worth the drive Norfolk, VA heading south?

[slalemand]

Originally Posted by Watchful

Honestly there are folks who say "I know this route, let's stick with what I know"
and folks who say "I've been that route, let's try something new."

Sounds like you (and I) fall in category two. Go for it. Sounds like some good suggestions but I bet you find something interesting that you never anticipated!

Yeah, #2 for sure. Heck my blog (which isn't up-to-date), says it all
offthebeatenpathwithskip.com

[drinkthekoolaid]

Beaufort nc and New Bern NC are cool little towns worth stopping at and walking around. Cool little side trip is you can see where Pepsi was invented.

[slalemand]

Hi and Thank you. We are familiar with New Bern, and stopping here will be as much to see how much it's changed since the last time we were here (some 8-10 years now)

As of right now, overnight stays will be in the Bridgwater, NJ area, Ocean City, MD or Norfolk, VA, Swansboro, NC to Beaufort, SC

Swansboro stay over, MAYBE. As much so the misses can have her favorite Chowder at Prestons Bar & Grill (or is there a better choice?) and me, I'd love to try il Cigno Italiano, it sounds awesome

[lammius]

I'd recommend staying overnight in Norfolk over Ocean City. Bridgewater to Norfolk is easily doable in a day (about 6 hours), and it gets you about 2.5 hours' head start toward your journey into NC (Ocean City to Swansboro would be over 8 hours' drive). Norfolk is the largest city you'll encounter on your trip, and if you stay downtown you can walk to some decent restaurants, see a battleship and museum on the waterfront, and since you asked about places to walk, the 10-mile Elizabeth River trail starts downtown and goes north along the river and through historic neighborhoods. You'll see some cobblestone streets in a couple of spots, and there are a few breweries and things along/near the trail too. There's also a replica paddlewheel riverboat ferry from downtown Norfolk over to Olde Towne Portsmouth, which is a really cute historic district.

Here's the subforum for the Norfolk area if you'd like to browse for ideas or start a thread there for some recommendations: https://www.city-data.com/forum/hampton-roads-area/

[slalemand]

Originally Posted by lammius

I'd recommend staying overnight in Norfolk over Ocean City. Bridgewater to Norfolk is easily doable in a day (about 6 hours), and it gets you about 2.5 hours' head start toward your journey into NC (Ocean City to Swansboro would be over 8 hours' drive). Norfolk is the largest city you'll encounter on your trip, and if you stay downtown you can walk to some decent restaurants, see a battleship and museum on the waterfront, and since you asked about places to walk, the 10-mile Elizabeth River trail starts downtown and goes north along the river and through historic neighborhoods. You'll see some cobblestone streets in a couple of spots, and there are a few breweries and things along/near the trail too. There's also a replica paddlewheel riverboat ferry from downtown Norfolk over to Olde Towne Portsmouth, which is a really cute historic district.

Here's the subforum for the Norfolk area if you'd like to browse for ideas or start a thread there for some recommendations: https://www.city-data.com/forum/hampton-roads-area/

Awesome, thank you very much for the input, all very helpful.

[slowlane]

The 2nd largest antiques market in all of VA, is on the eastern shore, near or north of Cape Charles. Can't recall the business'es name. (The largest one BTW, is in Verona near Staunton).

[slowlane]

The Blue Crow Antiques Mall in Painter, VA (on the eastern shore peninsula) is the largest, or second largest one, in the State. (Along with the one in Verona, VA near Staunton in western VA).