Residing in Rhode Island, now we have taken many east coast street journeys over time as we slowly tick off all the States. Coming from such a small state, it’s arduous to think about that you’d want at the least every week to correctly discover Virginia, however Outdated Dominion is bigger than you suppose. With vital historic websites like Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Monticello and pure wonders like Shenandoah Nationwide Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Virginia Seaside, it would be best to take your time and plan a Virginia street journey that encompasses a little bit of the whole lot.
The simplest approach to see the highlights on a Virginia street journey is to take a round route by way of the state, beginning in Norfolk, Virginia and ending in Washington D.C. (which you also needs to tack on just a few days to see if you happen to haven’t visited but.) Since we had been touring from New England, as an alternative of flying we drove down Freeway 13 by way of the Delmarva (Delaware / Maryland / Virginia) peninsula and throughout the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to our first stops on our mother-daughter Virginia street journey.
From there, we continued throughout Interstate 64 with stops in Williamsburg/Jamestown and Charlottesville. We then drove by way of Shenandoah Nationwide Park after which continued up Interstate 81, with stops alongside the Shenandoah Valley in Harrisonburg, Woodstock, and Winchester. We completed up simply throughout the border in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, however it’s simple to circle again to Washington D.C. for a flight house.
Virginia Highway Journey Itinerary
When planning your Virginia street journey, you possibly can shorten this itinerary to suit right into a one-week journey or prolong it with extra time at every cease for a full two-week trip.
- Day 1: Arrive in Norfolk, Virginia
- Day 2-4: Virginia Seaside, Hampton, and Newport Information
- Day 5-7: Williamsburg and Jamestown
- Day 8-9: Charlottesville
- Day 10-12: Shenandoah Valley
This map was created utilizing Google My Maps and covers your Virginia street journey itinerary above. You’ll be able to click on on the star subsequent to the title and save this to your Google Maps account or click on on the share icon to ship it to your self through e mail.
Day 1: Arrive in Norfolk / Virginia Seaside
Be aware: This submit could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. For those who click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.
Editor’s Be aware: A part of our journey was hosted by Go to Hampton, Newport Information, Go to Charlottesville, Shenandoah County, and Go to Harrisonburg. All opinions are my very own.
For those who plan on flying to Virginia and renting a automotive, for this itinerary it’s best to fly into Norfolk, Virginia (you may get nice offers on Breeze Airways from numerous cities) and out of Washington D.C. (Dulles or Reagan Nationwide). Alternatively, you possibly can fly into and out of D.C. and make a loop.
When you’ve got at the least 10 days in your Virginia street journey and you might be visiting through the hotter months, I’d recommend spending at the least your first night time or two in Virginia Seaside. Nevertheless, if you happen to aren’t on the lookout for a seashore trip, head straight to both Hampton, Virginia or close by Newport Information to have a house base in your first few days of exploration.
The place to remain: Hilton Backyard Inn Hampton Coliseum Central in Hampton, VA or the Courtyard by Marriott Newport Information.
Day 2: Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia is an under-the-radar vacation spot for historical past buffs. With the Naval station simply throughout the bay, Hampton sits on the entrance of vital waterways and has performed an impactful position in U.S. historical past, from its detrimental historical past as a touchdown spot for colonists and the primary place that captured Africans had been dropped at America and enslaved to work the rising tobacco plantations to its extra optimistic historical past as a NASA Analysis Heart that earned its “sea to the celebs” motto by way of its vital position in sending males to the moon.
There’s a lot to see and do in Hampton you can simply spend two to 3 full days exploring its wealthy historical past. In your first day, I’d advocate:
- Go to the Hampton Historical past Museum for some perception on all the realm’s fascinating historical past from the early colonists to the primary astronauts. (Permit one hour)
- Take a stroll to the close by Virginia Air & Area Heart with a cease first to experience Hampton’s vintage carousel. Take pleasure in studying in regards to the historical past of flight and the manned area program and soak up an IMAX present, included in your ticket. (Permit one to 2 hours)
- If it isn’t a seashore day, cease on the Bluebird Hole Farm to play on the playground and meet their resident livestock or simply head again to the resort for a brief swim within the small pool.
- Head over to Fort Monroe for dockside eating at The Deadrise.
