Need some help from you locals.... Planning our vacation....

[YELLAHEEP]

We're planning a trip that will involve Washington DC, Virginia and likely Greensborough NC. We're looking for ideas of things to do.....

The main reason to be out there is I'll be racing at V.I.R. in Danville, VA Sept. 2-4.

We were looking at possibly flying into Washington DC several days before (Aug. 29 or 30-ish)and checking out the National Monuments and whatnot. After that..... We'd love to hear ideas for anything that we could see or do as we make our way to Danville. The idea being we'd fly home out of Greenborough.

We thought about the Virginia Beach area. But it appears we'll be there right at the tail end of the season..... Worth swinging over there? What's to see & do? Weather conditions?

Friends out there also tell us to head out to the Blue Ridge Mountains area. We're hoping we'll be there when the fall colors are good.....? Not sure what there is to see and do out there....

Of course we're also hoping to enjoy some outstanding sea food as well so post up your must go to places!

Thanks in advance!

 

[chedisme]

Sounds like your Sig is a lie.

I'm too far north to be any help. Have fun.

 

[pajeepman]

most in this chapter seem to be a bit north of your destination area.
What will you be racing, a friend of mine races at VIR, I will check to see if he will be there then.

 

[Andy in Pa.]

There is so much to do in that area, that you may want to really do some research and see what interests you (and your family) most. If your flying into Washington DC, go see the sights, but don't spend a lot of time at it, because you WILL be depressed at just how bad Wash DC gets just a few blocks away from the sights... The Smithsonian Institute is very cool, and is worth investing a whole day there. There are some VERY good and diverse restaurants in DC, I would go to a site like opentable to get best restaurant recommendations.

Heading south from DC, you'll find some beautiful landscape going down the west side of Va, south on 81. There are also many caverns and caves along the way too. Many of these caves and caverns have some interesting Revolutionary and Civil War history too. There are also many small wineries along that way too. You'll pass near Monticello, Thomas Jeffersons home. You can make a detour east and drive down the Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway too. There are some great hikes and vistas along there. This would be the easier way to go to get to Danville, Va.

If you stay on the east side of Va and head south, stay off 95 because the traffic will just piss you off. Head down Rt17, and you could spend a day in Williamsburg, Va. Bush Gardens is in Williamsburg, and if you have kids with you, they will LOVE that. You can head down to Va Beach, and its a decent place to spend a day on the beach. There are definitely some good seafood restaurants at Va Beach too. It is quite a long boring hike to Danville from that area though.

So... put some thought into it, you have plenty of time to plan. I travel down that way all the time, so I have spent lots of time reading road signs/finding cool places to go. If you find something that sounds interesting and want another opinion, let me know.

 

[sidriptide]

Va Beach is ok for a day if beach is a requirement on the agenda. but it's certainly not a "must see" kinda place IMO.
i havent been there in years, but the beach to the south end of the main strip was nicer than the north end.
Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is great for the kids.
also, the historic battlefields in Yorktown are worth the trip if you are in the Williamsburg area.

 

[D.I.T.A]

X2 on DC its awesome during the day the food is great and its cool to check out the sites but don't go for a walk at 2:30 am because you can't sleep.

 

[XJLI]

you can walk around the capitol area/the mall anytime at night. other places like georgetown, logans circle and adams morgan at any hour too. there are some areas that you absolutely do NOT want to be in, even in the middle of the day but you'll know you shouldnt be there and there is no reason to be even close to those places.

if you like mussels and/or real belgian beers, DO make a plan to go to granville moore's. the BEST mussels and fries on the PLANET. and a belgian beer menu that is bigger than their food menu. you can geek out on food and monuments/museums for a week and not do something twice. DC is waaaay more than just the capitol.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Thanks guys!

Yeah, we're looking at hitting the Smithsonian one day, and probably some capitol attractions the next. Georgetown was another area on our list....... I assume sticking to the canal area is best?

I can't eat mussels......... geeeeeerrrrrooooosssss!!!! :shiver:


Still trying to figure out where/whats worth seeing in the Blue Ridge mtn areas...........