Three destinations… one great American story
Ly nchburg, VA
N orfo lk, VA
Oute r Ban ks, N C=
Experience the best this country has to offer from bustling cities to pristine beaches! These cities are classic Americana and offer first-rate restaurants, museums, shops, fun festivals and outdoor activities for all! Day One – Lynchburg, Virginia PM: Begin your Central Virginia journey at Poplar Forest, the retreat home of a great American founding father and president Thomas Jefferson. This beautiful, octagonal home was built and designed by Jefferson himself after deeming Lynchburg “the most interesting spot in the state.” Next, honor the brave soldiers who participated in the invasion of Normandy during World War II with a visit to the moving National D-Day Memorial. Hear powerful stories from members of the ‘greatest generation’ and take in the memorials and gardens while surrounded by majestic views of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Complete the day with a visit along “America’s Most Popular Scenic Drive,” the picturesque Blue Ridge Parkway. Returning from the parkway, enjoy one of the many local orchards or wineries, and indulge in tastings of award-winning Virginia wines. Top off the evening with a memorable dinner at Shoemakers Restaurant located along downtown Lynchburg’s riverfront. Shoemakers is part of the historic Craddock-Terry…Virginia’s only shoe-themed hotel!
Day Two – Lynchburg, Virginia AM: Head out for Appomattox Court House National Historical Park where you can walk the same dusty trails once trod by Generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. Here, in the original village of Appomattox Court House, these men signed the terms of surrender which brought an end to the bloodiest chapter in U.S. history…the From top: White Marlin Fishing in the Gulf Stream, National D-Day Memorial, Craddock-Terry Hotel
American Civil War. The past is brought to life as museum docents portray historical figures from the 1860s in this peaceful, 1,700 acre setting. Less than a mile away you’ll find the cutting-edge, interactive Museum of the Confederacy where you will see the actual uniform and sword used by General Robert E. Lee, along with many other unique Civil War artifacts. Time for lunch: order a ‘General Lee Sandwich’, an ‘Appomattox Station Club’, or a “General Custer Salad” for a leisurely lunch at the charming Babcock House, a unique and historic restaurant decorated in period antiques from the Civil War era.
Baltimore, MD
Driving Distances
Washington D.C. Charleston, WVA
from Washington, D.C. to the Outer Banks, North Carolina
95 64
64
Richmond 81 Lynchburg
64
Outer Banks
City Lynchburg, Virginia Richmond, Virginia Norfolk, Virginia Outer Banks, North Carolina
Miles 179 108 193 278
PM: Whether your idea of a perfect afternoon consists of soaking in some culture or searching for adventure, Lynchburg has something for you! Relax and float the James River by inner tube or kayak, enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the Blue Ridge Mountains, choose a scenic trail for some afternoon hiking or biking, or head up to Snowflex to participate in or just watch exciting year-round snow sports. For those looking to continue their history lessons, enjoy afternoon tea at the local Ploughcroft Tea Room and then visit the Anne Spencer House & Gardens, History Sandusky and Civil War Center, and the impressive Point of Honor estate. End your day with gracious southern cuisine while listening to live piano music and song in the intimate, ‘speakeasy’ setting of Lynchburg’s own ‘Jimmy on the James’ Restaurant.
Day Three – Lynchburg / Norfolk, Virginia AM: Before leaving, be sure to stop by Lynchburg’s most visited attraction, Old City Cemetery. This 26-acre cemetery contains history laden, interpretive walking trails, a Confederate section with the graves of more than 2,200 Civil War soldiers, five interactive museums, and beautiful antique roses that date back to the 1500s. Don’t forget to hit the gift shop to buy a little casket of “Died and Gone to Heaven Honey,” or their cookbook full of cemetery stories and original ‘comfort food’ recipes entitled “Food to DIE For!”
PM: Arrive in Norfolk, Virginia. Set sail aboard a sunset cruise on the American Rover Tall Ship or the Spirit of Norfolk. Sail down the Elizabeth River with a guided tour of Norfolk and learn about maritime history. Then experience Norfolk’s finest cuisine on a food tour of “Restaurant Row” or Historic Ghent, tasting and sampling local favorites with up to five different locally owned restaurants. Sip wine at Virginia’s first urban winery, the Mermaid Winery.
Day Four – Norfolk, Virginia AM: Experience the life of a sailor at Naval Station Norfolk. Take a 45-minute bus tour of the world’s largest naval station, as an enlisted sailor takes you onto the base and shows how our Navy works, lives, and protects our country. Then step back in history with more than 5,000 years of art at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Explore the largest collection of Tiffany glass on the East Coast and stop by the glass blowing studio to see artists at work.
