Hey Virginians!

My boyfriend and I (early 30’s) are planning a 6 month+ road trip of the United States from Washington DC to Washington State and everything in between.

We will be driving through Virginia, around early spring and we’re hoping you guys could give us some advice, looking at the destinations we have so far.

We want to experience the true flavor of Virginia. Our travel priorities are pretty wide.

We are somewhat foodies (though we hate the term) from fine dining to food trucks, want to be outdoor enthusiasts (new experience for us, get out of that car and hike) and are very much interested in historical attractions and art museums.

Here is what we have so far in no kind of order (I have been to D.C. though may stop in):

• Alexandria
• Arlington Cemetry
• Mount Vernon
• Charlottesville (Monticello/Uni VA)
• Fredricksburgh
• James River Plantations
• Jamestown/Yorktown/Colonial Williamsburgh
• Richmond
• Shandoah NP


So what do you think? What am I missing?

Like I said we want to get a real taste but I guess we have to keep in mind that this is a giant USA trip and in the scheme of things (rest of the USA) if you think I can cut something I will but if it’s essential Virginia… No Way!

Thanks a lot! Gemma

When are you going? If in the Fall, leave a lot of time to wander around Charlottesville and the Blue Ridge Parkway in Shenandoah NP.

It's called UVA or The University (everyone in VA will know what "The University" is, the other schools are neither iconic nor have names that lend themselves to confusion). Americans do not call their colleges "Uni" - that's an Aussie/Kiwi/Brit thing.

Colonial Williamsburg is just kitschy and touristy - don't spend much time there. You'll get oppo opinions from people who love the place. But Williamsburg as a town is D U L L.

Lexington is probably interesting too.

I live in Virginia and think you've got a good line-up of places to visit. (Note: There is no "h" on the end of "Fredericksburg" and "Williamsburg". The only place you are likely to see this final "h" is on "Pittsburgh" in Pennsylvania.)

Here's a few suggestions of things to see/do in the places you have listed:

1. Rent a bike in Washington D.C. or Alexandria and ride on the bike trail along the Potomac River to Mount Vernon.

2. Visit the excellent Virginia Museum of Fine Art Museum in Richmond (free admission). Their collection of Russian Faberge pieces is fantastic!

3. Plan to spend some time at Big Meadow Lodge in Shenandoah National Park. The history of the place is quite interesting. The Great Room is a comfortable place to sit and read or work on the jigsaw puzzle that's always "in progress". Eat a meal in the dining room which offers locally-produced food and is good food at reasonable prices. And enjoy the free music performed nightly in the Lodge's Taproom.

Please forgive my spelling i am an Australian!

Thanks for the recs so far.

I will be there early spring.

I thought colonial williamsburg would be super touristy but i can grin and bear it for a couple of hours if i can learn some history

Big meadows sounds interesting. How long do you reccomend i should spend in the National Park? I am very much interested in the parkway.

Is there any little small towns i should pull into?

Thanks again guys.

Good chance for me to work out the lingo before i get there

>>

Lexington, Staunton, Winchester, Harpers Ferry and others.

We enjoyed our visit to Appomattox Courthouse.

Richmond and Charlottesville are both places with interesting scenes -- music and art -- in Richmond near Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to the superb Virginia Museum of Fine Art, there are a number of historical museums.

I would only walk around Williamsburg but would buy the ticket at Jamestown and NOT walk around. Go to the museum, which is astonishingly good and will teach you more than you ever knew about Elizabethan and Jacobean England and her colonies -- painlessly!

It will be MUCH colder in the mountains. People ski there, and I have been snowed on at altitude as late as May 3. Dress warmly, and stay off the roads if they are predicted to be icy. Ice is much more dangerous than snow.

I also think Lexington is a good idea. Nice college town with much history.


Monticello is a must

I would head from Charlottesville to Staunton (named one of the 20 best small towns in Smithsonian Magazine this year: http://www.visitstaunton.com/), where you can enjoy good food and a nice downtown then catch a show at the Blackfriar's Playhouse.

Then from there get on either Skyline Drive to go north or The Blue Ridge Parkway to go south. (Both could be closed if you are still early enough in Spring for inclement weather). You will be able to hike off either of those drives.

I like Lexington a lot. I went to W&L undergrad. But I think it would have limited appeal to an Aussie interested in taking in the main attractions of the U.S. in a big road trip.

Big Russ is Fodor's resident Williamsburg hater. Not sure which horse stepped or plopped on his foot when he visited. You can search the forum to see that for yourself. It's no more touristy or kitschy than Mount Vernon (which is to say, not) and both are well worth visiting if you're interested in the history.

As a visitor to the US, you might want to see what your level of tolerance is for US early, colonial and civil war history. Virginia is full of it. How many days are you planning to spend on the Virginia segment? That might help you cull your list.

