I think the best way to wrap up my recent road trip through Virginia would be to say we were already planning a return trip before we’d even arrived home. Ten days of scenic byways and an immersion in American history. Comfortable accommodations, tasty local cuisine and friendly people with the slowed down pace of Southern hospitality.
After an over-night in Georgetown Kentucky (where we picked up our third traveler) and Charleston, West Virginia (making a point to stop at the New River Gorge) we spent a week in Virginia. Quite by chance, the trip was divided nicely, the first half with visits to the Founding Fathers’ homes and the second with tours of Civil War battlefields.
The main goal of the trip was to see Monticello, which we did in spades, spending nearly the entire day on the mountain touring inside and outside Jefferson’s home. We also visited Ash Lawn-Highland, James Monroe’s home and the gorgeously restored Montpelier, home of James and Dolly Madison.
The second half of the week was spent visiting Civil War battlefields: Manassas, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Chancellorsville and ending, appropriately, at Appomattox Courthouse.
Our final stop in Virginia was Thomas Jefferson’s retreat, Poplar Forest, which was fantastic and doubly interesting because they’re in the middle of a complete down-to-the-bare-bones restoration. Spent a day in the Lexington area visiting friends and sampling local craft beer before making the final leg home through Indiana.
All-in-all, it was a fantastic trip. I’m finally getting around to processing photos and will post more detailed entries in the weeks to come.
2 Things @ Once 