Help planning two weeks in DC/VA/NC coastal area

[DaveNV]

I'm starting to work on a loose itinerary for a two-week East Coast trip we're doing next June. I'm looking for ideas of things to see, and ways to make the most of the trip without overdoing it. It'll be just two adults, and no kids this time.

We're flying into DC, renting a car and driving down to southern VA, where we'll be staying with friends in VA Beach. During that week we're thinking of trying to see (some of) Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, the general Tidewater area, and then the Outer Banks in and around Kitty Hawk. Staying a night here or there is not an issue along the way, but it'll be motels and such, rather than timeshares.

At the end of that week we're driving back up to DC, where we'll stay a week at the Wyndham Old Town Alexandria. We stayed there last year, so this return to DC is to see some of what we didn't have time for last time.

The help I'm after is mainly with the southern VA and Outer Banks part of the trip. I was stationed with the Navy in Norfolk for three years back in the day, but a lot of things are different now. We like visiting American History kind of places, with a strong interest in Colonial battlefields and stuff. Not much for amusement parks and tourist traps, unless they're part of a larger activity.

Anyone care to make recommendations of things to see/do, and especially "don't miss" things? I know there is a ton of things to do, but I'm not sure what's good, and what isn't. We have the DC leg covered, unless you want to recommend something you know we'd like to see.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[DaveNV]

Anybody?

Dave

 

[Steve]

There are some really cool places to visit on the Outer Banks of North Carolina:

1) The lighthouses

http://www.visitnc.com/story/coastal-lighthouses

2) The wild horses of Corolla

http://www.outerbanks.com/corolla-wild-horses.html

3) The Wright Brothers Memorial

http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm

4) Elizabethan Gardens

http://elizabethangardens.org/

5) The Lost Colony

http://thelostcolony.org/

6) Fort Raleigh

http://www.nps.gov/fora/index.htm

7) Roanoke Island Festival Park

http://www.roanokeisland.com/

8) North Carolina Aquarium

http://www.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island

9) The National Seashore

http://www.nps.gov/caha/index.htm

10) The North Carolina Ferry System

http://www.ncdot.gov/ferry/


Hopefully, this has given you some ideas. There are a lot of great things to see and do on the Outer Banks. You could easily spend more than a night or two there. Have fun!

Steve

 

[RonB]

If you have the time, you might want to add Richmond to your itinerary. There are a ton of historical sites, (or sights ), there as well as the Va Museum of Fine Arts.

http://www.visitrichmondva.com/things-to-do/attractions/

Ron

 

[Big Matt]

Two separate routes you may want to consider from Washington to Virginia Beach:

1) I suggest that you consider driving down to VA Beach via the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia. On the way down you could hit places like St. Michaels , Chincoteague, and Cape Charles, and then drive across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to VA Beach.

2) See Mount Vernon (near DCA) then drive west from DC and hit the Manassas Battlefield, Charlottesville, and Petersburg to see historic battlefields and Jefferson's home (Monticello). Spend the night in Charlottesville. Drive from Petersburg through Hopewell and catch route 5 which takes you past a few historic plantations and into Williamsburg.

 

[ronandjoan]

There are some really cool places to visit on the Outer Banks of North Carolina:

1) The lighthouses

http://www.visitnc.com/story/coastal-lighthouses

2) The wild horses of Corolla

http://www.outerbanks.com/corolla-wild-horses.html

3) The Wright Brothers Memorial

http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm

4) Elizabethan Gardens

http://elizabethangardens.org/

5) The Lost Colony

http://thelostcolony.org/

6) Fort Raleigh

http://www.nps.gov/fora/index.htm

7) Roanoke Island Festival Park

http://www.roanokeisland.com/

8) North Carolina Aquarium

http://www.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island

9) The National Seashore

http://www.nps.gov/caha/index.htm

10) The North Carolina Ferry System

http://www.ncdot.gov/ferry/


Hopefully, this has given you some ideas. There are a lot of great things to see and do on the Outer Banks. You could easily spend more than a night or two there. Have fun!

Steve

I would repeat that you need more than even a few days and indeed, why not go ahead and get a timeshare --

I had wanted to see the Wright Bros stuff for so long, and then also that is a great place to see other historical sites and enjoy beach activities -- I did not even include everything in the area on my BLOG

you can see some of what we did and click back in the older posts to see more

http://www.ronandjoanjourney.blogspot.com/2013/05/flying.html

 

[silentg]

Being a veteran, I believe you can stay on the bases, My in laws have done this, check for military lodging or discounts you may be entitled to on your trip. I will ask them for details on Thansgiving about how or where they stayed.
Silentg

 

[DaveNV]

Thanks, everyone. This is great information. I'll check out these links.

Joan, the reason we're not taking a timeshare in NC is because we're visiting my best friend (of more than 40 years) and his family, who live in VA Beach. The Outer Banks visit(s) will be during that week.

Just as with the DC leg of this trip, where we're returning to see more of what we didn't see last trip, we can certainly do the same with the Outer Banks area. I've seen the area before, and know I'd enjoy seeing it more in depth again.

Dave

 

[linpat]

In Norfolk you might want to tour Nauticus - it's a naval and sea museum and the battleship Wisconsin is moored there too.

 

[Deb from NC]

i second Nauticus....also the Mariner's Museum. We went to both the last time we stayed in Williamsburg and thought they were both great....

 

[smtundra]

When driving from DC to Williamsburg or if leaving from Richmond, take Route 5, which is a beautiful drive instead of I-64. There are several historic plantations that can be toured such as http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/.

They usually have small groups and often some of the families still reside there, making it a bit more interesting. Just call ahead to make sure they are open, and not hosting a wedding or some other event.

 

[talkamotta]

We just returned from that trip. We stayed a week at the Outerbanks I, Im into lighthouses so that trip was fun but my favorite was the Wright Bros Memorial. Roanoke is a wonderful town to visit. Stayed a week in the Marriott Williamsburg, nice place. Loved Yorktown and Jamestown the best. Willliamsburg is getting a little too touristy for us but still it was good. Went to Norfolk for one day, lots of military things to do but we went to the art museum. Spent 2 days in D. C. not even close to enough time. We stayed in Alexandria hotel and took the train, very convenient. Our first week of this 3 week trip was in Gatlinburg, TN. Just the drive from NC to Tenn to DC was wonderful. We were in the top of the colors changing. I never knew Virginia was such a beautiful state.