Help - PA-DC trip this weekend
 

Hello -

I've planned a week's vacation between the PA, DC, and VA area with 2 nights in Philly, 1 night near Longwood Garden in Kennet Square, 1 night in Charlottesville, and 3 nights in DC. I will fly to Philly and out of DC. My travel plan between the destinations was to rent a car and drive. I just realized the drive from Longwood Garden in PA and Charlottesville, VA is 5 hours!!! I really don't want to do the drive. Do I have any other options? This was poor planning on my part. Thanks for any feedback.

You could skip Charlottesville and spend an additional day/night in the Brandywine Valley. Winterthur, another DuPont estate, the Brandywine River Museum, especially for three generations of Wyeth works, and the Hagley Museum, the original DuPont property with house, black powder manufacturing and workers' quarters, are my favorites, after Longwood. Are you planning to see the newly renovated main fountains at Longwood?

Do the trip in two days, stop in Front Royal and then take the Skyline Drive for most of the drive to Charlottesville. At least it would be more scenic.

I agree with k_marie's suggestion.

Thanks for your suggestions. Unfortunately, we can't skip Charlottesville ... we have been looking forward to our visit to Monticello. It was a part of the vacation planning from the beginning.

k-Marie - yes we plan to go to Longwood Gardens. We've heard how beautiful it is! Can't wait!

Michael's idea is something to think about. Instead of staying overnight in Kennet Square, we could drive part way and stay somewhere closer to Charlottesville. I've never heard of Front Royal but I will look into it.

Thank you! :-)

If you do decide to overnight near Longwood, check the website to see if there will be a nighttime main fountain performance. After many months and many $$$$ of renovation, the fountain displays resumed earlier this summer. The displays are scheduled several times during the day and the evening display with special lighting is spectacular! And, if you are going while the weather is still warm, don't miss the waterlilies in the pools area adjacent to the conservatory.

If I read the map correctly, Front Royal is where the Skyline Drive starts.

thank you !