Definitely do Waffle House for breakfast. Get eggs over hard with bacon and hash browns scattered, smothered and covered.
The Blue Ridge mountains and Shenandoah valley are fantastic. Take Skyline Drive and back roads when you can and explore. Luray Caverns, Natural Bridge and Mt. Vernon (if you are in DC area) are all worth looks.
Natural Bridge most definitely...pretty hidden, but well worth the find, what with George Washington’s graffiti and all.
“Stay away from Cracker Barrels. Bland, soulless food with a tacky tourist trap on your way out.”
You have gone too far this time. Leave Cracker Barrel alone. This is the kind of talk that will get you an Alabama azz kickin boy. Cracker Barrel is off limits. I am petitioning the moderator to have your seditious comment removed forthwith. You can just take your Yankee azz back up to Boston and eat some beans.
Now I’m sitting back down to finish my deelishus Cracker Barrel fried Catfish dinner with a side of fried Okra and green beans with bisquit and sweet tea. Then I’m going out and browse the gift shop full of interesting down home items on my way out. :-)
Stay away from Cracker Barrels. Bland, soulless food with a tacky tourist trap on your way out. Plus they don’t serve alcohol with your bland, tasteless meal.
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And the room is noisy as heck, so conversation is very difficult.
Skyline Drive is fantastic, especially if you catch it during the fall foliage. Be forewarned, however, that you'll be driving the road with LOTS of others! It's a very popular attraction, so be patient.
Funny story: we drove Skyline Drive during fall foliage and traffic was at a dead stop. We wondered why, and finally came upon the reason: a black bear was halfway up a tree next to the road. He was casually staring at all the cars going by, as if to say "Hey! You lookin' at ME?"
If you do make it to George Washington's Mt. Vernon, you'll be about a mile or so from my house! :-)