How nice is the water in May??
Here is a site for NOAA
http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/satl.html
Depends on your tolerance of water temp. My opinion is that the temp is not yet warm enough to enjoy without a wet suit. Wading or splashing at the edge of the surf may be ';OK';.
The water is best in July
I%26#39;d like to plan a family weekend end of June and am wondering where the nicest accomodations are. It will be my husband, me and our 9 year old son. I%26#39;m looking for REALLY clean, well maintained, upscale, either bed and breakfast or hotel, preferably with a nice pool for our son. Anybody have any good suggestions?
We also want to be sure to see the wild ponies, where do we need to go to be sure to see them?
I would try and stay at the Best Western Chincoteague Island or the Hampton Inn. They have large rooms and nice pool. The hampton is an indoor pool and the best western has an outdoor pool Assateague Island Explorer is a really good boat tour to go on to see wild ponies.
I would stay at the Best Western,probably one of the best in town by far!
I have stayed at Comfort Suites in Chincoteague and it is one of the more upscale hotels in Chincoteague. Very nice and very clean! I also heard good things about the new Quality Inn there. I heard it was very nice! It has a nice pool area. I think I will stay there next time we go. You are always bound to see ponies on Assateague, just keep your eyes open!
If you%26#39;re really interested in seeing the ponies, you should think about going down for Pony Penning, which is the last Wednesday in July. Definitely something to see.
The Best Western is a really great hotel. My parents live in Chincoteague and they always recommend this hotel.
What is the weather like in early summer?
http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/satl.html
The above site will give averages for water and air temp.
Generally, the temps in June and July will range 70%26#39;s to 80%26#39;s, possibly higher depending on the trend. Very nice.
We%26#39;ve travelled there two years in a row during the month of July and both years it was very warm during the day - 80%26#39;s+, but it cooled down in the evening. The sun can be quite intense of course, since you are on the water much of the time, so even when the temperature is n the 70%26#39;s, it can feel quite warm.
On the beach of Assateague, the ocean breezes keep you cool.
It%26#39;s a great place for vacation!
Depending on what you are used to, the humidity can be really awful here in Virginia. Regular temp. in June and July can be 80%26#39;s and 90%26#39;s but add in humidity factor and it can easily feel like over 100! Just bring shorts, t-shirts and bathing suits!
Hi ..we are a family of 6 .. Mum and dad, 2 x 20 yr olds , a 17 yr old and a 10 yr. All visiting late March. Plan to leave washington DC and drive to Skyland lodge for an overnight stay before moving on to Roanoke for 3 nights..Can anyone advise what we should do and not Miss..All are active and willing to walk, hike , ride etc ..within reason
Tks
Info for things to do..Shenandoah NP is a beautiful place, you%26#39;ll enjoy your time there. For detailed park information, visit www.nps.gov/shen (the National Park Service web site). Maps, trails, etc are shown there. Skyline Drive is the road that runs the legnth of the park. There are numerous scenic overlooks. A few of my favorite hikes are: Stony Man Trail milepost (mp)41.7, easy, 1.6 mi, gradual incline, nice views; Rose River Loop Trail mp 50, 4 mi from Fishers Gap, moderate, stream, waterfall; Hawksbill mp 45.6, moderate, 2+ mi, beautiful views, highest peak in park 4050%26#39;. Visitors center will provide trail maps,information and suggest hikes to suit your interests. The Skyland Lodge is a nice place to stay the night. If time allows, consider going into Luray, around mp 30, to tour Luray Caverns. Enjoy your trip.
Info for things to do..Yes our favorite walks include Stony Man and Hawksbill; also the closest waterfall to Skyline Drive is Dark Hollow Falls just a few hundred yards from the Byrd Visitor Center at Big Meadow (around mp51). It is not a long walk but somewhat steep coming back up. Also another waterfall hike is Lewis Falls which you can access in the Big Meadows camping/picnic area. Do you already have your reservations for Skyland Resort? Last year (2007) they opened up the last week in March. Another lodge to consider (they opened up last April 5th and my daughter and two granddaughters stayed there the first two nights) is Big Meadows Lodge-they have renovated their motel style rooms (we stayed in the Mountain View cabin which had three separate bedrooms=1 with a double and a bathroom, one with a double and one with two twin beds and a bathroom; they also had two fireplaces which we used one most of the time we were there) but they will probably not be open until April.
It should still be cold there in late March. The Stony Man Nature Trail (to the top of Stony Man) is very close to Skyland Lodge. Also there is horseback riding at the stables by Skyland but do not know if they will be open in late March.
We have been to the Outer Banks in NC. It is way to crowded for me. That is why Chincoteague sounds so much of what we are looking for. My husband loves to fish and cook his catch and I am past working on a tan.
We are going to celebrate our 31st anniversery. Some may say our 62 because we have had our own business and worked it together.
Really looking forward to this small island and hoping it will be our new treasure.
I am just unsure of a place to stay (rental with a kitchen and waterfront). One other thing, is it better to stay with a unit that has a pool? I know we are all going through a HEAT WAVE.
Any input to these questions I would greatly appreciate.
Good Morning mather, we have stayed at the Light House Estates in the past and they have a pool, this past week ,one day on the beach was so windy we had to leave. Even though we like where we stayed this time we were like ';darn, if we could go to the pool if we were at the lighthouse estates';
I prefer the beach over a pool but it woud have come in handy this trip.
I hope you find what you%26#39;re looking for so you and your husband can go, relax and enjoy!
Chincoteague is a beautiful Island-we enjoyed a weekend there last fall.
if you are looking for that sort of feel, try Ocracoke NC. It is way past all the tourists towns on the outer banks and has a charm all its own. The village is smaller and easily accessible by bike or foot.
There are houses to rent with or without pools, as well as several hotels that offer pools as well.
Fishing is great off the beach or from a charter boat.
Relaxation is the rule there.
The best place to stay would be the Best Western,very nice and the rooms are cheap but call ahead they fill up fast!
Does anybody know anything about the Seahawlk motel or the Lighthouse Inn,I am palanning a trip this summer and would love to find a nice but cheap hotel.
We%26#39;re planning on a family holiday to the US this summer to visit my sister in Indianapolis. We%26#39;re then driving to Washington DC to visit friends there. We%26#39;d like a week%26#39;s holiday somewhere approximately in between the two places and wondered about Virginia. We have a daughter (11) and two sons (9 and 7). They love water parks, theme parks, animals, and are happy enough to do 2-3 hour walks in the woods/mountains. Being Brits we don%26#39;t cope with really hot, humid weather particularly well. Any suggestions as to where to go in Virginia? Are we mad to plan to go there in August at all? Any ideas of places to stay with pools? How does the beach compare with inland? Any ideas really gratefully received.
Smith Mountain Lake is a popular family vacation area. Do a search in the forum to find some info. If you%26#39;re going for a week, you could probably rent a condo or house nearby for a good rate. Otherwise, I%26#39;d look into the Lexington area. I%26#39;ve never been there myself, but there seems to be a ton of stuff to do within about a 30 mile radius, especially for kids. There are lots of river, lakes and mountains in the area to keep you cool. I think you%26#39;ll be okay for a week in August. Wait til you hit DC... at least here you%26#39;ll have the air-conditioned museums :)
As the previous poster said, Smith Mountain Lake is wonderful. But if you want the theme parks, you need to go toward Richmond/Ashland for Kings Dominion or Williamsburg for Busch Gardens and Water Country. While this puts you too far from mountain hikes, the kids might enjoy walking around Jamestown and seeing the replica ships and fort. However, this puts you only a couple hours from DC, so it%26#39;s not exactly a midway point. Which way are you driving?
By the way, you might look at my Go List for SML:
tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i1385-Beat_the_鈥?/a>
We have nice beaches and coastal areas in Virginia but in August it%26#39;s very hot and humid. If you don%26#39;t enjoy hot, hot, hot, then our mountains might be a good choice. In addition to Smith Mountain Lake, you might consider driving 1 1/2 hr from DC to Ashland to Kings Dominion Theme Park (not a favorite of mine but if the kids like such places this might fill the bill); then drive less than 2 hrs to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park (near Staunton Va), more info www.nps.gov. Skyline Drive is beautiful, lots of scenic pull overs, wonderful hikes, 2 nice lodges in SNP. As you travel north on Skyline at milepost 32 or so is Luray Caverns (Luray Va), very interesting formations, nice tour. Whatever you plans, hope you enjoy your time in the US.
I agree with goneagain2 that Shenandoah National Park (around 2 hours outside of D.C. proper-are you staying in D.C. or a suburb in Virginia or Maryland?)would be a cool place to visit and perhaps stay at Big Meadows Lodge or Skyland Resort in the Park. If your children like animals, there are plenty of deer (especially around the meadow called Big Meadow) and you have a chance of seeing a black bear (twice last year we saw black bear, once in July and again in August). There are a number of pleasant hikes (1 to 3 hours in length) such as to the top of Hawksbill Mountain or Stony Man Mountain (both at around 4,000 feet) or to waterfalls such as Dark Hollow, Lewis or White Oak Canyon. The temperatures are usually at least 10 degrees cooler than the valley and when we camp in the summer, we always have a campfire at night (sometimes we sit close to it and sometimes not so close). Plus Luray Caverns (in Luray, Virginia) is not that far off Skyline Drive and might be worth a look-see. Enjoy your visit!
