America's Byways- Skyline Drive
America's Byways ® - Skyline Drive6 nightsFrom £1315 per person
Price includes: Flights, accommodation and car hire
Day 1
Arrive in Washington, DC. Washington, DC is a cosmopolitan capital city, packed with famous sights, free attractions and home to some of the world’s best-known museums, including the Smithsonian Institution and International Spy Museum. Combine this with hip new restaurants and bars, stunning hotels, great nightlife, live music, theatres, fun and funky neighbourhoods like U Street and Georgetown and terrific shopping and you have a fantastic city break destination. Spend two nights in Washington, DC.
Day 3- Washington, DC to Loudoun, Virginia (25 miles)
Venture west today to Loudoun, Virginia: DC’s Wine Country®. This area boasts exquisite culinary experiences including more than 30 award-winning wineries, farm-to-table dining, breweries and distilleries, locally made pies and sweets, and more, set against the backdrop of scenic vistas and charming small towns. Shoppers will want to plan time at Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, offering impressive savings at 110 outlets including Ann Taylor, Polo Ralph Lauren and J. Crew. Spend one night in Leesburg, Virginia.
Day 4- Leesburg to Luray (75 miles)
Begin your road trip along the beautiful Skyline Drive, a National Scenic Byway, running 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, from Front Royal, Virginia south to Waynesboro, where it meets the Blue Ridge Parkway. Skyline Drive runs through Shenandoah National Park, a national treasure home to white-tailed deer, black bear, raccoons, opossum, red and gray fox and more. With 200 species of local and migratory birds, viewing opportunities at Shenandoah are excellent. Throughout the park are 500 miles of hiking trails and a host of Park Ranger programs. Shenandoah is home to Luray Caverns, Eastern America's largest and most popular caverns. Explore cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings 10 stories high, filled with towering stone columns and crystal-clear pools. Nearby in New Market, visit the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, interpreting the 1864 Civil War Battle of New Market. Spend two nights at Skyland Resort or in Luray, Virginia.
Day 6- Luray to Charlottesville (65 miles)
Not far from the southern terminus of Skyline Drive is Charlottesville, a delightful blend of college town, small city sophistication and an active arts and cultural scene, all served up with a dash of history. Mix with locals and students on the downtown pedestrian mall, home to quirky shops, coffee houses, street musicians and fine dining. Thomas Jefferson's mountaintop home, Monticello, is surrounded by extensive flower and vegetable gardens and a vineyard, all following his original plan. Nearby is the University of Virginia, an architectural treasure designed by Jefferson and featuring historic gardens lovingly restored by the Garden Club of Virginia. Both Monticello and the University are listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Take a short drive into the rolling Virginia countryside to tour a local vineyard and sample award-winning Virginia wine. Spend one night in Charlottesville.
Day 7- Charlottesville to Washington Dulles (95 miles).
Enjoy the scenic drive back to the airport for your return trip to the UK, or stop off en route at one of the vineyards in the area.
