Road trip: A capital idea

Harpers Ferry has been at the center of many historical dramas. It was central to the push west into Ohio, the development of train transportation, the abolitionist movement, and the Civil War. Harpers Ferry also has excellent hiking, biking, kayaking and outdoor activities. In fact, the Appalachian Trail goes right through town.

At the end of the day, drive back to Leesburg or head down to Winchester for the evening; both towns have more dining and lodging options than can be found in Harpers Ferry.

Day Three — The Shenandoah Valley

Slide show   10 great American road trips Getting there and back is all the fun for these one-day driving adventures. more photos

Spend the day driving down the Shenandoah Valley, beautiful in any season. You’re headed for Charlottesville, but stop along the way to visit Luray Caverns, one of the most extensive cave systems on the East Coast. Then wind your way up onto Skyline Drive and wander south through Shenandoah National Park. Every twist and turn of the road reveals overlooks that provide wonderful scenery.

Near the southern end of Skyline Drive is the picturesque city of Charlottesville. Spend the afternoon visiting the University of Virginia, designed by Thomas Jefferson, and enjoy exploring the town’s restaurants and shops, especially its renowned bookstores.

Day Four — Monticello and back to Washington
After breakfast, head to Monticello, the stately home of Thomas Jefferson. Modeled after a villa designed by the Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, the building and grounds are filled with history. Fortunately, the tour is excellent. Learn about Jefferson’s penchant for gadgets, such as a revolving bookstand that allowed him to read four books at a time, dumbwaiters that brought food from the basement kitchens, a clock he built himself, and a copy machine that would duplicate his pen strokes. Or tour the gardens, where Jefferson planted 170 varieties of fruit and 330 varieties of vegetables, including figs and artichokes.

Finally, head back to Washington on Route 29, another bucolic Virginia highway, stopping in Culpeper for lunch. Restaurants here are excellent — one is even run by a former White House chef. Continue on to Manassas, also called Bull Run, a Civil War battleground that was the site of two major campaigns. The fields at Manassas roll away in vast and empty silence. More than 4,000 men died here; more than 24,000 were wounded. It is a place that inspires deep thought, and the traveler heads back to Washington with a new appreciation for that hard-won capital.

Charles Leocha is nationally-recognized expert on saving money and the publisher of Tripso. He is also the Boston-based author of "SkiSnowboard America & Canada." E-mail him or visit his Web site.

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