Another place to consider is Wintergreen Resort. Up in the mountains where it is cooler. A lot of family-oriented activities, easy access to Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. Short drive into Charlottesville to go visit historical sites like Monticello or University of Virgina or do shopping/dining.
There are swimming pools, hiking, golf, horseback riding, etc. at Wintergreen.
You have gotten excellent advice from everyone above on things to do in the summer in Virginia. The problem is, Virginia isn%26#39;t really between Indianapolis and D.C. by the driving route that makes the most sense. That route would take you east from Indiana, through Ohio, and into Western Pennsylvania, down into Maryland, and on into D.C. You wouldn%26#39;t actually pass through VA at all. You%26#39;ll be CLOSE to Virginia, and if you want to go exploring you could take less traveled roads from Indy, through Kentucky and West Virginia, and into Virginia. You may want to post in the forms for Ohio and Pennsylvania and maybe see if they have ideas for you too. I think there are some places around Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania that may be good for you, but I don%26#39;t know what they are.
Again, Virginia is wonderful and you should come here over those other places regardless of what your original thoughts were, but know it won%26#39;t be a mid-point stop in any sense.
You might enjoy the town of Chincoteague and Assateague Island on Virginia%26#39;s Eastern Shore. Its located very near the Maryland - Virginia border.
Assateague has wild ponies and lots of birds. There%26#39;s several walking trails and the beaches are big. They don%26#39;t really have enough parking to let the beaches get too crowded.
They also have mosquitos at times during the summer. Chincoteague doesn%26#39;t have a huge problem. Assateague can be bad if the conditions are right.
We put a bunch of pictures and hopefully useful information on our website. If you%26#39;re interested its:
www.alandsuejohnson.com/assateague_island.htm
Depending on traffic, its about 3.5 hours from DC to Assateague Island.
For theme parks/water parks check out Kings Island just north of Cincinnati Ohio. Or Ceder Point at Sandusky Ohio. Two of the Best along the way with Kings Island ( home of The Beast AND Son of BEAST) being the closest. With a WEEK%26#39;S Holiday somewhere in bewteen , then maybe BOTH. Cedar Point has the MOST coaster of ANY park in the US. I have been to both and they are excellant!!! Do a goggle search and check them out. This place sits on a piece of land that sticks into Lake Eire. You might decide to swim in the Lake at one of the camp ground/beachs. Or maybe a hotel there has beach access.
MOST ALL motel will have a pool, if ONE dosen%26#39;t have their open then try next door to the next motel.
I have 4 children around the same ages. We visit Va beach every year and really love it. It is hot that time of year. If you stay at a beachfront hotel, there is always a nice breeze. From there it is an easy drive to Williamsburg. We really enjoy Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. They can easily fill 2-3 days. Just to let you know the area is about 2-3 hours drive south of Washington DC. Not exactly on the way from Indianapolis, but if you have a week it%26#39;s worth the drive. Enjoy!
A driver to the Maryland shore for some crab is an excellent way to spend some of your time in the DC Metro area. Look up the area around St Michaels, MD.
(http://www.google.com/search?client=safari%26amp;rls=en%26amp;q=st+michaels+maryland%26amp;ie=UTF-8%26amp;oe=UTF-8)
It%26#39;s the kind of crab place where they serve them by the bucket and you sit at a table covered with newspaper and eat them--very messy-very, very tasty. Makes my hungry just thinking about it!
Also, others have mentioned Kings Dominion. They have a water park in the park. It%26#39;s a great for the kids.
(www3.cedarfair.com/kingsdominion/index.cfm)
If you go, wear clothes that dry quickly and water shoes if you are worried about your sneakers. That way you can go on rides, see a show (they have variety and other type shows within the park), get drenched on the flume, and go down slides or float around the ';river'; in the water park.
It can get crowded, but I am afraid that anything in the DC area in August is likely to be a bit crowded. So, it might be best for you to combine some of these activities (including museums in DC) with a cool stay in the mountains as others here have suggested.
But if you have time--go try some of that crab!
Hi all,
I commute between Boston to Richmond almost every week and drive to %26amp; fro Glen allen and Richmond Airport frequently. I am looking for sharing the ride with people who might be traveling to Airport at times. My schedule is not fixed but it is mostly Thursdays and Tuesdays , sometimes Mondays and Fridays or other days as well. Please let me know if anyone is interested in something similar.
hi
I am Dr Priyanka. I am looking for someone to drop me to Richmond airport from westend in richmond (gaskins road)in 01/22/2008.
Plz call me if that is OK for you at 8044474958
My husband and I are trying to figure out where to go for our Easter Break - we have four days and we%26#39;d like to go somewhere interesting, but we%26#39;re having a tough time figuring out where to go. We%26#39;re both teachers, so we thought Williamsburg would be fun, but we%26#39;ve seen posts that maybe there wouldn%26#39;t be enough to do. We like places like Lancaster, PA, and we aren%26#39;t interested in roller coasters or anything like that. Any suggestions? Anywhere in VA would be easy enough for us to go to...
I%26#39;m not sure what you%26#39;ve read that would lead you to think there wouldn%26#39;t be enough to do in Williamsburg. In addition to Colonial Williamsburg, there%26#39;s both Jamestown sites, both Yorktown sites, the Yorktown Riverwalk development (shopping, dining), Presidents Park. An hour or less away takes you to the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, Nauticus in Norfolk, Chrysler Museum of Art; back in Williasmburg, there%26#39;s the Muscarelle Museum of art on the campus of the College of William and Mary, and many other things in the Williamsburg area.
Another idea would be the Richmond/Charlottesville areas. Charlottesville of course has Monticello; nearby is Ash Lawn/Highland, and Montpelier. Lots of wineries, too. Richmond has Maymont, Poe museum, Museum of Fine Art, plus lots of civil war sites in the vicinity. A visit to the Museum of the Civil War Soldier near Petersburg provides interesting exhibits and walks.
Come on down; you%26#39;ll find lots to do and enjoy!
As Zoey said, there%26#39;s lots to do in Virginia. We%26#39;re fortunate because it%26#39;s less than 4 hrs from the ocean to the mountains. Williamsburg is quite nice and you could spend a day and evening there (be sure to take in one of the Taverns, Zoey can tell you more or read some of the posts). Then drive a hour or so in either direction and enjoy something entirely different; Va Beach oceanfront %26amp; downtown Norfolk or Richmond then about an hour to Charlottesville and you%26#39;ll be right at Shenandoah National Park. Skyline Drive has beautiful scenery and many places to pull over for wonderful views. Driving north on Skyline, check out Luray Caverns, great caverns tour. More info and ideas at www.virginia.org Happy Trails
Is the Pony Swim the last full week of July or the last Wed.of July and what time do they swim?
When is the 2008 Pony SwimThe Pony Swim takes place on the last Wednesday in July, every year. This year it takes place on July 30th. They swim the ponies at slack tide, which can be from 7:00am to 1:00pm, depending on the tide.
When is the 2008 Pony SwimWhat is slack tide!!!
Slack tide is the very short period (from 1 to 3 hours ';generally';) when the ocean is close to a balance in tidal movement. It occurs between high and low tide.
so the swim takes place that long???
The swim takes maybe 15 minutes. Waiting for it takes longer.
We%26#39;ve been twice. Here%26#39;s a link to trip reports and pictures from both trips. We were in kayaks both times.
www.alandsuejohnson.com/pony_penning.htm
Pretty much you should get there really early if you want to watch them swim, but be prepared to wait until the tide is right. The swim really takes about 15 minutes. Once they get on land they rest the ponies for about 30 mins or so and then they start their way to the carnival grounds.
My sister and i will be visiting DC this summer for a couple days. We are flying there so won%26#39;t have transportation. We have a room reserved at Virginian Suites. But then I have have read some good and some not good reports. As I%26#39;m not from around DC can anyone give me some advice on the hotel. Is it a good and safe place to stay with place within walking distance to eat. Or can someone suggest another place to stay. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Hi Linda!
My fiance and I stayed there before and weren%26#39;t crazy about it (we were having work done on our house and had to stay out for a night).
However, we are getting married soon and I%26#39;ve been doing a ton of research to try to find an affordable rate for some of our out of town guests who can%26#39;t afford some of the bigger hotels in the area- I still want them to stay somewhere nice where they have easy access to the city.
So, during my research 2 places came up that I would recommend:
First, mid-priced:
Homewood Suites, DC- look it up on tripadvisor for the great reviews. Here is a link to their actual website, but surf the net and I think you%26#39;ll find some less expensive rates
…hilton.com/en_US/…index.do
Next, we found an awesome deal at the Courtyard by Marriott Arlington Rosslyn. It is only a few block (I think it%26#39;s 2 blocks) from the metro, which will take you all over DC! This hotel even has a shuttle available to take people to/from the metro if you don%26#39;t want to walk. It is a very, very easy trip into the city- Rosslyn is right across the bridge from DC. It%26#39;s not even a 5 minute ride to the Foggy Bottom metro station in DC (maybe 2 minutes).
Their website: marriott.com/hotels/…
Also look them up on tripadvisor- this is by far the absolute best deal I found for a nice hotel in a convenient location, so this is who we booked our second block with (we have a block at the embassy suites in DC, which is much more expensive).
Good luck!
Linda:
Hotel rates will vary greatly depending on your exact travel dates. If you post your dates and the rate you%26#39;re getting at the VS, perhaps we can come up with some alternate suggestions.
