Once the seat of early American government, Williamsburg, Virginia is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and larger cities like Washington, DC and Virginia Beach also attracts many people seeking a new home for raising a family, or for retirement. In the summer months, however, the town provides ample opportunity for families to explore the roots of our nation’s history and culture, as well as have some fun.

Situated on the tip of the booming Hampton Roads metropolitan area, Williamsburg forms one point of the historical triangle of sites (the others being Yorktown and the Jamestown colony) that attracts thousands of tourists annually. It is easy to find, being a short trip off I-64 and accessible through the local AmTrak station. At most, Williamsburg is an hour’s drive from three airports: Richmond International, Williamsburg/Newport News, and Norfolk International.

In Williamsburg, visitors may experience the life of our forefathers with a stroll through the streets of the colonial district. Stepping into the cobblestone streets sends one back in time as costumed folk demonstrate traditions and vocations of the time period. Gardens are cultivated for the beautiful floral arrangements decorating each door, the town blacksmith toils to forge ironworks, and the many shopkeepers bustle to serve their customers with handmade soaps, candles and linens.

While many of the buildings situated along Duke of Gloucester street charge no admission, some sites in the preserved colonial area are part of a larger tour requiring passes which may be purchased from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Among the buildings people may explore at no charge are Bruton Parish, one of the oldest Anglican congregations in the country, and the Wren Building, the oldest academic structure in the United States. The Wren Building is part of the College of William and Mary, which abuts the colonial district.

History lovers will be interested in Williamsburg’s latest attraction, President’s Park. Located just on the outskirts of town, President’s Park is a large outdoor museum featuring gigantic busts of every US President. From George Washington to George W. Bush, visitors may learn about each presidency as they gaze at larger than life replicas of our nation’s leaders.

Visitors seeking a bit of excitement will want to stop at nearby Busch Gardens Europe, a seasonal amusement park sectioned to celebrate the different cultures that shape our nation. Spine-twisting roller coasters, three-dimensional rides and top entertainment delight thousands of visitors each year. When the sun is especially brutal, companion park Water Country USA offers a respite in the form of water slides and a giant wave pool.

For lovers of culinary delights, Williamsburg is home to some of the finest restaurants in the state. Virginia ham, Chesapeake crabs, and colonial classic cream of peanut soup are just a few of the items one might find in the taverns and eateries around town. Williamsburg is home to The Trellis, made famous by the decadent Death by Chocolate dessert that is so big, it has to be shared!

For visitors interested in less touristy things, Williamsburg offers opportunities for relaxation as well. Nestled the looming pines on the northern edge of town is Waller Mill Park, favored by locals and tourist for its many hiking and biking trails. Cyclists especially enjoy riding the Colonial Parkway for breathtaking views of the marsh and Chesapeake Bay. For golfers, there are three PGA-rated courses within the town borders.

Williamsburg is a haven for golfers, history buffs, and anyone desiring a reprieve from the bustle and traffic often found in DC and Northern Virginia. Because the attraction to Williamsburg is seasonal and spread out, the area also allows for a sense of isolation and peace without being inaccessible. So if you’re thinking of Virginia for your next vacation, be sure to reserve a few days for Williamsburg. You won’t be disappointed.

Kathryn Lively
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/history-and-fun-come-alive-in-williamsburg-82992.html

What better way to bring together your home’s beach decor than with a coastal or tropical theme area rug? Often overlooked, floor coverings are a unique and fun way to accentuate your beach house style. These rugs come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors to suit any room in your house.

When shopping for an area rug, there are several factors to take into consideration to make sure you find the perfect choice. Style, color and shape all play a crucial part in making sure your rug blends seamlessly with your beach decor. There are so many options that, with a little research, you will be sure to find something ideal to fit your needs.

Think about the room that you are decorating? What is the main concept? Do you want your room to have the feel of a surfer’s sanctuary? A tropical paradise? A coastal cottage? Your last family beach vacation? The options are limitless!

