December: Williamsburg
My favorite memory from this trip was marching behind the fife and drum group. It was such a patriotic moment!
Valentine's Day: more Williamsburg & Jamestown
We returned in February for a COLD weekend!
We drove around beautiful Jamestown Island...
...and visited the Jamestown glasshouse, the perfect place to warm up (they heat the oven to 2,000+ degrees).
Then to Colonial Willimsburg, which was nearly empty on account of the freezing weather. We visited the dress maker, silversmith, apothecary, and Shields Tavern. I LOVE the taverns - hot apple cider, traditional colonial food, and great performers.
First stop - Michie Tavern, est. 1794. It's a cute place with great fried chicken that's worth exploring for a few hours.
Our best Virginia experience to date is definitely Monticello! It's at the top of a mountain with stunning views, and the estate is beautifully preserved.
Although we were not able to take pictures inside, we learned a few cool things...
--The foyer served as Jefferson's museum: elk antlers and Native American gifts from the Lewis and Clarke expedition, mastodon bones, and originals of the two most famous Jefferson portraits.
--James and Dolly Madison had their own room at Monticello. Even though they lived only 30 miles away, they would come and stay a month at a time.
--Immediately after waking up each morning, TJ would soak his feet in ice water for 15 minutes to promote good health.
--Jefferson went to great lengths to enhance natural light in his house, including creating an octagonal room (that has no dark corners), installing the first known skylights in America, and painting his dining room bright yellow (Ralph Lauren purchased the rights to "Monticello Yellow").
--Monticello originally had around 6,500 books, but Jefferson sold them to the Library of Congress (for $24,000!) after it had burned down, and they are still in that collection today. He built his personal collection back up to about 1,000 books before he died
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