Summer Trip - looking for must-sees!

[kasey00]

This summer we're taking about 10 days and stopping at Harper's Ferry (Appalachain Trail while we're there), Antietam, Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsvlle, hopefully Fair Oaks/Seven Pines (understanding there isn't actually a battlefield there), along with Monticello and Mt. Vernon. Besides the battlefields themselves, I'm looking for "don't miss" sites around each of the areas, in case we have time to see other things along the way. Suggestions? When we take these trips, I also like to find historic places to eat (as long as they're reasonably priced!), and those unique, best-kept secret spots. Are there definite "don't miss" things to do at the battlefields that we should plan ahead for? The event calendars aren't updated yet (or weren't the last time I checked) for when we'll be there. Normally I'd spend just a week at Gettysburg alone, but I don't know how many times I'm going to drive down to Virginia, so I want to try to hit as many of the important spots as we can without overdoing it! Thanks in advance!

 

[JOHN42768]

Have a great time, enjoy

 

[jackt62]

Sounds like an interesting itinerary. You're right about Seven Pines but there are plenty of sights in that vicinity that will cover many of the major battlegrounds of the Seven Days campaign that shouldn't be missed (Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill, etc.). Of course, there is plenty to see and do in the entire Richmond area so I'm wondering if you might just restrict your travel to northern Virginia on this trip given that ten days may not be enough time to cover the sights you want to visit.

 

[Hussar Yeomanry]

All I will say is Manassas really is two separate battlefields. They are next to one another but almost entirely they don't overlap (Sudley Springs Ford/ Matthews Hill). They are also big areas of land so if you want to do Manassas properly you're going to need time...

 

[Kurt G]

The Kennedy farm where John Brown stayed is near Harper's Ferry .

 

[kasey00]

Unfortunately, I only have so many vacation days so we need to make the most of the trip. We're camping in MD for the first few days, then camping in the Prince William Forest Park, which seems about as close to the middle of everything we could get. It's also open to being flexible - one of the reasons we like trips like this is, if we don't feel like doing something, we don't 2 years ago we did the southwest corner of PA and saw a LOT (though that was more French and Indian, and Revolutionary War era history!) Last year, we did 2 shorter trips in opposite directions, but I decided not to do that again this year. Then you have to put gear away twice (plus this is a little further away...need to make it count!) We'll just need to pick the most important things at each place. Now we've been to Gettysburg twice, for at least 4 or 5 days at a time, and we'll go back again and still see things we didn't see the other 2 times (and a few of our favorites!) That's a little closer to home, so we can take a shorter trip and get more "down into the weeds". Monticello and Mt. Vernon aren't really part of the civil war theme, but again, those are "while we're here...we don't know when we'll be back again", but those are both flexible depending on what else we find.

 

[dlofting]

Malvern Hill is relatively intact and worth seeing if only to get a first hand impression of the terrain. I liked Cold Harbor as you can still see remnants of the trenches. Gaines Mill is smaller, but the part that is preserved is also worth seeing, again just to get an idea of the ground.

 

[kasey00]

Some of my motivation for Virginia is that my great-great grandfather was wounded at Seven Pines, but we don't have much information about it, and his brother was captured at Chancellorsville (and what happened after that is a bit of a mystery!), so it was originally more of a trip to see those places, then fit other things in "while we're there". We'll just have to prioritize and economize! Then in a couple years if we can get back down there, we'll try to see the things we didn't get to this time around, or make more time to focus in one area or another, and hopefully get a little more "inland" to see Appomattox, Lexington, etc.

 

[Hussar Yeomanry]

I will add one thing - others may disagree - but unless you really know what happened at First and Second Bull Run/ Manassas and you don't have time to do the place properly pick one. Don't try and mix a bit of this one and a bit of that or it will all become a confusing mess (after all 2nd Bull Run/ Manassas alone is a sprawling multi day engagement and the 1st battle has two, probably three key locations - more if you are being thorough)

 

[kasey00]

I will add one thing - others may disagree - but unless you really know what happened at First and Second Bull Run/ Manassas and you don't have time to do the place properly pick one. Don't try and mix a bit of this one and a bit of that or it will all become a confusing mess (after all 2nd Bull Run/ Manassas alone is a sprawling multi day engagement and the 1st battle has two, probably three key locations - more if you are being thorough)

Good thought! I'll be traveling with a teenager, and since we don't have as much of a personal connection to/knowledge about Manassas, that location was more of an introductory visit while we're in the area and less of a focal point of the trip. It sounds like maybe the 1st battle would be better for that? At this point I had an entire day dedicated to Manassas alone (depending on what else was in the immediate area) but I know we could easily spend 2 weeks at Gettysburg and not see everything! (in theory...if we had that much time at once!)

 

[Jimklag]

This summer we're taking about 10 days and stopping at Harper's Ferry (Appalachain Trail while we're there), Antietam, Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsvlle, hopefully Fair Oaks/Seven Pines (understanding there isn't actually a battlefield there), along with Monticello and Mt. Vernon. Besides the battlefields themselves, I'm looking for "don't miss" sites around each of the areas, in case we have time to see other things along the way. Suggestions? When we take these trips, I also like to find historic places to eat (as long as they're reasonably priced!), and those unique, best-kept secret spots. Are there definite "don't miss" things to do at the battlefields that we should plan ahead for? The event calendars aren't updated yet (or weren't the last time I checked) for when we'll be there. Normally I'd spend just a week at Gettysburg alone, but I don't know how many times I'm going to drive down to Virginia, so I want to try to hit as many of the important spots as we can without overdoing it! Thanks in advance!