Personally, I%26#39;ve had colleagues stay at the VS and they%26#39;ve liked it. The area is safe and there are a few decent places to eat within a good walking distance. One of the main concerns is the distance from metro. The weather should probably be okay while you%26#39;re here (unless it%26#39;s blazing hot), but I think it%26#39;s about 10-15 minute walk to the metro. It%26#39;s really not alot in the scheme of things, but some people prefer to be much closer just for the convenience or b/c of limited mobility.
If you%26#39;re looking specifically for a suite hotel in Arlington, I%26#39;d suggest you compare the VS to the Arlington Residence Court Hotel. It%26#39;s a bit closer to metro and it%26#39;s also all suites. If you don%26#39;t necessarily need a suite and/or to be in Arlington, let us know because there are tons of hotels that are safe, convenient and can be moderately-priced depending on your dates.
If you%26#39;re okay with staying in DC, maybe check out the Tabard Inn, which is right off of Dupont Circle (close to metro, tons of great restaurants). A friend of mine was just in DC for a visit, and she stayed there for about $100/night, which I think is very reasonable for an in-DC hotel. It is a little quirky in that it is an old fashioned inn, not a modern hotel, and some rooms have shared baths, but might be worth checking out.
http://www.tabardinn.com/
Does anyone have any ideas? We%26#39;re thinking maybe downtown.....but since we%26#39;re out of the area we don%26#39;t know which places might have private dining rooms that could host that many. We also thought maybe a bed and breakfast that could have it catered. any ideas out there?
A fantastic setting is West Manor in Forest. It has a ballroom just like the Crystal Ballroom at the Homestead.
In town you could look at the grand historic Federal Crest Bed and Breakfast.
You might also look at the newly created Craddock Terry Hotel right by the river.
Ivy Creek Farm B%26amp;B has a beautiful setting but I understand they%26#39;re not allowed to have large groups. Don%26#39;t know if they do small groups.
Further into Forest is the Inn at Trivium.
I went to an event a while ago at a place that offers one of the top views around....Blue Ridge Mts. and sunset. Colonial Hills Golf Course Club House. But you need to have someone check on their facilities and see if they can do what you want. It%26#39;s a fantastic view for those into views and nature.
I should say, this will be in the winter.............and a lot of people will be driving rented vehicles from out of state. So I hate to get into a snake dance of vehicles getting lost!
I%26#39;ve been looking at Craddock Terry but they don%26#39;t have a menu online and they%26#39;re so new, it%26#39;s scary.........wonder how the food really is? What is main street eatery like? bull branch? Am I wrong to assume Meriweather%26#39;s is kind of like a chain restaurant (it is in a mall?)
Your idea of West Manor is great - I will pursue talking to them. Another B and B in Lynchburg has catering from outside, so that%26#39;s not as fun.........
If it were only in our hometown we have many friends in the restaurant business and it would be so easy.....................
Yes, there are restrictions on catering. One needs a commercial kitchen to cater themselves...totally commercial and very expensive and unnecessary for the b%26amp;bs in Lynchburg that are only allowed to have a CUP for 5 guestrooms. They must have an upgraded kitchen, several sinks, hot dishwasher, etc. but not quite as massive as the commercial places. I should say they still need all the permits...business license, occupancy permit, surprise visits from the state health inspector at least once a year, as well as the annual surprise and sometimes incognito visits by AAA inspectors, Mobil inspectors, professional inn group inspectors, the fire dept to inspect extinquishers, hey, even a boiler inspector one place we know. [I know, you%26#39;re saying, ';Ah, the romance of running a b%26amp;b:)]
Anyhow, the places mentioned aren%26#39;t hard to find. Trivium is in the area of West Manor.
Meriwether%26#39;s is definitely not a chain. It is a very popular restaurant and has been for some time. I didn%26#39;t mention it although I actually thought a while about it....but it doesn%26#39;t have an actual private room. It is very open with halls and lovely grand columns sort of defining space, but not many walls. There is a long section down one side where no one would pass through your party on their way elsewhere....but when we were there we could hear the thumps from the kitchen along that wall. But there are certainly lots of groups that get several tables or a long table in a section of one of the rooms and have a terrific time. Meriwethers is in what has long been one of the most expensive areas in Lynchburg in an upscale shopping center. Yes, for some reason some of the best restaurants in Lynchburg have been located in shopping centers, even before the big box stores and their buddies like Ruby Tuesday%26#39;s, Olive Garden, et al.
Winter in Lynchburg. I wonder if you%26#39;re going to say Feb. That is Lynchburg%26#39;s worst month weatherwise if there is bad weather. But not every Feb. has bad weather. Lynchburg%26#39;s bad weather form of precipitation is actually ice more than snow. The hills (it%26#39;s nicknamed Hill City) and some of the brick and Belgian block historic streets get very slick. And, again, some winters are on the warmer side.
I know the Ripleys at Federal Crest B%26amp;B offer a wedding package...at least they used to. They offer rooms, beautiful ones with fireplaces in some, and some form of rehearsal, photos and wedding and reception for a set fee. They rent only all their guest rooms with the wedding function so that there are no guests staying overnight that are unrelated to your wedding, which makes it more comfortable for everyone. They have caterers that are familiar with their facility so that all flows well. You just choose with the caterer what you%26#39;d like to eat.
Their entry hall is large with grand rooms off on either side and an interesting center hall massive stairs that go up to a landing bigger than our rooms today. Then two sets of stairs continue up to the second floor. On that landing they have a beautiful tree about 18%26#39; high to the ceiling. The dining room is large with beamed ceiling and sort of a Tudory look...to me at least.
There is another b%26amp;b diagonally across the street from them that might be able to offer additional rooms so several people could be together.
THere are lots of weddings at the b%26amp;bs in Lynchburg and they all get outside caterers. It%26#39;s very common there...even caterers at the grand homes of the parents or parents%26#39; friends who offer their space. Catering is a big thing. Wedding events there, if done in the typical style, go for at least four days. Men%26#39;s activities and bridesmaids%26#39; activities before; parties at a home; the wedding and then the brunch the last day.
West Manor and Trivium are pretty much wedding driven. West Manor even has a little historic house especially for the bridesmaids where they have easy access to the beauty salon there and the hairdresser who comes in the day of. West Manor takes care of the food, furnishings, all of it. The Lesters seem to be meticulous planners.
You might look at Acorn...Acorn Hill Lodge I think it%26#39;s called. It%26#39;s a spa as well as offering rooms. I know people who work there but I%26#39;ve never been there but it sounds nice. It looks very nice from the outside.
You might also explore Neighbor%26#39;s Place at the edge of Lynchburg near Forest. It is one of the most popular newer restaurants in Lynchburg...but has definitely proven itself. They have one area on the left as you walk in that is separate from the rest of the restaurant for parties. I%26#39;ve been to a few holiday parties there and I believe they even have a door to totally close it off.
Wow, you%26#39;ve been really helpful. Thanks so much. The wedding is the end of January, so we are anticipating there might be ';weather'; but of course, hope not.
I%26#39;ll call venues today - of course with it being January a big part of the beauty of these inns (lawns and views and flowers) won%26#39;t be seen as it will be dark when we arrive and leave (hence the snakedance comment). Hadn%26#39;t considered the Forest area, but see that is really quite close. A good idea to book all the rooms of the inn and just stay there.......
I%26#39;ve got work to do - will be back with more questions and A BIG THANK YOU!!
One can also stay at West Manor as well as have your rehearsal dinner there. I think the same is true for Trivium but not sure. It would be handy but then if you%26#39;re stayiing out a bit you%26#39;d have to do the reverse and run a caravan back into town if the ceremony and reception are already planned there.
Let me know what you discovered while making your calls so we%26#39;ll all know for future reference. I have lots of friends traveling to the greater Central Va area and more info is always helpful.
Gosh Explorer3 has pretty much said it all, but I%26#39;ll add my 2 cents just in case...
I would steer clear of anything downtown for the main reason of parking unless you want to try something like the Holiday Inn Express which has their own parking garage. Parking for 40 to 50 people could be an absolute nightmare. It%26#39;s been many years since I have been to a party at any of the B %26amp; B, but I can say that places like Bull Branch %26amp; Main Street Eatery would also be a nightmare for parking and both would be too small for your group.
My brother %26amp; sister-in-law were married a little over a year ago and they had their rehearsal dinner at Charley%26#39;s (www.charleyslynchburg.com). Our wedding party was maybe half your size so we had plenty of space so you might want to double check with them about 40 to 50 people. Then they had their wedding at the West Manor. They were going to have an outdoor wedding but the weather was not cooperative so we had the wedding and reception inside. I can speak from experience that they are very professional and accommodating. We had the Babcock House (www.babcockhouse.com) cater the event, and the food was wonderful. Let me also pass along a wonderful cake preparer in the area: www.coffeycakes.com. Believe me you wouldn%26#39;t be disappointed with their cakes!!
As for other restaurants in the area that have private rooms and/or can hold private parties you have Neighbors Place (www.theneighborsplace.com but double check capacity limits as well as parking arrangements), Monte Carlos (Italian restaurant -sorry no website- and not really my suggestion even though they have a private room that can seat up to 100), Grace Restaurant (www.savorgrace.com - have not eaten there but have heard wonderful things), and Springhouse Restaurant %26amp; Reception Hall (no website and it%26#39;s about 15 minutes outside of Lynchburg on Route 460). Places like Meriwether’s %26amp; Isabella%26#39;s are wonderful restaurants, but not in my opinion somewhere you could have a wedding rehearsal dinner.
