Take A Virginia Road Trip on The 5 & Dime Trail
Looking for a new road trip idea this spring and summer? Carve out a day or two and explore the 5 & Dime Trail, an 80-mile route with stops along Route 5 and Route 10 that crosses The City of Hopewell, Prince George County, Charles City County, James City County, and Surry County. You’ll discover inspiring views, epic food, and friendly people who are innovating and opening the doors to this special part of Virginia.
Our 2-Day Road Trip Itinerary on the 5 & Dime Trail:
101 Jordan Point Road, North Prince George, Virginia 23860
It all starts with the gorgeous rivers that surround this Virginia travel region. Drive in or boat up to the Jordan Point Marina to kick off your Virginia road trip. Set on the historic James River on 5 acres of waterfront property in Prince George County, the marina offers rentals for kayaks, pontoon boats, and even boat slips to keep your own boat. The marina store has everything you need for your boat or for a day of fishing–they say you can get the best catfish around here. In addition, there’s a pool open from Memorial Dat to Labor day for the whole family to enjoy. If you do head out on a boat, take note of the Benjamin Harrison Bridge, which appeared in movies like Hannibal, according to our guides.
6411 Courthouse Rd, Prince George, VA 23875
This place was packed when we arrived at 11 a.m. Locals and travelers alike obviously adore this award-winning Italian restaurant. The menu was loaded with options from seafood to pasta to pizza, including plenty of gluten-free dining options. The full-bar is ready for whatever you need to wash down the amazing food. The staff was friendly and helpful.
6074 New Design Road, Elberon 23846
Wine, history, and goats! What else could be more fun? When you first drive past the vines and into this Hampton Roads destination, you’ll notice a large brick tower. Thats a goat tower, the largest in the world. After you work your way through a wine tasting, ask for coins to get goat food out of the dispenser. Head out with your cup of food and visit the goats. They’ll eat right out of your hand. I personally loved the Hog Island Sweet White wine–great for sipping and not too sweet.
633 Marina Rd Surry, Virginia
This is a must for all you foodies! The waterside restaurant delivers fun drink and fresh seafood with a sprawling view. We ordered Boom Tiki Shrimp, the Tuna Bites, and the Blue Crab puffs and my brother and I finished it all. The frozen boozy adult slushy was a fun addition to our stop here. The Virginia seafood restaurant has regular live music events on Wednesdays and I’m sure it’s incredibly lively on the weekend with an adjacent marina.
As we pulled into downtown Hopewell, Virginia, we were greeted with a rainbow and vibrant farmer’s market with food trucks, fresh flowers, live music, local artisans, and gourmet food finds. We walked around and picked up some hot sauces, salad dressings, and barbecue sauce from Hunger, made in Virginia Beach. We also shopped at Artisan Alley, which has dozens of local artisan mini shops with handmade goods and collections. Artisan Alley also hosts art classes and other events. We got a tip from several locals that Waves Sandwich Company is a must-eat in Hopewell.
701 West Randolph Road, Hopewell, Virginia 23860
This fashionable seafood-forward dining experience boasts an epic view, chic decor, and an elevated menu. The Boathouse has several Richmond-area locations, one of which I visited a number of times and created special memories. This Hopewell location was special in its own unique way. It feels sophisticated, classic, and still a little fun. We caught a gorgeous rainbow over the river after some sunny day rain showers. The Paper Plain bourbon-based cocktail is the perfect pre-meal lift off. The popular blackberry smash gin cocktail wasn’t too sweet. We ordered the crab and artichoke dip as an appetizer and the seafood boil combination and shrimp tacos for dinner entrees. Just before we finished our final entrée, we caught a perfectly peaked sunset over the waters.
5537 Centerville Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23188
Get some fresh air at Freedom Park, which has 2 miles of easy walking trails, Go Ape tree top adventures and ax throwing, the Williamsburg Botanical Garden, and historical features including the Free Black Settlement, and other of the Revolutionary War landmarks. There were plenty of open fields, benches, and a playground for families to roam free. You can rent picnic shelters and tents for your gathering, too.
600 Shirley Plantation Rd., Charles City, VA, 23030
This epic Virginia winery is on my favorite Virginia wineries list. I’ve spent many lovely afternoons here with friends and family. It’s just 20 minutes outside of Richmond. Easily drive here or take the Virginia Capital Trail by bike as I’ve done before with my dad. In addition to the award-winning Virginia wines, the winery had brand new menu items including a decadent garlic butter shrimp, smash burgers, and a lobster roll. There are plenty of couches, tables, and corners to settle into with a bottle or two with friends and soak up the views.
