I am not 100% sure if I will do the Drive or KD, but don't forget to factor the winery into the travel time. I'm not doing the Nationals in any case, so it does not matter to me.

That said, I'd vote for 9am as well.

DC Plates - COOP3R

 

I actually won't be stopping at the winery. I plan to drive straight through. I need to stop home and pick up a friend for the game.

 

I wonder if stopping at a vinyard is possible! I was just thinking that if we stop we won't have the ability to make it to the HQ and then to the stadium in time! I personally want to be in that parking lot in enough time, one to enjoy some tailgating, and two to ensure I get tickets! With only 500 available, I am sure it is going to be tough to get in! So we may pass up on the vinyard!

So here is my other question, are we going to get a little grill/food for tailgating and make it super fun? anyone interested? I feel a MINI party coming along!! Since we are all coming back to our area, it may be good for some to stop and pick up some food!?

 

I just got back from much of what will be Saturday's drive! There's no way and no need for us to leave at 7am I'm driving down from Culpeper first thing Saturday morning so I have an early start anyway. There may be another group leaving that early so we need to be sure we don't get confused. I'm thinking (as some of you are) a 9am depart from the Omni. That would get us to the Swift Gap entry to Skyline Drive within an hour --- it's 35 miles but the first few miles are exiting Charlottesville in that traffic. The Omni is not an easy hotel to get to! The parking is in a multi-story deck attached to the hotel and sometimes they have one entrance closed --- anyway we should meet at the parking garage (more about that later)

So we should enter the park by 10.00 -10.30 time (by the way the entry fee has been increased to $15 per car for a 1-7 day pass! we'll be driving a stretch on the Skyline that is 35 miles long --- we should stop at an appropriate point for lunch and exit the park at the Thornton Gap exit at 1pm -- that allows us time to drive (at no more than 35mph) time to stop and take in the vista and time for lunch (PICNIC more about this later tonight in a follow up post)

Arrive at the Gray Ghost Vineyard as a group for a 2pm tasting and tour (that will cost $3 per person --- remember it's a tasting and anything more should be reserved for evening enjoyment after the driving is done ) and then leave by 3pm to head to I66 via 211 east through Warrenton and Gainsville (sorry guys there really isn't much of an alternative)to arrive in DC by approx 5pm The distance from the Vineyard to DC is 60 miles

So to recap distance -- hotel to Skyline Drive 35 miles
Skyline Drive --drive also 35miles
Skyline drive to vineyard 22miles
Vineyard to DC 60miles
Total Miles 152. This should get you into DC by 5pm plenty of time for the game which I believe starts around 7pm Correct?

Please provide feedback because I do need to confirm with the Vineyard that time of 2pm.
Regards Philip

 

Are you saying that Just driving Skyline is $15!!!

My question/problem with your vinyard run is that we get to DC at 5pm...Then we still have to get to the hotel, and then to the parking lot (which opens at 5pm!) I want to make sure I am there in that parking lot!! So we will pass on the vinyard, and will probably leave earlier than 9am..probably.

 

What and miss out on the yummy baseball stadium food C'mon, eating greasy, fattening food at the stadium is one of the many joys of the game.

 

Philip,

Thank you so much for all your hard work! I am very exited to take the Skyline Drive even if it is $15. This is a once in a lifetime chance. I will however be passing on the vineyard. I don't want to cut it too close and I need to stop at Reston on my way back.

Is it possible we can leave from a central location rather than the Omni being as it is tricky to get in and out of?

 

Yes the new fee is $15 to enter the Park! If you live within a days driving distance an annual pass for unlimited visits cost $30 --- that's what I have. We will get to the Vineyard as I posted by 2pm -- if you skip that you would just carry on straight to DC. We may be done at the Vineyard before 3pm and of course a 60 mile drive from there to DC may only take you 60 mins -- if "God willing and the creek don't rise!"

