Breaking the Journey: NYC to Roanoke?

[ellenkushner]

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.

Comments

[1crowdedhour.livejournal.com]

The Blue Ridge Parkway is insanely beautiful. Although beware the speed limit, as it is slow you may fume your blood pressure up too high. I'd try to stop somewhere that made sense in relation to that part of the trip.

Gettysburg isn't on the way to anything, alas. It seemed to me to demand three days or nothing. (But there are horseback battlefield tours, had I world enough and time.) I was glad to get there, even for a few hours, but it seems kind of out of the way for NYC-Roanoke. (I was headed west from DC.)

[1crowdedhour.livejournal.com]

To clarify: Blue Ridge Parkway is five star scenery, but the speed limit is 30 mph iirc, and you might die. Probably best to stick to I-81.

[nohwhere-man.livejournal.com]

Definitely. There's a lot of five star scenery, so no point in hassling with the BRP.

[mouseworks.livejournal.com]

Nobody I knew drove at 30 mph on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I think the speed limit on the Parkway is more like 45 and it's easy enough to get on and off both the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

[clemgo3165.livejournal.com]

I'd say save the Parkway for a hot weekend while you're at Hollins. You won't mind taking your time and the cool air will be a relief.

Gettysburg is totally doable. About 30-40 minutes off 81, depending on traffic. The battlefield is right on the main drag and easily accessible. The town itself is good fun too. Central PA is a nice place this time of year.

Two other suggestions would be Shepardstown, WV and Berkeley Springs, WV. Shepardstown is a cute little college town across the border from Antietam and on the C&O Canal. Good food, cute shops and lots to see and do. Berkeley Springs has a hot springs smack in the center of town with a State park surrounding them and spas galore in town. Lots of antique stores, a beautiful drive and awesome scenery...oh, and the water is FINE and cheap if you use the park facilities.

Have a great time at Hollins!

[oneminutemonkey.livejournal.com]

And if you happen to do Shepardstown, which I was going to suggest, consider the Bavarian Inn (http://www.bavarianinnwv.com/) if you want somewhere with some charm and just a little German kitsch to it. :> The downtown area nearby has some nice shopping and stuff to see.

[elissa-carey.livejournal.com]

My ex-husband, his wife, and my kids (one of whom just graduated high school last weekend) live in Berkeley Springs. I can attest that it is very cute, and the shops are right along the main road through town. I'll pass along a word of caution, however, that my ex shared with me: you have to watch your speed through there. Do the speed limit, because the cops like to nail you for going over.

[barbarienne.livejournal.com]

Thirding the recommendation of the BRP. Look up Raven's Roost and Humpback Rock.

[nohwhere-man.livejournal.com]

Depends on whether you want Picturesque or functional. The trail is lousy with franchised motels, really depends on how far you feel like driving. Looks like Hagerstown and Martinsberg are about in the middle.

If you're looking for off the track, Boonsboro, Maryland is nice, or was last time I was there (10? years ago), so is Harper's Ferry. OTOH it's tourist season.

Otherwise, if you're passing through the DC area on a weekend, check out Glen Echo Park, former amusement park now part of a National Park with an -amazing- restored carousel. You'll also be passing Blackwater Falls St Park in WV on the way down 81.

And while you're in The South, IIRC there's a decent theater company in Bristol VA. And if you happen down I-85 into SC, look for the giant peach at the welcome center in Gaffney.

[calimac.livejournal.com]

Well, one time I was down that way I visited Monticello (home of Jefferson) and Montpelier (home of Madison), but those are across the Blue Ridge to the east. And another time I went through the cave country and Green Bank (the radio telescope site) in West Virginia, but that's a couple ridges to the west.

Gettysburg is not really that far out of the way for this trip - you get off the freeway at Harrisburg, and after leaving Gettysburg go through Frederick MD and Harpers Ferry (and/or Antietam, also nearby) and meet up with 81 at Winchester VA. I did Gettysburg in half a day, because that's what I had at my disposal, and I still thought it worth the trouble.

The Shenandoah!

[(Anonymous)]

It depends how far you want to go on each day. The Shenandoah Valley is one of the very most beautiful, enchanting, mystical places in the East, and if you go further the first day you'll be able to amble a bit more on your way to Roanoake on day 2. Thus, if you're willing to go a bit further, you can get to Winchester on your first day, which is a lovely little town at the very bottom of the Valley (one of the odd quirks of Valley idiom is that you go "up" the Valley when you go south, and "down" the Valley going north), and you'll have a comfortable drive to Roanoake when you wake up. Also, stop in Harrisonburg whenever you go through, go to Kline's Frozen Custard, and get a cone; if they're serving the black raspberry, get it, it's impossible to describe how good it is.

