Italiantable

We are driving from DC area to Williamsburg Virginia area over the Easter weekend.. any ideas of stop and visit places along the way? Any recommendations for a hotel in Williamsburg?

Italiantable

sorry Williamsburgh..

Sassafrass

How long a stop and how much out of the way would you want to go? Do you want some place important historically or just fun?

Still in DC area: Old Town Alexandria and Torpedo Factory art galleries. Allow an hour or so.

About half an hour further south of Old Town: Mt Vernon - Washington's home and Pope Leighey house (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) on Wood Lawn Plantation. Allow at least two or three hours for Mt Vernon, an hour for Pope Leighey House. There are a couple of other plantations further south if that strikes you.

Occoquon - quaint tiny little town on the river west of Woodbridge. Art galleries, antique and craft shops, restaurants, etc. Easy stop off the highway. Place just to browse a few minutes and have a bite to eat.

Historic Fredericksburg - easy stop and lots of old homes etc. Could take all day, a few hours, or just a drive through. Great place to tour or stop and eat.

Richmond - lovely old, historic homes and gardens and great places to eat, but with traffic and having to leave the bypass it would also add to your driving time.

Ackislander

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is on Boulevard, less than two miles from Exit 78 on I95/64. It has wonderful collections of American art, much of Paul Mellon's collection that did not go to the National Gallery, outstanding collections of Art Deco and art Nouveau. It has the best Faberge collection in the US. It also has a fantastic high end restaurant or a cafe for lunch, and it is FREE.

There are two civil war museums in the same block, the Museum of the Confederacy on the corner having really good exhibits.

If you don't want to eat at the museum, Buzz and Ned's BBQ will be on your right as you go back up Boulevard to the interstate. It is the best in Richmond.

emalloy

Take route 5 and stop at one of the plantations along the river.

Italiantable

We are leaving DC early Saturday and really don't have to be anywhere till Saturday night to check in to our hotel (which we have not reserved yet).. so we have all day.. I just read a book about Washington and would actually love to see Mt. Vernon..and Occoquon sounds right up our alley.. we are driving back up on Monday so we can stop in at the Torpedo Galleries.. I wish we had a month..

Any recommendations for staying in Williamsburgh?

Thanks so much.. !

Dukey1

I suppose the Williamsburg Inn IF you can get space.

obxgirl

Williamsburg has the gamut of chain hotels plus the six properties run by Colonial Williamsburg (which will go from $75 to $500 a night). What is your budget?

Birdie

Kids? No kids? Are you looking for just a hotel room, a resort experience, or would you like to walk out your door onto historic streets?

I also recommend a stop at the Marine Corp museum in Quantico.

If you need restaurant recs in Williamsburg, we can help with that too.

Italiantable

no kids.. we are headed to my brother's house for Easter.. so a nice hotel would work.. our budget would be $150-$200.. I will check out the Williamsburg Inn.. I think we are going to explore more on the way down and on the way back up to DC then when we are there.. my brother lives @ 30 mins from there and we thought it would be a great place to stay for a night or two.. thanks again!

Sassafrass

There are so many interesting things in and around Williamsburg. Where does your Brother live?

smetz

For staying in Williamsburg, definitely consider one of the Colonial Williamsburg properties, since they are right in town and everything is within walking distance. They often have some very good packages that include admissions - last time my wife and I went we stayed in the Lodge (very nice), and we had a package that included our tickets, plus a $100 gift card good in any Colonial Williamsburg shop or restaurant. Came in very handy for dinner at the Kings Arms Tavern.

Katie2

Here's a link to the Williamsburg properties.

http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit//hotels/

EatPlayWilliamsburg

We actually moved to Williamsburg from NOVA about 5 yrs ago and still travel up that way often for family. If you're looking for something about half-way. Richmond is a good stop. We like to go to Short Pump Town Center, if you're looking for shopping.

As far as Williamsburg, there are so many choices of things to do you could be here a whole week For somewhere to stay, you might, just might be able to find a B and B for that price. There are some excellent choices for that in our town. With that budget, you should be able to find a pretty nice hotel, though. There are hotels/motels everywhere, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a place.

I just found out today that The Williamsburg Pottery will be re-opening on April 5th, so that should be a fun weekend to shop : http://williamsburgpottery.com/ (It is a huge shopping area)