Reston --> WV --> Monticello --> Reston
 

In May I am visiting my daughter who recently moved to Reston. We are taking a quick trip on the weekend, driving to WV early on Sat, spending the day in the Riverton / Franklin and then moving on to visit Monticello on Sunday.

We are looking for a clean place to spend the night somewhere between WV and Monticello, and somewhere simple but yummy to have dinner Sat night. We do not eat meat, although we do eat seafood. Pasta, veggies, pizza are good options too. The plan is to make reservations for an early afternoon tour at Monticello, possible having brunch somewhere nearby before we go. Then we will spend some time on the grounds and then drive back to Reston so she can be at work Monday morning.

Does the plan seem sound? I am basing drive times and routes on google at this point, although I have asked my daughter to visit her local AAA office and have them make us up some TripTix.

Neither of us know much at all about this area (California girls), so any and all advice is appreciated.

Curious...what's in Riverton/Franklin?

If you can tolerate a 2 hour drive after your day in WV, I would head to Charlottesville, VA for dinner and to spend the night.

I remember you asking about Indian/ethnic food near Reston/Tysons. This is off-topic, but there are some great (but not ethnic) restaurants west of Reston if you and/or your daughter is up for exploring that area as well.

In Leesburg, there are 3 great restaurants: Tuscarora Mill, Lightfoot, and Fireworks Pizza (which has fabulous pizza and a great beer selection). Farther out, but worth the drive, is Magnolia's at the Mill in Purcellville. I think Magnolia's, Tuskies, and Fireworks are all owned by the same general owners.

lol--I knew someone would ask that! My father's family settled the Riverton area in the 17th century and has a long and colorful history there. We are going there to see ggggrandma's Confederate War monument and to try to find some family cemeteries and maybe sort out some of the fact from the fiction in the family lore.

I have looking at Harrisonburg as place to spend the night. They have motels and restaurants. Any thoughts?

If you're going during the first weekend in May, Harrisonburg would be trouble, since that's the weekend for James Madison University's graduation. After the first weekend, you'd be fine. There is a Holiday Inn at Route 33 / I-81 that I've stayed at and is nice - the rooms are pretty upscale for an HI. And there are actually a fair number of pretty good restaurants there, too.

Ah, that explains it. I have been searching hotels in Harrisonburg and most have very little or no availability. I was wondering what was going on that weekend. Looking for a room for just May 10. Found one at the Country Inn and it looks like I don't have the luxury of researching further. It gets pretty ratings where I have looked so I guess I should just book it.

You might try going on down a bit south to Staunton for the night. It's at the juncture of 81 and 64 -- you'd have about an hour drive, or less, to Charlottesville in the morning. Staunton is a quaint town, but I'm not terribly familiar with it so maybe others could point you to specifics.

Graduation is May 3 - the weekend before the 10th. I'm not sure what, if anything is going on the weekend of the 10th, but with a large univ, you never know.

We stayed at Frederick House in Staunton VA and loved it. http://www.selectregistry.com/inns/q...breakfast.aspx

Local restaurants near Reston:
Half my team is vegetarian. This is where we like to eat. (Indian/Vegetarian restaurants are plentiful in Reston/Herndon area of Fairfax country). Minerva, in Herndon, just south of the Toll Rd, has a very good lunch buffet. Pho 2000, in Herndon on Worldgate drive has an extensive vegetarian menu, and the food there is quite good. Thai Luang in Herndon, on Herndon Parkway is excellent Thai with several vegetarian choices. Amma is a vegetarian Indian restaurant on Maple Ave in Vienna, is okay. Bhusara in Tysons Corner is popular with vegetarians.

Riverton/Franklin WV - don't miss Seneca Rocks, it is a steep hike but the views are lovely from the top. Should be lovely in May.

also...Kazan in Mclean, VA has amazing seafood and several vegetarian appetizers. Really good service.

She won't have to go to Tysons for Busara...one opened within the last year in Reston Town Center. Yum!