While you're in the great Commonwealth of Virginia, make sure to spend a day or two in Charlottesville; there are fantastic restaurants and it's a beautiful town. Also explore the Blue Ridge a little, they're ancient mountains and you feel more in touch with the world on Skyline Drive.

Re: The Shenandoah!

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Mysterious Benefactor! It all sounds like just what I wanted. We drove the Skyline south of Roanoke into Tennessee last time we were there, and were kinda disappointed - I get the sense the Pretty Part is the bit *north* of there - ?

Once we're down there, we're sure to make some side trips - and of course, there's always the drive home....

Re: The Shenandoah!

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

(The Blueridge Parkway and Skyline Drive connect/are the same road, just in different areas/states. Down by the Great Smokies, it's an /incredible/ road. Where you'll be, it's merely amazing.)

Re: The Shenandoah!

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

Skyline Drive from where it starts in Maryland and runs down through Virginia is gorgeous, with sweeping vistas of the Shenandoah Valley. Beware the roving gangs of deer that will conspire to slow your progress to nil. IIRC, one can do approximate thirds of Skyline in Virginia, so after an hour or so on the road, you can hop off to I-81. We drove 2/3rds of it en route to SheVaCon one year, and did the remaining 1/3 on the way home.

Re: The Shenandoah!

[cssullivan.livejournal.com]

Oh that was me, sorry I wasn't logged in; my mystery was unintentional. I hope you enjoy the adventure!

Re: The Shenandoah!

[clemgo3165.livejournal.com]

Yes! Definitely come to Charlottesville while you're here. We're lousy with great restaurants and great scenery, not to mention history, theater, and performing arts.

Re: The Shenandoah!

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Love Charlottesville - we were there, what, 7 years ago, for our goddaughter's christening (yes, we renounced Satan & all his works on young Miss Goss's behalf, in the dear little white church down the road from her grandparents' farm)....

Really planning to hunker down & write/teach in Roanoke - but you folks are TORTURING us with many fine side-trips & socializing possbilities . . . this is going to be as bad as NYC!

[spacklegeek.livejournal.com]

Gotta make a plug for State College, Pennsylvania (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_College,_Pennsylvania). It's surrounded by farmlands and mountains - lots of state parks if you're looking for easy hiking, and a fun (and relatively quiet, at this time of year) college town with a beautiful campus.

(It's my home.)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Is that on the way? I'd love to stop there - we have several friends who live there, and have never been.

[spacklegeek.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not sure exactly what your route will be, but if you were thinking of stopping at Gettysburg (which is lovely, but very touristy this time of year), SC is only about 2 hours north of there. It's right in the middle of PA. I spent the first 24 years of my life there (almost 25 now...), and though I hear it's been quite warm recently, it's just wonderful right now. There's an enormous arts festival the second week of July (I don't know when you'll be traveling back through) that's crazy with people but very fun. Right now it's between the end of the spring semester and the beginning of the summer semester, so there are mostly locals around. And if you have friends there - you should definitely stop by! :)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

"only about 2 hours north" - sorry! We're pretty much shooting straight down 81, just planning to overnight somewhere that's not actively awful; SC will have to wait for a dedicated trip, I guess. Sounds great!

[mouseworks.livejournal.com]

I don't think you need to have reservations for most places not on Skyline Drive other than 4th of July weekend. If I were doing this, I'll look at the various websites and just wing it. Winchester is now a suburb of DC, but a number of places might be more charming. You could also stay at Harper's Ferry (bit off your route but very worth seeing if you haven't seen it before.

[tazlet.livejournal.com]

I'll pitch for Baltimore! (and Annapolis, if I must) - the Walters Art Gallery and the Baltimore Museum are both free and world class contendas -- although the National Aquarium is not free, it's neat -- we got Fort McHenry! and Fells Point! And we're only 35 miles due north of R Nashun's Capital and the whole freaking Smithsonian!

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

We'll actually be in Baltimore in November for Darkover con - a fine town, but not exactly on the way to Roanoke...

Boonsboro & vicinity

[isabelswift.livejournal.com]

If Boonsboro, stop by Turn The Page bookstore & introduce yourself to Bruce Wilder (Nora Roberts' husband) if he's there & say hi to him & Nora for me! She lives nearby & has bought & restored the old hotel & created Inn Boonsboro (http://www.innboonsboro.com/history.htm )

If you are a fan of The Blair Witch Project, it was filmed around Burkittsville and Patapsco State Park, Maryland. Didn't know when I drove through Burkittsville & thought--why does the whole town look strangely restored...

