Over the next couple of months, we will highlight a few inexpensive, yet fun-filled road trips for families to take throughout Virginia. The first in the series begins here:
West Central and Shenandoah Valley
1. Montpelier – the home of James Madison
Come visit the newly restored home of the Father of the Constitution, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Montpelier was the lifelong home of James Madison. Madison was raised at Montpelier, lived here after his marriage to Dolley, returned here after his presidency, and died here in his study surrounded by the books and papers that marked so much of his life’s work. It was at Montpelier where Madison researched past democracies and conceived of the system of government that became our republic.
The Montpelier estate features the Madison mansion, historic buildings, exhibits, archaeological sites, gardens, forests, hands-on activities, a new Visitor Center, and a freedman’s cabin and farm. Learn about the man whose contemporaries called “Father of the Constitution,” and the woman who was the first to be called First Lady.
Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful scenery from the grounds of this historical masterpiece.
2. Monticello – the Home of Thomas Jefferson
After lunch, head over to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Be one of the first to visit the new visitor center and be sure to take the Famiy-Friendly Tour offered here. These special guided tours of Thomas Jefferson’s house are designed for children ages 6 to 11. The 30-minute tours feature hands-on opportunities in every room and provide a glimpse of what life was like for the children who lived at Monticello in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
I wrote a post about visiting Monticello with kids. Click here to access the post.
3. The English Inn of Charlottesville
Spend the night at the beautiful and affordable English Inn in Charlottesville. Rooms start at just $110 and include a full hot breakfast in the morning. In addition, the English Inn offers free wireless internet access, an indoor pool, sauna, and free cribs if needed.
4. Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton
The Frontier Culture Museum tells the story of the thousands of people who migrated to colonial America, and of the life they created here for themselves and their descendants.
These first pioneers came to America during the 1600s and 1700s from communities in the hinterlands of England, Germany, Ireland, and West Africa. Many were farmers and rural craftsmen set in motion by changing conditions in their homelands, and drawn to the American colonies by opportunities for a better life. Others came as unwilling captives to work on farms and plantations. Regardless of how they arrived, all became Americans, and all contributed to the success of the colonies, and of the United States.
To tell the story of these early immigrants and their American descendents, the Museum has moved or reproduced examples of traditional rural buildings from England, Germany, Ireland, West Africa, and America. The Museum engages the public at these exhibits with a combination of interpretive signage and living history demonstrations. The outdoor exhibits are located in two separate areas: the Old World and America.
The Old World exhibits show rural life and culture in four homelands of early migrants to the American colonies. The American exhibits show the life these colonists and their descendants created in the colonial back country, how this life changed over more than a century, and how life in the United States today is shaped by its frontier past.
5. Route 11 Potato Chip Factory in Mount Jackson
What’s more American than the best potato chips in the world crafted right here in Virginia? Not too long ago, about 10 years to be exact, with lots of potatoes, good oil, salt, serendipity, and a little luck, Route 11 Potato Chips sprouted in an old feed store in Middletown, Virginia.
Their goal? Produce the best potato chips on the planet. Chips to be proud of. Chips, that with every potatoey crunch, make you feel like you were experiencing something very special. Everything they make is hand-cooked. This is much more labor intensive than the continuous frying methods of the big boys, and if you visit the factory, you will have the opportunity to view the production process.
Oh yeah…you can also taste and buy some potato chips while there.
6. The Inn at Narrow Passage – Woodstock
Enjoy a comfortable and restful night’s sleep in this historic inn. This 1740 Shenandoah Valley bed and breakfast is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty and history of the Valley. Once a haven against Indian attacks on the Virginia frontier and later Stonewall Jackson’s headquarters during the Valley Campaign of 1862, the Inn now welcomes travelers looking for comfortable lodging and friendly hospitality.
Enjoy the beautiful setting over looking the Shenandoah River and allow yourself to be taken away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Play a quiet game of checkers in the main lodge and take in a cool drink on the deck. Leave plenty of time to indulge in the delicious homemade breakfast lovingly prepared each morning by the Inn’s owners, Ed and Ellen Markel.
7. New Market Battlefield State Historical Park
Where 257 Cadets from the Virginia Military Institute made the difference between victory and defeat.
Explore the Civil War in Virginia here in this 300 acre park, 19th Century Bushong Farm and Hall of Valor Civil War Museum. Commemorate a unique moment in American history, when Cadets from VMI engaged in pitched battle and helped win a victory for the Confederate Army.
Spend the day at the New Market State Historical Park and enjoy the museum, explore the historical farm, scenic Shenandoah River overlooks, picnic spots and walking trails.
Tags: america, charlottesville, culture, english, fouth, frontier, historical, history, independence, inn, james madison, july, monticello, montpelier, mount jackson, museum, narrow passage, new market, road, route 11, staunton, thomas jefferson, trip, virginia, vmi, woodstock
campgrounds are available for overnight guests. There is a 5400 sq ft pool with a water slide open to day and overnight guests. For kids, the park offers guided nature walks, hayrides, campfires, cave tours and astronomy programs. Special events and a calendar can be found here.
Lynchburg
Virginia is for Kids! 