You're not giving yourself much time if you're going to all those places in 10 days. I have spent a week each at Antietam, Manassas and Fredericksburg/Chancellorsville/Spotsylvania/Wilderness. You might want to limit your focus to just two or three of the sites and really study them. You could easily spend all ten days at the four battlefields around the Wilderness and not see everything. Manassas done right is two days minimum for each battlefield. Good luck on your vacation.

 

[kasey00]

You're not giving yourself much time if yo Good luck on your vacation.u're going to all those places in 10 days. I have spent a week each at Antietam, Manassas and Fredericksburg/Chancellorsville/Spotsylvania/Wilderness. You might want to limit your focus to just two or three of the sites and really study them. You could easily spend all ten days at the four battlefields around the Wilderness and not see everything. Manassas done right is two days minimum for each battlefield.

It's a good point, but having limited vacation time and without knowing when we'll be able to come back down there, it's either a little of each, or none of some. I think each approach has its pros and cons!

 

[Jimklag]

It's a good point, but having limited vacation time and without knowing when we'll be able to come back down there, it's either a little of each, or none of some. I think each approach has its pros and cons!

Have fun. If you can only spend a little time at each place, take the driving tours. Antietam, Manassas, the four Wilderness battles all have driving tours. You can rent or buy the CD's for the tours at the visitor's centers.

 

[Hussar Yeomanry]

If you only have one day I might be inclined (and even though I am the Host of the First Bull Run/ Manassas Forum!) to maybe make it half a day there instead. This gives you another half day somewhere else because if you do half a day you would be able to get an overview of First Bull Run/ Manassas. You'd be barely scratching the surface but the rest of the day still wouldn't get you the full picture. Alternatively its a full day to get an overview of the second battle. You are also correct that the far 'easier' battle is the first for it is far more linear. In other words, this happened here. Then this happened here and so on. The second battle is far more like Gettysburg and along the lines of while this was happening in area A, over in area B the following was happening, while in area C...

 

[kasey00]

Have fun. If you can only spend a little time at each place, take the driving tours. Antietam, Manassas, the four Wilderness battles all have driving tours. You can rent or buy the CD's for the tours at the visitor's centers.

My daughter really does better with those anyway. She has her moments, and sometimes she gets lost when we get too much down into the details. Sometimes when we can move around and keep busy seeing different things, it holds her attention better and she appreciates what she's seeing a lot more!

 

[kasey00]

If you only have one day I might be inclined (and even though I am the Host of the First Bull Run/ Manassas Forum!) to maybe make it half a day there instead. This gives you another half day somewhere else because if you do half a day you would be able to get an overview of First Bull Run/ Manassas. You'd be barely scratching the surface but the rest of the day still wouldn't get you the full picture. Alternatively its a full day to get an overview of the second battle. You are also correct that the far 'easier' battle is the first for it is far more linear. In other words, this happened here. Then this happened here and so on. The second battle is far more like Gettysburg and along the lines of while this was happening in area A, over in area B the following was happening, while in area C...

We do love visiting Gettysburg, but like I said, it's much closer to us so we have the ability to go back and catch things we didn't see the last time. We're more able to dedicate a stretch of a few days to one location. I'll definitely keep your advice in mind! Thank you!

 

[Jimklag]

My daughter really does better with those anyway. She has her moments, and sometimes she gets lost when we get too much down into the details. Sometimes when we can move around and keep busy seeing different things, it holds her attention better and she appreciates what she's seeing a lot more!

The auto tour CD's come with audio narration that explains a little of what's going on at each tour stop.

 

[kasey00]

I know this gets off the course of battlefields a little, but I'm coming up empty finding unique/historic places to eat, at least around Chancellorsville. Open to suggestions/recommendations (or flat out telling me I'm wasting my time - those don't exist down there!) We love eating at places like the Cashtown Inn, the Dobbin House, etc. We don't eat at places like that every day, but we do try to stay away from places we can find up here.

 

[Jimklag]

I know this gets off the course of battlefields a little, but I'm coming up empty finding unique/historic places to eat, at least around Chancellorsville. Open to suggestions/recommendations (or flat out telling me I'm wasting my time - those don't exist down there!) We love eating at places like the Cashtown Inn, the Dobbin House, etc. We don't eat at places like that every day, but we do try to stay away from places we can find up here.

Colonial Tavern in Fredericksburg is an Irish pub about 1/4 mile up the street from the visitor's center at the battlefield. J. Brian's Tap Room also in downtown Fredericksburg has pub grub. The Barbecue Exchange in Gordonsville is the best BBQ in Virginia. I know there are a couple nice places up by Manassas, but I can't think of the names - calling @Eleanor Rose for places to eat in the Manassas area.

 

[kasey00]

Colonial Tavern in Fredericksburg is an Irish pub about 1/4 mile up the street from the visitor's center at the battlefield. J. Brian's Tap Room also in downtown Fredericksburg has pub grub. The Barbecue Exchange in Gordonsville is the best BBQ in Virginia. I know there are a couple nice places up by Manassas, but I can't think of the names - calling @Eleanor Rose for places to eat in the Manassas area.

Thank you! I know we're still several months out, but I'm literally a paid planner at my job. Haha! Sometimes the historic spots need reservations or have special events on certain days.