scurry

On our March trip to DC, we're considering taking a two-night road-trip down to Williamsburg with a 12-year-old.

Any suggestions for out-of-the-way side-trips that might be fun on the drive to see museums, restaurants, towns, minature golf courses or the world's largest frying pan, etc.?

We were thinking of spening the night in Norfolk, VA to see the battleship and maybe even driving down to Kitty Hawk, NC to see the Atlantic (we're from CA and IA).

How's driving down route/highway 13 as an alternate drive?

Any must-sees in Richmond?

What do you think? TIA!

Underhill

what i remember about the road that took us from d.c. to williamsburg is mile after mile of trees, trees, and more trees. nice for a while, but it got to the point that we were happy to see one of the few signs advertising something or other, just for variety. i hope someone here more familiar with the area can give you a suggestion for a more interesting route.

ronkala

I-95 is pretty blah from DC to Richmond but it's the only way to go. Approaching Richmond, get on I-295 towards I-64 and Williamsburg. Instead of getting off at the I-64 exit, continue on I-295 several miles to Route 5 east towards Jamestown and Williamsburg. Follow scenic 5 along the James River and enjoy the plantations along the way.

pollyvw

Though the Outer Banks is a nice area, you dont have to go that far to just SEE the Atlantic. Virginia Beach (in the Norfolk area) might provide what you are looking for without extending your driving time.

scurry

Thanks for the tips.

If we've got the time -- are the Outer Banks worth checking out?

sprin2

The quick way on the interstate is not scenic. Try instead taking I95 to Fredericksburg which is worth a stop with a nice downtown and a Civil War Battlefield.

Exit on Route 3 east and drive along the Northern Neck. George Washington's Birthplace and Stratford Hall Plantation are both good stops.

Continue on Route 3 to Warsaw and take 360 south across the Rappahannock River to Tappahannock. Be sure to eat at Lowry's.

Just outside Tappahannock take 17 south to Yorktown and the Colonial Parkway will take you to Williamsburg. Urbanna is a nice stop along the river.

While the NC Outer Banks is great, you can also see the Atlantic in VA Beach if you don't want to drive the extra bit south. If you do get to Kitty Hawk, the Wright Brothers Memorial is a nice stop.

Judy

I'm not sure if you're talking about taking 2 days to drive to Williamsburg or if your trip from DC is 2 days.
If its the latter, driving to the Outer Banks from Virginia Beach is close to 2 hours. Adding 4 hours of driving to a 2 day trip hardly seems worth the effort as you can see the ocean in Virginia Beach.
I have a daughter in DC and live in Virginia Beach so make the trip fairly often. There's really not that much to see between DC & Williamsburg! With a limited time, I'd go straight to Williamsburg.

Tandoori_Girl

There is a BBQ joint that is an institution called Piersons. They put cole slaw on pulled pork. My husband makes me stop every time we get close to that place. But I think it is east of Williamsburg. Also there is a Pottery Barn there that's a huge rambling hulk of a building. Fun for shopping -- is this your son or daughter? Maybe not for a boy.

scurry

It is a boy -- so we were wondering if there were any sports-themed activities in the area ...

rkkwan

King's Dominion? It opens on weekends from 3/19. Okay, I'm not that serious.

Richmond is a pretty interesting city, especially if you're interested in the history of the Confederacy. Monument Avenue, State Capitol, Museum of the Confederacy, etc...

US13 is a good alternative if you're coming down from Delaware or New Jersey. From DC, that's going to add significantly to the journey time. But the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel is quite magnificent.

Birdie

There is a pirates themed mini golf in Williamsburg on Bypass Rd. and if your son is a skate boarder, a skate park at the rec center. Bowling lanes out near the outlets on Rt. 60. Waller Mill Park and York River State Park have hiking and boating but the boating concessions may not be open in March. Williamsburg Indoor Soccer Complex sometimes offers indoor skating but I don't know whether they rent out skates. I think a 12 yo boy will find Richmond to be pretty boring.

45tire0

check out the President's park in Williamsburg. It is near the water park. It is educational and not an "all day" event.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

A longer ride, but I too would suggest taking Rt 50 out of DC, then winding down the DelMarVa peninsula ... and try to get off Rt 50 & Rt 13 from time to time. Stop for awhile at the rest area ON the Bay Bridge Tunnel (at the end of the 2nd tunnel if you're headed south) to view the bay .. they've got a tacky gift shop and an over-priced snack bar, but what-the-heck. Visit Va Beach, maybe Nauticus in Norfolk -- visit the Battleship next to it.

There is a Marine Life Museum/Aquarium in VaBeach, just south of the "strip", and an Air/Space Museum in Hamption (I-64 exit 267?), both with IMAX theaters.

The Science Museum in Richmond is housed in the former Union Station - is great, and there are a number of other attractions in Richmond.

You might find a harbor cruise interesting ... available from behind Waterside (near Nauticus), Hampton, or Newport News. I don't know how close to the Norfolk Navy piers they get post-9/11, but it used to be quite fascinating.

The BBQ place in Williamsburg is PIERCE's (close, TandooriGirl!) on Rochambeau Road, and I agree with her on that stop.

Don't overlook Colonial Williamsburg's night programs. They cost extra $ over general admission, but are very entertaining AND educational.

tomboy

The State Park at Jamestown, which is probably <20 miles from Williamsburg, I found very interesting. My wife, a 5th grade teacher at the time, took a lot of pictures, and her students were apparently quite interested as well.

The attraction is, or at least was at the time, that just past the visitor center is a replica of the original fort at Jamestown. The staff was dressed as 17th century explorers, and were eager to tell about life back then, and even got the visitors to engage in some frontier activities, play some games of the era, etc. I thought it was extremely well done. Other writers can advise you whether it's still the same, but I think a 12 year old would like it, and 5th grade tends to cover explorers in whatever state you live in.

scurry

Very good -- thanks for your tips!

alvira

If you are in Virginia Beach then the Virginia Marine Science Museum is a good site to visit. I could make a very long list of the things to see, but this is the best site for evaluating all of your options in the area: http://www.timetravelers.org/index.html (Check out the destinations for Tidewater). For seeing the ocean, Virginia Beach is much closer than Kitty Hawk.

alvira

Sorry, I got carried away on seeing the ocean and Virginia Beach I forgot to say that the historic area of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown can fill your two days.