Breaking the Journey: NYC to Roanoke?

In less than 2 weeks, we rent a car & drive down to Roanoke, Virginia, to take up Delia's post as summer writing instructor at Hollins U's Masters in Children's Lit. program (where I will be Writer-in-Residence).  Wimps that we are (and notorious sluggards who are unlikely to hit the road before noon), we'd like to break the journey somewhere interesting or picturesque about halfway.

Gettysburg looks promising - but anyone have a better suggestion?  My knowledge of the country is slim.*  Looks like we'll be taking 81 most of the way down.

 
*So slim I was hoping we could stop in Asheville, NC - or maybe Morgantown, WV (where we lived for a year when I was 18).  yes, that slim.