My opinion:

• Alexandria (keep - some history but more shopping and very good dining)

• Arlington Cemetery (keep)

• Mount Vernon (keep)

• Charlottesville (Monticello/Uni VA) (keep, good food and good representation of small southern city and very pretty surroundings)

• Fredricksburgh (pass)

• James River Plantations (skip)

• Jamestown/Yorktown/Colonial Williamsburgh (keep)

• Richmond - (keep, good food)

• Shandoah NP (keep)

A minor point of clarification is that Harper's Ferry is in West Virginia. And I agree about Lexington.

Sorry - if from Oz you need a visa to stay in the US more than 90 days - so I guess you have those organized already.(Tourist visa waivers are good for up to 90 days.)

Also - don;t know what you are doing about a car - since I don't know of any rental agency that does rentals that long.

Or are you not from Oz?

We just got back from a 16 day trip through Virginia. We didn't go to Mt Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg, Luray Caverns, or the Skyline Drive as we had been there before. You could spend the entire time visiting Civil War Battlefields, but that isn't our interest.
Here's what we did (in order of our itinerary):
Montpelier
Charlottesville: Kluge-Ruhe Museum (don't bother), Monticello, Ashlawn-highland, UVa Rotunda, Michie Tavern (don't bother)
Staunton: Woodrow Wilson Museum
We had intended to go hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it was closed.
Lexington: Stonewall Jackson House, Robert E. Lee Chapel, VMI Museum, George Marshall Museum
Roanoke: O. Winston Link Museum, Taubman Art Museum
Hardy: Booker T Washington site
Bedford: D-Day Memorial
Forest: Jefferson's Poplar Forest
Lynchburg: Anne Spencer House, Old City Cemetery, History Museum
Appomattox Courthouse Historical Site
Richmond: Old & New City Halls, State Capitol, John Marshall House, Black History Museum, Maggie Walker Site, Museum of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis White House, Valentine History Museum & Wickam House, Maymount, Hollywood Cemetery, Art Museum, Center for Architecture (don't bother), Edgar Allen Poe Museum, Holocaust Museum, American Civil War Center
Petersburg: Ft Lee Quartermaster Museum, Siege Museum
Suffolk: Great Dismal Swamp (don't bother)
Norfolk: Naval Base, Douglas MacArthur Memorial, Nauticus & USS Wisconsin, Chrysler Art Museum
Hampton: History Msueum, Fort Monroe Casement Museum
Newport News: Virginia Living Museum, Mariners' Museum
Yorktown: Yorktown Battlefiels, Yorktown Victory Center (each a bit different, but also duplicative)
Jamestown: Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement (each a bit different, but also duplicative)
Fredericksburg: Mary Washington House, Chatham Manor, Rising Sun Tavern, Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center, Kenmore, Gari Melchers Home & Studio
Triangle: Marine Corps Museum
Alexandria: Torpedo Factory Art Center, self-guided architectural walking tour

There is a phenomenal Chihuly glass art exhibit at the VA Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, do not miss it if it is still there when you come.

In Staunton go to the American Frontier Culture Museum. This is a living outdoor museum and is very unique and cool.

http://www.frontiermuseum.org/

When you visit Charlottesville and Montpellier, also go to a few vineyards in the area. There is some really good VA wine being made around there and some unique vineyards to visit, some with underground tasting rooms, good restaurants and dinners served accompanied by their wines. I would not miss that "part" of VA.

Fredricksburg has gotten very built up and crowded with people living in the area who commute into Washington D.C. to work. There is a core main street close to the river, but you will see some small town charm in Staunton and other places, so I would skip Fredricksburg.

I live near Old Town Alexandria and I would keep that on the itinerary. Nice strolling, Gadsby's Tavern (where the first George W. drank his pints), do a walking tour from the visitor's center on King St., and great food and shopping.

Hi Ny Traveler.

I am eligible for B tourist Visa which i have received before and am currently a resident of Canada.

I have been told that getting a visa shouldn't be an issue.

I will also have my own transport from Canada.

I live in Fredericksburg and can tell you about our town (which calls itself “America’s Most Historic City.”

The town itself (as opposed to the surrounding area) has a population of about 20,000. The historic area, including the downtown, is very charming, especially in April when all the trees are blossoming.

The town has both Revolutionary and Civil War ties. George Washington’s mother, Mary, lived here (a lot of things in town are named “Mary Washington Something”), as did his sister and a couple of other important Revolutionary War figures. Mary Washington’s home, Kenmore mansion, the Rising Sun Tavern, and the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop date from this era. Also, as a boy, George Washington lived right across the river from Fredericksburg on a farm called Ferry Farm, which is also open to the public. In addition, James Monroe, the 5th U.S. president and last founder to be president, lived and practiced law in Fredericksburg and his office now houses a museum in his honor.

