reklamtor,

Yes, returning to DC by way of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on Route 13 and then Annapolis is a good idea. You'll see completely different types of places.

http://www.easternshorevisitor.com/

Charlottesville et al including Williamsburg are most likely not that interesting to Swedish visitors, and I have to confess that even DC isn't high on my list other than a brief tour to see the buildings et al in person (feel free to flame at this point). Sorry about that.

I think the typical American trip, can't find anywhere else, would include Charleston and Savannah, a leisurely drive up 17 to Wilmington, perhaps the outer banks, then up to Chincoteaque/Assateague for a day, DelMarva for sure with some of the small coastal towns, crabbing, boating maybe

Fun things to do:

A day in Beaufort, SC after a kayak trip of the marshes of the ACE basin, maybe a trip to Daufuskie Island

A boat trip to one of the Charleston barrier islands for an eco tour

A gullah tour in Charleston (depending on how good your English is -- can be very hard to understand the guide even for Americans)

Plantation tour: I personally liked Hopsewee the best. Stop in McClellanville and have lunch -- sadly the shrimp boats are disappearing.

Walking tours in Savannah -- I liked the hidden garden one. Definitely an overview tour by trolley in Savannah

Oyster roast on Bowen's Island, near Charleston

Driving down to Edisto Island through the live oaks, follow signs to the various landings on the way, stop at Piggly Wiggly and get fried chicken for lunch on the beach and watch the pelicans, and hope for dolphins

Lovely farmers' market in downtown Charleston, another in Mt.Pleasant

You will find your dollars will go further in the south for lodging and usually food. Sign up for both Groupon and Living Social deals for both Charleston and Savannah -- sometimes you can find a great deal on something you may want to do.

PS: Scratch Bowen's Island for oysters -- just realized our Swedish friends will be here in July but you can still have fish and shrimp etc. Note that shrimp in the US are more like scampi than shrimp, and served hot, usually breaded. Same goes for lobster (hot with butter) but you might like blue crabs in MD which are a fun experience but not like crabs found in Sweden.

"None of you have mentioned Chesapeake Bay and the peninsula bordering Maryland"

It's known as the Delmarva Peninsula, as birgator and I referenced it or the Eastern Shore mentioned by bardo1. It's largely a sailing, fishing, crabbing, and agricultural area. There are lots of cute towns including this one:

http://www.southernliving.com/travel...0400000007395/

Other popular towns include St. Michaels and Chincoteague. It will take you 4 hours to drive from Annapolis to the Bay Bridge Tunnel without stops to give you a sense of distance.

Here's some more info:

http://www.southernliving.com/travel...0400000007083/

It may not be oyster season in SC but you will still be able to get oysters. They will probably come from Texas and will still be delicous. Have some fried oysters "somewhere" along the SC coast (Murrell's Inlet near Litchfield has the best seafood on the coast north of Charleston) and you will be amazed--they are almost not breaded at all, succulent, and delicious. Ummmm, not all shrimp are served "breaded" and fried. Goodness. Not sure at all whaat is meant they are more like "scampi".

The shrimp comment was relative to Bowen's Island in the summer. Breaded and fried I believe, as is Seewee and the Wreck in the Charleston area. Of course not all shrimp is hot and breaded, but even the peel and eat is a far cry from the tiny cold water ones you find in Sweden. The only large shrimp you will find in Sweden that compare to ours here would be "scampi."

Another way to end up back in DC if on the Delmarva is to go through Chestertown, MD towards Lancaster, PA -- back road with lots of Amish farms, gorgeous trip to Strasburg, PA just below Lancaster. That's something different. It may be a loop, but it's not a very long one.

Gretchen, shouldn't that be "delicious" and "what"? Just teasing. I'm sure it's maddening when people spell it "Charlestown".

You can get shrimp fried or boiled during summer at almost any place in or around Charleston. I usually get fried when I'm out and just boil them at home. Yum.

I sense a great trip coming up. I'll let you know as we've decided on an itinerary. Thanks for all the advice!

personally betterbidding.com for a great downtown DC hotel

then head down the coast to Charleston area...

back up in the mountains to be cool www.blueridgeparkway.org

to Skyline Drive Front Royal back to DC simply beautiful.

classic.mapquest.com directions distances

carrentals.com best prices for me.

Happy Travels!

The only problem with "charlestown" is if you are looking it up with that spelling.

Where's best to stay in DC? Right in the middle or a place like Alexandria?

happy 4th!

In DC is best. Best neighborhoods are Dupont or Penn Quarter.

You have received many great suggestions. I echo everyone who has recommended that you must spend more than 1 day in DC. There is so much to see & do, such as all the monuments (Lincoln, Jefferson, Vietnam, etc.), the wonderful and free Smithsonian museums, tour of the White House, the zoo, if you like zoos & much more.

I also highly recommend the Delmarva Peninsula, including a trip to Chincoteague, one of our favorite places. If you go to Chincoteague, I suggest the Waterside Motor Inn. The beach at Assateague is beautiful, you can see the wild ponies, rent bikes, etc. Annapolis is beautiful, too.

Savannah & Charleston are great, as is the Outer Banks, the Skyline Drive & Charlottesville, but you won't have time to do the Delmarva Peninsula & then go as far south as Savannah.

Have you been to the DC area before? There is so much to do there. I would not drive to Savanah, Ga. It is quaint but the drive 10 hours will take longer than the sights. Colonial Williamsburg is great. Monticello is awesome, Virginia Beach, etc. So much to do and only half the drive. What about driving north to see Niagara Falls? That is absolutely gorgeous.

My food recommendation is Rosa Mexicana. It's close to a metro stop at Gallery Place and has excellent food and atmosphere. Be sure to order the made-by-the-table guacamole and the tortilla soup. And don't forget to have a margarita!

http://www.rosamexicano.com/Location...8/Default.aspx

Maybe I missed it, but I would recommend you head out to Loudoun County, specifically Leesburg (old Leesburg, near the courthouse, king street etc) and then take RT 15 to Middleburg. I grew up outside Middleburg and its a big equestrian mecca (most members of the past 5 Olympic Eventing team are either from Middleburg, Upperville, Leesburg, Purcellville or Lovettsville). You will see gorgeous farms, great houses, its just beautiful. Both towns are very Virginia, small quaint, with focus on locally owned stores.
Leesburg is also a big Civil War history area, which might interest you.
In Leesburg, I HIGHLY recommend Tuskies, the cafe side. Great food, moderately priced, local ingredients.
In Middleburg, the Upper Crust bakery is amazing, inexpensive, always busy. Its next to Safeway (the town has one stoplight, you can't miss it . Their sandwiches are so yummy and I have dreamt about their cookies since I was a child.

I think Charlottesville would be a great trip- Barboursville Vineyard is a neat place to see. Williamsburg further down the coast is great too-very cool Colonial history, "living villages," etc.

On your way back up from NC/SC, the Eastern Shore of Maryland- St. Michaels- great Farmers Market and the maritime museum is really neat. My parents recently moved from there, so im kinda biased

While these are all great suggestions, I'd also propose swinging further west, either going or coming from DC, and go down through WV or the Shenandoah Valley in Va. There's some stunning scenery in West Virginia, or you could stop in Floyd, Va., for some music. You could go on down into Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains, and then get back into North Carolina over the mountains and head back to your more coastal stops. (If you do that, I don't recommend Pigeon Forge, but there are many quieter areas with cabin rentals).

But whatever you decide, the view from I-95 is not the prettiest you can find. Also, be aware of traffic patterns going into and out of Dulles and DC, because rush hour there is nasty.