Hope this has helped with a few more options if you are interested. Hope you have a nice time when you visit this area!
First, I should say...if you are the couple marrying....Congratulations!
Or maybe you%26#39;ve been given the frustrating job of planning the dinner. We%26#39;ll help all we can.
Yes, Cheshrliz is right...Charley%26#39;s is nice. I forgot about that place. We have actually had lots of family and church and organization meals there. Can%26#39;t believe I forgot about it. Haven%26#39;t been there in a while I guess. And, Team, since you%26#39;re not into chains this place is not to be confused with chains like O%26#39;Charley%26#39;s. When it was first opened in the 70s it was part of a chain named for a Pittsburgh Pirate baseball player but it%26#39;s been an independent restaurant owned and run hands-on by local Lynchburgers - MJ and Rob Pearson, a youngish couple - since the ...mid 90s I think.
Charley%26#39;s is in a good location at an exit off the Lynchburg Expressway. They can do a variety of catering options. They can do individual orders...although that%26#39;s not so great for a large crowd....takes too long to read the menu and get all the orders. They can offer, say, three options...meat, fish, chicken....and the guest chooses, letting you know in advance in the interest of speeding things up.
They have a nice large contemporary room off the side surrounded in windows. The room is open along most of one wall to the rest of the restaurant but no one goes that way unless they%26#39;re seated in that room so it would be your room as long as you can fill it and I think 50 would be a good number.
About the Federal Crest b%26amp;b downtown. The b%26amp;bs are required to make arrangements for parking in order to get a permit to have functions at their b%26amp;b...and they do have to get a permit or be shut down for events. Since b%26amp;bs are in residential neighborhoods, they need to maintain a general sense of residential-type order. They have to have valets or someone to direct people to where to park. b%26amp;bs also have a max occupancy for their events also stated on their permit. I%26#39;m not positive but I think Federal Crest%26#39;s max is 90. They have onsite and nearby parking areas.
Thanks for jarring my memory, Chesrliz. I also forgot about Grace Restaurant. I%26#39;ve been there only in the evenings. The first time I wasn%26#39;t thrilled. They were still doing dinners then. Our table knew it was pricey but we were excited about this new restaurant in a great historic setting. There was even an old slave%26#39;s quarters on the property, something that is not often preserved. Since we always went at night we didn%26#39;t actually see the gardens clearly. We could smell boxwood. Anyway, a few at our table were a bit disappointed in the food, in the unmatched silver thinking at least each place setting matching would be better and in the uncertain service. But we realized they were new and the wait staff new as well. Our waitress didn%26#39;t have any idea how the restaurant got its name nor about the history of the place, something that fascinates southerners.
Last time we were there was last Christmas season for a holiday party. They are now doing only events. The food was very nice. The event required buffet style so we enjoyed bowls of intriquing gourmet items done by the Cordon Bleu, Paris trained and acclaimed chef. The house dates from the 1700s. There were charming little fireplaces, wonderful old floorboards. Nice attentive staff. What we weren%26#39;t crazy about was that it was very cold in some of the rooms in December....perhaps poor sealing in the old house that hopefully has been remedied over time. Also, it seemed like there was a price tag on so many of the items. While we realized they were selling lovely antiques there was something unsettling about that.
Now...the historic Hotel Roanoke would do well, wouldn%26#39;t it Cheshrliz? Except that%26#39;s another city.
Team, what have you discovered in your research?
You certainly know me well Explorer!! Guess it%26#39;s all the forums where I have suggested the Hotel Roanoke! It%26#39;s no surprise that is one of my favorite places, but like she said it%26#39;s not in Lynchburg (actually about an hour west).
Hope we%26#39;ve given you some ideas to run with!
I%26#39;m so glad I asked here - here%26#39;s what I found out so far. Federal Crest turned me down flat, saying they couldn%26#39;t do a seated dinner for 40-50 and when I said maybe we could do a buffet, they still said ';no';.
I%26#39;ve called Craddock Terry twice and no one has been able to talk to me either time.
I called both Trivium and West Manor and got the nicest, most organized people to help me. Both are sending me proposals. I%26#39;m quite impressed by their organization and the prices are fine- worried that we%26#39;ll drown in their ballrooms.
Charley%26#39;s seems a bit casual - after all, a lot of people are flying in from all over the continent and I would like to give them a little something more ';jeffersonian'; in style. What I%26#39;d really like to do is have them inside the inn - not a banquet room - with fireplaces going.
I just looked up the Grace website and am duly impressed. I will contact them and also, will ask about the heat, as no one wants to be cold and that%26#39;s always a concern with historic properties.
Menus have been ';anything I want';. Is there a regional specialty? As a former culinary instructor, I always want the best of the area - not what I want but what the chef wants. What%26#39;s done best in Lynchburg?
At West Manor tell them you want to enter through the inn and enjoy the fireplace. (I wonder if some of your guests will stay overnight...you might say you want the main house itself.)
The ballroom for receptions and the smaller room that is still a small lovely ballroom to me and where they usually do breakfast are built onto the back of the house. So if you enter through the main house front door - going up the hsitoric front steps and passing the columned veranda - you can pass through rooms with fireplaces and continue to the back where there is an area with banister overlooking the grand ballroom. If I remember correctly, they have bride and groom walk down those stairs usually. So it%26#39;s a beautiful approach to a beautiful room. You walk downstairs just a few steps. That setup is also like the Crystal Ballroom at The Homestead, if you%26#39;ve seen it.
You can choose chairs even....nice white ones or gold ones...again if I remember correctly. The gold are nice for nighttime but are higher in price. The white are beautiful too and not at all cheap or used looking.
Even the bathrooms are beautifully tiled and designed by the Lesters. West Manor used to be part of a dairy farm and now offers a bucolic setting with views of the Blue Ridge Mts. in a very upscale inn.
Yes, at a time like this and in a situation with you so far away, one does appreciate at good compulsive. The Lesters are pleasantly so.
I have to say I%26#39;m surprised about Federal Crest. Hmmmm. I know even their large dining room wouldn%26#39;t handle so many but I thought they might extend into the room beside it or even make a couple of settings incorporating nearby rooms. I know they%26#39;ve had large parties as I mentioned and recently...so perhaps they have made a change in what they offer now.
Another alternative might be the historic Boonesboro Country Club. Although you do need to know a member to get in since it%26#39;s private. I know of people who are not members but who have friends who are and they have receptions there. I don%26#39;t know if that would be too complicated for you to arrange with any local people you might know and might be more than you want to hassle with.
Food.
Cheshrliz or anyone, any ideas?
Virginia is famous for ham and peanuts. Central Va., which is where Lynchburg is, is full of grand old mansions and former plantations; dairy farms, cattle farms, horse farms; quaint small towns, small cities (which Lynchburg is); lots of historic colleges and universties. So people of all economic levels, all levels of experience and education have lived in Central Va. for a long long time. And for some time Central Va. has been a popular spot for people to retire, for ';equity refugees'; and ';metro refugees'; coming from mega cities with enormous equity gains in hand to enjoy the slower pace while still not being in the hinterlands, the more steady appreciation that makes things so much more affordable, enjoying the views and sometimes embracing the dream of owning a mansion and/or land.
Lynchburg, during the 1800s, was the second wealthiest city in the country, the first being New Bedford, Ma. So were are lots of mansions built and many remaining. And some of the great wealth did trickle down to subsequent generations.
All this to say, it seems there are as many little gatherings in
Central Va. with the mainstay ham biscuits as there are with gourmet fare...and a mix of both styles.
The chefs at West Manor and Grace are excellent so ask their ideas of at least some local touches that would be exciting to a national audience.
I have a conference to attend in the Crown Plaza. The Omni looks nicer to me. Am I correct in that assumption? Is the Omni close enough to walk to the Crown Plaza? Which offers more interesting restaurants, etc. within walking distance.
Thanks for any and all help!
The Omni is a nicer hotel. It%26#39;s between a 5 and 10 minute walk from one to the other. You%26#39;ll have more choices for restaurants near the Omni. A part of downtown known as Shockoe Slip begins just across the street from the Omni and goes on for about six or seven blocks. If I had a choice I would pick the Omni every time.
The Omni. Better Location.
Another vote for the Omni. It is only a three block walk to the Crowne Plaza.
Thanks everyone! The Omni it is.
It%26#39;s been a couple of years since I stayed at the Crowne Plaza, but my husband %26amp; I were NOT impressed! Haven%26#39;t stayed at the Omni, but it looks like that is the better option for you. Unless things have changes( which probably they haven%26#39;t) just be aware that in that area of downtown Richmond there are plenty of homeless. I didn%26#39;t have any specific problems with it, but just thought I would pass it along if you plan to be walking instead of driving while you are there.
I have to say that the prior poster is really overstating the situation. You may see the occasional homeless person sleeping in a park during the day, but ';plenty'; of homeless? No way. The ones that are around don%26#39;t bother or approach anyone, so they%26#39;re nothing to worry about. I%26#39;m not sure what the poster is suggesting or why they mentioned it.
You won%26#39;t find any homeless people hanging around outside of restaurants or other venues. The areas around restaurants and bars, etc are well patrolled with police on foot, bicycle, and horseback, so troublemakers wouldn%26#39;t stick around there. Use the same common sense you would in any other large city, and you%26#39;ll have no problems.
