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Road Trip Help--- Philly to Sunset, SC (Virginia portion)

Road Trip Help--- Philly to Sunset, SC (Virginia portion)

Old Jul 31st, 2014, 04:03 AM
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Road Trip Help--- Philly to Sunset, SC (Virginia portion)

Hi All,
It's been a while since I've been on here, but hoping some people can chime in on my tentative plan. My wife, three-year-old twins and I will be heading out on Sunday and looking to do the drive from Philly to SC in two days. I have a tentative plan for the first day, and looking for input or anything amazing I'm missing. Here goes:
Leaving Philly early morning and hoping to drive 2.5 hours before the kids force a leg stretch (Frederick MD looks about right for this, and I've marked a bagel shop and park for our stop)
.
Heading to Dinosaur Land (3.5 drive hours in) which looks ridiculous in an amazing way and I hope the kids love it! We'll try to pack lunch for this, as it looks like all fast food in the area and we can save some money.

I've tentatively marked Staunton as a possible leg stretch. We've stayed there before, so I'm a bit familiar with the town. Never been to Gypsy Hill Park, but looks like a great option! Food, if necessary-- Byers St. Bistro or Mill St. Grill?

If we don't have to stop in Staunton, might there be something a bit further for a quick stop? Thought about stopping for the day in Natural Bridge, but decided to shoot for Roanoke instead. It will be Sunday, so it looks like most everything in Lexington will be closed.

Finishing up the day in Roanoke. If we get in by 4pm or 5pm, that would be an accomplishment! Hoping to at least drive up to the star. Worth it? Disappointed the Transportation Museum will be closed, because I know the kids would love it. Dinner-- Fork in the City looks good.

I'm having a hard time with hotels. Really can't justify the $ of Hotel Roanoke-- especially without breakfast included-- but also hate the idea of taking a road trip and staying near a mall... looking at the Holiday Inn Express Civic Center but it's not rated great at all. But at least it puts us near down town. Looking for any recommendation for a hotel! I'm disappointed in the choices, based on my research. Looking for max $120ish.

Would really appreciate feedback on the drive-- part two is less defined so far. Would love to walk a bit on the Virginia Creepers Trail, if that makes sense for the kids. Would entering at Abingdon be best? I was also looking at Alvarado Station as a place to enter. Next tentative stop would be Brevard, NC, for a cool toy store and a soda shop before finishing out the drive.

Help! and Thanks!
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 05:26 AM
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Luray Caverns or one of those caverns along I-81 but you know your kids better than I do.
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 06:18 AM
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I'm not sure why you are going on I81 from Philly. Why not just down 95 to I40, over to Wilmington and then south on Route 17 to Sunset. It's a 10 hour drive!! I know the traffic around DC can be daunting, but once south, you're pretty much home free.
Your route is 'way 'way long and out of the way.
There are plenty of places to stop on 95 if you don't want to go all the way--or you could stay in Wilmington and see the Battleship North Carolina.
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 06:19 AM
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Check on hotels.com for hotels if you continue your search on 81.
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 06:31 AM
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I'm not sure what route you're talking about. Wilmington, NC? That's way, way, east of where we're heading. We are taking 95 down through Baltimore and heading over 70, though. That being said, we are taking 85/95 on the way back with stops in Charlotte, Richmond and DC. We have family in Sunset and 81 is the normal route we take.
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 07:33 AM
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I disagree with Gretchen. That "freedom" she's talking about doesn't really start until you get to and past Richmond on 95 (depending on time of day).

Be aware of heavy semi traffic on 81 and BTW, Mojo1309, it is called "Thank you."
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 08:06 AM
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Wow! Really, Dukey1? I was expressing genuine confusion and thought maybe there was something I was missing based on her "way, way long and out of the way" statement. I'm trying to have a conversation. Should I just be saying thanks? Now I'm really confused.
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 09:10 AM
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mojo61309, I think it's possible that Gretchen and Captain Cranky are confusing your likely destination of Sunset, SC with Sunset Beach, NC. I did when I read this post. Twice. Understandable to some extent given the questions fielded here about beach destination in the summer.

Other than that I have no real assistance to offer other than empathy for a long car trip with a pair of 3 year olds. A Hampton Inn and a pool would have been our wish list for the same a few years ago.
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 09:18 AM
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Well, yes indeedy. And I thought about saying "NC".
In that case, I would still come down 95 (and yes, Dukey, I do realize Richmond is still trafficky) and hit i85 and go to Greenville.
But if you do I81, I'd get on I77 and come south to Charlotte and then whichever route you'd like to take.

a nice stop coming or going (on 85) is Winston Salem and Old Salem for a great bakery and walk through an old town.
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 09:26 AM
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Thanks, OBX and Gretchen! And, yes, definitely doing the 77/85/95 combo on the way back.
The Green (park) and Zada Jane's (food) are my slated first stop in Charlotte on the drive back. There's also an observation deck at RDU airport that seems cool for the kids, but not sure. I'll check out Winston Salem/Old Salem. Thanks for the recommendations!
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 11:10 AM
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I have quite a few ideas for you if you are interested. (And I have been to Dinosaur Land, it is exactly as kitschy and ridiculously tacky as you are imagining--a great stop).

