East Coast Leg 4: Washington D.C. to Charleston

Purse State Park (or the Purse Area of the Nanjemoy Wildlife Management Area) is a remote little spot that's loaded with fossils. In addition to shark teeth found on the beaches of the Potomac River's Wades Bay, you can also find Cibicides shells. The Cibicides, according to Wikipedia, "is a genus of cosmopolitan benthic foraminifera". You can identify the shell by its "multichambered, plano-convex trochospiral, with a flat or dished-out evolute spiral side and a strongly arched, involute umbilical side". Translation: it looks real cool. The day-use park has no facilities, so come prepared; a picnic lunch makes a great break from fossil-hunting. Plus, the free admission and lack of crowds mean you get access to primo fossil-searching.

Fredericksburg is a city nearly half way between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia. There's loads to do in Fredericksburg as well, if you're a history buff. You can see the Mary Washington House, the Kirkland Monument and grab a delicious coffee at Hyperion Espresso in downtown Fredericksburg.

Next, hit up Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. It's one of the best memorial parks around commemorating the Civil War. In fall the autumn foliage makes for a stunning backdrop. Great place to drive through, bike through, walk or jog.

Hidden in the sand on the edges of the Potomac's riverbanks in Westmoreland State Park are gems: Megalodon teeth. The area was once a shallow ocean where these dino-sharks swam. Like most sharks, they had lots of teeth (each had about 250 teeth spanning 5 rows in their mouths). The megalodons died out, and their teeth and bones were fossilized under more rock. The ocean where they lived disappeared... but they layers of rock containing their fossils were exposed as the Potomac River eroded away the layers rock above. There are loads of other Miocene fossils to be found on the riverbanks, including those from early gators, dolphins, whales, fish, and assorted mammals. These are all about 23-25 million years old! Take the park's Beach Trail from the visitor center to the river for the best fossil hunting. Other features of Westmoreland State Park include hiking trails, fishing, swimming, and camping.

Once you reach Virginia, head over to Richmond to visit the historic Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. This is a perfect place for families, or for anyone who loves botanical gardens and butterfly exhibits. It's kid-friendly and there's a cool splash pad for hot days (so bring a bathing suit), and picnic tables.

When you've got a hankering for some delicious southern barbecue, head to Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue in Richmond, VA. They're famous for BBQ ribs, pork and brisket and refreshing microbrews.

The Berkeley Hotel, the Jefferson Hotel and Linden Row Inn are some of the best hotels in Richmond!

"Linden Row Inn is a 70-room boutique historic hotel located in the heart of Downtown Richmond. Conveniently located in downtown Richmond at 1st & Franklin Streets, the Linden Row Inn is just minutes away from all major attractions in the Capitol area. In a city where history abounds, the Linden Row Inn stands alone in offering its guests the "True Richmond" experience. We are a historic urban hotel with a European style that is designed to make your visit to Virginia's capitol a completely gratifying experience."