I'm driving from the Houston area with my wife and two kids to Washington DC this summer. Any recommendations for things to do or places to eat there or on the way? We'll be going New Orleans/Atlanta/Virginia on the way there and Asheville/Nashville/Arkansas on the way home.

Depending on how much time you have to spend seeing sites and doing activities while you're in transit, I recommend trying I-66 west from DC and taking the I-81 Blue Ridge route through western Virginia to Knoxville and on to Nashville and skip Asheville. Unless you are planning it as a gateway to spending time in Great Smoky Mountans NP (or you must see the Biltmore Estate), Asheville isn't worth going any direct route you'd take to get there from DC, and then from there to Knoxville.

The Blue Ridge route has loads of opportunities for activities, site seeing and natural beauty along the way that you won't get close to touching the other route.

You can still go to Asheville if you go this way, but it's a back and forth of about an hour and a half each way on I-40 to go and then get you back on track.

Snake Jazz said:

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I'm driving from the Houston area with my wife and two kids to Washington DC this summer. Any recommendations for things to do or places to eat there or on the way? We'll be going New Orleans/Atlanta/Virginia on the way there and Asheville/Nashville/Arkansas on the way home.

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Last in NOLA when kids were 8 and younger. They enjoyed a carriage ride around the Quarter and of course had to get a muffaletta. Went to Cafe du Monde in the evening, no line. I think the Audubon is worth hitting up. They also enjoyed the USS Alabama in Mobile.

Atlanta, World of Coke is a must! Skip the Varisty nearby. Your guts will thank you.

Kids loved Graceland in Memphis. I liked Tom's bbq.

They also enjoyed Hot Springs, Arkansas

You should pick at least one civil war battlefield since you are driving through all that history.

a.froman said:

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Atlanta Aquarium and College Football Hall of Fame are right next to the World of Coke as well.

Biltmore while in Asheville

Swamp Tour in NOLA, maybe WW2 museum

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Also, Atlanta is home to the restaurant where the Chick-fil-a sandwich was invented, the Dwarf House in Hapeville.

NE PA Ag said:

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Depending on how much time you have to spend seeing sites and doing activities while you're in transit, I recommend trying I-66 west from DC and taking the I-81 Blue Ridge route through western Virginia to Knoxville and on to Nashville and skip Asheville. Unless you are planning it as a gateway to spending time in Great Smoky Mountans NP (or you must see the Biltmore Estate), Asheville isn't worth going any direct route you'd take to get there from DC, and then from there to Knoxville.

The Blue Ridge route has loads of opportunities for activities, site seeing and natural beauty along the way that you won't get close to touching the other route.

You can still go to Asheville if you go this way, but it's a back and forth of about an hour and a half each way on I-40 to go and then get you back on track.

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We're actually planning on taking a little detour to Gettysburg and then going back and checking out Monticello before heading west to Asheville. The reason for Asheville was to see the Biltmore Estate, although that isn't set in stone.

In your opinion, does the beauty of the Blue Ridge route trump seeing the Biltmore Estate?

Pro Sandy said:

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Snake Jazz said:

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I'm driving from the Houston area with my wife and two kids to Washington DC this summer. Any recommendations for things to do or places to eat there or on the way? We'll be going New Orleans/Atlanta/Virginia on the way there and Asheville/Nashville/Arkansas on the way home.

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Last in NOLA when kids were 8 and younger. They enjoyed a carriage ride around the Quarter and of course had to get a muffaletta. Went to Cafe du Monde in the evening, no line. I think the Audubon is worth hitting up. They also enjoyed the USS Alabama in Mobile.

Atlanta, World of Coke is a must! Skip the Varisty nearby. Your guts will thank you.

Kids loved Graceland in Memphis. I liked Tom's bbq.

They also enjoyed Hot Springs, Arkansas

You should pick at least one civil war battlefield since you are driving through all that history.

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Thanks for the advice on the Varsity...had been considering that.