I said it because I felt it was a problem when I visited the area. I walked downtown within blocks of the Crowne Plaza, and it was not pleasant for either me or my husband. Granted it is not like a larger city like San Francisco, but I just thought I would mention it.
I%26#39;m glad it%26#39;s not a problem to the previous poster (a local and not a tourist like myself) and I certainly hope that my situation was few and far between.
These are things that I like to know when I am researching a place to stay no matter how small or large a situation.
Sorry if my post upset anyone.
The Omni is much better and is next to Shockoe Slip an area full of nice restaurants and cute shops...plus the service is nicer.
I own a place in Trails End and I am planning a waterfowl hunt for 1-24-07 to 1-26-07. Is there anybody who can answer some general questions about waterfowl hunting. As it seems the Dept of fish and game are impossible to get in contact with. I specifically need to know the rules for hunting from a boat and the blind laws.
Thanks JD
This website is for hunting on Assateague: http://www.assateagueisland.com/hunting.htm
They are selling their guided waterfowl hunts, but they do list some of the bag limits, cost for permit, etc.
You may find info at this website:
virginiagameandfish.com/hunting/…
This is the ';contact us'; page that lists e-mail and phone numbers for the various office of the department:
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/contact/
Sorry I can%26#39;t help w/specific answers. I hope this information is useful for you. Maybe someone else will post with some answers.
Thanks for the info. Some of it was helpful.
Planning a visit to Mount Vernon in February. Any hints or advice would be appreciated! (Driving down from DC)
Thanks in advance!
Visit to Mount Vernon
You might want to go on President%26#39;s Day. In the past, they have offered free admission.
Visit to Mount VernonIf you haven%26#39;t visited their website, it%26#39;s www.mtvernon.com
Weekends through Feb. 10, the basement where a scene from National Treasure: Book of Secrets was filmed will be open for tours; it%26#39;s a space not usually open to the public.
I haven%26#39;t been since the new orientation center and museum opened. There is a restaurant and a food court for meals and snack.
Be aware that you have to stand in line outdoors in order to tour the mansion. Fortunately, the line should not be too long in February, but dress for the weather.
There are several free tours of other parts of the grounds (slave quarters, gardens, etc.) offered during the day, so you might want to schedule some time to do those.
While the free admission on Presidents%26#39; Day is a great deal, it will also mean there are more visitors and longer lines for entrance to the mansion. Take that into consideration when you plan your visit.
Thanks for the info... we will not be in the area for George%26#39;s birthday! so...we%26#39;ll avoid the ';party'; crowds!
Mount Vernon runs a program ';Colonial Days'; from Feb. 20 - March 14. The mornings are very crowded with school groups but they clear out at noon. Plan your visit accordingly and try to time your visit for the afternoon to avoid these elementary school kids. With the new education center and museum you can easily spend 4+ hours touring the house, grounds and these indoor spaces.
We hope to be there on Sunday, Feb. 3 in the morning, so we should avoid the school groups! (Have to be back at the hotel for the super bowl! LOL!)
hi
travling to williamsburg summer 2008
with 3 kids
wheres a good place to stay
what to be near busch gardens
not driving so easy access to the park
would like condo / suite
flying into phf airport whats the price of a taxi / bus from there to williamsburg
thanks
Kingsmill Resort and Spa or the Williamsburg Courtyard. Both are near to Busch Gardens. Kingsmill has shuttle service. If you%26#39;re contacting them, ask about transport from PHF.
which town is better or are they basically the same. We are just looking for a nice town with restaurants, basic shopping at places like a walmart, and good hotels. We do have a reservation at the Fairfield Inn in Emporia, is this ok or should we shoot for Roanoke Rapids. Under TA is seems as though Emporia has more places.
We are Marriott stockholders and points members.
We stayed in the Hilton Hampton Inn in Emporia. Walked to Shoneys (see dining). Didn%26#39;t see a Wal Mart or much else, as we were just there to sleep heading N on I 95 from Hollywood.
I hate to say this, but that Hampton Inn was much nicer than all the Fairfields we have stayed in....ever (And of course, Fairfield Brand is what we look to first.) It was even nicer than the Hilton Hotel we stayed in the next night.
Roanoke Rapids is better. Walmart and plenty of places to eat.
The Hampton Inn in Emporia was the best. I love Hiltons but this was excellent. We have dogs and they gave us the nicest room. I
I live in Emporia and while Emporia is a good stopover with a few chain restauraunts - Pueblo Viejo is the only local restauraunt that we go to on a regular basis and if you%26#39;re stopping over this is where you should eat. RR has lots of chain restauraunts and a few mom %26amp; pop restauraunts and more shopping options. They also have a small theatre (2 movies) and bowling alley.
I had to just stop by and leave a post just because. My dad is from Emporia and I didn%26#39;t think anyone knew about Emporia but people from Emporia and the surrounding areas. And people have actually stayed there. Wow! I never would%26#39;ve thought Emporia would have its own forum. I think Roanoke Rapids has more stuff, but Emporia does have a Wal-Mart and quite a few things right off the exit on 95.
I have never been to Roanoke Rapids, but we ALWAYS stop in Emporia anytime we are heading south to anywhere (which is very often) We do not stop overnight though since it is too early in the trip for us. But as far as eating - we never get through without stopping. On the way to or from anywhere it seems.
We are flying in to Norfolk, VA. We need lodging for one night. I was looking at the Best Western Inn on Northhampton Rd. or America%26#39;s Best Value on Military Highway. Any suggestions on which one is nicer or in a better area? Any suggestions of other inexpensive lodging would be appreciated.
From the information in your post, I assume you want to stay near the airport. I am not familiar with a Best Western Inn on Northampton, however the America%26#39;s Best Value on Military Hwy used to be a Best Western so maybe there is some confusion. I looked at some of the reviews for Americas Best Value and they look good (actually when it was a BW the reviews were not good, then very good under ABV), personally I don%26#39;t care for the location, a bit seedy, and I would likely avoid it for that reason, but lots of people thought it was great. There is a Sleep inn Lake Wright (which is connected to a Quality Inn lake Wright) on Northampton, good location, don%26#39;t know first hand about the rooms but motel was built w/in last few years. There is also a Hampton Inn Airport, good location and probably OK and a Ramada Airport, good location but reviews don%26#39;t look so good. These are some you might want to check out.
Thanks, Goneagain2, for the information. Seedy areas are a concern.
The Best Western Inn is actually on Northampton, Virginia Beach, VA.
The Best Western Inn Northampton Blvd is less than a mile past the Sleep Inn Lake Wright...sorry I%26#39;d was thinking more in the Norfolk direction than Va Beach (the city boundry line is in that area). The BW looks OK, if you are interested I would go by the reviews, I don%26#39;t know anything good or bad. It is located close to a very busy road (trucks) so you might want a room away from the street. Good luck.
My husband and I will be visiting Northern VA for our spring break (March 15th to March 22nd) We will be staying with my sister in Woodbridge and plan to spend a couple of days in Wash D.C.
I would also like to make a one night side trip to some other area of Virginia while we are there. We live in Northern California, and we enjoy golf, fly fishing, bird watching, wine tasting, and just soaking in outdoor scenery. ...and my husband is a history teacher, so historic sites are near the top of his list.
I have become overwhelmed looking around the web trying to decide which area of this beautiful state to choose.
I know it is a pretty broad question and everyone has different tastes, but if anyone could share a some favorite spots or ideas, I would appreciate it.
Kim
Either Charlottesville or Williamsburg would be near perfect for you. Both are about two hours by car from Woodbridge, with lots of lodging options to suit every budget. Given your priorities of things to do, then, they stack up as follows:
Golf: Williamsburg wins, with literally dozens of courses with 20 minutes or so (too many to name). Charlottesville will let you get in a great round as well, but choices are more limited. You have the University of Virginia%26#39;s course, Birdwood, which is a top-10 University course, as well as an (expensive) semi-public course at Keswick Manor, and an up-and-coming course about 25 minutes outside of town called Old Trail. The rest aren%26#39;t really notable IMHO.
Fly fishing and birding: not my area at all, so I couldn%26#39;t tell you which is better. Both have plenty of rivers and streams nereby, and seem to have many birds. The forests around Williamsburg tend to be more pine, those around Charlottesville more deciduous.
Wine tasting: Charlottesville. At least a dozen or more interesting wineries within 20 minutes of downtown. They aren%26#39;t up to California standards, but they try and might surprise you.
Outdoor scenery: In my view, edge to Charlottesville. It is at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive 35 minutes away, so you%26#39;ve got better options for scenic vistas. I personally prefer the rolling hills in that area to the flatter, water and woods-focused scenery near Williamsburg.
History: Williamsburg. You have Colonial Williamsburg, the Jamestown settlement, the Yorktown revolutionry battlefield and College of William and Mary all clustered around town. Charlottesville has Monticello and the University of Virginia (which are joint UNESCO World Heritage Sites), as well as a quaint downtown, but Williamsburg wins with the bigger mix of sites to choose from.
If you%26#39;ve never been to either, I%26#39;m sure either would be great. There are lots of posts around the forums here with things to do in both places.
Warthog,
Thank you for taking the time to post your informative response to my question. I am sorry that I am just now finding the time to get back to my research for this trip. Life has been a bit hectic!
For some reason after reading your post, I am more drawn to Charlottesville. I will take some time to research that area.
Again, thanks for your suggestions. I may have some more questions for you after I have done some more surfin%26#39; around.
