A Williamsburg Bus Tour

I didn’t get my driver’s license until halfway through my freshman year of college. Don’t gasp - I know it’s unusual for a teenager in America. To be fair, I lived right in the middle of my town, a sprawling suburban landscape just west of DC. I walked to school, I biked to work, I took the metro, and I inevitably bummed rides off my friends. Given my reliance on public transportation, when I came to Williamsburg my freshman year, I was thrilled that students ride the buses for free. Within my first week at college, I had taken the bus up and down Richmond road, observing the town that was my home for the next several months. My friends, who all had licenses and cars at home, bemoaned the bus system, seeing it as a crippled form of transport, preferring instead to dole out dollars on an Uber. I disagreed.

Riding the bus, you get a free tour of Williamsburg. As the driver meanders through the neighborhoods and shopping malls of James City County, you get out of the William and Mary bubble; you get to see what your neighborhood is really like. Sure, the bus is sometimes slower than driving, but the lag time lets you reflect on the landscape surrounding you, and how you fit into that community. Put less poetically: you don’t have to worry about parking.

I’ve spoken to many students who’ve never taken the bus, some of whom don’t even realize that it’s free for students at the College of William and Mary. To combat this astounding issue, I’ve created a bus route that takes you up, down and around in Williamsburg. You’ll start and end in Colonial Williamsburg, winding your way from shopping centers to botanical gardens to historic sites and back again. The stops are all interesting, but the ride in-between is equally so. Step on board, relax, and don’t forget to thank the bus driver.

Start at Colonial Williamsburg (N Boundary Street at Merchant Square)

Ah, Colonial Williamsburg, the frenemy of the college student. This multi-million dollar enterprise capitalizes on the nostalgia surrounding an era none of us knew. If you can dodge the tourists and bonnet-clad workers in Merchant’s Square, check out some of the shops. Browse through the tomes at Mermaid Books, grab a sandwich and a coffee from Aromas, or fill your heart with holiday cheer at the Christmas store. Then, when you’re ready, begin your bus journey on North Boundary Street. 

Take the trolley from Scotland Street to Legacy Hall (21 min)

The trolley is the king in the chessboard of the Williamsburg bus system. Its route, although fairly small, takes you from the College to New Town, where all the action is. Plus, it looks cute, and it seems to be the only bus that tourists ever take. On the way, admire how amazingly uncomfortable the wooden benches are, and how historically inaccurate it is to put wood paneling on the inside of a bus.

Legacy Hall is a quick walk from the New Town shops. There you’ll find all the pleasantries of a quasi-metropolitan area: frozen yogurt, pizza, a bookstore, maybe even some shopping. I’d recommend grabbing something to go - but don’t eat it on the bus! Save it for a picnic at our next destination.

Walk to Discovery Park Blvd. at Discovery Park and take the number 4 (purple) to Centerville Rd at Forest Glen 1 (43 min)

You’ll find yourself across from Freedom Park, the hub of the trails that spider web across the Williamsburg Botanical Garden. This park was host to many things: a cemetery, a battle in the Revolutionary War, and one of the earliest Free Black Settlements in the United States. Today, it’s just a park, but it acts as the gateway into a 600-acre expanse of nature, packed full of trails to explore and flowers to admire. Follow the mile-long trail into the Williamsburg Botanical Garden. Admission is free, so wander at your leisure. Maybe eat that picnic lunch you picked up in New Town. When you’re ready, stroll back to the bus stop for the next leg of your journey. 

From Centerville Rd at Forest Glen 1, take the 4 to E Rochambeau Dr at Wal-Mart, then take the 9 to Williamsburg Pottery (47 min)

In the land of shopping centers, Williamsburg Pottery is in a category of its own. Spearheaded by a small group of artisans in 1938, the Pottery has grown from a roadside stand into a sprawling retail attraction. Check out the handmade pottery, or pick up a few items for your kitchen. As you walk around the plaza, you can almost pretend you’re in a totally separate town. 

From Richmond Rd at The Pottery, take the 9 to E Rochambeau Dr at Wal-Mart. Get on the 7 to Boundary & Armistead, and switch to the 6. Take the 6 and get off at Jamestown Rd at Lemon Hall, and walk to the Muscarelle. (1 hr 50 minutes)

The Muscarelle, a museum on the College’s campus, is completely free to students. With a rotating menagerie of exhibitions, you’ll definitely find something interesting. Depending on when you go, you’ll find collections of modern art, historically significant pieces, or galleries curated by students. Take your time and absorb the artwork before hopping back on the bus.

Walk to Jamestown Rd at Indian Springs and get on the 6. Get off at Colonial Pkwy at The Settlement (40 min)

Jamestown, a recreation of Virginian life in the 17th century, is packed full of exhibits and hands-on activities that are free for students. You can climb aboard replica ships, or wander around a military fort, perhaps pretending to suffer from dysentery. Watch blacksmiths work metal, learn about the historical importance of the English colonies, or just harass the reenactors - the choice is yours. Don’t spend too much time here, or you might find yourself wanting to wear breeches or take up needlepoint. Head back to civilization and breathe a sigh of relief that you don’t have to use a horse-drawn carriage. 

Get back on the 6 at Jamestown Rd at Indian Springs and get off at N Boundary St at Blayton Building. (40 min)

You’re back where you started, on the edge of campus. If you’ve played your cards right, you’ve gotten a free tour of Williamsburg, and maybe even gained an appreciation for the bus system. The next time someone tells you they’ve never taken the bus, tell them about all the places you went!