Community Facilities
Parks: The City operates six parks. Bicentennial and College Landing are passive parks, but the remaining four parks offer a wide array of recreational activities, nature trails, and bike trails.
Quarterpath Recreation Center: Quarterpath Park is the site of the Quarterpath Recreation Center and Pool. The outdoor pool is open during the summer months and swimming lessons are offered Monday through Friday in two-week sessions. The recreation center is open year-round and offers exercise classes, basketball courts, table tennis, and a variety of other activities. The James City / Williamsburg Community Center, operated by James City County, also offers a variety of fitness and recreation services and facilities to residents of the City for a membership fee.
Outdoor Activities: The area offers unsurpassed facilities for both fresh water and salt-water fishing. The City's Waller Mill Park has a 343-acre lake that is open for fishing, boating, pedal boating, kayaking, and canoeing with a tunnel connecting the upper and lower sections of the lake. The park also has a new 1.5 acre dog park and trails for hiking, running, and mountain biking. Both the James and York Rivers provide superb opportunities for inland fishing excursions. The Chesapeake Bay is also nearby. Other water-related activities in the area include sailing, windsurfing, and crabbing.
Libraries: The Williamsburg Regional Library (259-4040), jointly operated by the City of Williamsburg and James City County, houses appoximately 150,000 volumes, and offers a theatre, an art gallery, and meeting rooms. Swem Library at The College of William and Mary (221-3050) and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's John D. Rockefeller Library (565-8510) are also located in the City of Williamsburg.
Health Care: Sentara Williamsburg Community Hospital is a non-profit hospital that offers 139 beds and 24-hour emergency treatment. This Sentara-affiliated hospital has over 120 physicians and more than 42 specialties (259-6000). Sentara is currently building a new hospital for the Greater Williamsburg Area, which is expected to open in 2006. Riverside Health System has plans to build a new hospital in the City of Williamsburg in the Quarterpath at Williamsburg development. Doctors Hospital of Williamsburg is expected to open in 2009.
Places of Worship: The Greater Williamsburg Area is home to a number of churches representing 27 denominations. A Jewish synagogue and Islamic center can also be found in the Williamsburg area.
Williamsburg Transportation Center: Owned and operated by the City of Williamsburg, The Williamsburg Transportation Center connects local Williamsburg Area Transport bus service to national bus and rail services. Amtrak provides passenger rail service and CSX provides freight rail service. Greyhound and Trailways provide interstate bus service. WAT service is jointly operated by James City County, York County, The College of William & Mary, the City of Williamsburg, and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Local bus routes and schedules are published online.
Area Attractions
Culture: In addition to historical sites, residents can also enjoy a multitude of cultural attractions. The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Gallery, The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center, This Century Art Gallery, Gallery on the Square, and The Muscarelle Museum of Art are all located in the City of Williamsburg. Nearby cultural attractions include The Mariner's Museum and The Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, the NASA Visitors' Center at Langley Research in Hampton, The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, and The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. Hosted by the College of William & Mary, Festival Williamsburg is held annually as the three-day finale for the Virginia Arts Festival season. The Williamsburg Area Arts Commission maintains a calendar of events and performances year-round. The College also sponsors plays, concerts, dance performances, and lecture series that are open to the public at William & Mary Hall and Phi Beta Kappa Hall. The Kimball Theatre, located in Merchants Square, presents cultural events and independent films. The City hosts an outdoor Farmers' Market in Merchants Square on Saturdays from May to October.
Retail Centers: Merchants Square and surrounding businesses offer more than 50 unique shops, restaurants, and services. The Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area is home to stores, restaurants, and taverns that recreate the 18th century colonial environment. The City is also serviced by Williamsburg Shopping Center and Monticello Shopping Center. Two new mixed-use Retail/Residential developments are planned: High Street Williamsburg and Quarterpath at Williamsburg. According to the 2002 Economic Census, there are 146 Retail Trade, 88 Food Service, and 51 Traveler Accomodation establishments in the City.
Theme Parks: The Greater Williamsburg area is also home to two theme entertainment parks. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is an 17th century European theme park that offers more than 50 rides and attractions. Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been voted the world's "Most Beautiful Theme Park" for the fifteenth consecutive year and named the world's "Favorite Theme Park" in 2004. Water Country USA, a subsidiary of Busch Gardens, offers more than 35 water rides, slides, and shows.
Sports: Sports enthusiasts can enjoy an array of collegiate team sporting events at The College of William and Mary. Williamsburg is home to several nationally acclaimed golf courses with top design layouts. The Golden Horseshoe operates three courses just adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg. With eleven golf courses located in the Greater Williamsburg area, Williamsburg has become a premier golf destination. Nearby, The Cities of Richmond and Norfolk offers a variety of professional sporting events, including baseball, soccer, and stock car racing.