Your licensed guide will meet you at the elegant Williamsburg Inn, 136 E. Francis Street, and escort you back in time to the 18th-century. As we walk up Duke of Gloucester Street we will enter a different, slower-paced town. We will learn why the Colonists decided to break off from Great Britain. We will experience the sights, sounds, and scents of the 1700s, when Virginia was the largest and wealthiest colony in British America.

We will immerse ourselves in the 18th century as we walk up Duke of Gloucester Street, "the most historic street in America." We will stop to view the Capitol Building, where our Founding Fathers debated British taxation and finally proposed independence. Along the way we will pass by busy trades, merchant shops, and taverns. And maybe even visit the dark jail cells and shackles of the Public Gaol (Jail) where Blackbeard's pirates were imprisoned.

Walking down Duke of Gloucester Street, we will talk about Virginia's role in declaring our independence and chat about Colonial life here in the capital city. We will see costumed interpreters and observe the busy shops, working trades, and taverns for hungry travelers where our Fouding Fathers debated independence. We will stop by the Courthouse where we'll share the punishments doled out to convicted criminals and perhaps take a photo with your feet in the "stocks."

On our way to the magnificent Governor's Palace, we'll pass by horse-drawn carriages, perhaps encounter a patriot, and walk up Palace Green to see the mansion that showcased the wealth and power of the British empire.

We will conclude our tour at the historic Bruton Parish Church, near Merchants Square. This gives you the option to continue touring the historic area or to visit Merchants Square with its 40 shops and restaurants. Shops include Lululemon, Talbot's, and Scotland House, and award-winning restaurants, from fine dining to casual spots. You may want to continue touring or grab a bite, or go souvenir shopping. Your guide will let you know their favorite spots!