Kim
Consider staying up at Wintergreen resort which is past Charlottesville up off the Blue Ridge parkway. There is great golf up there, Devil%26#39;s Knob course is at 4,000 feet-I believe the highest golf course east of the Mississippi.
There are good hikes in the area, fishing on the Tyro river, horseback riding.
You can hit touristy places in Charlottesville on your way in or out.
Couple other thoughts on the history side of things (although I agree that Charlottesville is a great option): Gettysburg is only a couple of hours drive, so that%26#39;s something you may want to look into as well. Harpers Ferry is also nice for a day trip. Also, Fairfax County has a number of local sites you may want to check out while you%26#39;re in the area, such as Sully Plantation.
If it were me - I would go along Blue Ridge, maybe stop at one of the caverns nearby, or Civil War Sites. New Market battlefield, Hall of Valor Museum is very interesting. Beautiful countryside, we stay a few times a year at Massanutten resort which is close by. Then swing by Barboursville winery (my favorite) and maybe head down to Charlottesville or one of the towns nearby overnight - then stop at Monticello.
Thanks to all for your suggestions. One question... Having grown up in western PA, I am aware that the weather in mid-March can be just about anything. Is it likely that the weather along the Blue Ridge Parkway that time of year would keep us from fully enjoying the area?
Kim
You%26#39;re right, March weather can be almost anything, but more likely than not you%26#39;ll have decent (or better) weather. Just be prepared and enjoy the beautiful Blue Ridge. There are also several web sites for more Parkway info and AAA has a good BRP map. The BRP visitors centers have a list of all the hiking trails by milepost if you are interested. Happy trails.
Williamsburg %26amp; the surrounding areas, such as Jamestown, Yorktown, %26amp; Newport News are great for both history, %26amp; outdoor activities like you mentioned above. I would suggest staying in Newport News, because it is centrally located between those areas %26amp; Virginia Beach, which is another great place for great outdoor activities such as those.
Newport News%26#39;s tourism website - www.newport-news.org
Also, Virginia%26#39;s tourism website allows you go %26#39;categorize%26#39; your searches by things like %26#39;history%26#39; %26amp; %26#39;outdoor%26#39; activities, etc, which could help narrow down your search, too.
Virginia%26#39;s tourism website - www.virginia.org
Hope that helps!
Looking for advice on lodging in CW for a family of 4 in June 08. Don%26#39;t want to spend a fortune, but also want to make the most of our experience. Any ideas would be great.
CW in June 08Im going in July and did the below package. You can learn/purchase it at gowilliamsburg.com. Hope this helps.
With your special ';7-4-1 Flex Vacation Package';, you can visit any of the six attractions: COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, BUSCH GARDENS, JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, YORKTOWN VICTORY CENTER, HISTORIC JAMESTOWNE AND YORKTOWN BATTLEFIELD This is truly a revolutionary fun package for the entire family. There is always something for everybody to do! Experience living history at its best where it breathes, walks and talks at Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne, Yorktown Victory Center, Yorktown Battlefield and bounce over to Busch Gardens which features more than 50 thrilling rides, shows, authentic foods, quaint shops, and magical children%26#39;s adventure area.
From mid May through the first week of September, choose the ';7-4-1 Flex Vacation
CW in June 08Sorry the message got cut off..it also includes Water country USA
The site tonyboombatz mentioned (gowilliamsburg.com) is a good one. If you want budget accommodations that are still very nice and within easy walking distance of Colonial Williamsburg, you could try Governor%26#39;s Inn. It%26#39;s a Colonial Williamsburg property. Watch for specials. In the past, they have had kids stay free, free passes to CW with a minimum stay, and so forth. Another CW property, the Woodlands Hotel and Suites, is right next to the Visitors Center, very convenient for transportation or a walk to CW.
I can also recommend a book, , ';Official Guide to the Historic Triangle. '; It%26#39;s available through various places, including amazon.com ( http://tinyurl.com/yofaf8 ) (I converted the longer website using tinyurl.com) and the CW Marketplace website ( http://tinyurl.com/25dzcn )
Another good site is the Williamsburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at http://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/index.aspx
Lastly, Frommer%26#39;s Virginia has a good section on the Williamsburg area. On-line, try frommers.com/destinations/colonialvirginia/ for Frommer%26#39;s Colonial Virginia.
Thanks for the ideas - I have been looking at the Governor Inn and it sounds like a good choice. Any advice on which tavern to try and whether to do lunch or dinner? My girls are 11 and 12 if that makes any difference in where to go. Thanks!
My favorite for lunch is the Kings Arms. Christiana Campbell%26#39;s would be my choice for dinner. You can look at the menus on-line (www.cwf.org), and that will help you make your decision.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate all of your advice. Any other ideas you have regarding our trip are appreciated! Any thoughts on Jamestown as far as how long it would take us to visit? We will only be in CW for 2 days.
The Colonial Williamsburg Tavern Ghost Walk is a great evening activity. The girls as well as the adults will love it. The walks start at Shields Tavern nightly, with two or four tours a night depending on the season. Reservations can be made through the CW reservations system -- 1 800 HISTORY.
This is a must activity when we have guests in town, because of the great storytelling, nightime venue and the unique look that the ghost walk guides provide of Colonial Williamsburg.
One thing about June is that it is a peak time in Williamsburg, meaning peak rates. May I add the suggestion to maybe stay just outside of Williamsburg, such as in Newport News. You will have a short drive, maybe 20 minutes, but it%26#39;s a straight shot down the interstate and you will definitely save in your hotel room rate %26amp; avoid the Williamsburg peak tourist congestion. I would personally suggest Point Plaza or Holiday Inn %26amp; Suites. They are right off the interstate. They are both nice full-service properties, with indoor pools, restaurants, standard rooms %26amp; a variety of suites, the works. And I know the Point Plaza sells Colonial Williamsburg tickets at a great discount! Newport News is also central to both Williamsburg and VA Beach, so you could easily make a fun side trip to VA Beach one day.
Staying at a motel in Newport News is a good option if the $$ savings would mean a better overall vacation. However, traffic between W%26#39;burg and Newport News is very heavy during rush hours so you would need to travel outside those times. Even though NN is only 20 min or so away, after a long, hot day of sightseeing it can seem much longer. Newport News and Hampton do have some wonderful attractions, Air %26amp; Space Museum, Mariners%26#39; Museum, Va Living Museum and more....places kids love, so if there is extra time consider a visit there as well as Norfolk and Va Beach. Enjoy your trip to the area.
I%26#39;m attending a wedding in Portsmouth the first weekend in February, with the reception in Norfolk. I%26#39;m looking for a nice hotel in Norfolk for one night. Any suggestions? I%26#39;ve done a search of hotels in the area so I know what%26#39;s there; just wanted some first-hand feedback. Thanks.
I would go with the Marriott at Waterside. It%26#39;s beautiful, in a nice location, and has good places to eat right on site if you don%26#39;t want to venture out. It%26#39;s easy enough to get to either tunnel to Portsmouth or to walk over to the ferry to Portsmouth (in case the wedding is in walking distance of the ferry).
I would also agree the Marriott at Waterside is your best bet if you are staying in downtown Norfolk. My second choice is the Sheraton at Waterside if the Marriott is booked. Either hotel offers plenty of restaurants, bars, with-in walking distance on Granby St.
Thanks for your suggestions. I was considering either the Marriott Waterside or the Courtyard not too far away. Do either of you know anything about the Courtyard? Is it within walking distance of the Marriott Waterside?
Yes, you can walk from one to the other.
Well, that wasn%26#39;t helpful. I suppose healthy people could walk great distances. But actually, we%26#39;re talking only a couple blocks, so it%26#39;s an easy stroll even for us who are in lousy shape. HA!
Hi,
Hopefully,some can advise me.I might have a good job opportunity in Sterling Virginia.I live in Norfolk right now.I lived most of my life in california.Can anyone tell me about Sterling Virginia?Is is a nice place?How;s the apartment rentals?
Lucy
If you have lived in some of the expensive areas in Ca. you won%26#39;t be surprised at the prices in Northern Va. It%26#39;s people from smaller towns and smaller cities that don%26#39;t like the prices...but love the opportunities. There%26#39;s a handy site that might help a little...advancedaccess.relodigest.com As with most high-end cities Sterling...and nearby Reston...for example are mostly white collar, mostly 35-39 age group and mostly 75-100K income and not a lot of crime. I couldn%26#39;t find much for you looking up just Sterling, Va....but you might want to google Reston and Loudoun County. Also, the realtors%26#39; sites found by googling Sterling had some community info. A lot of Sterling housing centers around Ashburn...the development named after the town I believe so you might look up Ashburn as well. There%26#39;s a lot free in the DC area. Reston has miles and miles and miles of walking paths, lakes, community game fields, Town Center, etc. Wonderful area.
If you want to live very close to work you will find that housing in Sterling is quite a bit less than Reston. Reston is a higher income area and has a lot of new housing near the Reston Town Center -- a very nice ';Main Street'; retail center. Ashburn Farm and Ashburn Village are close to Sterling and would also be less expensive than Reston. If you don%26#39;t mind a 30 minute drive during rush hour then you might do even better price-wise in Leesburg or just east of Leesburg. Non-rush drive from the east side of Leesburg to Sterling is probably 15 minutes or less. If you have any other questions just ask.
Also, there is a lot of relatively new condo/apartment developments in the Dulles Town Center, where a regional mall and lots of shopping is located right off Route 7 (Leesburg Pike). This is right next to Sterling.