I've never been to Atlanta and it's been many years since I went to New Orleans. I'm a little skeptical to see some of these places just because I've heard crime/homelessness is an issue. Any concerns with that in these areas?

Thank you for the Toms BBQ rec...we're only going to be in Memphis one day and I definitely want to eat ribs while we're there. We will hit up Graceland.

It's a little out of the way, but we're going to see Gettysburg after we leave DC.

a.froman said:

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Atlanta Aquarium and College Football Hall of Fame are right next to the World of Coke as well.

Biltmore while in Asheville

Swamp Tour in NOLA, maybe WW2 museum

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College Football Hall of Fame? I didn't know that...might have to sneak that in.

Snake Jazz said:

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a.froman said:

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Atlanta Aquarium and College Football Hall of Fame are right next to the World of Coke as well.

Biltmore while in Asheville

Swamp Tour in NOLA, maybe WW2 museum

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College Football Hall of Fame? I didn't know that...might have to sneak that in.

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Yes, son and I went to Atlanta as part of our ballpark tours this summer. College Football Hall of Fame is great. Not a long attraction unless you read every little thing but pretty cool. All of these activities are right there together. I wouldn't stay in downtown Atlanta though. We did and it was pretty sketchy. Just drive into the area where these activities are and then find a place somewhere outside downtown. Very safe during the day where these attractions are.

a.froman said:

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Snake Jazz said:

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a.froman said:

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Atlanta Aquarium and College Football Hall of Fame are right next to the World of Coke as well.

Biltmore while in Asheville

Swamp Tour in NOLA, maybe WW2 museum

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College Football Hall of Fame? I didn't know that...might have to sneak that in.

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Yes, son and I went to Atlanta as part of our ballpark tours this summer. College Football Hall of Fame is great. Not a long attraction unless you read every little thing but pretty cool. All of these activities are right there together. I wouldn't stay in downtown Atlanta though. We did and it was pretty sketchy. Just drive into the area where these activities are and then find a place somewhere outside downtown. Very safe during the day where these attractions are.

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Thanks...I'm worried about sketchy neighborhoods in a lot of these cities as I'm unfamiliar with them and not sure what areas to avoid. The one night we'll be in Atlanta, we were going to see a Braves game and stay at one of the hotels that is walking distance to the stadium. I've read that Truist Park is in a more suburban area and that everything around the Battery is pretty nice.

Snake Jazz said:

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a.froman said:

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Snake Jazz said:

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a.froman said:

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Atlanta Aquarium and College Football Hall of Fame are right next to the World of Coke as well.

Biltmore while in Asheville

Swamp Tour in NOLA, maybe WW2 museum

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College Football Hall of Fame? I didn't know that...might have to sneak that in.

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Yes, son and I went to Atlanta as part of our ballpark tours this summer. College Football Hall of Fame is great. Not a long attraction unless you read every little thing but pretty cool. All of these activities are right there together. I wouldn't stay in downtown Atlanta though. We did and it was pretty sketchy. Just drive into the area where these activities are and then find a place somewhere outside downtown. Very safe during the day where these attractions are.

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Thanks...I'm worried about sketchy neighborhoods in a lot of these cities as I'm unfamiliar with them and not sure what areas to avoid. The one night we'll be in Atlanta, we were going to see a Braves game and stay at one of the hotels that is walking distance to the stadium. I've read that Truist Park is in a more suburban area and that everything around the Battery is pretty nice.

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Great area. If we would have known better, we would have stayed out there and then Ubered to downtown instead of the opposite.