I love Staunton and Gypsy Hill Park is pretty cool. But it is a little ways from the interstate and downtown so not sure it's worth stopping there for just a leg stretch. I mean, it's Staunton, so "a bit from the interstate" is ten minutes but that might matter to you. The park is great, though--feed ducks for a nickel (buy the duck food from the machine, bread is bad for them), ride the little train for $1 (if it is operating that day), or just play on the playground. There's a public pool there, too, depending how long you stop.

The Frontier Culture Museum is closer to the highway exit and would be free for your little ones--but it also might be a little to old for them. There are some farm animals in the exhibits, though, which might interest them.

Mill St. Grill and Byers St. Bistro are both great lunch choices. Mill St. might suit your kids better but both are tasty. Make sure you get ice cream afterwards at The Split Banana http://thesplitbanana.com/ where you can easily walk from either of those restaurants or, if you think the kids might get a kick out of carside service you could go to Wright's Dairy Rite: 346 Greenville Ave, Staunton, VA 24401

Perhaps of more interest to them and a great little leg stretch is White Oak Lavender farm just a tad north, near Harrisonburg. They have animals to look at and pet and visit and it's a pretty place to run around a bit: https://www.whiteoaklavender.com/Vis...-the-Farm.aspx
Then you could eat lunch in Harrisonburg.

If you are still considering Natural Bridge, it isn't close enough to Lexington to really combine the two so don't let closures in Lex make that decision for you. The kids might really love the Safari Park http://www.virginiasafaripark.com/ -- make sure you buy buckets of food because feeding the animals is the most fun! (I have mixed feelings about zoos but know the owners of this place through a friend and am confident they treat their animals well). You can take the hay ride if you don't want animal food pellets all over your car. You could eat lunch at Pink Cadillac Diner: http://www.pinkcadillacdineronline.com/home.html
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 11:12 AM
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Oh and the Virginia Creeper Trail probably isn't going to be great for a walk--it's mostly used as a bike trail so you'll probably constantly be pulling the kids out of the way of cyclists from both directions.
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 11:34 AM
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Rather than Zada Jane's try Dish just around the corner. Don't know the Green.
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 11:35 AM
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And if you need the best fried chicken in the South to take out for a picnic on the way home, go to Price's Chicken Coop.
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 01:10 PM
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Thanks Schlegal and Gretchen (again!). This is helpful. I was worried about that with the Creeper. Any other easy hike/walk nearby that we could do? I've read about Grayson Highlands and Blue Hole Falls. Not sure how far off our route they are or how worthwhile...

I've seen the Safari Park but, like you, zoos make us kind of sad.
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Old Jul 31st, 2014, 01:25 PM
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If you feed the animals in these parks be SURE you have the children wash their hands and then use hand sanitizer. Salmonella is a real possibility. NOT discouraging the feeding. ;o)
There's a really good observation area at the Charlotte airport, and as the 6th busiest in the country, there's always something going on.
Are you going to stop in Charlotte. There is a raptor center just north of town off 77. The science museum downtown is first rate for ALL ages. Y'all come,now!!
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 05:35 AM
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Totally understand about zoos.

Sorry, I can't make a short hike suggestion near the Creeper.

If you want a little taste of nature, take the Blue Ridge Parkway from Waynesboro toward Roanoke (or part of it) then there are a lot of easy hikes--there's a very short paved walk to Crabtree Falls. You can combine it with a trip to the fish hatchery because kids LOVE to feed the fish! And then you can jump off the parkway near there to get back on I-81.
http://www.virginia.org/Listings/Out...eFishHatchery/
(open 8 am to 3:30 pm--food in little dispensers for quarters).
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 10:47 AM
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Thanks! I'll keep that in mind if we have time. Will also keep in mind Luray Caverns.

Looking into part two now, with breaks in Charlotte (quick breakfast bite and leg stretch), Durham (possibly Life and Science Museum/lunch) and overnight in Richmond. Any recommendations in those areas also welcome!
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 10:47 AM
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Crabtree Falls is very nice. I don't remember it being very near VA and a fish hatchery but it's been a while.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 11:57 AM
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I realize you probably aren't going to take this detour because of time constraints but in case anyone pulls up this thread later for similar planning, here's the google map of how you could incorporate Crabtree Falls and the Hatchery from Staunton:

http://tinyurl.com/qjvs2jd
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