Fredericksburg and the surrounding area were also the scenes of five battles in the Civil War, the most famous of which was the Battle of Fredericksburg in December of 1862. Next month the town is celebrating the 150th anniversary of that battle with a lot of events. There are a number of sites in the area related to these battles, including the National Park Visitors Center in town as well as Chatham Mansion right across the river, which housed the headquarters and field hospital for the North troops during the battle. Both of these sites are national parks and free of charge.

The town is also the site of the University of Mary Washington, considered to have one of the most beautiful campuses in the country.

There are also guided tours you can take of Fredericksburg, including a carriage tour and a trolly tour.

For more information, here is the link to the local tourist center:
http://www.visitfred.com

I hope you get a chance to spend at least a little time in Fredericksburg. I think you would enjoy it!

Don't recall any equines stepping or plopping on me whilst at Williamsburg. Have been, have seen, have yawned, have left. Have friends from there who left precisely because the town itself is B O R I N G. But it does have Busch Gardens, for whatever that's worth.

Staunton should be nice but I'm thinking that you could easily skip the hagiographical Woodrow Wilson Museum. The man is synonymous with delusional foreign policy and was such a racist that the KKK would have welcomed him with open arms.

BigRuss.

Just checked him out online on wikipedia 1st time since i left school.

I had no idea Wilson was such a piece of work, enforcing segregation in Washington like never before.

Back home we know and are taught only of his role in WW1 and the league of nations.

Remarkable how legacies are whitewashed afterwoods. Surprised Nixon is still reviled.

I concur with the recommendations for Charlottesville and Richmond, especially the Va Museum.

In Charlottesville, go to UVA, Monticello, some wineries.

Arlington Cemetery is a must see IMO. I am a fan of Old Town Alexandria as well.

Not much to disagree with among the many suggestions above. As a Virginia resident for the past 40 years, I've visited most of these sites, but still have a few favorites I always recommend (counterclockwise if starting from Washington, DC):

Great Falls Park ( http://www.nps.gov/grfa/ ) - the falls are impressive and there's a great hike along Mather Gorge below the falls that includes remnants of the 1806 Patowmack Canal.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park ( http://www.nps.gov/hafe/ ) - Part of Virginia before the Civil War. Sits at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. Historic and beautiful.
Shenandoah National Park ( http://www.nps.gov/shen/ ) - drive along all or part of the Skyline Drive, with many options for short hikes along the way. If the Drive is closed for any reason, an excellent alternative is a "Virginia Scenic Byway" between Front Royal and Madison following US 522 and VA 231 via Flint Hill and Sperryville along the eastern base of the Shenandoah Mountains. Really beautiful!
Montpelier - The home of James Madison and surrounding grounds have undergone a magnificent restoration and are well worth a visit. Stop by nearby Barboursville Vineyard en route to Charlottesville.
Charlottesville - as recommended by several above. Don't miss The University's Lawn and Rotunda, and nearby Monticello - home of Thomas Jefferson.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park ( http://www.nps.gov/apco/ ). Site of Lee's surrender to Grant, and perhaps my favorite Civil War site in Virginia (and there are many!)
Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown - Virginia's historic triangle. Depending upon your particular interests, there's something for everyone here.

Of course there's lot's more to see and do in Virginia, but these are my favorites.

Hi Everyone

Thank you so much for all your suggestions.

So i have adjusted the list adding and cutting based on your suggestions:

1)Start out in the DC Region

• Alexandria (Day Trip)

• Arlington Cemetery (Day Trip)

• Mount Vernon (Day Trip)- Visit on opening (leave real early to beat traffic) and then drive up George Washington National Pway and visit Great Falls (i will look into bikes as well time permitting.

2)Head North to Harpers Ferry

• Harpers Ferry (Not sure how long to visit yet)

• Skyline Drive South (Stop Winchester?)

• Staunton

• Charlottesville (UVA & Base for region)

• Monticello and wineries around the area.

• Richmond

• Jamestown/Yorktown/Colonial Williamsburg (taking the not paying for it advice lol)

So yeah! That's what i have so far.But i defintly have some holes, i hope you guys can help me fill:

1) I want to do some civil war sites (other then Richmond/Harpers). I would like to squeeze in Appomatox Court but not sure how i should approach it. Day trip from Charlottesville?

What about Manassa/Fredricksburg Nat BF any one got any thoughts? Favorites?

2) Blue Ridge Parkway. I will be hitting Asheville NC later in the trip and can tackle it there too but do you guys think i should travel some of the VA portion? Another day trip out of Charlottesville?

3) How many days do you think i need to spend in Harpers/Charlottesville/Richmond to cover all the sites in and around?

Thanks again

Gemma

Thanks again guys!

We spent 3 days sightseeing in Richmond; we got to see everything we wanted in that time, but I'm hyper-organized and we don't enjoy a lot of down time during the day.

In the Charlottesville area, if you want to see wineries in addition to Monticello, Ashlawn Highland, UVa, I'd allow 2 days.

It's almost 90 minutes between Charlotte and Appomattox; 3 hours of driving isn't the way I'd want to spend time on vacation.