, usually, the second week of November for a visit, it will be worth your time. (They also once every so often fire up the oyster shells they have on the property which are then used as mortar for in between the bricks once they're melted down. One of the guys said it was coming "soon" but I forgot to ask when "soon" is.)

This airport is definitely quite and not used as much as it could be. I come her for rental cars…read morebut never to fly out. All the staff I had contact woth have been amazing.

I had to fly home due to a family emergency. The last time I flew out of this airport was 10 years…read moreago for a job interview in Texas. Things went just fine with flight arrangements and such in the past. Let's see how this one went. I set my flights via a 3rd party with no issues at all. After my Uber ride dropped me off, I dropped my luggage all tagged up and went to the gate after. The beginning flight was at 6am and we were able to board on schedule heading to Charlotte in an hour's time. The planes leaving out of this airport are on the smaller side so keep that in mind. For the flight coming home last Saturday, no problems at all. Arrived back in the 757 just past 11pm and was able to catch an Uber with everything in place. I was so glad things worked out well with my flights back and forth. We're definitely in good hands with airports during times like this. This airport will continue to be a go-to for yours truly :)

Spending the weekend away from D.C. I traveled by one of Amtrak's Northeast Regional trains from…read moreAlexandria to Newport News, Virginia. I've been a frequent passenger on this line, visiting my son and his family who have lived in Yorktown for about 10 years now. Not so long ago, the Amtrak station serving Newport News was a crowded deteriorating station, one of the worst I've been to on the east coast. Not so anymore. The recently opened NPN station is an amazing location. Set on acres of diversely detailed landscape, the station itself is gorgeous: it offers an abundance of inside seating in a building that looks like a high-ceilinged atrium, with details like interior canvas awnings evoking the maritime industries local to this part of Virginia. It offers bus transit to Virginia Beach and provides what looks (to me at least) like secure parking at no cost to the train's passengers. The building itself was super clean - the seating was well-maintained, the bathrooms were clean, and the modest vending area was in full operation. Station managers were attentive, signage was functioning properly, and the air conditioning was doing a great job keeping the humidity at bay. Because NPN is the ending and starting point for the Northeast Regional trains serving D.C, New York, and Boston our train when returning to Alexandria was spotless, 100 percent empty when we boarded, and we were permitted to board about 15 minutes before departing the station. Note that while passengers may receive baggage assistance when boarding the train, currently there is no checked baggage service and no checked baggage storage. This means that transporting a firearm from the station is not permitted (because firearms need to board with Amtrak's checked baggage service). The station is 100 percent accessible, but there is no wi-fi service at this time, nor are there any pay phones.

Beautiful! I'm so excited this station is now open. It's conveniently located, minutes to the…read moreairport. It's a platform station versus having to go up and down stairs with bags, kiddos ect. There is ample parking. There is a nice loop to drop off and pick up passengers as well. One of the best parts, restrooms and plenty of seating inside the center. This station brings a lot of opportunity for Newport News and surrounding areas. There is so much room on the platform. Staff we encountered including security was helpful.

Nice little airport with very friendly people! Convenient to get to from several areas, definitely…read morerecommend!

I've called them three times looking for a rental. They never have anything available, claiming…read morethat they still have cars in the shop. I can't recommend a service that can't provide the service they advertise.

When I got in a car accident and needed a car the next day to get to work, B & W was there when I…read moreneeded them the most! Unlike other car rental companies in the area who could only offer me a car later that afternoon, B & W had a car ready and at my apartment that morning! Bill is very friendly and goes above and beyond to make your rental experience as easy and painless as possible. When my car wasn't fixed in time, there was no problem extending my rental contract. When I couldn't return the car during business hours because of my job, Bill even offered to meet me whenever I could make it and gave me a ride home as well! And the pricing really can't be beat! If you want an extremely pleasant and hassle-free rental experience, then B & W is exactly what you're looking for!

Unique Tours is top notch. I take about 50 8th graders to Washington, DC. every year and we won't…read moreuse anyone else. He is so very patient with our kids. He communicates efficiently and works dillegently to get us to where we need to go all day every day. The motor coach is always clean and pristine. The best part about Unique Tours is of course the most important, the safety. The driver is impeccable, navigating the roads perfectly and with ease. I feel so very safe in the motor coach, even excellent defensive driving when other people drive recklessly. I not only would 111% recommend Unique Tours but I would even say any other motor coach would be second rate.