Day Trips

Hi everyone, Staying in Williamsburg for a week. Planning on a couple days just to go exploring the area(we%26#39;re from Ca). One day we%26#39;re going to Va Beach for sure. Any other day trips we shouldnt miss? Already been to DC thx in advance

Day Trips

Depends a lot on your interests, but here are some ideas:

Charlottesville - Monticello, wineries, downtown pedestrian shopping, University of Virgina founded by Thomas Jefferson. About two hours each way, maybe a bit more.

Richmond - White House of the Confederacy, Confederacy Museum, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Edgar Allen Poe Museum.

Smithfield, Surrey, Isle of Wight - take the Jamestown-Scotland free ferry and explore Smithfield, Bacon%26#39;s Castle, Chippokes Plantation State Park. Unique and Antique shops in Smithfield and the area.

Plantations along Route 5 along the James River in Charles City County. Berkeley and Shirley are two of the most popular, but there are others of interest as well.

Newport News/Hampton - Mariners Museum, Virginia Air and Space Center, Virginia Living Museum (zoo), Lee Hall and Endview Plantations.

Day Trips

in Richmond: bohemian/student neighborhoods ';Carytown'; and ';The Fan'; - quirky shops, cafe%26#39;s. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.

in Norfolk: tour of world%26#39;s largest Naval Base; Norfolk Azalea Gardens; General MacArthur museum; festive waterfront complex; Chrysler Art Museum.

near Petersburg: Museum of the Civil War Soldier - shows everyday life of soldiers then - it%26#39;s quite large.

We%26#39;re just finishing up our week in Williamsburg -- and despite the rain had a great time.

Would echo the suggestions regarding Monticello and Surry County. If you go over to Surry, the free 20-minute ferry ride is a relaxing adventure all by itself. Once you get over there, follow your nose straight ahead for about four miles to the first traffic light you%26#39;ll come to. Go straight thru it and look on the right for a place called the Surrey House Restaurant. Great, simple, non-pretentious little place, but super clean and friendly with good food at great prices. We timed it wrong tonight, ended up in the Friday night commuter rush, and still waited in the ferry line for an hour just to go to supper there (country fried chicken and pork chops are awesome). And don%26#39;t let our wait time scare you off -- it was because we hit the after-work Friday afternoon rush. We also went over mid-day during the week and drove right on with no wait...

We didn%26#39;t get there this trip but have visited Monticello in the past --- great day trip!!