Southbound

There is a fast way to get to Virginia and see Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Jamestown, and all the great historic sites in Tidewater Virginia, and that would be taking superslab I-95 from Baltimore on down through DC and into the Commonwealth of VA.

You'll get there fast, but you'll sit through traffic jams at any hour of the day.

The other way is to meander on down Rte 301 through Southern Maryland, breezing through Upper Marlboro, LaPlata, Waldorf,  Delight, and Bel Alton.  All nice towns, and lots of places to stop for a bite to eat, and then you get back on the road and cross a 1.9 mile bridge over the Potomac River and you notice they start calling Rte 301 "James Madison Pkwy" and...you're in Virginia!

Next time you take that ride, you will be riding on a new bridge. Crews are currently dismantling the old Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial/Sen. Thomas "Mac" Middleton Bridge, but don't worry, they built a new one and it opened last fall, and so far, it's working fine. 

Old bridge on the left, new one on the right

The old bridge, built in 1940, was only two lanes. The new one is four, with a concrete median to prevent head-on smashups. 

AND! the people in charge of these things are using the old bridge parts to create an artificial reef for the fish of the Potomac. It's good all around.

If you go this way, you will notice the two great industries of Virginia that have lured Marylanders south for all these years. Ham, and fireworks. Both are available for sale every five feet down there. And that's where you'll start to hear the delightful sunny Southern accent served up with your lunch.

Go try the new bridge and let me know how you like it!