America’s Most Historic Golf Trip

This story is adapted from a piece originally published by our friends at Kingdom written by Shaun Tolson.

Given its roots as the second capital of the Virginia Colony, Williamsburg has long been a pilgrimage for American history buffs. But golfers have known for years that it’s also one of the best home bases for a golf trip through Virginia’s Historic Triangle.

Guests staying at Williamsburg Lodge or Williamsburg Inn aren’t just steps from the world’s largest living history museum. They’re also within walking distance of Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, home to two championship-caliber courses and a new short course called The Shoe.

The Shoe mixes approachable 40- to 60-yard holes that are playable with a putter alongside longer shots that ask for a little more precision with a wedge. But it’s the club’s original Gold Course, with its rolling layout, immaculate conditioning, and unmistakable Augusta National vibes, that steals the show.

Twenty minutes west, Williamsburg National Golf Club offers another 36 holes worth your time. The flagship Jamestown Course was designed by Nicklaus Design more than 30 years ago, while its younger sibling, the 7,018-yard Yorktown Course by Tom Clark, delivers a particularly memorable back nine with an even mix of par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s.

Staying at Kingsmill Resort is a little like opening a choose-your-own-adventure book. The sprawling 2,900-acre property includes hundreds of guest rooms and suites, vacation cottages, and private residences, including a newly added home complete with a private chef and other elevated perks.

It’s also the only way to play the resort’s Plantation and River courses, the latter having hosted a PGA Tour event for more than two decades.

Williamsburg Inn houses two excellent restaurants. Terrace & Goodwin Rooms leans refined, with dishes like honeydew gazpacho finished with crispy prosciutto, cantaloupe salsa, lime gel, and chili oil.

For something heartier, Rockefellers is known for its steaks and seafood, including a brioche-crusted Alaskan halibut that’s become a house favorite.

Whiskey fans should carve out time for a behind-the-scenes tour of Copper Fox Distillery, one of only five distilleries in the U.S. with a working malting floor. Founder Rick Wasmund still makes his single malts the old-fashioned way. Even drying his house-malted barley over fruitwood fires that lend an extra layer of smoky flavor.

Founded in 1632, Williamsburg wears its history remarkably well. The city’s historic district stretches across roughly 300 acres of cobblestone streets and carefully preserved, restored, and reconstructed colonial buildings.

At its heart is Colonial Williamsburg, the world’s largest living history museum, with more than 300 historic structures, including 89 original buildings dating back to the 18th century.

Throughout the district you’ll encounter historical interpreters dressed in period clothing, from blacksmiths and tradespeople to familiar names like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Patrick Henry. Many also perform museum theater, bringing pivotal moments from early American history to life through scripted performances.

For the most immersive experience, book one of Colonial Williamsburg’s two dozen historic homes. Reconstructed during the mid-20th century, they range from spacious four-bedroom residences to charming single-room buildings that originally served as kitchens or shops in the 1700s.

You can also stay in one of the historic tavern rooms, offering a glimpse into what overnight travel looked like during the Revolutionary era.

Christiana Campbell’s Tavern specializes in locally sourced seafood, with recipes inspired by both the original restaurant and 18th-century cookbooks. It’s easy to see why George Washington was a regular. Just don’t leave without ordering the crab cakes.

Williamsburg has no shortage of ghost tours, but Haunted Williamsburg is the only one that takes guests inside several of the city’s historic buildings. Over the course of an hour, you’ll wander the historic district by candlelight while hearing both centuries-old ghost stories and more modern tales of unexplained encounters.