For a room with cool, laid-back surfer style, consider the ever-popular surfboard rug. Available in different sizes (“longboard” or “shortboard”), colors and patterns, these rugs could become the centerpiece of your room. If you prefer something a little more traditional, shape-wise, you can choose from plenty of rectangular-shaped surf theme area rugs.

Do you prefer your decor to have a more subdued, coastal feel? Highlight your floors with casual rugs in patterns of seashells or nautical stripes. Pair these rugs with white walls, light furniture and breezy window treatments to make your home feel like a cottage by the shore.

Depending on your taste, the color of your rugs can range from bright and splashy to understated and sophisticated, all while still maintaining your beach decor theme. Choose from vibrant floral patterns in rich reds, blues and greens for that island feeling. For a seaside retreat, choose more muted shades of aqua and tan reminiscent of sandy beaches and clear blue waters.

Area rugs are now available in all shapes and sizes. Smaller rugs are great in the bathroom or even as welcome mats at the front door. Larger rugs can be used to bring the furnishings and other accents in bigger rooms together, such as the dining room or living room. Long surfboard rugs can be used as hallway runners, and whimsical odd-shaped rugs can be a conversation piece all on their own!

So many elements go into interior design and floor coverings play an important role. You can find a great rug to match your current beach decor, or choose your rug first and then pattern your room around it. No matter what order you go in when you are decorating your beach house, remember not to leave out what’s right under your feet!

Rebecca McKeich

http://www.walmart.com/ip/OP-Island-Beach-Bedding-Set/10890416 (you have to copy and paste this into your browser to make it work)
We need decorations, curtains, lighting, rugs, etc. to go along with this.

And this is the bedding that the second twin Azazi says she likes:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Twilight-Garden-Bed-in-a-Bag/14220225 (you have to copy and paste into your broswer to make it work)
We need to curtains, rugs, lighting, etc. to match this.

Thank You In Advance For Your Help!

Most Descriptive Answer Gets Best Answer!
Okay, for dumb people like saaanen, I feel it is important to say this. I live with my aunt, she is my legal guardian, which is why she asked me to help her with this, idiot.

For the black-white-pink one, I would follow what they have in the picture. White walls, pink rug. A black rug isn’t good because it shows every speck of lint or whatever. The pink doesn’t have to match, it can be lighter or darker. If you don’t want white walls, then a slight tint of the pink would look very good. Use black or white lamps, and curtains that are white or a version of the pink.

For the orange-red-green one, I would either have white walls or choose the lightest pink or orange found in the bedding. You could even go a little lighter, but stay in the basic tone from the fabric. The rug can be one of the deeper red or orange colors. I don’t really care for the yellowish green, but it would be a good accent color. Curtains can be white with a print color from your other items, or match the rug, or pick out another color from the bedding.

For lamps… black for the

If we were to have a ceremony on the beach how stupid would it be to go back to our vacation home (beach front property) to have a tent decorated with a winter theme?

