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Going to Virginia – need some ideas!
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My husband has been traveling alot lately and we’ve just found out that the assignment he’s on is not short term but will be ongoing for possibly the next two years. He’s been home anywhere from 1 to 7 days per month since January and we’ve just had some prayer answered! His company has just given him quite a large pay raise and has increased his per diem pay to an amount large enough that will allow him to to bring us along! He’ll be in Virginia next and that’s where we’ll join him. I know there is alot of history there and I want to take full advantage of the opportunity to show the kids school on the road. I am planning on a trip to Williamsburg, but other than that I need some ideas. We’ll be driving up from Georgia so if you have any ideas of stops along the way, I’d love to hear those too!
Also, since we are just finishing up ancient Greece, my youngers haven’t been exposed to much American History and I am wondering if there is a quick crash course (preferably audio or visual) we can do beforehand to expose them a little bit so they can make those connections we all love when we get there.
Thanks for any suggestions! We won’t be leaving until the end of June so we have a little time to gather ideas and make plans.
Oh I would be so thrilled to spend a month in Virginia!
Things that would be on my can’t miss list:
Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s Home)
Mount Vernon (George Washingon’s Home)
Appomattox Historic Park (Civil War Battlefield)
Arlington National Cemetary including the home of Robert E Lee
Chancelorsville Battlefield
Harpers Ferry
Manassas Battlefield
If you will be near DC, I would suggest spending a lot of time there as well. You could spend the whole month in the museums around the National Mall.
We spent a 2 week vacation in Virginia about 2 years ago and had a great time. Don’t have a lot of time now – but you can check out my blog about our trip – I haven’t gotten a chance to finish it yet. I plan to once the baby is born. 🙂 http://ephesians521.blogspot.com/2013/01/virginia-vacation-2011-day-1.html
OK, two MUST VISIT places as far as we are concerned–both in Staunton. The American Shakespeare Center–the place is unbelievable! ALL my kids voted it the very best place we visited in Virginia! And also the Frontier Culture Museum. It has these little farms from different places of heritage—German, Irish, English, with re-enactors and it was one of the most fascinating places I’d ever been to. I felt like we were practically visiting the homes of ancestors! TERRIFIC terrific place. Oh, and lots of homeschoolers work there, we met a bunch!
Also Montpelier and Ash Lawn which are Madison and Monroe’s homes. And Woodrow Wilson’s birthplace. And some caverns. Luray is biggest but there is another one which has a parade museum next to it. We like the Johnny Appleseed Restaurant near the caverns too.
Nebby
An ex-VA girl
My grandparents used to live about 2 miles from Mt Vernon so we spent a few weeks in the area every year.
There are so many amazing things to see and do.
If you get a chance going up to Gettysburg is amazing! 8 years ago (before kids) my husband and I went out there and spent 4 days at Gettysburg. We got a guided tour and it was wonderful. We learned so much. The guide actually drove our car with us and would stop and talk to us about the history. It took almost 2 hours and was money so well spent. We were going to do a group tour, but are so glad we did the private tour.
All the museums are wonderful too, and all free, once you pay for parking, LOL. I have so many amazing memories of spending days exploring the museums in my youth. I can’t wait to take my kids in a few years.
Arlington National Cemetery – another must see. The tomb of the unknown soldier.
Wow! There is a lot to see, so much amazing history and so much is very inexpensive or free. Enjoy your trip and time to explore.
We went for only a week and really needed at least a month to see all that we wanted to see. Williamsburg is part of the historic triangle with Jamestown and Yorktown. The nice lady at the gift/book store at the Jamestown park gave me 10% educator’s discount on the books we purchased there (it doesn’t hurt to ask); there’s also a don’t miss glassmaker nearby. The kids loved the recreated Jamestown better; really needed two days there. South of Williamsburg across the Chesapeake Bay is Virginia Beach and a lighthouse you can go up into. There is also an aquarium there which we did not have time for. The kids want to go back again some time. It is better than Florida and Disney! Have fun!
There is an old thread on here from last Spring about Williamsburg that missceegee started.
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