 

Once you're at the Omni it shouldn't be too difficult getting out of town -- seems like most of you will be there anyway and there's not much alternative.

 

What I had in mind for lunch isn't going to work. So we'll probably take a lunch break at Big Meadows on Skyline Drive, there are snacks available there (can't remember how extensive the chioce is). However it's probably best if you bring something with you to eat. We won't pass any other place until we reach a roadside hamburger/fries place after we get off Skyline Drive which would make it around 1pm to 1.30pm. I'm probably going to pack a lunch and take along some drinks.

Some of you will have the opportunity to meet each other on Friday night, as I'm not able to come down then I'll have to hook up with you all on Saturday morning. We should be able to spot one another --- I'll be the one in the MINI! LOL! ---- Haven't worked out a good identifier yet but I'm perhaps going to fly the flag of Wales so look for a Pepper White Cooper plated MINILLA flying the Red Dragon!

 

Grey Ghost is a nice place and they put on a good tour for car groups. There are several other wineries close by. The idea of getting on Skyline at 33 sounds like a good idea -- why go way out of the way on a freeway when a two lane is available. If we get too big a group we can do two tours an hour apart maybe

 

Keeping fingers crossed that the weather is nice and that I have someone to watch my kids with fur(2 Chihuahuas)!

 

Count me in! Twisties + wineries + greasy baseball food, it's like we're going to KD anyways!

My license plate is MJK 529 if that's still needed...

 

This sounds like a good idea to me. do you mind if an RCM member tags along? I'm driving up saturday morning.

 

River City Minis members are always welcome, at the right price.

 

My husband and I live about 30min from C-Ville and are wanting to do some of the Skyline Drive. We would love to meet up with you guys too, if that's ok? I love the idea of doing the 35 miles and the vineyard. I am not sure if we will do the tour maybe just a tasting if possible since we haven't been there before. We are staying in Alexandria and will need to check in and try to find our way to the Headquarters and then to the Stadium by 5 if possible.

Thanks
Kathy

P.S. If we could meet someone going to the Headquarters hotel and then the game to follow or if someone could help out with directions, that would be wonderful.

 

I would be willing to leave a little earlier (8:30) if it gives more time for stopping etc. Lunch at Big Meadows would be nice...but I wasn't planning on checking in at HQ in DC either so I'm a little more flexible.

Stadium food or tailgating food - either is good for me. I would be happy to bring something or pick up some food on the way to the stadium.

 

You are on The List

 

I have added you to The List. If you are trying to get the game by 5:00 after checking in then I would suggest you skip the vineyard. Afterall, DC is in the top 5 for worst traffic.

 

Just to follow up on this part of the day. I see from the previous postings that some of you will be skipping the vineyard taste/tour which is perfectly fine. I just talked again with the owners and I will be calling them with a better number of people on Saturday morning as we leave Charlottesville. They will set aside a private area for us for the tasting at 2pm. This gives us plenty of time to get there and a departure from there for DC around 3pm (as I already posted its 60 miles to DC from the Vineyard) In order to qualify as a "group" we need more than 12 people to stop! It looks to me from reviewing the post that we will have that number.
To confirm my list could I have some indication as to whether you will be stopping off at the Vineyard, or not? Please PM me with a response. Thanks
I also have direction sheets from Charlottesville as far as the Vineyard -- after that it's easy to head to DC.

 

Please put me down for two (one underage!) for the Skyline Drive and the vineyard. Will this be a 7am, 9am, or some other departure?

 

We're aiming for a 9am departure time.

 

Hi Guys, I am going to be coming along too, I will be leaving the hotel waypoint arounf 9am, so hopefully I will see you guys!!
Cant wait!!

 

Minilla, Our plate is OX4D 2VA I forgot that on the RSVP one.

 

Minilla, we will coming from Staunton so we are going from the Harrisonburg side of Rt. 33. What do you think you will reach the Skyline Drive so we can try to meet up with the group? It would probably take us a little over an hour to get up there.