Fun places to stop between Boston & Hilton Head

[katie111]

We are thinking of going to Hilton Head this year for 2 weeks for our summer vacation. With airfare so high for a family of 5, we are considering driving down. Since I'm a SAHM, I am thinking of driving down with the kids (ages 4, 7, & 8) and then having my DH fly down & meet us there. Since we have plenty of time, I'm thinking of making the trip over 5 to 6 days, just driving sometime between 3 to 5 hours a day. What I'm looking for are some fun ideas of places to stop on the way. Looking for fun hotels, places of interest and especially any good theme parks (esp smaller, somewhat less crowded ones).

Also, I've travelled a lot alone with the kids but haven't really driven more than 3-4 hours alone with them so any tips on driving solo with them would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for your help!

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I've done the drive from DC to Hilton Head quite a few times (my in-laws live on HHI).

DC is actually a good almost-halfway point from Boston.....its around 600 miles from the DC area to Hilton Head, so the sights here could be an option.

Regarding theme-parks along the way, you have Six Flags Great Adventure in mid-Jersey. And Sesame Place outside of Philly.

Then there's Kings Dominion, just north of Richmond, Virginia. It's not a small park, and it has some great thrill rides, but not quite as much for younger kids.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg might be a great option for you. It's a beautiful park, is right next to Colonial Williamsburg, and has some great kid attractions too - they opened a Sesame Street land a year or two ago. There's a Great Wolf Lodge there. The area a little out-of-the-way from 95, but not too far.

Another area that might fit the bill is Hershey Park and Dutch Wonderland. Hershey is full-size park, and Dutch is a much smaller old-fashioned one that would be great for your youngest. If you took a more-westerly route down to HHI, this wouldn't be too far out of the way.

 

[osprey6]

There's always Amigoland at South of the Border, which is almost the very definition of quirky.

I'd also suggest some of the Civil War battlefields. Fredericksburg and Petersburg are favorites, but Cold Harbor and Manassas given you two for one experiences.

You could also try some of the attractions in Myrtle Beach, although like Williamsburg, it's a fair piece off of I-95. In Charleston, try the Patriot's Point Museum.

Try a ballgame in Richmond, Charleston or Myrtle Beach. There's also a stadium in the middle of nowhere in Zebulon, NC. Charleston has a reputation for outlandish promotions.

You might also consider the museums at Ft. Bragg.

There's also a smaller Six Flags park in the DC suburbs in Largo, MD.

 

[katie111]

Thanks so much for the replies! I'm making a list and am going to check out all these places online.