Budget road trip from Buffalo to North Carolina

[Tink3815]

The plan is the first week of April. My DH and I need to take care of some family business in Charleston, WV. I know we will be at the mercy of the weather that time of the year, but our plans can be flexible to switch to another week if needed. My DH has a bad back so driving is limited to about 4 hours a day if we are going to do excursions. On the way back we will probably to 6 hours a day to make it in 2 days. We have from Sunday to Sunday to do the trip. We are starting in Buffalo area and stopping in Pittsburg the first day, continuing on to Charleston WV the next day. We would like to continue down highway 77 south into Va. (thinking Roanoke area) and then into NC. (thinking maybe Charlotte area). We have never been to the Smoky Mountains and might venture that way.
Based on this route would love suggestions of your favorite things, restaurants and budget hotels in the area. Looking for local gems that the tour guides might not mention on the route. We enjoy any type of history, nature and art, not into the sporting aspect because of DH’s back. Trying to stay within about 50 miles of Highway 77 but can be flexible in the Smokey Mt area if needed.
Thanks for your help

 

[mrsklamc]

Just subscribing as I'm kinda interested in the reverse trip- my DSis might want to make the trip from NC to Buffalo.

 

[emer95]

We'll be doing just about the same trip at the same time! We're going to hilton head, and we're crazy. We do the whole drive in one she-bang.

One piece of advice I have is to go to restaurant.com and buy coupons for places that have good ratings on Trip Advisor. I did that for our trip to Amelia Island and it was great. We saved a lot of money and ate at some really great places.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Is it just the two of you, or will you have kids with you?

When we lived in WV, we would drive to Pittsburgh to shop (Ross Park Mall, and there is an IKEA store) and eat, since we didn't have a lot of choices in WV. My kids loved the Carnegie Science Center, and there is also a nice children's museum in Pittsburgh. In April the Pittsburgh Pirates will be playing baseball.

In NC, the kids like to go to Discovery Place and there is also the National Whitewater Center (I know you said not sporty stuff, but it is worth mentioning for others) - they have kayaking, ziplining, rafting, rock climbing, etc). The NASCAR hall of fame is near Charlotte (but I haven't been, so I don't know if it is any good).

Winston-Salem has lots of Moravian history and has Old Salem, with museums and garden tours. You can access the Blue Ridge parkway not far off I-77 - that is always a pretty drive.

NC has a rich and varied history with regards to pottery - the greatest concentrations are in Seagrove (near Asheboro) and in the Western part of the state (Asheville area).

The NC Museum of Art in Raleigh is very nice (but not within 50 miles of I-77). If you do make it to Raleigh, the Museum of Natural Sciences has the Titanic artifacts on exhibit until April 28. I haven't been yet, but I have heard it is smaller than the exhibit that was in NY - it doesn't have the grand staircase.

We always travel with kids, so I'm not sure any of this is helpful!

 

[Tink3815]

Is it just the two of you, or will you have kids with you?

When we lived in WV, we would drive to Pittsburgh to shop (Ross Park Mall, and there is an IKEA store) and eat, since we didn't have a lot of choices in WV. My kids loved the Carnegie Science Center, and there is also a nice children's museum in Pittsburgh. In April the Pittsburgh Pirates will be playing baseball.

In NC, the kids like to go to Discovery Place and there is also the National Whitewater Center (I know you said not sporty stuff, but it is worth mentioning for others) - they have kayaking, ziplining, rafting, rock climbing, etc). The NASCAR hall of fame is near Charlotte (but I haven't been, so I don't know if it is any good).

Winston-Salem has lots of Moravian history and has Old Salem, with museums and garden tours. You can access the Blue Ridge parkway not far off I-77 - that is always a pretty drive.

NC has a rich and varied history with regards to pottery - the greatest concentrations are in Seagrove (near Asheboro) and in the Western part of the state (Asheville area).

The NC Museum of Art in Raleigh is very nice (but not within 50 miles of I-77). If you do make it to Raleigh, the Museum of Natural Sciences has the Titanic artifacts on exhibit until April 28. I haven't been yet, but I have heard it is smaller than the exhibit that was in NY - it doesn't have the grand staircase.

We always travel with kids, so I'm not sure any of this is helpful!

Thanks for the info. It's just DH and myself. I've been surfing today and Dollywood looks interesting. We've never been to the mountains in that area other than driving back from Flordia. The scenery looks beautiful for mountain drives.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Thanks for the info. It's just DH and myself. I've been surfing today and Dollywood looks interesting. We've never been to the mountains in that area other than driving back from Flordia. The scenery looks beautiful for mountain drives.

Just so you know, Dollywood is about 4 hours from Charlotte. I haven't been to Dollywood, but the area is beautiful.

 

[Tink3815]

Would love to hear imput from those who have been to Dollywood in early April.

Looking for not to miss attractions and resturants around the park in Pigeon Forge.

Thanks

 

[mom2t]

Definitely Biltmore house. Largest privately owned home in the US. Still owned by George Washington Vanderbilt's grandson. Many one of a kind treasures housed there including Napoleon's chess set, art work from Washington was stored there under guard during WWII. Definitely recommend one of the behind the scenes tours. Worth the money. You can take a picnic. Located in Asheville. Do not go near Dollywood if there is a car show. Traffic comes to a complete standstill at times. Several are held there in April including the Dollywood parade with Dolly herself. Would recommend Cade's Cove in that area. Free beautiful drive go first thing in the morning or around 4. We have seen tons of deer, bears, coyotes, wolves, wild turkeys. Great outlet shopping. I live in western NC and we travel at least once a year to Pigeon Forge.