maitaitom

We have 4 1/2 days after leaving Philly. One idea was to rent a car and drive to Gettysburg and Harpers Ferry. Stay around there one night. Then head to Monticello/Charlittesville area for two nights to see presidential homes and end up in DC the final day night and 1/2 day.

Does that sound wise? Better ideas gladly accepted. Thanks.

maitaitom

or Charlottesville

PaulRabe

Unless you are an afficionado of the U.S. Civil War, I'd skip Gettysburg & Harper's Ferry and use that day to visit stuff in Washington. The Smithsonian alone could take up your entire time, but I don't recommend that many consecutive days visiting museums -- even if they are all free.

maitaitom

Thanks Paul. The four of us visited DC for six nights some years ago. Is Gettysburg, in your opinion, a worthwhile stop? I have to look more into that. I might be inclined to split time between Charlottesville (Monticello, et al) and DC. Thanks.

bachslunch

Went to Gettysburg and Harper's Ferry many, many years ago and enjoyed both. Was pretty young at the time, though. They take about a day each, if memory serves.

You could easily spend two days in Charlottesville, one for the two presidential homes and Michie Tavern, the other for in-town attractions such as the Kluge-Ruhe and University of Virginia Art Museums and various other odds and ends. Haven't been there, myself.

I think your four-day itinerary is a good one, maitaimom.

bachslunch

Two other suggestions to consider, neither of which I've been to:

-there's another presidential home about 20 miles outside of Charlottesville: Montpelier, which was the house of James Madison.

-Shenandoah National Park is also not far from here.

emalloy

Gettysburg and Harper's Ferry are worth the trip. Your plan sounds good to me.

Gwendolynn

I think I mentioned Winterthur on your previous thread. Not sure of the route, but it's not far from Philadelphia and on your way south. Knowing of Tracy's interest in gardens it probably be a good stop. (Unless you've already been there.)
http://www.winterthur.org/garden

Birdie

You could easily spend more than two days in the Cville area. Monticello, Montpelier, UVA and the Rotunda, wineries, great food, Highland (home of James Monroe) etc. Skip Mitchell Tavern and do not even consider going near the area during UVA graduation.

Nelson

We thought Gettysburgh was definitely worthwhile, and we are not Civil War buffs. We bought a guidebok that also had a CD (two years ago) and drove our car around to the sites. They told you what happened there, then we got out and walked around, as our brains tried to fathom it.

A second to Winterthur and also nearby, at the risk of suggesting too many gardens, are spectacular Longwood Gardens.

The original DuPont gunpowder works (where the DuPonts originally got their money) is also a fascinating stop. In fact, we spent four days in the Brandywine Valley, based in Kennett Square and could have stayed longer.

maitaitom

Great suggestions all of you.

"at the risk of suggesting too many gardens, are spectacular Longwood Gardens."

"I think I mentioned Winterthur on your previous thread. Not sure of the route, but it's not far from Philadelphia and on your way south. Knowing of Tracy's interest in gardens it probably be a good stop."

Ahh, Tracy will be in heaven!

Gwendolynn

Maitai... on their website is a timetable of what's in bloom when. May should be gorgeous... unless Mother Nature throws us another curve ball.

jenna88

Nice! I hope you like it here in Philly! Next time you drop by the area, download the tiptour explorer app, it has a lot of interesting suggestions for tours, specially museums, murals and breweries (it also shows other states but I tried it here first in Philly and loved it)

I hope you come back and visit again!

maitaitom

Jenna...will be there in spring 2018. I will download the app...thanks.

starrs

Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob
The Flight 93 memorial at Shanksville PA

Fra_Diavolo

I would recommend you stick to your first plan, Gettysburg and Harper's Ferry. The latter is very scenic, if the actual historic site is rather small. Lonely train whistles crossing the rivers. You're also not far from Antietam.

Gettysburg I found tremendously moving. I've been twice, touring once by car and once on bikes. I would recommend reading Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg by McPherson before your visit. It is a short (224 pgs) account of the battle.

Gwendolynn

starrs, Fallingwater is a good idea... but it's about 5 hours west of Philadelphia... near
Pittsburgh. (I'm an old PA girl...)

starrs

I know where it is. They have four days after leaving Philly. It's a suggestion of a destination during those four days after they leave Philly - not that they need to spend all four days there. We did it as an overnight from MD.

Rich

We visited Gettysburg last year and really enjoyed it. Even LB who is not much of a Civil War nut as I am.

One thing that made it do good was that we hired a private guide at the Visitor Center. He drove our car thru the town ( visitor center is on the opposite side from the Battlefield) and pointed out buildings and told stories as we went. He tailored his tour to where we were from (Texas)

Well worth the cost!

PhillyFan

If Tracy loves gardens, you should really go to Longwood Gardens! You can stay in the area and do Winterthur as well.