In The Historic Area -- Duke of Gloucester Street is the center for 18th-century wares created by craftspeople plying the trades of our forefathers. The goods include hand-wrought silver jewelry from the Sign of the Golden Ball, hats from the Mary Dickenson shop, pomanders to ward off the plague from McKenzie's Apothecary, hand-woven linens from Prentis Store, books bound in leather and hand-printed newspapers from the post office, gingerbread cakes from the Raleigh Tavern Bake Shop, and everything from foods to fishhooks at Greenhow and Tarpley's, a general store. In fine weather, check out the outdoor market next to the Magazine.
Not to be missed is Craft House, also run by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. There are two locations, one in Merchants Square and one at the Williamsburg Inn (note, however, that the latter is slated to be turned into a spa and health evaluation center). Featured at Craft House are exquisite works by master craftspeople and authentic reproductions of Colonial furnishings. There are also reproduction wallpapers, china, toys, games, maps, books, prints, and souvenirs aplenty.
The modern, independently owned and operated Merchants Square "shoppes" at the west end of Duke of Gloucester Street offer a wide range of merchandise: antiques, antiquarian books and prints, 18th-century-style floral arrangements, candy, toys, handcrafted pewter and silver items, needlework supplies, country quilts, and Oriental rugs. It's not all of the "ye olde" variety, however, for national chains such as Chico's, Williams-Sonoma, and Barnes & Noble (disguised as the William and Mary Bookstore) are here, too. Merchants Square has free 2-hour parking for its customers.
On Richmond Road -- Shopping in the Historic Area is fun, but the biggest draws are along Richmond Road (U.S. 60) between Williamsburg and Lightfoot, an area 5 to 7 miles west of the Historic Area. If you like outlet shopping, Richmond Road is for you.
Driving west from town (or taking Williamsburg Visitors Shuttle during summer), you'll come first to Patriot Plaza Premium Outlets (tel. 757/258-0767; www.premiumoutlets.com), between Ironbound and Airport roads. It's a more up-market mall, with Dansk, Donna Karan, Lenox china and crystal, Polo Ralph Lauren, Villeroy & Boch, WestPoint Stevens, Leather Loft and more. Shops here are open Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm
Next comes Prime Outlets Williamsburg, between Airport and Lightfoot roads (tel. 877/GO-OUTLETS or 757/565-0702; www.primeoutlets.com/p.cfm/centers/Williamsburg). The largest and best outlet mall here, it has a wide selection of more than 85 shops including Bass, Bose, Brooks Brothers, Coach Leather, Crabtree & Evelyn, Eddie Bauer, Etienne Aigner, Harvé Bernard, J. Crew, Jones New York, Jos. A. Bank, L'eggs/Hanes/Bali, Maidenform, Mikasa, Naturalizer, Nike, Reebok/Rockport, Royal Doulton, Seiko, Van Heusen, and Waterford Wedgwood. It's open Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm.
Patriot Plaza and Prime Outlets have eclipsed The Williamsburg Outlet Mall (tel. 888/SHOP-333 or 757/565-3378), at the intersection of U.S. 60 Lightfoot Road (C.R. 646), where Levi's and Bass Shoes are the only major stores in residence. Its saving grace is that it's enclosed in an air-conditioned mall. It's open Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm.
Across the highway you can browse for collectibles and perhaps find a priceless piece of antiquity at the Williamsburg Antique Mall, 500 Lightfoot Rd. (tel. 757/565-3422; www.antiqueswilliamsburg.com), with 45,000 square feet of dealer space. It's open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday noon to 5pm.
Just up the road is the famous Williamsburg Pottery Factory (tel. 757/564-3326; www.williamsburgpottery.com), a 200-acre shopping complex with over 31 tin buildings selling an eclectic collection of merchandise from all over the world. Shops sell Christmas decorations, garden furnishings, lamps, art prints, dried and silk flowers, luggage, linens, baskets, hardware, glassware, cookware, candles, wine, toys, crafts, clothing, food, jewelry, plants (there's a greenhouse and nursery) -- even pottery. There's plenty of quality and plenty of kitsch. It even has its own Pottery Factory Outlets, but do your discount shopping at Patriot Plaza and Prime Outlets. The complex is open daily from 8am to 7pm in summer, daily from 9am to 5pm the rest of the year.
Continue west 1 1/2 miles on U.S. 60, and you'll come to the Williamsburg Doll Factory (tel. 757/564-9703; www.dollfactory.com), with limited-edition porcelain collector's dolls. You can observe the doll-making process and buy parts to make your own. Other items available are stuffed animals, dollhouses and miniatures, clowns, and books on dolls. Open daily from 9am to 5pm.
Lastly you'll come to the Williamsburg Soap & Candle Company (tel. 757/564-3354; www.candlefactory.com). You can see a video on candle making while watching the process through windows that look out on the factory. There are shops adjoining, and a cozy country-style restaurant on the premises. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm, with extended hours in summer and fall.
On The Wine Trail -- In 1623, the Jamestown settlers were required to plant "20 vines for every male in the family above the age of 20." By doing so, it was thought, the fledgling colony would develop a profitable wine industry. As it turned out, the profitable industry was tobacco, not grapes, and winemaking never took off.
Until the 1980s, that is, when The Williamsburg Winery, 5800 Wessex Hundred (tel. 757/229-0999; www.williamsburgwinery.com), Virginia's first modern vineyard, proved that good grapes could be grown on the peninsula. Wine Spectator magazine's critics have twice cited its vintages for excellence. Its Governor's White is the most widely purchased of Virginia's wine, although you'll find the Vintner's Reserve and John Adlum blended Chardonnays much better wines. You can try them daily from 11am to 4pm. Tastings and 45-minute tours cost $7 per person. Plan to have a bite of lunch along with your Two Shilling Red in the winery's Gabriel Archer Tavern. From the Historic Area, take Henry Street (Va. 132) south, turn right on Va. 199, left on Brookwood Drive, and another left on Lake Powell Road to the winery.
