Three Weeks in Virginia
View from Stony Man Trail, near the northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park.
Article and Photos by: Steve Blume, Tiffin Ambassador
“How would you spend three weeks roaming around Virginia? We pick a state we don’t know each year and spend enough time exploring to change that. I’m a history nut, but she doesn’t want to do too much of that, so we must compromise. What are your can’t miss places?”
My Facebook question to an RV group exploded with ideas and suggestions. I copied them into my spreadsheet and started geographically organizing them in my RV Life Trip Wizard trip planner. Thanks to the help from these fellow RVers, a fantastic itinerary soon came together. Unlike most of our easy, relaxing journeys with plenty of downtime, this would be an on-the-move, jam-packed adventure with a full calendar. How much could we see in three weeks in a state with so much ecological diversity and history?
Blacksburg is our first stop. I always wanted to visit the Virginia Tech campus and the town, so it’s a great opportunity to reconnect with an old professor friend and park on his farm. He underestimates the space required for our 40’ Tiffin, which results in our coach becoming wedged between two trees. Eventually, we escaped and are still friends. He is the perfect tour guide for the campus art exhibits and gardens, things we might have skipped. The Historic District Walking Tour is a treat, a self-guided, 16-block tour that walks you past 30 historical sites.
Now, on to Charlottesville! Sometimes, you need to stop and smell the roses, or in this case, the animals. As we head toward Charlottesville, we see a Virginia Safari Park sign, a stop recommended in that Facebook post. A drive-through zoo? Why not! What an unexpected delight, feeding all these creatures from our window. It feels like there are hundreds of wandering critters, including deer, elk, and African plains animals. We laugh non-stop. Spills are frequent, so buy extra feed!
Charlottesville was always an obvious destination. It is near the southern entrance to Shenandoah National Park and boasts three presidential homes. Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights Architect, and the United States’s fourth President. The guided tour is $36 and takes about an hour.
Highland is the home of James Monroe, the fifth President, and the self-guided tour is $18. The $42 highlight tour of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello was my favorite, imagining all the historical figures that walked through these doors. He drafted the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and founded, designed, and promoted the University of Virginia. The famous Michie Tavern, established in 1784, is only half a mile away and a must-stop tasty place for lunch after Monticello. The low ceilings, creaking wooden floors, and sturdy beams create a rustic warmth, while antique muskets and period portraits line the walls, bringing history to life.
Virginia claims to be the birthplace of American wine, with over 40 wineries within a 25-mile radius of Charlottesville.
Skyline Drive offers all the adventure and biodiversity that come with the Blue Ridge Parkway but with a more laid-back and tranquil atmosphere. It is the only public road through the park, running 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park. RVs are welcome, but we want to drive Skyline in our tow vehicle to take advantage of many overlooks. If you take your Tiffin, Mary’s Rock Tunnel (mile 32.2) has a maximum clearance of 12’8.” You get a map when you enter the park, but we love our GuideAlong audio app, which keeps us informed and educates us along the way. If you plan to do the entire drive, at the 35-mph speed limit, it takes about three hours. We elect to drive the lower third from here and the northern part from our next stop in Luray, VA.
Luray Caverns was highly recommended and does not disappoint – it is spectacular! I am claustrophobic and concerned about being packed in, but our early weekday visit allows us to experience the vast expanse of each room.
New Market, VA, is a short drive from our Spacious Skies Campground in Luray, and I want to walk the battlefield. During the Civil War, 257 high school-age students from the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington left classes and marched 80 miles here to join Confederate troops in battle. Although initially held in reserve due to their age, they are eventually sent forward, where ten perished and 45 were wounded.
Many cadets lost their footwear in the freshly plowed soil, which turned to thick mud after several days of rain. That battlefield section is known as the “Field of Lost Shoes.” The battlefield museum displays many personal effects and shares the stories of these young men.
If you like short hikes with extensive views, the Stony Man Trailhead is close to the northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park.
Our next destination is the Pocahontas State Park Campground in Richmond, but we are taking a slightly longer route to stop for a few hours at the Manassas National Battlefield Park.
I can’t imagine the fear these young men experienced in 1861. I am standing in their footsteps in these quiet fields, gazing across the open ground at a line of cannons pointing toward me from their actual positions. Virginia had more battles fought here than in any other state. Richmond was the Capital of the Confederacy, and its capture a jewel presented to Abraham Lincoln by General U.S. Grant. Lincoln traveled the 100 miles to tour the battlefield with buildings still smoldering. The Confederate White House was the home and central command of President Jefferson Davis, and Lincoln wrote of going through the home of his adversary, getting comfortable in his office, and peering out that window for hours. I now stand here peering out that same window, occupying that same space.
The American Civil War Museum is located on the old Tredegar Iron Works, which produced cannons for the South throughout the war. Treasures on display include Robert E. Lee’s saddle and boots!
Our next stop is exploring a different place in time, Virginia’s Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown. Colonial Williamsburg is the restored 18th-century capital of Virginia. Yorktown is the site of the famous 1781 Battle of Yorktown, which led to the American victory in the Revolutionary War. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in America, founded in 1607. You can easily spend a day exploring each of these historic towns. Bikes are welcome in all three and are a great way to get around.
After setting up our Tiffin at Williamsburg Campground, we find the entrance to the 23-mile-long Colonial Parkway, a scenic, historic road that connects these three. It provides a beautiful, uninterrupted old country road route between these significant sites of early American history, with no billboards, sharp curves, or sharp inclines.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is a 17.6-mile white-knuckle driving experience required to get to Chincoteague, a small, picturesque island off the eastern coast of Virginia. It is famous for the annual swimming wild pony roundup depicted years ago in the movie “Misty of Chincoteague.”
Our Sun Outdoors Chincoteague Bay waterfront site is breathtaking! In Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, wild ponies are inside large, fenced areas away from people. A short drive away in the neighboring Assateague Island National Seashore, they are free-roaming and show up in the most unexpected places. Take advantage of the beaches while you are there, and also take your bikes!
Norfolk is home to the world’s most extensive naval base and home of the Atlantic Fleet. My grandfather sailed to war from here in 1944, so I am thrilled to see where his Navy service began. The Victory Rover Naval Base cruise takes us through the harbor, where we see destroyers, submarines, guided missile cruisers, aircraft carriers, and more.
The Battleship Wisconsin tour and museum next door round out a perfect day. Unfortunately, the weather cut our visit short, and we missed a planned day at Virginia Beach. Maybe next trip. If you are a veteran, the Norfolk area has many inexpensive military campgrounds available.
Our last stop on our Virginia adventure is where the Civil War ended – the Appomattox Courthouse. Standing where General Robert E. Lee officially surrendered his army to General Grant is a great way to wrap up my history tour with an exclamation mark at the end.
Every epic trip doesn’t have to be out west or along a coast. You also can’t see everything in a limited amount of time. Explore new areas, even if they are not halfway across the country. Ask others for advice. You may be surprised that the epic trip you desire is sometimes not far from home.
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About the Author:
Steve first lives it, then colorfully writes about it, especially his passion for the RV lifestyle. A retired entrepreneur, he and his wife spend half the year traveling the country in their Tiffin Allegro RED 38 KA and the other half at home in Brentwood, TN with family. Married for almost 50 years, once you meet them he and Nancy are easily remembered – he is 6’4″ and she is 4’7″. His articles on business, personal development, faith, fundraising and running have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines over the years.
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