We will be attending a seminar in the Shenadoa Valley. The Sunday before the seminar starts, we have a day at leisure.

Which historical sites or towns do you recommend? Evn accomodation close to Staunton and any particular places to eat at on this route? We will be coming from Washington DC.

It's been a while since I've been up there but New Market VA is nice and about halfway. It's a beautiful drive.

Unless you will have time during your seminar to tour Staunton, you might just want to spend your Sunday there. I can highly recommend the Blackfriar's Playhouse for entertainment and we enjoyed a good meal at the Mill Street Grill.

If you prefer to get out of Staunton, there's Lexington where there is a lot of Civil War history. For fun, there's Hull's Drive In movie theatre.

If you have not been to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's house near Charlottesville, it is one of those world-class, must see places. Go early, go into Charlottesville for lunch. It is maybe an hour from Staunton.

Lexington is the home of Washington and Lee University, burial place of Robert E Lee, who spent the last years of his life as a college president trying to restore the ccuntry from the damage the civil war had done. In the same town is the campus of Virginia Military Institute. At the Battle of New Market in 1864 (see suewoo's post above) the cadets of the Institute, many of them just boys, fixed bayonets and turned the Union charge into a defeat. It was one of the great acts of courage in any war.

I know basically nothing of Virginia except that there is lost of history in this state... I know I must go and do homework, will do. Only heard yesterday that we are going, and you guys were my first stop.

I have read on other posts that Charlottesville seems to be a must see. Is that so?

Staunton... seems that this is also a great place from your input... that is excitting!

New Market... will put that on the map...

Thanks guys, if you want to add anything, please let me know... Just a question... the Lexington in VA... is this the same Lexington Paul Revere made his famous ride to? Or is that somewhere else? I am new to American history, so please bear with me, but I am eager to learn.

Charlottesville is a university town, crowded but with lots of good bars and cafes. The notable site is the Rotonda and Lawn, the portion of the University designed by Thomas Jefferson, its founder, architect, and President of the United States (qv). That's why it makes a good one day visit: you can see his own house, Monticello, and the portion of the campus which he designed. It is still in use, by the way by selected undergraduates and professors. A must see.

Paul Revere's Lexington is outside Boston, in Massachusetts.

The Battle of New Market is a bit like Rorke's Drift, if you are from South Africa.

I would recommend Charlottesville over New Market or Lexington. It's a lovely, history filled town with a lot to do and see.

If-and only if- the weather is good, get off I-66 at Front Royal.
Head south on the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway as far as Buena Vista. Cut over to Lexington and turn south a few miles to Natural Bridge off I-81. It is about an hour back up I-81 from Natural Bridge to Staunton.

This is my area!

Staunton is my [closest] town! I love it and agree that if you won't have time to tour it during the seminar, you might want to spend your time there. The suggestions for Blackfriars and Mill Street Grill are good ones. I have other Staunton restaurant suggestions, if you are going to eat there.

But...if you are interested in learning about American history I concur that Charlottesville (where I work!) is a good choice. It's a better choice than Lexington (even though I am a W&L alumna) unless you already know a lot about/have a big interest in American history as Lexington is more interesting if you know a bit about the American Civil War whereas Charlottesville has more "founding fathers" type feel.

Will you be driving? If so, take the route from DC that goes through Culpepper and Gordonsville, VA on your way to Charlottesville. Absolutely gorgeous "horse country".

We will be driving from DC to Staunton.

Do you have any lodging suggestions in or near Staunton? We will be attending a 2 day seminar at Polyface farms. We have the Sunday before the seminar free to do some sightseeing. We do not mind to camp.

Tere are any number of chain motels along the interstate near Staunton (pronounced "Stanton", by the way) and any of them would be a great deal easier than trying to sort out camping and the gear required for the brief time you have available.

The nicest hotel in Staunton is the Stonewall Jackson. It's right downtownand steps away from the Blackfriars. Polyface is great, it is actually in Swoope (20 min from Staunton) so you might want to use that time you have Sunday to stay in Staunton. There are a couple cute B&Bs, too. And chain hotels right off the highway.

In Staunton: There is also a glass blowers (sunspots) that has regular demos. And there are some restaurants that have a local food focus, which I take it interests you since you are going to Polyface. Those restaurants are Mockingbird, Zynadoa, and Staunton Grocery. Cranberrys has locals groceries and a breakfast/lunch counter. Gypsy Hill park is a large local park that may have something in he bandshell Sunday afternoon or evening. You can ride the trolley for free and it goes from he park and around downtown. Mockingbird is also a music venue and you can see who is playing while you are there: mockingbird123.com. A fun "Americana" experience is Wrights Dairy Rite a drive in hamburger-type place.

There is a small local mountain right in the heart of commercial Staunton called Betsy Bell. It is a short and easy hike. It doesn't compare with the numerous other local hikes but it's ok. You'll actually have lots of beautiful scenery around Polyface anyway.

As you can see, I love Staunton. But Charlottesville is very convenient for you, too.

Do exit I-81 at exit 283, Woodstock, turn left, and go down the hill to Main St. and turn left again to our historical district. Visit the county courthouse in use since 1875, our museum, and the gravesite of a British soldier from the Revolutionary War. Oh, I almost forgot about our town library where you can see our still in use card catalouge.

Ooops, I goofed on the courthouse date. Don't know where my mind was.

It was built in 1795 and is the oldest still in use courthouse west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was designed by Thomas Jefferson.

Thank you everyone, we are excitted!

girl_from_africa, we were on the Sky line drive last weekend. It was great and we saw a bear - about 15 feet from the road, tearing a fallen tree apart for insects, then flipped a rock for grubs and walked to the other side of the road right behind the car and into the woods. Really exciting, of course the camera was no where to be found. The lodges in the NP had availability if that interests you.

I almost forgot about the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton.
17th, 18th, & 19th century european and american history.

www.frontiermuseum.org

I forgot it, too! Even with their ugly new highway sign --what's wrong with me! Thanks, ronkala.

If you're into history and culture, then VA is the perfect choice for you. You can visit Jamestown Settlement’s galleries, film and outdoor interpretive areas, and Historic Jamestowne. Go site seeing in Yorktown Battlefield, Yorktown Victory Center and Historic Yorktown to learn more about the Revolutionary War’s most decisive battle all in Williamsburg, VA.

Its indeed a perfect choice for history and culture buffs