Learn extra: Issues to do in Hampton, Virginia
Day 3: Hampton, Virginia
When you’ve got time for a second day in Hampton, there may be nonetheless extra to see. I might advocate:
- After breakfast, head over to the harbor entrance for a tour boat cruise on the Hampton Queen.
- Stroll over to Enterprise Kitchen & Bar in downtown Hampton for lunch on their wood-grilled pizzas and home made tater tots.
- Tour the Casemate Museum of Fort Monroe and Fort Monroe to see the place the place the primary African slaves arrived within the U.S. and the cell the place Jefferson Davis was imprisoned after the Civil Warfare. Different well-known troopers stationed right here embrace Edgar Allen Poe and Robert E. Lee. (Permit one to 2 hours)
- Both head over to Newport Information to test in to the Courtyard by Marriott Newport Information Airport, or prolong your keep on the Hilton Backyard Inn (it’s only 20-Half-hour away.)
Day 4: Newport Information, Virginia
If you’re quick on time, you can mix some Newport Information points of interest together with your time in Hampton, however there are a few gems right here that your children will love.
- Begin your day on the Virginia Residing Museum, which homes extra habitats, wildlife and plant species than could be encountered in a lifetime of outside adventures in Virginia. It’s right here you can stroll by way of an Appalachian mountain cove and a southeastern cypress swamp, contact a horseshoe crab or a sea star, go eye-to-eye with a pink wolf and a bald eagle and watch otters frolic on the out of doors pure path! (Permit two hours)
- Cease for lunch at Style Limitless at Metropolis Heart in Oyster Level and revel in a stroll across the fountain, stopping to pose for a photograph on the Love NN signal.
- Subsequent up, go to the The Mariners’ Museum. The true spotlight right here is the usS. Monitor Heart — you’ll want to cease into the Battle Theater for a fantastic overview of the battle of the Ironclads at Hampton Roads. Additionally take a look at the detailed craftsmanship on the miniature ships within the Nice Corridor of Steam. (Permit two hours)
- For dinner you would possibly wish to head again to the Metropolis Heart, the place there are many family-friendly choices to select from.
- After dinner, take a look at a film on the Paragon Metropolis Heart 12 in Metropolis Heart or head over to Newport Information Park for a stroll or a hayride. Cease at Pelican’s SnoBalls for a snowcone dessert.
Day 5: Williamsburg, Virginia
In case your children want a break from historical past and sightseeing, take pleasure in some household enjoyable at both Busch Gardens Williamsburg or Water Nation USA. Nevertheless, you actually shouldn’t miss spending a day in Colonial Williamsburg. For those who can handle three to 4 days within the Williamsburg space, that may be splendid.
Learn extra: How one can spend a day in Colonial Williamsburg
The place to remain: Williamsburg Inn or Membership Wyndham Kingsgate
Day 6: Jamestown & Yorktown, Virginia
This space is so wealthy with early U.S. historical past that it would be best to spend a day visiting each Yorktown and Jamestown to be taught extra about colonial and revolutionary historical past:
- Begin off with a go to to Jamestown Settlement. This attraction has recreated the unique Colonial fort, presents an interactive consultant Powhatan village, and has three ships which might be replicas of those that Captain John Smith and the unique settlers used to journey to the New World. There’s additionally an excellent museum on website and a restaurant for lunch, so plan to spend at three hours.
- Go to Historic Jamestowne, the situation of the unique fort the place English settlers first colonized Virginia. Right here you will note the define of the unique fort, some ruins from the city, and the archeological digs the place they’re nonetheless unearthing artifacts from the seventeenth century. (Permit one to 2 hours)
- End your day with a go to to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
- After dinner drive two-and-a-half hours to Charlottesville.
Learn extra: Jamestown Settlement vs. Historic Jamestowne, Which is Higher?
Day 7: Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is house to the College of Georgia and two of the Founding Fathers together with Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. Along with historic websites there are wineries and pure points of interest close by.
- Spend the morning exploring downtown Charlottesville. The pedestrian mall presents a fantastic number of retailers and eating places.
