We will be driving from NJ to NC taking Rt13, we will need to do an overnight in Virginia as we have kids who don't do well on long drives. Are there any cute towns around Rt 13 near Norfolk? I had wanted Williamsburg / Charlottesville but apparently too far off the driving path .

Any cute colonial towns or other options?

Chincoteague or Assateague Islands are possibilities you might check out and consider. Not colonial in the Wmburg/Cville context though. You'd have to backtrack from Norfolk to Yorktown or Wmbug for that and it could be a real traffic mess depending on the time and day.

What is your ultimate destination?

Hi, our destination is nags head in the OBX

Are you taking the Cape May-Lewes ferry or coming down Rte 1 from I-95?

I thought you might be headed to the OBX. So Chincoteague and Assateague are going to be somewhat of the same sort of place -- scenic water views and small beachy towns. Chincoteague has the wildlife refuge and the wild ponies -- don't know your kid's ages but that's a draw for almost any age.

If you're doing a week's rental in the OBX and want/need to do an overnight on your way home, you could craft your trip to go to Williamsburg on the way back. It's possible to get you home off of the I95 corridor (which I assume you're trying to avoid?) from there but it will take a little longer.

Hi we are not taking the ferry, so 95 to Rt 13 to avoid the traffic.

My kids are 5 & 8 so will look at Chincoteague, thank you! Would love to do Williamsburg, but you're right thinking I -95 traffic could be brutal.

If you go to Chincoteague, the kids might enjoy NASA/Wallops.

https://www.nasa.gov/content/wallops...nter/about-us/

The Salisbury area in MD is another option. There's a zoo and a decoy museum with some gorgeous bird carvings. If you time it right, the Shorebirds may be playing. They have a really nice Minor league baseball park.

As obxgirl mentioned, there are alternative routes that will take you past Williamsburg on your way home if you want to try a different route.

If you are going to the Outer Banks soon, make sure your rental has electricity. There has been a major power outage down there and they are not all up and running yet.