Lucy:
Replied earlier, had to create login and it probably didn%26#39;t go. You can reply to oneeagleone@cox.net if you have more questions.
Anyway, go. It is an opportunity of a lifetime.
Sterling is next to Herndon and that next to Reston. West of Sterling is Leesbury. All are booming. The investors invested - turning apartments into condo%26#39;s. Things have flatten out in the last few months, but still high prices. Most likely will stay that way. But there%26#39;s more on the market. I can give you a realtor%26#39;s name if you%26#39;d like.
Its the culture of the place, lots of energy and everything happening. 30 minutes west of Sterling and you%26#39;re in horse and wine country. 30 minutes the other way and you%26#39;re in DC.
You%26#39;re about 3-1/2 hours and 200 miles away. On the way about 2 hours is Potomac Mills = huge shopping outlet mall. Almost to Sterling is Tysons Corner = Tysons 2 and Tysons with every store in the book. Bloomingdale and such.
I lived in Reston and still miss it and visit. I was there a couple of weeks ago and so this info is pretty much up to date. Lots of traffice, but according to the surveys the Hampton Roads area is worse.
Steve
I lived in Reston owneing a condo and loved it. If you are single - Reston might me a better place for you than Sterling, which is a bit more family-oriented. Reston Town Center is a local gathering place with some shops and good restaurants and bars. After I got married, we bought a house in Sterling. Sterling is an absolutely self-sufficient town - all the stores you may need are right there, no more than a 2-mile drive. After moving to our house, we didn%26#39;t have to ge anywhere outside of Sterling for any house-hold needs - from remodeling to furnishing.
I commute to work from Sterling to Reston and it takes about 20 min. Reverse commute will probably take less time if you choose to live in Reston.
I have to say there are low-income areas everywhere, Reston %26amp; Sterling are not exceptions - but they are easily identifiable and you will figure out quickly for yourself where they are.
Im from Norfolk and moved to No. VA 4 years ago and live in Prince William County.
I would go back to Norfolk in a hearbeat if I could. Traffic is horrible here! (who ever said traffic in hampton roads is worst is smoking crack) We can hardly leave our home on weeekend because you cant go anywhere! People are more rude here compaired to Hampton Roads. I cross people everyday who get mad at me because I dont speak there language. The housing market is still somewhat affordible in HR (but growing I know) but its off the charts here. If you want the bright lights big city thing it can be great but you need to be prepaired to pay for it and live with it!
I vote for Hampton Roads personally..
Good Luck
I lived in Sterling for 3 years and loved it. Even though there are a lot of families residing there, there are just as many single folks. In addition, Sterling is loaded with options for folks seeking an active social life. There are TONS of restaurants and nightlife is abundant. The bars at Sweetwater Tavern, Pacific, and O%26#39;Faolins are particularly fun. Virginia wineries are a short drive away, and there are many outdoor concert events in the summer, some that even feature big-name performers. And, of course, DC and Baltimore are a short (albeit long with traffic) drive away.
Cascades is a great community within NW Sterling, which is the most recently deveoped section that is sometimes referred to as Potomac Falls. There are several great apartment complexes within the community, as well as numerous walking trails and close proximity to the Potomac River and Algonkian Regional Park. I believe they even have an organized singles group that meets regularly.
Traffic is bad and is definitely a sore subject amongst the locals, but quite honestly, it isn%26#39;t any different than any other major city in the US. People around here just like to complain about it more.
One negative comment I must make is that people do keep to themselves a bit and you will have to make an extra effort to meet new folks. I%26#39;ve lived in 4 different towns in Northern Virginia and that seems to be the case throughout this entire area. Nonetheless, it would be a good move that you probably won%26#39;t regret.
Sterling is very homey and nice - Ashburn (in the same county) is even nicer and newer. Depends on where you will work - you%26#39;ll want to be closest to work so that your commute will be easy. BTW, the best dessert shop in the area is Edibles Incredible at the Reston Town Center. The cakes are moist and delicious like Grandma used to make, the candy is outstanding (and not too costly) and the gift baskets are gorgeous. Best of luck in your move.
Lucy you will love Sterling Park. Just make sure to get home before dark, lock all doors and keep the telephone right by the bed.
Lucy you will love Sterling Park. Just make sure to get home before dark, lock all doors and keep the telephone right by the bed.
My family ( 2 adults, 2 children-ages 14yrs %26amp; 10yrs) will be in Williamsburg July 5- July 12. We thought that we would go one of the days over to Virginia Beach to visit that area%26#39;s attractions. Maybe the Boardwalk and the beach. We will be in Williamsburg from a Sat.- Sat.
My questions are-
What is the best way to the beach from Williamsburg and what day of the week would there be less traffic?
What are attractions that would appeal to preteen/teenager?
Is it worth to hang around for any evening activities on the boardwalk or should we head back to Williamsburg early?
Thank you
No day is better than another although Friday gets the edge for being the worst choice. Any traffic warnings are tied more to the hour than the day. Avoid rush hour and you%26#39;ll be fine.
As for directions, hop on I-64 and follow the signs. The interstate drops off right at the oceanfront.
Municipal parking is at Rudee Loop, 2nd St, 4th St, 9th St., 19th St., 25th St. and 31st St., but there will be other spots as well. Parking is well-marked.
Restrooms are at 17th, 24th, and 30th Streets. There are no bathhouses for changing your clothes.
Beach Street USA is in full swing throughout the summer, so there will be free entertainment up and down the boardwalk. There should be bands playing into the night.
Welcome -- if you have other questions, please don%26#39;t hesitate to ask.
Your kids will enjoy the beach, skim boarding, bike, walk, roller blade the 2 1/2 mi long boardwalk (plenty of bike rentals). If your family likes hiking there is a wonderful state park, First Landing, only 10 minutes from the tourist part of Va Beach. It has great trails and a beach area also, check out the web site for more info, www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fir.html. Evenings along the oceanfront/boardwalk are nice and again, the whole family may enjoy the live music and boardwalk scene. You may even want to spend one night. More Virginia info on www.virginia.org
Enjoy your trip.
Take a look at these family things to do, from music and sports tp baseball and nature:
tripadvisor.com/Travel-g58277-s401/Virginia-…
oh, that should be %26#39;to%26#39; not %26#39;tp%26#39;. napping kitty on my shoulder:)
Thank you for your suggestions. The information really does help in how we will plan our day there. It%26#39;s good to get all this ';insider information';. Keep them coming if anyone thinks of anything else!
The boardwalk has plenty to see and do - you are better off just going and not really planning what to do until you get there. Unless you are going to the Virginia Marine Science Museum which is close by and very nice especially for the kids, go there first and then head to the boardwalk. There is always something going on at the boardwalk. Just walk along and stop where it is interesting - musicians and whatever else you see. The road ';behind'; the boardwalk has a lot of souveneer shops, gameroom types places, I think there was a Haunted House type of thing, candy and ice cream shops - very touristy. But definately hang around the boardwalk for the evening. In fact - I think you should do it fairly early in your week just in case you decide you want to go back.
Thanks for the suggestion about visiting earlier in the week. I was wondering about that too. My kids have never been to a beach boardwalk that they can remember anymore (went to Calf. when they were little) so I%26#39;m sure they will consider it a real treat.
Passing through the Hampton Roads of Va. this July 4th 5th and 6th. Looking for an area that would provide some activities since neither of these places have an outdoor pool, without traveling to a beach(headed there Sun. for a week) Since it is a holiday week-end, A good place to catch some fire works on the 4th. We haven%26#39;t been in this area last couple of years. Last time through we stayed in the Hampton area at the Raddison. Which is no longer there. Heard that Portmouths is a quaint little town with shops and restaurants. True?? Would like to hear from Anyone with knowledge of this area. Trying to decided between Postsmouth or Newport News.
Thanks
The Hampton Radisson is now an indep called Hampton Marina Hotel, www.hamptonmarinahotel.com, 757 727-9700. Appears to be about the same as before but I have not stayed there. On the waterfront in downtown Portsmouth consider the Renaissance or cross the river to downtown Norfolk and try the Mariott Waterside. There will probably be fireworks in the downtown area (waterfront) for July 4th. If you are interested in Newport News, let us know the general area and that will halp narrow the search or check TA NN hotel section for ideas. Hope this helps. Enjoy your time in the area.
Yes, there will be fireworks over the river between Portsmouth and Norfolk, so you could stay on either side for the fun. Up and down High Street in Portsmouth are many antique shops, a few art galleries, and several wonderful restaurants - I surely hope locals support them. There is a Naval Museum, Children%26#39;s Museum, Sports Museum, and a lovely historic district of old homes and churches.
Across the river Norfolk offers fine shopping at McArthur Center, Nauticus (all things water and weather museum), Battleship Wisconsin, Chrysler Museum of Art, McArthur Memorial, upscale dining, and a lively bar scene. If the Tides (Orioles farm team) are in town, you can catch a ball game - ride the ferry over if you%26#39;re staying in Portsmouth.
I don%26#39;t know the fireworks situation in Newport News -- I%26#39;m sure they have them but I can%26#39;t think where but most likely it%26#39;ll be at a large park or over water. Mariners Museum is wonderful. If you opt for NN, you might look into hotels around Oyster Point. This is the new town center with lots of shops and eateries.