- Head out to Michie Tavern for an all-you-can-eat colonial mid-day meal of fried rooster, pulled pork, baked rooster, mashed potatoes and gravy and extra! Permit time to go to the tavern museum and discover the quaint retailers subsequent door. Children would possibly benefit from the scavenger hunt and win a sweet stick with boot! (Permit two hours)
- After lunch, head as much as Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s house. Buy tickets prematurely for the tour of your selection and be taught all about our nation’s third president. (Permit two to 3 hours)
- To loosen up in any case that historical past, cease by Carter Mountain Orchard, simply down the street, and have a run round their garden overlooking Charlottesville and the valley whereas sampling a few of their recent produce, baked items, or cider. On Thursday evenings in the summertime you can even take pleasure in a free music live performance on the garden and go to the snack bar for a lightweight chunk to eat.
Learn extra: Issues to do in Charlottesville, Virginia with children
The place to remain: The Graduate Lodge Charlottesville
Day 8: Charlottesville, Virginia
When you’ve got time, there may be a lot extra to do within the Charlottesville space together with:
- Begin off with a bit extra historical past with a go to to Highland, house of James Monroe, fifth president of the US. (Permit one to 2 hours)
- Prepare to go out of city to close by Scottsville and cease for lunch at Tavern On the James.
- In spite of everything that historical past, it’s time to loosen up and revel in nature with a kayak or raft down the James River with James River Reeling & Rafting (or you can sneak in somewhat wine tasting close by!) (Permit three hours)
- At this level, we headed out for a drive on the Skyline Drive by way of Shenandoah Nationwide Park (permit two to 4 hours) to Harrisonburg. For those who can, attempt to prolong your journey to spend at the least a full day mountaineering within the park.
The place to remain: Residence Inn Harrisonburg
Day 9: Harrisonburg, Virginia
Whereas it’s simple to spend just a few days mountaineering in Shenandoah Nationwide Park, there are a lot of cute cities and points of interest to see in Shenandoah Valley. Harrisonburg is house to James Madison College and this small faculty city is an effective place to remain when visiting Shenandoah. If you’re quick on time, you possibly can skip Harrisonburg and head straight to Woodstock.
- If you’re there on the weekend, begin your day on the Harrisonburg Farmers Market downtown after which spend a while exploring this school city.
- We visited the Rockingham County Truthful within the afternoon, but when that isn’t happening, there are some close by hikes, caverns, or arboretums to discover. You might also wish to head again to Shenandoah Nationwide Park for the afternoon.
- You should definitely cease at Klines Dairy Bar on the way in which out of city for his or her well-known custard-style ice cream.
- From Harrisonburg, drive as much as the small city of Woodstock.
The place to remain: Cabin leases in Woodstock
Day 10: Woodstock, Virginia
Woodstock is a cute small city within the coronary heart of the Shenandoah Valley, making it an ideal house base for exploring the caverns, river, and native points of interest for a day or two.
- Begin your day with breakfast on the Woodstock Cafe & Shoppes then head up the mountain to the Woodstock Tower for lovely views of the valley.
- Prepare for some extra enjoyable in nature with a rafting or kayaking journey on the Shenandoah River. (Permit for 2 to 3 hours) OR,
- Head over to Bryce Resort in in Bayse for some ziplining or different adventures. (Permit half a day)
- After lunch, cease off at Route 11 Potato Chips to style take a look at their completely different flavors and see how they course of over 14,000 kilos of potatoes a day. (Permit quarter-hour)
- Close by, go to Shenandoah Caverns and be ready to be wowed by room after room of rock formations. Afterwards, cease in at their different points of interest, together with American Celebration on Parade, a formidable assortment of parade floats. (Permit two hours)
- End up with an off-the-cuff dinner on the Woodstock Brewhouse.
Learn extra: 10 Enjoyable and adventurous issues to do in Shenandoah Valley
Day 11: Winchester, Virginia
Based in 1744, Winchester is the oldest Virginia metropolis west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Referred to as the Apple Capital, there are many farms close by to go to, together with an enthralling downtown with historic sights and a pedestrian mall.
Learn extra: 3 Days in Washington D.C. itinerary
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising and marketing government and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged skilled in household journey. She can also be the writer of YourTimetoFly and the co-host of the Trip Professionals journey podcast.
