Vacation: Williamsburg/Charlottesville/Williamsburg/Richmond (Alexandria, Mount Vernon: how much, home, buy)

[Wordsmith12]

My wife and I are planning a summer vacation and thought it'd be nice to visit Virginia.

I'm a huge history buff and was wondering which of the 4 cities listed in the title might be our best bet if we want to soak up history without breaking the bank. (Note: Just noticed I accidentally repeated Williamsburg in the title. I meant to put Alexandria the second time.)

We live in Florida, and it appears we'd have a layover if traveling to Charlottesville.

I know we can leave Alexandria for our next visit to DC, but there is so much to do and see in DC that I'd rather not couple both for the same trip.

I am dying to visit Mount Vernon, Monticello, and the Historic Triangle.

Any tips/suggestions welcome. Thanks.

[choff5]

How many days? Alexandria does have a lot but you will have to deal with I-95 getting to and from there. Charlottesville, Richmond and Williamsburg are at least all off of I-64 and you don't have to deal with No. Va. traffic. As you know, there is so much to see historically. Don't forget Montpelier as well as Monticello if you pick Charlottesville.

[emsman]

How many days is the big question as choff5 asked. I recommend staying in the Richmond area, that will centralize most all the places you mentioned. It puts you about an hour from Williamsburg, Charlottesville, & Fredricksburg each. If your staying a few days you can easily get a lot in with early starts each day.

[Bigfoot424]

I love the Williamsburg area for its area but there's no doubt the other areas have plenty of history as well. If only a couple days then W'burg is my vote. Or Charlottesville with a day trip to Bedford for the D Day Memorial. Stay away from Alexandria if spending money is an issue. Plus the traffic is horrible.

[metalmancpa]

I went to Charlottesville with my daughter to check out UVA. Beautiful country yes, but IMO nothing there to vacation for. Many more much nicer places with much more to keep you occupied (unless you just want to walk around and look).

[choff5]

Originally Posted by metalmancpa

I went to Charlottesville with my daughter to check out UVA. Beautiful country yes, but IMO nothing there to vacation for. Many more much nicer places with much more to keep you occupied (unless you just want to walk around and look).

Depends on what a person is interested in seeing. For a history buff, definitely Monticello then there's also James Monroe home, Highlands, not far from there. Also just to see the Rotunda and lawn at UVA is fascinating. Montpelier, Madison's home is a ways out of town but in the area. The D Day memorial in Bedford is a great idea too. Then, as a diversion, if into wines, there are plenty of wineries in the area. My personal preference (and this is not politically motivated alone), skip Trump Winery and go the Bleimheim across the road. Much better wine and owned by Dave Matthews.

After those places, from a historical POV, many places in Richmond, both Revolutionary and Civil War related and of course the entire Williamsburg area is a history buff delight. Again, depending on how much time, plenty to do without adding Alexandria and the traffic mess into the mix. Save that for another trip.

[PGEMF]

Originally Posted by metalmancpa

I went to Charlottesville with my daughter to check out UVA. Beautiful country yes, but IMO nothing there to vacation for. Many more much nicer places with much more to keep you occupied (unless you just want to walk around and look).

Monticello
Montpelier
Wineries
Breweries
A beautiful downtown
A beautiful campus
Good restaurants

Agreed, nothing to do in Charlottesville.

[slowlane3]

Colonial Williamsburg is arguably the world's foremost restored living-history site. You will want to follow the signs to the visitors center, park there, and buy passes. Although you can walk around the mile-long restored area without passes, you cannot them if you plan to enter the buildings, listen to costumed guides/ craftsmen, or ride on the special busses. The restored settlement of Jamestown, and Yorktown battlefield, are also nearby, and linked by a scenic parkway.

Richmond has lots of Civil War sites, and has all the cultural attractions of a metro area of a million people, but without the horrible traffic and parking problems of the D.C. area.

Also, the new U.S. Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA is free of charge and adjacent to I-95.

[choff5]

[quote=slowlane3;48699251
Also, the new U.S. Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA is free of charge and adjacent to I-95.[/QUOTE]

Yes, very impressive museum, but given it's in the midst of the horrible I-95 traffic, I wouldn't do that just by itself. Plus, they are under construction right now doubling the size of it. I haven't been there since that started so they are adding exhibits as they can. For more info on it, here's the website and click on Final Phase.
National Museum of the Marine Corps - The National Musuem of the Marine Corps