DESTINATIONS — THE US
The owners of the Proper Pie Co, Richmond
TRIED & TESTED: Capital Region hotels Donovan House, Washington DC
Named after ‘Wild Bill’ Donovan, the father of the CIA, this Kimpton hotel has a faint spy theme, although that really extends only to a slightly Bond-ish sense of glamour. The true selling points
CIA, and even to this day the state is home to many military bases. Colonial Williamsburg is described as a living history museum, but that doesn’t do justice to its scale. It’s as if a 120-hectare village within the city of Williamsburg has jumped back in time to the Revolution, and everyone is carrying on as normal. The streets are lined with 18th-
century buildings – some original and restored, others reconstructed – and museum staff dress and speak as they would have in the colonial era. But tourists and locals going about their daily lives don’t, so the present sloshes around the past like oil on water. Visitors can walk around the
family homes, shops, taverns and public buildings, including a courthouse and armoury, on their own or take a guided tour. But the best way to get fully immersed in the experience is to embark on Revquest, an interactive game. Players become undercover agents during the Revolutionary War, with clues to follow, codes to crack and informers to locate. The activity is included in the admission ticket.
Prices start at $25.95 for adults and $13 for six to 13-year-olds.
colonialwilliamsburg.com In Richmond, we caught up on our Civil War history – and dressed up in uniform – at the entertaining American Civil War Museum.
acwm.org Tell clients to dispense with lunch and take Real Richmond’s From Spies to Pies tour. Our guide Laurie filled us in on the Church Hill neighbourhood’s spy history, while filling us up with delicious dishes at a range of foodie haunts. A two- and-a-half-hour tour costs $55.
realrichmondva.com I tried to pay attention to the story of Elizabeth Van Lew and her spy ring, but I kept getting sidetracked – by pork rillettes at restaurant Dutch & Company; by canelés and cupcakes at the WPA Bakery; and by pastry perfection at the Proper Pie Company. I think I would make a better restaurant critic than a spy. TW
Find out more:
capitalregionusa.co.uk
are the location – Thomas Circle itself is a little dull, but you’re just a few blocks from the White House and within walking distance of the National Mall – the excellent pan-Asian restaurant Zentan, and the roof-top pool and bar. Rooms are small but stylish. Prices start at $149 a night.
donovanhousehotel.com
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, Cambridge
This 400-room resort hotel on the shores of Chesapeake Bay has absolutely stunning grounds that are home to a golf course, marina and running trails through woodland where deer roam. After soaking
in the outdoor hot tub and enjoying a drink in the bar, which has floor-to-ceiling views of the bay, we toasted s’mores (marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched in between crackers) by the firepit. The hotel has a spa, kids’ club, and seven restaurants and bars. The plush rooms start at $180 a night.
chesapeakebay.hyatt.com
Fort Magruder Hotel, Williamsburg
Friendly and comfortable rather than stylish, this hotel has a historical connection that isn’t immediately evident from its modern exterior. The property is on the site of a Civil War battlefield, and
American Civil War Museum, Richmond
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travelweekly.co.uk — 22 January 2015
visitors can see an earthwork redoubt in the grounds. The hotel lobby is home to artefacts including musket balls and swords. The decor is traditional, the rooms are spacious, and there are outdoor and indoor pools to keep the kids entertained. Prices start at $74 a night.
fortmagruderhotel.com
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