Not sure how much time you have allotted for return, but highly recommend the Blue Ridge. If you can, try to drive part of the way south on the BR Parkway. They have a great website with towns, attractions, etc. at the various mile markers. Some of the areas in NC may still be impacted by the hurricane damage. If you're going to Monticello, it's easy to hop on and off. While in that area, if you enjoy wineries, politics aside, Trump's is gorgeous. Lots of breweries in that area also. We've been in Virginia for 21 years and always take the Nashville route home. It's brutal west of Nashville but the rest of that drive is so much more scenic.

vbaggie93 said:

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Not sure how much time you have allotted for return, but highly recommend the Blue Ridge. If you can, try to drive part of the way south on the BR Parkway. They have a great website with towns, attractions, etc. at the various mile markers. Some of the areas in NC may still be impacted by the hurricane damage. If you're going to Monticello, it's easy to hop on and off. While in that area, if you enjoy wineries, politics aside, Trump's is gorgeous. Lots of breweries in that area also. We've been in Virginia for 21 years and always take the Nashville route home. It's brutal west of Nashville but the rest of that drive is so much more scenic.

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Awesome, thank you for the tip!

In DC, if anyone in your family likes planes, go to the Udvar-Hazy museum. It's out near Dulles. Amazing collection of planes, space shuttle, and a control tower where you can go up and watch planes approach and depart Dulles.

The highlights for me were the space shuttle, the Enola Gay, and the SR-71 Blackbird.

dmart90 said:

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In DC, if anyone in your family likes planes, go to the Udvar-Hazy museum. It's out near Dulles. Amazing collection of planes, space shuttle, and a control tower where you can go up and watch planes approach and depart Dulles.

The highlights for me were the space shuttle, the Enola Gay, and the SR-71 Blackbird.

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I had no idea this existed. I'm not sure we'll have time, but I want to find a way to fit it in.

Live in Richmond, VA and just did drive back/forth to Nashville for 3rd time.

I would consider Asheville as a future vacation location versus a stop off on a drive.

The 81/77 route is very picturesque, and traffic isn't usually awful.

Knoxville has some great playgrounds and a great Zoo. Nashville Zoo is also excellent.

Is Colonial Williamsburg on your list? That's usually a huge hit for kids. If you're heading through Richmond, happy to give some recs.

Random Ag said:

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Live in Richmond, VA and just did drive back/forth to Nashville for 3rd time.

I would consider Asheville as a future vacation location versus a stop off on a drive.

The 81/77 route is very picturesque, and traffic isn't usually awful.

Knoxville has some great playgrounds and a great Zoo. Nashville Zoo is also excellent.

Is Colonial Williamsburg on your list? That's usually a huge hit for kids. If you're heading through Richmond, happy to give some recs.

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We are going to Williamsburg. In fact, we will be there for the 4th of July...not sure if I'm going to like that or not, but that is what my wife wanted to do for the 4th. We'll be in the Richmond area for about two days, so any recommendations you have are appreciated.

Not looking for real kid-friendly stuff in general, though, as my kids are a little older (15 & 11).

I live in Alexandria, VA and go into the city quite often - so much to see and do in the area. If you like museums, the Smithsonian museums are pretty close to each other if you spend a day or two on the Mall. The Air & Space Museum has been going through a renovation over the past few years and the updated exhibits are great. You can just walk into most of the Smithsonians but if you want to go to the A&S museum on the mall, get tickets in advance (they're free on their website). You won't be able to just walk up to get in - every time we go, we see some disappointed visitors right outside the door that didn't know to get them ahead of time.

I second the endorsement of the Udvar-Hazy annex to the Air & Space Museum out near Dulles - really awesome collection there. No timed tickets in advance needed at this one, though.

The Museum of the Bible and Spy Museum are not Smithsonians but they are nearby - and phenomenal. Arguably better done than any of the Smithsonian museums.

Catch a Nationals game if they're in town. You can get great seats for cheap most games.

Write your Congressman if you want to get a White House tour scheduled. Their staffs can also get you a tour of the Capitol.

The Manassas/Bull Run battlefield is a short drive from D.C. and easy to take in over a morning or afternoon. The NPS does a great job with informational signage and walking routes throughout the site. The Wilderness Battlefield is right there, so you might as well catch that if you go to Bull Run.

