I just got back from my trip to Texas, and while I love it out West, I always come home with a newfound appreciation for my neck of the woods. Things are so spread out in places like California and Texas. However, you can drive in the Mid-Atlantic and hit a major city every 2 hours.
If you plan on visiting D.C. or NYC anytime soon, I’d extend your trip by one day, grab a car, and visit somewhere that’s off the beaten path for a dining experience like no other. Every state in the Mid-Atlantic has its own distinct culture that’s worth the road trip pit stops.
The Perfect Set of Wheels for a Road Trip
Over the summer, we had the opportunity to take the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox for a spin for a short road trip, and it was an incredible vehicle to drive on both a busy interstate and in the country.
One thing about Tom and I? We don’t travel light. Between his photography equipment, and the fact that he travels with his 27″ iMac (yes, seriously!), and with my tendency to pack too many shoes, we need a vehicle that has quite a bit of cargo space. The Equinox comfortably fit all of our luggage after we folded down the rear seats, with plenty of room to spare — which was very impressive for a crossover SUV.
Another thing I loved about the Chevy Equinox was the tech and safety features. The blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist all made me feel comfortable and safe behind the wheel. Both Apple Carplay and Android Auto come standard, and we loved that the car had WiFi. We were able to get a signal in even the most rural stretches of our road trip.
4 Road Trip Pit Stops in the Mid-Atlantic You Need to Visit:
North Carolina // Skylight Inn BBQ
Let’s start in the South and work our way up, shall we? Last year during our road-trip in North Carolina, we stopped by Skylight Inn BBQ in between Wilmington and Raleigh. It was a 40-minute detour, but 100% worth it: to this day, this is my favorite barbecue spot in the state of North Carolina, and one of my Top 5 BBQ spots in the U.S. Make sure to bring home a bottle of their famed BBQ sauce for your next cookout.
Virginia // Blue Ridge Parkway
If you’re not in a hurry to get to your final destination, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the coolest drives you can make, with some of the most scenic backdrops. You can hop on the parkway outside of Charlottesville in Rockfish Gap, VA, and take it all the way down past Asheville, NC. Unlike Skyline Drive, there is no toll or fee to take the Blue Ridge Parkway — it is completely free.
Maryland // Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House
Guinness opened their only U.S. brewery just south of Baltimore, MD this summer, and it is well worth adding to your road trip pit stops list. It is one of only two experimental Guinness tap rooms in the world. You can try out a variety of smaller-batch beers in their tasting room, or enjoy New American and regional dishes at their massive restaurant.
As always, if you’re driving to a brewery, I’d encourage you to be responsible and have a designated driver in your group!
Pennsylvania // Peddler’s Village
I visited Peddler’s Village back when I was on crutches last year, so needless to say, I didn’t get to walk around the entire 42-acre property. However, if you’re heading from NYC to Philly or points south, I would take a short detour to the charming town of New Hope, PA. Enjoy incredible shopping, top-notch restaurants, or stop by the village during one of their 12 annual festivals.
