I've been reading lots of suggestions on what to do in VA - and question the best combination of things.
We'll be driving from IL with a 3rd & 5th grader in July or August (I know it will be HOT-but we'll deal with it). The kids still aren't the best car travelers, but we've got to break out of the midwest this summer!
I think I defintely want to visit Charlottesville (1 day?); CW (1 day); Jamestown Settlement (1/2 day?); & the water park (1 day). We will have been to Disneyland over spring break - so we can skip Busch Gardens. I'm not sure what the best way to buy tickets are. Individually or some type of package where you can pick & choose your own. Then I wanted to go to VA Beach for a day or two....just so the kids can play in the Atlantic Ocean. Since we're "in the area" - I'd also like to do a bit of hiking or stay in a cabin setting around Shenandoah Nat'l Park or somewhere along Skyline Drive? I don't think we'll venture down to NC, just because it will ultimately be more driving to get back to IL...and I think the kids will have their fill of riding in the van as it is.
I'd appreciate any suggestions on the itinerary or what to do in the park...like a resource to find cabins? As always - budget is an issue - but the place has to be clean!

ttt

enter Virginia is For Lovers in your search engine for Virginia tourist information.

You know it's going to be hot and you said your kids aren't the best car travelers so why don't you just rent a condo at the beach for a week?

Virginia would be much more pleasant to visit in the fall. August will be very hot and humid. Not a fun time to wonder around outside.

There are lots of historical things to see and do on the waterfront and it would be much cooler weatherwise.

Shenandoah should be very nice at that time of year, but be aware that the Williamsburg area gets oppressively humid--worse even than DC. I knew that ahead of time and decided to go in August anyway. In hindsight it was a real mistake. On the day we planned it was almost 100 degrees and 98% humidity. The combination made it so miserable we could barely stand to be outside. We ended up leaving early because we were so sweaty and uncomfortable. I know you probably want to go when the kids are out of school. Have you thought about early June instead--that might be a little better.

Sorry, I don't have any suggestions for you on cabins in Shenandoah (we always go as a day trip) but consider picking up a book on Virginia hiking. "50 Hikes in Northern Virginia" by Leonard Atkins is a good choice that also clearly marks which trails are good for kids.

Hey Slipperblue: I think your vacation plans look fine. It is humid in Virginia and that's the hardest to adjust to. As far as blue ridge, I have one recommendation. There is a resort called wintergreen. It is about 30 minutes from RT.64. It is a ski resort in the winter and summer time resort also. It is located at the top of the mountain. They have an indoor pool and spa. They have golf at the top and the bottom of the mountain. They have a lake in the valley. (lake monacan)They have tennis, they have an adventure park for the kids (trampoline, I think rock climbing)and of course numerous trails for hiking. You can rent a condo or stay in the lodge. There are restaurants or you can use the kitchen in your room. We have enjoyed the winter activities here, but many of my Richmond friends go out there year round for the hiking and just being in the mountains. I hope this helps.

One more thing. I am thinking about your kids ages (not too far off from mine 10 and 12)I would recommend one day in Colonial williamsburg, three days at the beach, one day in charlottesville area(see Monticello-Jefferson's home) and a few days in the mountains. That should give you a taste of Virginia and it will be the least amount of time in the most humid areas.

I think that there's enough to see at Colonial Williamsburg that I'd skip Jamestown and spend all my time at CW, rather than splitting it. I am biased, I go to CW for a few days at a time several times a year and still haven't seen "everything".

Or I would put that time in Jamestown to use exploring further west, like C-ville and Skyline Dr. Not that I have any problem with Jamestown, but I find once I do explore an area I find I wish I had more time, and 1/2 days doesn't seem to do justice.

Jamestown is worth a visit, but you don't even need 1/2 a day. Stay somewhere in Williamsburg (with a pool!) and you can visit CW, Jamestown and the Waterpark from that base. I like to combine a trip to Yorktown with Jamestown. You can drive the Colonial Parkway between the two and it is pretty. There is a small beach at Yorktown on the river, so bring bathing suits.

One tip we try to do is get up early and tour in the morning. It is sometimes nicer then. After lunch go back to the hotel and swim and then tour again in the late afternoon / early evening. The streets of CW are always open and it is fun to walk around and explore the gardens. If a garden gate is not locked you can walk around inside. The campus of William and Mary is also nice to walk around.

The rest of your trip sounds great.

Don't assume that the entire summer will be hot and humid. As with any location, the weather varies. We have made plans to go to Water Country at the end of Aug. when the crowds had diminished and it ended up to be too cool. You just can't predict it. If it does end up to be too hot I suggest doing your outside ativities at either ends of the day. Even in CW and Jamestown you can leave the air conditioned museums for the middle of the day. Don't assume that Water Country is a cool way to spend the day. Some of those lines up the stairs can be very hot. We usually go after 4 and I believe they offer a discount admission for the evening.
Some of the VA state parks have cabins but look into it early since they book up quickly.

