NC To PA via VA with kids
 

We're headed to PA this Thanksgiving w/ our 3 children. We'll be driving from Asheville and our destination in Harrisburg to stay w/ family. Aside from Hershey museum and People Place (Amish) ... anyone have any suggestions on sights to see for 2 teens and a 7 yr old. We may try and head back by another route that would take us further east before heading south.

Gettysburg is always interesting to visit.

On your way coming or going -- you might enjoy Charlottesville, VA. Visit Thomas Jefferson's Monticello...it is very cool and Jefferson had so many neat inventions that even the 7-year old will be impressed.

Colonial Williamsburg, VA is always fun. Thanksgiving should be a big time there, and you'll certainly see beautiful scenery. I'm not sure if Busch Gardens will be closed or not, but you might try their website. They are usually open weekends for a while after Labor Day, just don't know how long.

I second the Charlottesville suggestion - lots to do there. In your home state, you could take I-40 to Winston Salem and spend a half day in Old Salem. Then head up Rt. 29 to Charlottesville - good for one or two days. I recommend you avoid any eastern route that puts you on I-95 as it will be very slow going around Baltimore and Wash DC.

If you have not been there, consider Skyline Drive. I beleive that at least 1 of their resorts is open through that weekend. You can do a segment or 2 of the Drive and then get back on 81N.Gettysburg is a must which you can do from Hbg. or as a stop on the way.Don't miss the basement of the NPS Visitor Center where there is a great, free museum and the Cyclorama.A distant third choice would be Harper's Ferry as a place to stretch your legs for an hour or 2.You can cut across from 81N and then take Rte. 15 north.

If you end up going to Colonial Williamsburg, do not return home via I-85 through Durham. The road is under contruction and is a huge mess. Enough congestion/wrecks with daily drivers will be a nightmare for a holiday weekend. Head west on 58 in VA until at least highway 29. However, you might want to stay on 58 and avoid all the interstate backups.

Tons of Civil War sites as you head north, then Gettysburg, of course. Shenandoah/Skyline Drive, Monticello. Skip the "People Place" and just drive around Lancaster County, seeing the real Amish farms, buggies, quilt and craft stores, etc. while trying to ignore the encroaching suburbs, shopping centers, and tourist attractions. You will want to avoid I-95 over Thanksgiving if at all possible. Too much traffic.

With that northern route, I would put these items as possible destinations on the way up: Luray Caverns, either Skyline Drive or the Shenandoah Valley (I guess you could bounce around and do some of both), Monticello, Appomattox, Lexington (VA), Antietam battlefield, Harpers Ferry, and Gettysburg. If you and/or kids have not been to Gettysburg I would take others' suggestions and put it at the top of the list. It would be a shame to go to Harrisburg and completely bypass it. Give it a couple of days minimum if you can. Harrisburg also has the National Civil War Museum. Haven't been there yet, but it is supposed to be nice.

I don't know about Gettysburg. The teenaged daughters will probably not be interested and the 7 yr old too young. Williamsburg is a nice idea but too far out of our way and not enough time. May try and head a bit east and go by Chadds Ford to see the Brandywine River Museum and then head south on Rt. #1.

I live in Charlotte, NC now and am originally from Harrisburg, PA. I made that Thanksgiving drive once and won't do it again. Be ready for some serious traffic jams.

Dear DeborahB, Which way did you go up to Harrisburg? We are probably going to leave ASheville, NC on Tues afternoon and spend the night somewhere in VA --- I want to avoid I-95 on the way back.

Most likely DeborahB went I-77 to I-81. Chadds Ford is kind of out of the way too isn't it? Route 1 from there won't save you any time, especially if you are just trying to avoid I-95.

That Wednesday--all day--is a madhouse anywhere near the DC area (at least a 45 mile radius). And avoid Breezewood if you can--I don't know if have to get on the PA turnpike or not.

Definitely I-81 both ways if you're doing Thanksgiving weekend. 85/95 will be a mess.

See Luray Caverns... it's great for kids and teens.

Interested in the Civil War? Around Winchester, Va, get off the interstate and check out Harper's Ferry, W.Va. Not far from there, in Maryland, is the battlefield of Antietam. Travel a brief stretch on I-70 through Maryland, and then north to Gettysburg.

yep, I did 77N to 81N. And it is not much better then 95 which my boyfriend has done. I can usually make this trip in 7-8 hours. Thanksgiving it takes atleast 12 hours.

I am writing this from Chadds Ford where I work. It is a lovely area, and if you do the museum, you might also want to stop at the Herr's factory tour which is just about 15 minutes south on Rte 1 from Chadds Ford. I have to agree that it is further east than I would want to come if I were you. I vote for stopping at Luray Cavern, doing a bit of Skyline Drive and staying overnight in Charlottesville (assuming you are doing this as you head back south - otherwise reverse order.)

Thanks to all of you for your insight and advice. As much as I'd like to go to the Brandywine River Museum I think I might have to forego it this trip. Hitting Charlottesville on the way home may make sense.

We did a similar trip, from TN to PA this summer. Skyline was OK (would have been better if the weather was nice). Also went to Luray Caverns - that was really interesting.

Let me second the suggestion for a stop in Old Salem. It is easily accessible right off I-40E from Asheville. It is one of the most outstanding recreated colonial living areas in the country. It is exceptionally well done and IMHO a better stop than Williamsburg that time of year.
Another vote for Charlottesville, too