Virginia Weekend Trip Ideas

Virginia wineries are building a good reputation, and as already noted, the state is steeped in history. A good way to combine these is to take a weekend trip along the General's Wine and History Trail. This weekend road trip follows a loop that extends out from Washington along I-66, turns north at I-81 in the lower Shenandoah Valley, and then bends back towards Washington on Route 7. The trail encompasses 10 Virginia wineries, and an area that was traveled by the Federal and Confederate armies repeatedly during the Civil War. Every winery has its own local historical note. For example, Lost Creek Winery is near the site of the Battle of Ball's Bluff, where future Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes was wounded. The route runs through a lovely stretch of Virginia countryside for the most part, has a number of charming bed and breakfasts along it for spending the night.

Monticello

The home of Thomas Jefferson, America's third president and author of the Declaration of Independence, is a draw for both history buffs and lovers of fine old homes. However, the beautiful estate is of greater interest beyond merely being the residence of Jefferson, for it also opens a window into the world of the post-colonial-era Virginia plantation gentleman. Monticello is very close to the city of Charlottesville, a pleasant and green college town, and just over the mountains is the upper Shenandoah Valley. A weekend visit to the area could take in Monticello one day, a drive in the country or to a winery on the second, and spend the evening in the restaurants and cafes of Charlottesville at night.

Thomas Jefferson Foundation
Post Office Box 316
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Tel: (434) 984-9822
www.monticello.org

The Blue Ridge

The Shenandoah National Park is dominated by the Blue Ridge Mountains, which in turn are dominated by the Skyline Drive. This windy highland road runs 105 miles down the spine of the mountains, creating numerous opportunities for spectacular views. The park is a natural destination for hiking and camping, with sites and trails scattered along the length of the drive. For those who like pretty scenery but not roughing it, the towns that surround the park, such as Luray and Front Royal, are stuffed with everything from cheap motels straight out of the 1950s to modern four-star hotels. In 2009, winter passes for December through February were for one day and cost $10 per vehicle. March through November passes were $15 and were for one week per vehicle.

Shenandoah National Park
3655 Hwy 211 East
Luray, VA 22835
(540) 999-3500
www.nps.gov/shen

As the largest living history site in the United States, Colonial Williamsburg should be best thought of as a historical theme park. Built around the old part of Williamsburg, the capital of colonial Virginia, the displays and workshops of this thoroughly mid-18th century experience could easily occupy an entire weekend. However, there is more in the area to occupy a visitor's time. For more history, the Revolutionary War battlefield of Yorktown is to the east, while the Civil War battlefields of the Seven Days are to the west. A Busch Gardens theme park is also in the vicinity.

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P. O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187-1776
Tel: (757) 229-1000
history.org

Busch Gardens Williamsburg
One Busch Gardens Blvd.
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8785
Tel: (800) 343-7946
buschgardens.com/BGW2