Mount Vernon is around the corner from my house; always worth adding to a D.C. itinerary. The mansion just reopened after closing for a renovation and the entire property is rich in history and well-preserved. Check their website before you go to see if they have any special events going on - they often put on markets, and performances that fit the setting/colonial era. Fireworks over the Potomac throughout the year, too. They have a decent restaurant (The Mount Vernon Inn) for lunch/dinner.

Old Town Alexandria can be a nice walking/dining option if you're in the area. You can grab dinner at Gadsby's Tavern and eat in the same place George Washington and other founding fathers. There's a wider variety of grub a few blocks away near the waterfront on King Street. If you go that direction, grab some ice cream at Pop's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co.

Williamsburg on 4th will be really cool!

Something cool and unique for 11 and 15 yo would be a rafting trip through Riverside Outfitters. Richmond has some sweet rapids running through the city and RO is an outstanding outfitter.

Maymont Mansion and gardens/grounds or Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Both have some expansion construction but LGBG is one of the best in the nation.

Tons of breweries, restaurants, and some arcades in Scott's Addition. ZZQ for best Texas style bbq in the state, or Eazzy Burger for some great burgers (and brews from Ardent next door).

Walk through Forest Hill Park
Canal Walk / Browns Island / Treadegar Pedestrian Bridge
VMFA Museum (free)
Capital building/tour

Let me know if you want more specific dining recs or any other specifics you need. Richmond is tiny and super navigatable compared to Houston, but it has a ton of culture packed into a small package.

Snake Jazz said:

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NE PA Ag said:

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Depending on how much time you have to spend seeing sites and doing activities while you're in transit, I recommend trying I-66 west from DC and taking the I-81 Blue Ridge route through western Virginia to Knoxville and on to Nashville and skip Asheville. Unless you are planning it as a gateway to spending time in Great Smoky Mountans NP (or you must see the Biltmore Estate), Asheville isn't worth going any direct route you'd take to get there from DC, and then from there to Knoxville.

The Blue Ridge route has loads of opportunities for activities, site seeing and natural beauty along the way that you won't get close to touching the other route.

You can still go to Asheville if you go this way, but it's a back and forth of about an hour and a half each way on I-40 to go and then get you back on track.

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We're actually planning on taking a little detour to Gettysburg and then going back and checking out Monticello before heading west to Asheville. The reason for Asheville was to see the Biltmore Estate, although that isn't set in stone.

In your opinion, does the beauty of the Blue Ridge route trump seeing the Biltmore Estate?

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Since you're going from Charlottesville, if you take the Blue Ridge/I-64, I-81 route from there and leave it just south of Bristol and take I-26 south to Asheville, you get there in the same amount of time as the direct route approaching from the east, so you don't really need to choose.

My wife and I have been to the Biltmore at Christmas twice and love it.

Noblemen06 said:

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I live in Alexandria, VA and go into the city quite often - so much to see and do in the area. If you like museums, the Smithsonian museums are pretty close to each other if you spend a day or two on the Mall. The Air & Space Museum has been going through a renovation over the past few years and the updated exhibits are great. You can just walk into most of the Smithsonians but if you want to go to the A&S museum on the mall, get tickets in advance (they're free on their website). You won't be able to just walk up to get in - every time we go, we see some disappointed visitors right outside the door that didn't know to get them ahead of time.

I second the endorsement of the Udvar-Hazy annex to the Air & Space Museum out near Dulles - really awesome collection there. No timed tickets in advance needed at this one, though.

The Museum of the Bible and Spy Museum are not Smithsonians but they are nearby - and phenomenal. Arguably better done than any of the Smithsonian museums.

Catch a Nationals game if they're in town. You can get great seats for cheap most games.

Write your Congressman if you want to get a White House tour scheduled. Their staffs can also get you a tour of the Capitol.

The Manassas/Bull Run battlefield is a short drive from D.C. and easy to take in over a morning or afternoon. The NPS does a great job with informational signage and walking routes throughout the site. The Wilderness Battlefield is right there, so you might as well catch that if you go to Bull Run.