From top: Snowboarding at Snow Flex Lodge, Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival, Tubing down the James River Left: The Spirit of Norfolk with downtown Norfolk in the background
PM: Tour Nauticus, an interactive science center. Then walk the decks of the Battleship Wisconsin, one of the last and largest built by the U.S. Navy. Stand beneath her 16-inch guns and feel the excitement of being aboard a historic warship. Catch a performance with the Virginia Symphony, Virginia Arts Festival, the Virginia Stage Company, or the Virginia Opera to end your evening.
Day Five – Outer Banks, North Carolina AM: Before you pack your bags and head for the beach, stop at Norfolk Botanical Garden and experience more than 20 themed gardens on a tram or boat tour. Then take off, and in just a 1.5-hour drive you will be on the storied Outer Banks. Along the way stop at one of the farmers markets for fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood!
PM: Head for Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head for a breathtaking panoramic view of the barrier islands atop the tallest sand dunes on the East Coast! Be a daredevil and hang glide off the side of the dune or just catch the view at sunset and you’ll be amazed at the colors you will see. Be sure to enjoy the many diverse menus from more than 100 local restaurants on the OBX found From top: U.S.S. Wisconsin, Nauticus in Norfolk Below, from left: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Beach at Rodanthe, Paddleboarding at the S-turns, Wright Brothers National Memorial
nowhere else, including locally sourced meats and vegetables, craft brews and native wines! Of course, our island seafood is gathered from surrounding waters daily by the same families who harvested fresh fish, shrimp and scallops for generations. Along with our world-class seafood, you can find lots of restaurants that serve a full range of flavors and cuisines you’d expect from a premier island destination.
Day Six – Outer Banks, North Carolina AM: What invention has had more influence on travel and society than the birth of powered flight? Today, you can experience where it transformed from a dream to reality on the OBX. See where Orville and Wilbur Wright, two bicycle makers, perfected their flying inventions over the course of four years before taking to the air on December 17, 1903 in the aptly-named Wright “Flyer” in an event that forever changed the world.
PM: Take in a beach day on America’s first seashore, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 70 miles of unspoiled beaches covering 30,000 acres; rent a paddleboard and surf the waves at the famous S-Turns or take a lesson in kiteboarding and learn to harness the wind across the open water of the Pamlico Sound. After your day at the beach, climb or visit the tallest brick beacon on the American coast, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, standing at 208 feet high. Catch a bird’s-eye view of Cape Point and the Graveyard of the Atlantic like nowhere else. It’s all about pirates and lost booty at the nearby Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum; take a behind-the-scenes tour to see artifacts from historical shipwrecks, unique beach finds and locally carved ships’ models.
Transportation Airports
Contact Information
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Lynchburg Regional
http://www.metwashairports.com/dulles/dulles.htm
Convention and Visitors Bureau
Dulles is a major hub for domestic and international air travel with a mixture of legacy and low fare carriers which provide air service throughout the world.
Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH) http://www.lynchburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=85 With 12 daily arriving and departing flights, Lynchburg Regional Airport provides a variety of flight times for all passengers. With regional carrier service provided by US
Courtney Hunter Sales Manager Phone: 1-800-732-5821 Email: chunter@discoverlynchburg.org www.discoverlynchburg.org
Airways Express, their affiliation with a major flagship airline means easy connection and ticketing no matter where you’re headed.
Norfolk International Airport (ORF) www.norfolkairport.com Norfolk International Airport is the major airport serving coastal Virginia including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Williamsburg, Newport News and Hampton, as well as Virginia’s Eastern Shore, northeast North Carolina and the Outer Banks. Air service is provided by American, Delta, Southwest, United Express and US Airways offering access to 22 non-stop destinations with connections to hundreds of cities worldwide on a daily basis. The airport served nearly 3.2 million passengers in 2011.
VisitNorfolk Melissa Hopper Associate Director of Tour and Travel Phone: 800-368-3097 Email: mhopper@visitnorfolktoday.com www.visitnorfolktoday.com
Amtrak Stations Washington, D.C. – Union Station (WAS) Lynchburg, Virginia (LYH) Norfolk, Virginia (NFK)
Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Lorrie Love Tourism Sales and Events Manager Phone: 877-629-4386 Email: love@outerbanks.org www.outerbanks.org