Vacation spots (Charlottesville, Williamsburg, Tappahannock: rentals, condos, house)

[jsl]

Hi,
Me and my friends (4 couples to be precise) are planning a 3-4 day vacation for end of April. All of us are from in and around DC, and would like to go some place thats not more than a 5 hr drive.

Can you suggest some good palces around? A friend suggested Williamsburg but we are open to other options.

We'd like places close to nature - with outdoor activities like hiking, water activities like scuba diving, water skooter etc.

Thanks much!

[akorosdc]

Shenandoah? Charlottesville?

Or, outside VA there's Deep Creek in MD, which is nice, or go out to a beach. Ocean City, MD, Rehoboth Beach/Dewey Beach, DE, and Cape May, NJ are all nice.

[tamitrail]

Love Deep Creek. You could rent a nice house for 4 couples with a hot tub and rent a boat on the lake. Depending on your budget, you could even get a nice house with an indoor pool. There are nice restaurants there and the national park for outdoor activities.

[normie]

Originally Posted by jsl

Hi,
Me and my friends (4 couples to be precise) are planning a 3-4 day vacation for end of April. All of us are from in and around DC, and would like to go some place thats not more than a 5 hr drive.

Can you suggest some good palces around? A friend suggested Williamsburg but we are open to other options.

We'd like places close to nature - with outdoor activities like hiking, water activities like scuba diving, water skooter etc.

Thanks much!

Lots of good suggestions. There are some nice places on the Northern Neck, too. Tappahannock, for example. But Rehoboth or Ocean City would probably be more fun.

It's probably a little early, but a great place to kayak is the Potomac River. You can rent kayaks for $15/half day at Riverbend Park. It's possible that the area around Georgetown is warm enough now for rentals. (If you need to rent equipment for water sports, the general rule is that water temp plus air temp needs to equal 100 for several days before they will rent to you.) Nova had a mild winter, so it's possible that the season will start early this year, but usually it's around May 10-15.

[springfieldva]

Wintergreen resort, located in the mountains outside of Charlottesville, is a great place to enjoy nature. There are hiking trails, outdoor adventure classes, a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, kids classes etc., etc. There are a wide variety of accommodations - from condos to chalets.

[stockdale.35]

Smith Mountain Lake, John H Kerr reservoir, Williamsburg, Sandbridge Beach. You should only travle South if your going on water vacation. Water is warmer and the south is sunnier. It may take longer but come'on, Maryland isnt worth going north for.

[tamitrail]

I beg to differ. All of the places mentioned are excellent, as well as going to Maryland.

There are not going to be too many places where the water is going to be warm in April that are within 5 hours of DC.

[5stones]

^ yeah I wouldn't want to go swimming in Deep Creek lake in April...

It's a beautiful area with tons to do but remember the lake feezes over in the winter, I even found it chilly in June!!

And I don't think yyou will ANY scuba diving close by either.

[tamitrail]

Actually, we went last June and were able to swim just fine. Like I said, there aren't going to be too many places within 5 hours of DC that are going to have warm water in April.

[5stones]

we are the jinx of Deep Creek!

oUr friends moved there a few years ago and we would visit often. In summer we went...it rained or had a cool spell come in. Went in fall for the Fall fest...it snowed/sleeted. Went in winter for snow mobiling...had a warm spell, no snow! We in spring for a quick hello...got snowed in for 2 days!

We just laugh, after 6 years of going there in a different seasons we have claimed the title as the jINX family. (we moved to Texas recently and I must say...I'll miss my quick weekend jaunts to Deep Creek.)