East coast vacation ideas?

March 2, 2004 8:01 AM

My boss is looking for somewhere on the US East Coast to stay for a holiday for the week from 8th -15th April (ie over Easter). They fly into Dulles and have to be in Charlottesville at some point, but want a week somewhere picturesque and out of the way with fairly upmarket accomodation. They were looking at the Sanderling in Duck, N.Carolina to give you an idea of what they're after but its a bit steep for the days they want. Any recommendations for somewhere to stay, prices around $200 a night for a double (with a view) would be appreciated.
posted by biffa to technology (8 comments total)

I'd recommend that they just stay in Charlottesville. Plenty of decent accommodations, gorgeous town and scenery, half hour drive from Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive. But, as a UVa alumnus, I'm biased.
posted by LionIndex at 8:22 AM on March 2, 2004

Take a look at the Greenbrier. It's a little over your $200/night budget, but if they want luxury you can't beat it. It is at or near the top of just about every "Great U.S. Resorts" list.
posted by arco at 8:26 AM on March 2, 2004

It's a bit more of a hike, but the coast of South Carolina is also truly amazing. I've personally spent some time on Kiawah Island which is a sort of combination golf and island resort location, priced about in your range, and really sort of lovely in that condo-on-the-beach way with some nature areas nearby. I stayed here. Can't beat the views and it's pretty nice and secluded. Not that close to VA, but not insanely far either.
posted by jessamyn at 9:07 AM on March 2, 2004

(oh, and note that for the Greenbrier the rates are "per person," which sends it waaaay over your $200/night range...)
posted by arco at 9:39 AM on March 2, 2004

The Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville is quite nice.

For a better view, head up I-64 and go west to Afton Mountain. There's a Holiday Inn -- yeah, just a Holiday Inn, but nice enough -- perched on the crest with great views (except when it's foggy; when it's foggy, you can watch the multi-car crashes on 64).

There are also a jillion B&B's if you head south from there along the Blue Ridge Parkway, or north into Albemarle/Greene "wine country".

In April, you're better off with mountains than with seaside, usually. The water off North Carolina will still be too cold for most people (maybe not for mad dogs and Englishmen though).
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:07 AM on March 2, 2004

As another UVa alumnus, I'll second the Boar's Head, and I've heard great things about the Greenbrier as well (although I've never been there).
posted by Tin Man at 11:49 AM on March 2, 2004

For a similar, but less expensive alternative to the Greenbrier, try the The Homestead in Bath County Virginia. It's about 2 hours by car from Charlottesville.
posted by trox at 11:53 AM on March 2, 2004

We've got some seriously "upmarket" places to stay in Charlottesville. We have an Orient Express Hotel, the aforementioned Boar's Head, The Clifton Inn (it burned down a few months ago), the South Street Inn, and bunches more. C'ville is the home of the University of Virginia, Jefferson' Monticello, James Madison's Montpelier, and James Monroe's Ash Lawn. It's just 30 minutes from the Shenandoah National Park, which is all aflutter with budding plants and returning migratory birds in mid-April. And, of course, there's Charlottesville's Downtown Mall, the shopping/dining/arts district that's one of the most successful reclaimed downtowns in the nation.

I can't imagine why they'd fly to Duck, when they could keep plenty busy in Charlottesville.
posted by waldo at 6:53 PM on March 2, 2004