[feuervogel]

I grew up in Frederick, MD, and I find it rather dull (and Hagerstown even more). But apparently non-locals find it interesting, so. (For fun, we went to DC or Baltimore.)

As a 12-year North Carolinian, I can say Asheville is definitely worth the trip. It's ... far from Roanoke, though. Charlottesville would give a similar vibe, and you could visit Mr Jefferson's University (and his home).

[quizzicalsphinx.livejournal.com]

I tend to do dead-and-breakfast vacations, so my tour guide is a little skewed, to say the least, but one of the pretty cemeteries I've ever seen is the (hand to god) Riverside Cemetery in Asheville. There is also the Biltmore Estate, where you can play "guess what movie this room was in," and the Thomas Wolfe House, which is one of those gorgeous Victorian ramblers.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

We LOVE Asheville!! And cemeteries - "dead-&-breakfast," eh? Perfect!

Asheville is, however, not exactly on the way - we just want somewhere good to sleep the night on a pretty direct route from NYC to Roanoke this trip.

Will, however, look for Riverside next time we're down that way.

A number of place both on the Skyline Drive

[mouseworks.livejournal.com]

...or in one of the towns on I-81 would work. I-81 is parallel to Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway from Chambersburg to Roanoke. Pennsylvania Turnpike works for getting from the Philadelphia area to I-81. There's a motel in Luray if you think you want to do the caverns.


The Skyline Drive starts in Virginia at Front Royal. You can pick up I 81 in the Valley and go back and forth on and off Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway (get the season pass so you can do the same thing going back, $30 or so). Skyline Drive is a toll road; Blue Ridge Parkway is free.

The very cool things to see are on the second stretch of Skyline Drive from the Thornton's Gap entrance west of Warrenton to the Rt. 33 turnoff: highest section in VA, Big Meadows, tons of deer and ravens. Warrenton is rather much a more real version of Middleburg. Avoid Charlottesville unless you're passionate about Jefferson -- I-81 is far nicer than the Interstates inland and is less full of highway patrol cars looking to ticket out of state drivers. You can take the Interstate to Rt. 211, then go up to the Parkway for a stretch. Continue after Rt. 33 if you don't find the pace too slow, otherwise stay on it. The Blue Ridge Parkway starts at Rockfish Gap, and the minimum speed limit is a bit faster.

Other cool things are north of Roanoke to Roanoke -- the website for the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive should give adequate info. If you want to go faster, drop down to I-81. Looks like you want to get back on the Parkway at Rt. 501 and go all the way to Roanoke from there. You'll see the highest peaks on the Virginia stretch of the Parkway and can hike to waterfalls if you want. This stretch is 80 to 90 miles. Peaks of Otter is a good place for a break, meal, overnight.

Driving on the Parkway after 7 p.m. is usually ranger free, at least when I lived there. Everyone used it as the mountain interstate.

I used to live about 90 miles south of Roanoke and make the trip from Critz to Philadelphia in about ten hours, going through the Valley. A friend made the Roanoke to DC run via the Valley in 4.5 hours.

NC mountains are higher -- if you have a spare weekend, you might want to do the trip down to Asheville.

Roanoke is an interesting city -- it's the refugee for all the odd and queer mountain kids.

Re: A number of place both on the Skyline Drive

[mouseworks.livejournal.com]

Rt. 211 to Skyline Drive, not the Parkway. The Thorton's Gap to Rt. 33 section is the one I'm most familiar with. The entrance kiosk will tell you what accomodations are available on Skyline Drive.

Re: A number of place both on the Skyline Drive

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU! Very useful, all of it.

Re: A number of place both on the Skyline Drive

[mouseworks.livejournal.com]

And I can recommend a number of day trips out of Roanoke -- do go to see Floyd County, Pine Tavern, various things in town which is rather like a retirement community for old hippies. Other direction, Lexington -- Limekiln Theatre, Washington & Lee, various and sundry antique shops north of there in a village whose name I've forgotten now. Roanoke has an interesting community funded movie theatre, the Grandin, that shows more exotic fare than you might expect (in the Raleigh Court neighborhood, your colleagues at Hollins will know about it). Hollins is out a bit from Roanoke proper.

And if you're ever in Nicaragua, come by Jinotega.