My family spent a few days in Colonial Williamsburg last month on vacation. As an afternoon tea lover, I really wanted to have the Afternoon Royal Tea at the historic and luxurious Williamsburg Inn, which is located in the heart of the historic district. 




Unfortunately, my visit to Williamsburg did not coincide when tea was being served at the Inn, which is served seasonally, Thursday through Saturday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Goodwin Room. But, luck was definitely on my side, and I got a royal treat anyway.  

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation gave my family a private tour of the Inn since they know that I'm such a luxury hotel lover. Many of these photos were also in my Instagram feed while we were in Williamsburg. 

The Williamsburg Inn Lobby.  Floral design in the hotel is by floral designer, Clark Taggart. His team works to add elegance to every hallway and public space, reflecting the colors of the Inn and themes of the seasons.

The Williamsburg Inn is Colonial Williamburg's landmark property, and opened to guests in 1937.  John D. Rockefeller Jr., oversaw every detail, and made sure that the Inn provided "comfort, convenience, and charm."  For luxury hotel history buffs, it was the first hotel in the United States to provide air-conditioning. Rockefeller wanted the absolute best for this Inn, and it has continued to maintain his standard, 75 years later. 

This stunning room was site of an International Summit led by President  Ronald Reagan in 1983.

Rockefeller and his wife,  Abby Aldrich, felt strongly that the Inn should be as unlike a traditional hotel as possible, preferring the the furnishings and decor to have the ambiance of a gracious country residence.  The Inn's Regency style of early 19th-century England was purposely chosen to contrast the colonial architecture of the neighboring Historic area. 

The Regency style of the Inn is evident in neoclassical architectural features ranging from interior cornices and chair rails to the exterior's pediments, arches and columns.

The public areas of the Inn certainly remind you of a very rich aunt's home, who possibly could even be the Queen of England. This Inn is certainly suited for a Queen, and has hosted Queen Elizabeth II twice, once in 1957 and again, in 2007.



This is the suite where she stayed during her visit in 1957.  




Staff at the Inn now call the staircase in the East Wing, the Queen's staircase. Her suite was at the top of the stairs, and she came down the staircase to a formal dinner, in honor of the 350th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown.  



The Williamsburg Inn is intimate with just 62 guestrooms and suites. The Inn's guest rooms are decorated in three distinctive styles: floral, classic, and restoration.  All rooms feature period furnishings, original artwork, and handmade silk window treatments that have been a Williamsburg Inn signature for decades. 



The Williamsburg Inn, a member of the Leading Hotel of the World membership, is the only luxury-premium hotel owned by Colonial Williamsburg that has an evening turndown service with night spreads, slippers, robes, and an evening turndown tray.  You will learn more about Colonial Williamsburg's other premium property, The Williamsburg Lodge, in my next "Pack-Your Bags" feature. 



The Williamsburg Inn is also home to the elegant and formal restaurant, the Regency Room. This upscale restaurant celebrates classic American cuisine with traditional European roots. Just in time for Fall, Sunday brunch will resume at the Inn on September 8. 

If you want to "Pack Your Bags" and stay in the Inn, rates for the Williamsburg Inn begin around $450 a night and up. Colonial Williamsburg has packages that include tickets, meals, golf, and spa treatments. The Inn is operated by the Foundation's subsidiary, the Colonial Williamsburg Company.  All revenues support the Foundation's preservation, research and educational programs. 

The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg is located next to the Williamsburg Inn.  It is a full-service spa with 12 treatment rooms, a conservatory salon, indoor pool, lap pool, sauna, stream room, and fitness center.

Since visiting Colonial Williamburg, I enjoy following the @Colonialwmsburg Instagram account  I get to see things that I've already seen, and perhaps even make notes for a future trip. This particular Instagram photo caught my eye yesterday. Race Car driver Kyle Busch will be in the Revolutionary City on September 5.  I thought it was really funny.  


The IG caption said:



Take a look at the official rules on Skimbaco Lifestyle, but here are some important things to remember when linking your post.



Be sure to follow me on one or more of my social media platforms.  Twitter, Instagram ,Facebook, Pinterest, Google Plus or on Bloglovin, if you just want post updates. When traveling, I'm on Instagram the most.  My personal family Instagram account is LeighPHines.



Disclosure:  My visit to Colonial Williamsburg was as a media guest on assignment. I received complimentary tickets to the Revolutionary City, and a combination of complimentary and special lodging rates while in the area.  As always, my opinions are my own, and we had our own vacation expenses while in the area.  I would like to thank Colonial Williamsburg and the DCI  Public Relations team for all the media assistance they gave me before, during, and after the trip. 

If you are a people watcher or maybe I should say royal watcher then today is a BIG day.   Bigger than usual, really!

These two have arrived in North America and are embarking on their first royal tour as husband and wife.  They will be traveling across Canada, and will also spend a few days in the U.S on the last leg of their tour.

Blair Gable/Reuters/Landov Courtesy of People Magazine

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are in Ottawa today, and will take part in Canada Day celebrations.  Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian friends!

The royal couple are traveling with a small entourage to handle the press.  More than 1300 press members are reported to be following this new dynamic duo for Great Britain.   As someone who has worked as both a member of the press corp, and as a person who handles the media, I'm not sure who I feel the most sorry for during this trip.  Both jobs can be demanding, but since working with the news media was not a great love of mine then I'm going to say that I feel sorry for Clarence House press staff.   This is going to be one long, tiring trip for them as well as for the couple.

But, it's going to be fun for us and we will see new outfits from the Duchess on a daily basis.  Sometimes more than one. Yesterday, we saw three!

At the airport.

John Stillwell/Pool/Reuters/Landov Courtesy of People Magazine

With 1300 or more members of the press following William and Catherine around then who is left to cover this other royal event that kicks off today and tomorrow.  Prince Albert of Monaco is finally getting married.

Courtesy of Hello

A civil ceremony will take place today followed by a religious ceremony on July 2.  I just don't feel it for these two, and yes, I'll look at the photos of the wedding, but I'm just over Prince Albert of Monaco.  I was such a fan of Princess Grace.  I think if the prince had settled down in his thirties or even early forties, for that matter, and not fathered children all over the world, I would be caught up in their wedding hoopla and this love story. Or is it a love story?   At the age of 53, he's getting married to produce a legitimate heir.   We're no dummies.  He's been dating Charlene Wittstock, 33,  for five years. What took so long? Albert, you were not getting any younger.

I guess it took her this long to decide if she wants to marry an aging, balding man who is probably closer to her father's age than hers even if he is the head of a principality.  Even the media coverage surrounding this marriage has been negative, dubbing her as a possible runaway bride.  I traveled to Monaco in 2000, and it is breathtakingly beautiful.   As a young, single woman, I had hoped to run into the playboy prince on my travels as I lived the glitzy, jet-setting lifestyle that Monaco projects for a few short days,  but honestly, after seeing Albert in this decade, I think I got the better catch.



My eyes will be on the Duke and Duchess as they travel across gorgeous Canada, and later to California.   It gives me the opportunity to look at fashion, and seek out new luxury hotels on their route.  I'm no longer a member of the press corp, but I'm going to cover this royal tour in my own way from NC.  I plan to do some posts on some great hotels in the areas they are traveling.  Yes, they have palace and private residences to stay in on their journey, but you and I have hotels.   We, too, can travel in luxury style.  Look for some of those posts in the future.

Until next time, I'm seeking out some of the best places for us. Stay tuned!
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