Itinerary help on way to Shenandoah mountains
 

We're looking forward to our upcoming trip to Williamsburg Sept 2-11. We will be flying into Norfolk & plan to head towards the Shenandoah Valley first. Our flight gets in about 5pm so thought we might get to Montpelier area & look around there. Is that an easy drive to make on the first night? ? We have a night on the 3rd at Skyland Lodge so that just gives us 2 days in that area. Also noticed the park has 4 entrances. Which would be the best to get to the lodge? Luckily we have a GPS. Also realize we are flying in at rush hour. Will we be stuck in the tunnel forever? Is there another alternative?
The 4-11th we will be staying in Williamsburg & plan to check out that area including Jamestown, Yorktown. Where is the best place to buy tickets for the tours? I noticed you can get a day pass or a year pass. Will the year pass get you into most of the shows, etc? Would appreciate hearing about where not to miss. We love historical areas.

Correction! I meant Monticello (Charlottesville area) instead of Montpelier. How's the weather the first part of Sept?

Are you aware that Montpelier, home of James Madison is NOT the same as Montpelier the town just outside Richmond? I believe the town is pretty much just a suburb. Madison's Montpelier is about 2 hours from Norfolk, closer to Jefferson's Monticello and Monroe's Ash Lawn. All are pretty rural areas, and very beuautiful!

Montpelier is open until 5pm. By the time you get there I don't think there will be much to see.
http://www.montpelier.org/visit/index.php

You could drive from Norfolk to Charlotteville area and see the three Founding Fathers estates in the morning. Montecello is a must-see for most history buffs - Of the three its by far the more popular (and interesting) destination.

Continue on 64 to the Southern entrance of Skyline Drive but if you spent half the day visiting one or more of the estates I think it would be far more enjoyable to head up 33 to the Swift Road entrance to drive to Skyland.
http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/mapspark.htm

From Skyland to Williamsbirg is probably another 3+ hour drive.

There are tons of online deals for the Williamsburg area - this one might suit your history buff preferences
http://historyisfun.org/americas-his...le-tickets.htm

If you are going to spend more than 2 days in Williamsburg you really are better off with the 3 to 364 day Liberty Pass.
(1 day is $46, 3+ day Liberty Pass is just $58). Have you seen their website http://www.history.org/?WT.srch=1&gc...FQ9JagodaE9yeQ

If you have extra time and like touring historic sites, you may be interested in the James River Plantations
http://www.jamesriverplantations.org/

Other attractions in the area include Busch Garden amusement park, or closer to Norfolk, Virgina Beach.

The westbound direction (the way you'd be going) is the bad direction in the PM. The other option is to take 264 across to 664 and up that way, but that may be bad too. I'd say ask at the car rental place for advice-they'd have a better handle on it. I do know that I've encountered backups on 64 heading west thru the tunnel on busy beach weekends when people were all heading home and it moved along and wasn't really all that bad. I haven't been on it during weekday rush hour, though. You can at least look at the aircraft carriers and other warships at the Naval Base if you get stuck in traffic!

Once you get thru the tunnel and past Hampton and Newport News, it's then only a couple hours to get up near Montpelier. (Not Monticello?)
Are you staying in Charlotteville the first night? If so take a walk thru the grounds of the Univ of VA before you leave for SNP. Designed by TJ himself. Both Monticello and the UVA Grounds are on the list of UN World Heritage sites. Another spot right near Montpelier is the Green Springs National Historic District. Basically farms dotted with 18th century farmhouses and manors. You could just cruise thru (it's a small area) and take a look on the way.

Rte 33 to Skyline Drive would be the route to take to Skyland, although 231 to Sperrville, the up 211 to the Drive also works and 231 runs thru beautiful Piedmont countryside. Either way is good.

Have a great trip!

Thanks so much for all of the good info. I've checked out the Triangle pass & that looks like a good way to go. I really appreciate the advice on the tunnel so will continue to check the best way out. We're excited about the trip & plan to see as much as possible within reason. Plan to check out the wineries as well. Someone mentioned going out to an island on a ferry. Does that ring a bell with anyone?

The drive from the Norfolk airport to the Charlottesville area will take you the better part of 3 hours in non rush hour traffic. I hear that you only have a short period of time to visit the area but I don't think you'll be seeing much of it the day you arrive. If you can fly into the Richmond airport, you'll cut your trip by more than half.

The weather may be quite warm and humid with afternoon thunderstorms.

Hope you have a great trip!

That's a lot of days to be spending in Williamsburg. We were just there a month ago due to a business meeting and I would say you need 5 days max. I would spend more time in Shenandoah.

I echo obxgirl with the drive from Norfolk to C'ville. If you can fly into Richmond, would be much better. If not, what about having an early dinner near teh airport to stall your departure? There are lots of hotels and B&B's in Charlottesville and the environs so if you decide to stay an extra day, it's more than worth it. Charlottesville is a lovely town! Hope you enjoy our wonderful state!

"Someone mentioned going out to an island on a ferry. Does that ring a bell with anyone?"

They probably mean Tangier Island in the bay. That would be a good time. It'd take up most of a whole day, though. The two ferries are both maybe 1 1/2 hours from Norfolk, one at Onancock across the Bay Bridge Tunnel up the peninsula, the other from Reedville on the western shore of the bay. Reedville is kinda nice as well.

http://www.tangierisland-va.com/

The ferry from Onancock no longer goes to Tangier Island unless it started up again this year. We stayed in Onley near Onancock last year planning to take the ferry from there
and found out service had stopped.

We had to go to Chrisfield MD to get a boat to Tangier Island.

Woops! I've been out of touch for a few days since I've had company. Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate all of your feedback. We are all set. We'll be bring our trusty GPS to lessen the panic moments. We'll head to Charlottesville & hopefully will have enough time to do a brief walk around UVA & do Monticello in the morning & anything else we can get into before noon before heading to Skyland Lodge. We will meet old friends from the 80's there for dinner & do a couple of hikes & drives to say we've been there & maybe come back another time. We'll spend 2-3 days in Williamsburg, 1 day at Yorktown & half day at Jamestown which should leave us enough time to check out battlefields, wineries or just enjoy the moment. My husband's parents lived in Norfolk when they were first married (he was in the Navy) so we'd like a glimpse of that area even though they wouldn't recognize it if they were still here. We can't wait to see your part of the world.

Sounds like the plan, spud! I'd thinking you won't need that whole day at Yorktown, but I'm sure you'll work it out as it goes. Maybe even a little beach time and a swim. Cold Harbor battlefield is one to check out and right there NE of Richmond. Entrenchment/earthwork remains very much apparent.

You're the best for all of the tips. Cold Harbor sounds interesting. We're good travelers so will make time for just enjoying the moment. Hopefully we can do a beach & swim time.