Want to get off the highway

My husband and I are driving with our 4 girls to Virginia Beach from Knoxville, TN. I have spent countless hours on the internet and would like some thoughts. We are thinking of either stopping in Christiansburg or in Martinsburg since mapquest says we could go either way and it%26#39;s not much different.

I would like to get off the main highways though and have my girls experience some scenery and stop in a few small towns along the way. I have tried to map a route that maybe we could take drive along the blue ridge parkway o Christiansburg but it doesn%26#39;t appear that simple. I am on a tight budget and didn%26#39;t see much in Martinsburg that was right along the way that had any good reviews.

Any recommendations?

Want to get off the highway

Here are a couple of options, of course, more scenery means more travel time but I would go for the scenic route too....I81 can wear you out with heavy truck traffic.

Take I40E to Asheville NC and pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway, enjoy time on BRP, stop and take a short hike, check out www.nps.gov/blri, for more information and list of hikes by milepost.

Take 58E all way to I64, then I264 to Va Beach. This route runs through Martinsville, Danville, South Boston.

OR my preferred route is to take 460E to I64, then I264 to Va Beach. I like 460 better, it%26#39;s mostly a 4 lane divided highway, is somewhat scenic and passes through nice towns, like Bedford, Lynchburg, Windsor.

Take a look at your map and see if one of these options suits you.

Happy trails

Want to get off the highway

Visit the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville, the Museum of Fine Arts and History in Danville, or the Museum of Natural History in Raleigh NC.

Thanks. We will look at our map and your suggested routes. Anything in particular along that route that you suggest we stop/see/do/eat at besides the short hike?

My husband and one daughter are history buffs so I appreciate that there is are museums along our route. Thanks.

If you take the Route 460 option, there is a magnificent memorial in Bedford. It%26#39;s the National D-Day Memorial and it is on par with many monuments in DC (my opinion). I wrote a review in the TA Bedford section if you are interested. Per capita, Bedford lost more soldiers on D-Day than any other US location. ';The Bedford Boys'; story is told as well as the military contributions of others in this beautiful memorial. If this is your cup of tea, don%26#39;t miss it. A Bedford bonus is a nice view of the Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Happy trails

red down comforter