We live in the Tampa area and are going to drive up to Manassas Virginia for a friend's wedding. We take back roads and try to stay away from the interstates as much as possible. Can anyone suggest some towns that are worthwhile for stopping, scenic, off the beaten path, has a restaurant not to be missed that we can hit on the way up or back? We will be leaving on the 16th of May.
Thanks for reading this.

topping for the daytime crowd. Anyone?

You will see lots of suggestions if you scroll thru earlier VA Posts. Personally, I would recommend that you take the quickest expressway to the Rte 81 corridor around Harrisonburg, VA. From there, head toward Charlottesville, the Univ. of VA and Monticello. After Charlottesville, head NW taking backroads into the Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive. Consider a nite of lodging there, drive a segment or 2 north on Skyline Drive and then head back to Rte. 81 or Front Royal. If you are a history buff there are plenty of Civil War sites to visit.

My personal opinion is that I would just want to get the drive over with.

Not taking the interstate will allow you to see some nice towns however, you'll spend the majority of your time on slow moving back roads and you'll add at the very least a day on to your drive.

You could hit Macon, GA to Asheville, NC to Roanoke Va but to me, the added drive time would not be worth it.

The Skyline Drive/Shenandoah NP sounds like nice diversion. If time permits stay on the drive and take in the Great Smoky Mountain NP, if nothing more than just for a days drive. Drop south on US-441 and it will take you all the back to the SunShineState.

Chattanooga is nice if you decide to do the 81 to 75 route.

Thanks. I'll check out these suggestions on the map. Anything else? What about South Carolina?

BTW If that little bit about "crowd " seems weird and uncalled for please understand that this thread has been edited.