Hmmm, o.k. I live in SC and in Nov. it can get quite cold, depending on Mother Nature of course, can be unseasonably warm or unseasonably cold. Nov. is an iffy month and you do have to think about hurricane season, yick. Downer, huh. But, having said that, a ceremony on the beach with either of the color schemes you chose, I cannot vision very much. For outside on the beach, I would have a shawl or a wrap ready, unless you move everything into the beach house. A contingency plan for each type weather would be for me anyway the best bet. Have beach house decorated, just enough, have tent and go from there. If weather is not good, but possibly can still have ceremony on
porch(if have one) or front of beach house facing ocean with a pretty arch. Then move to tent or house whichever is best for the weather situation of that day. If things look like they may not do well outside, cancel the tent and go inside. There is nothing less fun than trying to look like you are having fun in too cold/too hot weather. Have guests (if you want) bring jackets/slacks for walks on the beach or tops/shorts if you wish to make use of your, (you are very lucky) beach home. For this area and since the weather is iffy, I like the caribbean casual fun theme best. The only thing I don’tlike is the chocolate brown. However, if you look under this site http://www.lavenderweddings.com under pantone weddings, the ten new colors for 2011 are **the biggie honeysuckle pink, russet, regatta, blue curacao, lavender, silver cloud, coral rose, peapod, beeswax and silver peony. I like the regatta blue with the russet which is a medium chocolate milk color if you must have brown, mix in the blue curacao or the peapod–a sort of aqua qreenish and a touch of the honeysuckle. This to me is a beachy theme and you get to use the new color names, ta da. I still worry about the weather, you could purchase shawls, throws in a pretty floral pattern for bm, to go with say the peapod dresses or honeysuckle pink dresses, something flowy, but will keep shoulders warm. Then proceed into house or a tent with sides maybe. I don’t know, may be too iffy to help any. Just a weather thing. But, def. not a winter beach theme. Hard to try to combine beach with winter theme. But, you can do it, if you want. Just lots of different colors, do you want winter colors on the beach for attendants to wear with a theme inside tent, blues,lavenders, silver cloud, and silver peony, icey look, lots of crystals, white twig branches with drooping gems, etc. Punch in silver punch bowls, condensation on outside is a very wintry look.
Not much help, just hard to put together. Try for maybe all winter beach with ceremony on porch if you have one or lanai and have all rooms in the house decorated. Can use beds, extra chairs for seating. Very casual and again have guests bring jackets, parkas as many will want to take a strool on the very available beach. Sorry, not much help. Try google winter beach weddings and maybe go for the full fake fur shoulder wrap maybe.

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z415/obxbeachgoer/blueroom.jpg The master BR, looking out over the beach. Decorations were minimal because the main focal point is the beach outside the window, which I obviously do not have in my home.

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z415/obxbeachgoer/bluestreetside.jpg Another blue room facing the street. Again, minimal decorations, no candles/fragrances, and lots of air conditioning.

How can I get the look of these rooms without any major renovations/ furniture changes?

You need to stick to a beach theme color palette. Think of sea glass. http://quovadisblog.com/2009/01/13/sea-glass/

Use these colors coupled with a sand tone on the floor and windows. Add elements like bamboo or straw shades. Soft sea glass in a large hurricane vase with a star fish. Make a sand castle from plaster of paris and put sand on it. http://www.myweddingfavors.com/castle-centerpiece.html

For fabric on the windows and for a decorative pillow and throw think Burlap it adds a wonderful tactile feeling to the room and keeps with the natural coloring. The material is very important http://thelennoxx.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/potterybarn.jpg

Frames painted in your secondary color with over sized mats in your neutral and shadow boxed beach items such as coral, cattail, reeds. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4j7GtiI0mYg/SMH7tfI2OQI/AAAAAAAAATc/8nS9aVxJQLU/s400/playroom-kids-wall-art.jpg

The room should "feel" soft and subtle http://lh5.ggpht.com/_t8-Y4w1UKrc/TJ2ZGZjCMgI/AAAAAAAA43I/4Nsezx7KeT4/image_thumb%5B26%5D.png?imgmax=800
And have a touch of vintage shabby to it. http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/bedroom4-de.jpg

This town used to hold haunted houses in the libraries, and contests in Camilia Park. The turnout was astonishing. Easily 200 people would show up. Twenty to twenty five years ago Halloween was always huge, and remained pretty good at least until 2004.

I have to say, the weather was perfect this year and people were making an effort to make it look welcome. What happened? Why is it a ghost town on Halloween?

I call Florida the Permanent Retirement State." That is the state where many people go when they retire. You’ll see many senior citizens in FL. Although there are still children in the state, I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t a big turn-out of kids coming to your door. (More left-over candy for you.)

You could also use a cement drill bit and drill a hole through 5 to 7 rocks of various sizes. Place a piece of rod stock through the holes and stack the rocks to form a cairn. Here’s an example of this project: http://www.escapadedirect.com/stonecairn.html

I hope this helps!