S

I would like to make a couple suggestions for your trip. If you are worried at all about budget - there are a few hotels in Arlington, VA just a couple blocks from the Metro (Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, etc.). I have heard it is much cheaper to stay outside the city. The one thing you should probably not do is book an inexpensive hotel in the city without knowing where it is. My cousins did this last year and were not near a Metro and were in a not-so-nice location.

My other suggestion would be to drive the George Washington Parkway from Old Town Alexandria to Mount Vernon and then to Woodlawn Plantation or Gunston Hall. I grew up in the Mount Vernon area and I think it is one of the prettiest places in Northern Virginia.

As for your loop - I think that sounds good. Take 66 West to the Shenandoah Valley - 81 South (or much more scenic routes) - 64 East to Charlottesville through Richmond to Williamsburg - back up 95 to Fredericksburg.

Good Luck!

Sarah

I don't recommend the I-81 route to Charlottesville. As an earlier poster said, takes I-66 to Warrenton; then 29 the rest of the way to Charlottesville. It's beautiful countryside all the way, and some interesting diversions along the road. You'll pass several wineries, too.

terry

I live just north of Charlottesville at the foot of the blueridge - absolutely beautiful. It's so great you want to base in Charlottesville for a few days of your trip; you won't regret it. April should be perfect for C'ville (in May, UVA graduation packs the town, don't venture in). The Lafayette in Stanardsville is an historic, beautiful B&B and restaurant (Sunday brunch is fantastic). ok, i'm biased, i'm a waitress there so I know the food is always spectacular (two gourmet trained chefs). Guest rooms are available, too: www.thelafayette.com. Been here for over 14 years. Just let me know if you want any particulars on the C'ville area and have a great trip.

Bob

http://dcregistry.com/sights.html

This Website has a ton of links for DC and Virginia

Diane

Toni -- IMHO, Staunton (home of Mary Baldwin College) is a perfectly nice little town, but not really much of a tourist destination. I think I'd probably skip it & give myself more time to dawdle somewhere with a wine glass.
Lexington (home of Washington & Lee University) is cuter and more fun to wander -- plus, of course, it's where both Lee & his horse Traveller are buried.

I haven't been to Lynchburg in so long that I can't opine sensibly about its charms.

Andy

We go to CHarlottesville quite often-take the back roads down thru the countryside from DC--stay at the Clifton Inn ( it's the former home of THomas Jefferson's brother)-has pool -stay in the main house-rooms have been professionally decorated and are to die for--and definitely have dinner one night in the inn's restaurant-the chef is a grad.of the Culinary Institue of America in Hyde Park NY and he is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!---If you go to Richmond-stay at the Berkely Hotel-it's in the heart of Shockoe Slip (the Georgetown of Richmond) filled with great restaurants and fun little shops-some rest.to try in the area: The Hardshell Rest. and right next door: Europa ---same chef-one is seafood and the other is Mediterranean--also there is lots of nite life in Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom-ie Matts Comedy Club-and some funky rock clubs in the Bottom--Don't know your ages-but if you're into contemp.music and lite rock,go across the street from the Berkely Hotel to the Tobacco CO.rest-it has a swinging bar and lounge area with live entertainment.....The Berekely also has a great fancy rest.in it's lobby and then there's Lemaire in the Jefferson Hotel if you REALLY want to break the bank-----

Toni

The Clifton Inn looks beautiful...I was just at there website.
Are there any good hiking areas around Charlottesville? I read that the Appalachian trail is somewhere close by????

karen

Toni: Although it's not a hike, you should stroll around the campus of U. of VA. Some of the buildings were designed by Jefferson and it's a beautiful campus. By the way, the trails at the civil war sites in Manssas are great. They have a bunch of them, varying in length and they have markers with information about the battles and what happened in particular spots. Keep your questions coming; it's so fun to be able to help out!

Toni

U. of VA...great idea.
I just looked it up in my Frommers guide and they have students that lead a 45 minute tour of the campus and they also have a self-guided walking tour brochure. It sounds wonderful!

We are most definitely going to visit Manassas also. Thank you!
That will be our first stop after leaving D.C and then we will drive south to Charlottesville.
Still deciding on a B&B. The Layfayette looked nice but I believe it's more in town rather then out in the country (that's the way the website picture looked anyway) so I'm kind of leaning towards The Clifton Country Inn. (It's pricey but there is a rather small room that I believe is $150 which is affordable.) Keswick rooms start at $375. which I don't think we want to spend. (Sounds lovely though) The Boars Head Inn starts at $189.

My husband really likes to hike and being that we are coming from D.C. he will be stressing and needing a nature fix. I'm hoping someone can suggest a few areas close to Charlottesville for a moderate hike...

karen

Toni: I have not done the B&B thing out here but living close to Manassas, I do have a lot of friends/neighbors who have done the B&B thing for a quick overnight getaway. I will ask around over the next week or so and try to get some feedback for you. Ditto for some hiking areas near C'ville. Also, i'm thinking of doing a winery tour/picnic with the family for father's day on Sunday at this winery called Gray Ghost in Amissville. I'll let you know if it's worth the trip (about halfway between Manassas and Charlottesville and not too far out of the way).

terry

toni:
you're right, Lafayette is right smack on main street in Stanardsville. Check out www.southrivercottage.com i think that's more to your liking - literally at the foot of the blueridge in a beautiful valley. Very close to the Skyline Drive and tons of hiking. Clifton Inn is a great choice. Boar's Head is more of a touristy resort; cool hot air balloon rides there, tho. Keswick is over the top snooty; they don't even dain to carry domestic beer! LOL Cheers!

terry

Opps... that should be Keswick doesn't "deign" to serve domestic beer. Well, the point is, the waiter nearly fainted with disdain when I asked for a Budweiser there <s>.

L

Just a suggestion: Stanardsville in Greene County, VA is a small, dumpy place with a big ole IG store. There's practically no place decent to eat ... and the park is about 6 or 7 miles west on Rte. 33. Surely you can do better than this!! I used to have a farm here, and you are talking rural and uninteresting. Ciao

terry

oh woah. well, if brilliantly green mountains, the birds chirping, the deer quietly nibbling on the apple tree, the beautiful black bear sauntering unopposed through the field without a care in the world is not interesting and peaceful, then i don't know what is!
It's a beautiful world in Greene.

dan woodlief

Maybe someone has already mentioned it, but if you are going to be in the Lynchburg area, you may also want to spend 2-3 hours seeing Appomattox Court House where Lee surrendered to Grant. It is an interesting place to visit. It isn't far to the east of Lynchburg and might make a good stop on the way to Williamsburg.