Mount Vernon is around the corner from my house; always worth adding to a D.C. itinerary. The mansion just reopened after closing for a renovation and the entire property is rich in history and well-preserved. Check their website before you go to see if they have any special events going on - they often put on markets, and performances that fit the setting/colonial era. Fireworks over the Potomac throughout the year, too. They have a decent restaurant (The Mount Vernon Inn) for lunch/dinner.

Old Town Alexandria can be a nice walking/dining option if you're in the area. You can grab dinner at Gadsby's Tavern and eat in the same place George Washington and other founding fathers. There's a wider variety of grub a few blocks away near the waterfront on King Street. If you go that direction, grab some ice cream at Pop's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co.

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Lot of good stuff here, thank you! Some of this I knew, some I didn't.

We're staying near the mall and plan on seeing Air and Space and Natural History for sure...more will depend on time. Will be sure to get Air and Space in advance.

We're lucky that while we are down there, our hometown Astros are visiting, as well, so we will go to a Nats game. I was debating going to an Orioles game, as well, because I've always wanted to see Camden Yards. is that do-able? Many of the DC touristy stuff closes at 5 anyways, so driving to the edge of Baltimore doesn't seem unrealistic.

I knew about the White House tickets. Will be writing my Congressman.

I would love to see Bull Run but probably won't have time.

Will be going to Mount Vernon. Thank you for the Alexandria advice!

NE PA Ag said:

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Snake Jazz said:

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NE PA Ag said:

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Depending on how much time you have to spend seeing sites and doing activities while you're in transit, I recommend trying I-66 west from DC and taking the I-81 Blue Ridge route through western Virginia to Knoxville and on to Nashville and skip Asheville. Unless you are planning it as a gateway to spending time in Great Smoky Mountans NP (or you must see the Biltmore Estate), Asheville isn't worth going any direct route you'd take to get there from DC, and then from there to Knoxville.

The Blue Ridge route has loads of opportunities for activities, site seeing and natural beauty along the way that you won't get close to touching the other route.

You can still go to Asheville if you go this way, but it's a back and forth of about an hour and a half each way on I-40 to go and then get you back on track.

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We're actually planning on taking a little detour to Gettysburg and then going back and checking out Monticello before heading west to Asheville. The reason for Asheville was to see the Biltmore Estate, although that isn't set in stone.

In your opinion, does the beauty of the Blue Ridge route trump seeing the Biltmore Estate?

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Since you're going from Charlottesville, if you take the Blue Ridge/I-64, I-81 route from there and leave it just south of Bristol and take I-26 south to Asheville, you get there in the same amount of time as the direct route approaching from the east, so you don't really need to choose.

My wife and I have been to the Biltmore at Christmas twice and love it.

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Thanks for the advice...my wife really wants to hit North Carolina to see the Biltmore Estate and also to catch up a with a friend from high school who lives there. Everybody has insisted on Blue Ridge, though, so if both are possible, that would be preferred.

Make sure you reach out to your Congressman AND Senator. I went to DC a couple years ago for the first time. It was planned pretty last-minute so I didn't submit the request until 3-4 weeks before our trip. I submitted to both Ted Cruz and Al Green's offices. They both had an application to complete on their websites. Both put me on waitlists. A week before the trip, Ted Cruz's office reached out me with White House tour tickets and told me to stop by his office and one of his aids would give my family a personal tour of the Capital Building complex. The White House tour was kind of a disappointing, but the Capital Building tour was one of the highlights of our trip.

All Al Green's office did was put me on their weekly email distribution list (that I can't seem to successfully unsubscribe from) where he lists all the "wonderful" things he is doing for me.....

If Camden Yards is a bucket list item - do it! How long it takes to get to Baltimore is dependent on when you're choosing to be in traffic but you can get to Camden Yards in 45 minutes from downtown DC if you time it right.

Downtown Baltimore where the ballpark is has a reputation for being rough but it's overblown. We've gone there plenty to take my daughter to the aquarium/waterfront and never had any issues other than smelling pot smoke everywhere and being contentious to avoid the same things you have to avoid in any large city.