Though we haven%26#39;t stayed there, another innkeeper in the area told me this about the Colonial Inn:
';The Fredericksburg Colonial Inn is under new ownership and the rooms are being renovated. The previous Innkeeper is no longer there and the atmosphere has changed.';
This comment was in reply to my concerns about all the abysmal reviews of the place on this site.
Colonial Inn apparently under new managementIt is now the Old Silk Mill Inn. In case you still have questions after all these months.
My husband and I are taking my mother and her friend to this resort in Sept/08. Does anyone have any advice/suggestions or experiences to share. Both women in their mid-70s.
The units at this resort are either upper or lower units. They do not have elevators, so if you do not want to go up and down a flight of stairs when you enter or leave your unit you should contact the resort to try to ensure that you get a lower unit.
My family of 4 will travel to VA during our spring break, April 5th - 12th. I had planned to spend three nights in Charlottesville seeing the sites and then 4 nights in Williamsburg. After reading the numerous postings about things to do in the CW area, I%26#39;m re-considering my plan. I had thought to spend 1 day in Busch Gardens but think my girls (11 and 13) would rather spend another day there than driving to civil war battlefields or in the national park near Charlottesville. SO - am thinking of cutting back on Charlottesville. I%26#39;m not a big lover of Disney-type parks, so I guess my questions are these: (1) is the first week of April generally a crowded time in the Williamsburg area? (I don%26#39;t know if local schools are out but I%26#39;m sure many other schools will be on break - and I dread hour-long lines to park, to get into the park, for rides, etc.) (2) will the weather be decent for a visit to BG at this time? (3) could we do a decent job in the park in one day? Thanks for any advice.
I%26#39;ll try to answer some of your questions:
April (Spring Break) is busy but not as crowded as summer. W%26#39;burg public schools are on break during your visit but some others in Va are not. BG is nice, and April is a good time to visit. Weather can be a bit unpredictable....sunny, cloudy, warm, cool, rainy...maybe all in the same day, just be prepared. More likely than not you%26#39;ll have decent weather. You can enjoy BG in 1 day. You mentioned maybe passing on Shenandoah Natl Park. If you have time, it%26#39;s a beautiful park, Skyline Drive is a lovely road with many places to pull over for great views. Nice hikes for all ages and abilities. Enjoy your trip to Virginia.
Thanks for your information - we%26#39;ve decided to stick with our original plan and stay in Charlottesville 3 nights. My kids can come back to Busch Gardens again some other time if they like it so much! Thanks again for your help.
Hi all,
I%26#39;m planning a little May getaway to Virginia, am having difficulty planning the end of the trip though. Right now our itinerary includes a Wednesday night stay in Staunton; then an inn-inn hike combination in the Shenandoah park for Thursday and Friday night; on Saturday we%26#39;re looking to get out of the park after a full day of hiking and find someplace nice to stay that is somewhat close to Montpelier - so we can tour that before heading back to Pittsburgh on Sunday.
I was hoping to stay in/near Charlottesville but I think we are planning this for the wrong weekend! We%26#39;re coming during the weekend of May 17th, seems like this is a popular weekend for college graduations. Everything is booked or requires a 2 night stay that I%26#39;ve found.
What are some nice, historic towns, that aren%26#39;t too far from Montpelier (1 - 1.25 hrs away) that you%26#39;d suggest we try out? Right now I%26#39;m looking at Culpeper and Fredericksburg. Should I look anywhere else? Hoping to find a nice area to explore, have dinner/drinks, etc. after coming back in from the wilderness.
Thanks much!!
Kim
Culpeper is nice. Also look at Warrenton.
You%26#39;re in luck for Fredericksburg -- graduation at Mary Washington is the weekend before. This is a great town for a walking tour, James Monroe Museum, and some old homes tours. The downtown is lively with quaint shops and bars and outstanding restaurants.
I agree with Culpepper - very nice town. My parents used to own property near there so we used to visit there often. I love that whole area, Culpepper, Gordonsville, up to Massanutten. A lot of very nice small towns. And May is my favorite time for visiting the area. If you enjoy history - while in Staunton, visit the Frontier Culture Museum.
Thanks so much for your thoughts! Sounds like we can%26#39;t go wrong with Culpeper or Fredericksburg. I appreciate the responses!
We ordered tickets for the Blackfriar%26#39;s Playhouse in Staunton, the B%26amp;B we reserved offered a package that includes a behind the scenes tour, so looking forward to it. Sounds amazing.
Sounds like you might be hiking Skyland Resort to/from Big Meadows Lodge if you are doing an inn-inn thing in Shenandoah NP; you will enjoy it! If you are hiking the A Trail, you should have a decent chance of seeing a black bear. Also if you have time hike up Hawksbill or Stony Man Mountain. If you are gonna end up at Montpelier, you are not that far from Orange, Va or Barboursville, Va (there is a winery there and overnight accomodations plus dinner). You might consider looking in to B%26amp;Bs/Inns in those areas. You are not that far from Culpeper and there may be some places there also. Further north on rte. 29 is Warrenton and there are some nice restaurants. One place there to look in to is the Poplar Springs Inn. I am guessing you may head back to Pittsburgh via I-81 so Fred%26#39;burg is a little farther away from Montpelier but a very nice place to visit/tour and spend the night with quite a bit of history of The War Between the States. There are also a number of Inns/B%26amp;Bs just off of I-81 (in places like Woodstock, Strasburg, Stephens City).
Have you tried the Clifton Inn and, a little further out, Prospect Hill Plantation?
Thanks again for the suggestions - I checked into the Poplar Spings, Clifton and Prospect Hill inns, unfortunately they seem a little out of my target price range... Poplar Springs was $240, Clifton was n/a and Prospect Hill topped off at $545 (wow!) for the night. I%26#39;m trying to get into the little Thyme Inn in Culpeper. If not, may just try the little Best Western, not great reviews on TA, but not the worst either. Certainly not fancy, but it%26#39;s open and seems close enough to the main street area.
Explorer - you are correct - we%26#39;ll be staying at Skyland, hiking to Big Meadows, and then hiking to the cabin area. Once we reach the cabins, we%26#39;re calling for the shuttle to take us back to our car/pick up bags left along the way. Should be fun. My husband was an AT Thru-Hiker in %26#39;99, he loves to hike, even heads back to the trail to section hike once a year with friends. I%26#39;m not as much into camping/wilderness, but thought this would be a great way to experience a little, ';easy'; part of the trail. I%26#39;ll keep my eyes open for bears!
Have a great weekend!
Try this. There are some wonderful properties in every category...and several at good prices.
http://www.va-guesthouses.com/
Hi,
Planning a trip to VA im March. Narrowed my choice to 2 hotels - the Embassy Suites in Ashburn and the Springhill Suites in Herndon/Reston area. Any insight on the area surrounding the area of both hotels in terms of shopping and entertainment for a young couple, as well as if these are smart choices, considering the fact that we are leaving via Reagan rather than Dulles?
What are you planning on doing/seeing and how long are you staying? Realize that if you are staying around Dulles, and you want to shop, and go out and entertain yourself, you WILL need a car.
Ashburn/Herndon/Reston are just typical suburbs of D.C. There are hotels in that area to accommodate airport people and business travelers because that area is full of businesses. Sure you have shopping, and movie theaters, good restaurants, but it is all just your average every-day stuff that you could find anywhere.
Unless there is a specific reason you are coming to this area for something in Northern Virginia such as Great Falls or want to head over to Harper%26#39;s Ferry or you are visiting with friends or family, I suggest stay closer to D.C. where you have Metro access.
Thanks for the info....yes, I will be visiting friends in the area, and also hotel prices are lower in that area as well
If I had to pick between the two areas, I would say stay in Reston over Ashburn.
I live in Ashburn and drive by the Embassy Suites all of the time. It is located next door to several restaurants (Thai, 5 Guys Burgers, a sandwich place, a Japanese Steakhouse that%26#39;s opening soon, an Italian place and a coffee/pastry place). You can walk across the parking lot to these. You will need a car to get to anything else.
Depending on where your friends are, you would probably be better off in Reston. Either way, both are quite a ways from Reagan. The time to get there will vary greatly by what time of day you will to fly out.
I%26#39;m planning a trip for the first weekend in February for just the weekend. I live in NC and I miss the snow. My fiancee and I are planning to drive up for the weekend. We don%26#39;t want to ski. Just enjoy the snow covered area. Where should we go to see peaceful beautiful snowfall without getting involved in the ski crowds?
Where to go for SNOW
There isn%26#39;t any in northern VA right now aside from the dirty stuff leftover by the plows, and none in the forecast. You may find some in the mountains, but honestly you may need to go further north like PA or NY if you want to find snow that isn%26#39;t at a ski resort.
Where to go for SNOWI agree with jwhiteree. When I saw the title of your post, my first answer was ';Not Virginia.'; You might try West ';By God'; Virginia or Pennsylvania.
See what you can find in the Canaan Valley area of West Virginia. There is a fair amount to do in that area if you are into the outdoors. It is the highest valley east of the Mississippi River, so they are pretty sure to have snow on the ground-in fact, there is a web cam for the Dolly Sods wilderness here:
http://www.fsvisimages.com/doso1/doso1.html
and guess what...there is snow there right now!
Weather.com has a map that shows current snow conditions (in inches), to see it go to www.weather.com/maps/activity/ski
Even though you do not want to ski, you can use this as a planning tool to identify the areas closest to you (in NC), then do a bit more research to determine actual conditions and forecasts based on your travel dates. Good luck.