Girlonthego gave you excellent recommendation, I live in VA and she is dead one. Enjoy

Williamsburg is a good central location ... Richmond is less than an hour in one direction, and Virginia Beach is an hour, hour and a half, in the other direction.

Highway 5 along the river is a beautiful drive from Williamsburg to Richmond.

Tour the Jefferson-designed Capitol building in Richmond. The sculpture of George Washington in the rotunda is fabulous! Then stop in the Capitol's snack bar for a fresh limeade. Yummy!

Busch Gardens is VERY different from Disney. If your kids like rides, then they'd like Busch Gardens. It's also one of the -- if not THE -- most beautiful theme parks in America.

There are science museums in Richmond or Hampton Roads area that your kids might enjoy.

James Madison's family estate, Montpelier, is north of Charlottesville near the town of Orange. It's undergoing a restoration but is still a neat place. There are lots of grassy areas that the kids could run around in, and due to the restoration there is little to see inside the house. I liked Montpelier, and feel I have to mention it since it's completely eclipsed by Monticello. =)

Virginia also has a lot of wineries. There is a Virginia Wine website (virginiawines.org), or you can pick up a really handy Virginia wine guide at any welcome center. Don't know if the kids would enjoy, but if they get to be too much in the car Mom & Dad can stop off for a tasting and maybe the rest of the trip would be more tolerable! lol

The kids might also enjoy a visit to some caverns. Luray Caverns, off the Skyline Drive, comes to mind, but there are others.

Another thing you can pick up from a Virginia Welcome Center is a map of scenic roads in Virginia. For goodness sakes, GET OFF THE INTERSTATE. I-64 is about as boring as they come. I-81's not so bad, especially in Southwest Virginia. But there are some really beautiful highways that will give you a better idea of what the state is actually like.

I hope you enjoy your trip!

The caverns are a good idea. Luray is very nice;however, very touristy. Try the grand caverns.
I live in VA and have stayed at various cabins in the mountains. Do a google search virginia mountain rental cabins... you will find thousands. I recommend magic river cabin.
I live in Richmond and love it. You should try to visit for a short period of time. The problem; however, is that you really need to know where you are going to have the best experience here. I recommend Belle Isle. It is an island in the middle of the James river that used to be a civil war prison. Beautiful, but sometimes crowded in the summer. Just find a rock and watch the kayackers go by. If you are into history you will find plenty to do.

slip:

I remember way back in 1995 going to Myrtle Beach and then traveling back via I-81 and us stopping just west of Roanoake and seeing the Peaks of Otter. What a beautiful place. Didn't stay overnight but wished I would have been vacationing in this area than any beach.

Just a note to the people who thought it was so humid in VA, the above described is a one day visit in mid-August and it wasn't so unbearable I could not stand it nor enjoy the scenery. If you are prepared and dress appropriate (linen, cotton and silk) you'll be comfortable.

Caverns are going to be touristy so if you are expecting to see only locas, you know, cave people, you will not. If on special trip and in Richmond, take a quick look at Belle Isle and keep moving to State Capitol and see some unbelievable history, go another one mile and see St. Johns Church (in summer, every Sunday you see reeanctment of Patrick Henry's "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech. Lot's of other history, get a map, Williamsburg, Jamestown, etc. etc.

Thanks so much for all the comments... it really helps! I'm going to look into the Magic River Cabin and see what that's about. Also - appreciate the suggestion about doing our sight-seeing at both ends of the day. I've seen some positive posts about Col. Spottswood Motor Inn (something like that). Does anyone know if it's close enough where we could go back & forth during the day like that, or should we stay someplace like The Woodlands? That's another place I've seen positive comments about. Someplace "budget-minded" that's still decent.
Good point about the water park not being the "cool down" that we might be looking for if it's really hot. Between Busch Gardens & Watercountry - is one a better value than the other. Our kids would enjoy both - but we may not have time to do it all.

Since your children are a little on the young side, I would recommend BG over WC. Unless the kids are adventurous they might be intimidated by some of the rides. There is a great area for preschoolers and middle-schoolers on up love the other rides. Unfortunately there is not a whole lot for the in between ages. The wave pool is a lot of fun but intimidating for parents trying to keep track of their kids in a sea of bobbing bodies. Even if your children don't like roller coasters their are other rides and shows that they will like.

Should be: Even if your children don't like roller coasters THERE are other rides and shows that they will like at BG.

I was just reading on line that Massanutten resort in the Shenandoah Valley Virginia is building a huge indoor/outdoor water park that is supposed to open summer of 2005.
Also, I have a 6 and 8 year old that has gameboys. We save them strickly for travelling in the car. They make thing so much more pleasant.