East Coast Family Trip?

[kandb]

We go down to Disney every August for our yearly vacation. My husband wants something different. We will have a 15, 15 and 9 year old in August. I am thinking of a east coast road trip. We don't want to drive 2 days each way, so I am thinking of stops along/home the way. Thinking of stops in Virginia (historic area?, Charleston, Savannah, Hilton head, Daytona 500, Cape Canaveral????) Any suggestions? Best places to stop??? I am thinking a 2 week trip and still spending 6 nights at Disney.

 

[havaneselover]

We go down to Disney every August for our yearly vacation. My husband wants something different. We will have a 15, 15 and 9 year old in August. I am thinking of a east coast road trip. We don't want to drive 2 days each way, so I am thinking of stops along/home the way. Thinking of stops in Virginia (historic area?, Charleston, Savannah, Hilton head, Daytona 500, Cape Canaveral????) Any suggestions? Best places to stop??? I am thinking a 2 week trip and still spending 6 nights at Disney.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country are a blast but you’d probably be theme parked out. Kind of hot for site seeing in VA. August is gross (I live in central VA).

 

[ptlohmysoul]

Williamsburg, VA!

 

[kandb]

Thank you for suggestion. We are traveling down I95 and want to stop at areas not that far off of 95. Thinking Charleston and beach time at Hilton Head. Maybe Richmond, VA for a half day?

 

[Colleen27]

That's not the time of year I'd want to do that trip, but if it is when you do Disney you probably won't melt.

I personally love the tourist-trap beach towns, probably because I spent summers in Virginia Beach growing up. VA Beach, Myrtle Beach, Daytona, they're all a little different but also very much the same and tons of fun for teenagers. Depending on where you're coming from, the mountains in VA can be a bit of a break from the heat of the coast - Front Royal is a beautiful place to spend a day or two. Kitty Hawk and the Outer Banks are lovely too.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Where are you driving from? I'm assuming VA/DC would be about where you'd hit by the dinner hour? And then you'd want to stay an extra day and leave the next day for another long drive? Or is it you hit at lunch and then want fun for the day before you leave? Either way, combo-ing DC/VA with either Charleston or Savannah would be my recommendation (or both - doing one on the way down and one on the way back)...Charleston is more out of the way, so if that matters, stick to Savannah...

 

[kandb]

Where are you driving from? I'm assuming VA/DC would be about where you'd hit by the dinner hour? And then you'd want to stay an extra day and leave the next day for another long drive? Or is it you hit at lunch and then want fun for the day before you leave? Either way, combo-ing DC/VA with either Charleston or Savannah would be my recommendation (or both - doing one on the way down and one on the way back)...Charleston is more out of the way, so if that matters, stick to Savannah...

Good advice. Are Savannah/Charleston similar as far as how much historic stuff there is to see? We are coming from Northern NJ. Want some beach time, so have to decide where to do that.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Good advice. Are Savannah/Charleston similar as far as how much historic stuff there is to see? We are coming from Northern NJ. Want some beach time, so have to decide where to do that.

If you want beach time and history time, I'd save the history for DC/VA and find the pretty beaches around the other 2 spots (of which there are quite a few...

On the way down, I'd plan an early start, hit VA by lunch, and book a Pentagon tour in advance (air conditioned - maybe 3pm for time) and see Arlington National Cemetery after your Pentagon tour. Have a nice dinner and be back on the road the next day for one of my two mentioned sites (you won't get there til dinner). Then spend an extra day at one of the sites, getting to enjoy the beach and any other attractions, and head to Disney. Reverse the way home, by getting an early start and getting to Savannah by lunch, enjoy the day, and then do the long drive to DC and spend a full day or two in DC center (Capitol, Smithsonians, White House) and head home...

So, Day 1 Leave and VA
Day 2 VA to Charleston SC
Day 3 Charleston
Day 4 Charleston to Disney
Day 5-10 Disney
Day 11 Disney and Savannah
Day 12 Savannah to DC
Day 13 DC
Day 14 DC part day and then home

 

[havaneselover]

Thank you for suggestion. We are traveling down I95 and want to stop at areas not that far off of 95. Thinking Charleston and beach time at Hilton Head. Maybe Richmond, VA for a half day?

I live in Richmond. Some cool stuff to see. I like Charlottesville better (1 hour west). VA Beach is gross.

 

[kymom99]

Tybee island is neat. You can see Savannah and go to the beach there