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When you want to hit the open road with your Toyota, Virginia Beach offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy more than your sound system. Head for one of these three scenic drives around Virginia Beach that will take just enough time to relax your muscles, clear your head, and put you in the right frame of mind for the rest of your day. Colonial Parkway If you're heading north from Virginia Beach, take the Colonial Parkway toward Yorktown. You'll pick up the Colonial Parkway at Jamestown and follow this scenic drive for 23 miles through some of Virginia's most beautiful scenery. You can only travel 45 miles per hour, which means you get plenty of time to take in the sights in a safe environment. Take the Colonial Parkway scenic drive at any time of year, but the summer months prove the most beautiful. When you get to Yorktown, consider parking your Toyota and getting out for a brief stroll. You'll enjoy walking around this historic town, so stretch your legs in preparation for the return trip. Route 17 If you're headed to or away from Virginia Beach, scenic Route 17 offers far more visual stimulation than the more mundane I-95 and I-64. You'll pass through the iconic Fredericksburg, with its quaint shops and quiet cafes, as well as other historic destinations. The view from the James River Bridge is particularly stunning, especially during the winter months when the water is cold and serene. Pull your Toyota into a parking space in Fredericksburg and spend a couple of hours touring the sites. Visit the Mary Washington House and the United States National Slavery Museum for a dose of history and a quiet way to pass the afternoon. If you're visiting for longer, the Kenmore Plantation is another must-see spot in Fredericksburg. Skyline Drive When you need an escape during the gorgeous autumn months, Virginia will never disappoint. For the best fall foliage views, Skyline Drive is the perfect destination for you and your Toyota. You'll pass through the unspoiled Shenandoah National Park, and although you'll have to drive about two hours to reach it from Virginia Beach, you'll receive a great reward as you wind your Toyota down blacktop surrounded by fall color. Skyline Drive stretches for about 100 miles through Virginia country, but you don't have to make the entire trip. Pick a segment and enjoy the views, then turn around and head home or back to your hotel. Look up the different mileposts before you leave, so you'll remember which areas you want to see. Pause at one of the 75 scenic overlooks on Skyline Drive to drink in the surrounding scenery. Since the speed limit is only 35 miles per hour, you'll also be able to enjoy the views while you're cruising down the blacktop in your Toyota. Getting out of the house (or the office) for a few hours to enjoy Virginia's unspoiled territory can be beneficial from time to time. Gas or charge up your Toyota and hit the road. Image Via Pixabay

According to AAA, more than 80 million Americans take a road trip each year that has them driving 50 miles or more from home. Whether you are taking a holiday trip to visit family or are the adventurous type and want to drive cross-country, here are three tips to ensure your journey is a safe one. Get a Checkup There are several car maintenance measures you have to do to keep your car in tip-top shape. One of those is having your vehicle serviced regularly. This involves having all of your fluid levels checked (oil, brake fluid, coolant, etc.), tire pressure, lights and turn signals, and all belt and hose connections. Remember, a pre-trip checkup is the one thing you can do that will tell you whether your vehicle will make however long a trip you plan on taking in it. more Check Your Spare Sure, everyone has a spare tire in his or her vehicle but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should actually put it on your vehicle. Maybe your vehicle is a 10-year-old model and you’ve been lucky to never need the spare. Maybe it’s not quite that aged, but it’s still pushing five or six years. Tire manufacturers say unused spares can last up to 10 years, though other organizations say six years. Check to make sure your spare is still in good working order in case you need it. The Trunk Your trunk is one space that’s practically made for storing useful items you will need on any drive, even if it’s just around the corner to the gas station. You always want to make sure you have certain items within easy reach when you open your trunk. Those items should include, but are not limited to, a tire iron, first-aid kit, bottled water, a fire extinguisher, and road flares or reflectors.   Image via Pixabay

Fort Monroe used to be an active military base, completed way back when in 1834, but now it’s home to the Casemate Museum. The museum chronicles the history of Fort Monroe, which happens to be the largest stone fort in the United States, and was a stronghold for the Union and Union soldiers during the Civil War. Once the war was over, the fort was home to Confederate President Jefferson Davis for a brief time. It has been 126 years since Davis died but interest in his time spent at the fort remains strong. After his capture in May 1865, just one month after the Civil War ended, Davis spent two years at the fort. The cell he spent a portion of his time in, 4-1/2 months to be exact, is the same one on display at the Casemate Museum within the fort. He was locked away in Casemate No. 2 with nothing more than a cot, a shelf, a bible, a table and chair. And for good measure the 35-star American flag was hung on the wall to rub his defeat in his face just a bit more. Whether you care about Davis and his being held there as prisoner or not, the museum itself highlights an interesting historical collection of items and the fort itself is really cool. If self-guided tours are your thing you can get in for free and wander around a bit. Guided tours are available, and offer a bit more substance and history during your trip, for groups of 10 or more and cost $3 per person. Open Monday-Sunday 10:30am – 4:30pm Memorial Day to Labor Day Tuesday-Sunday for the remainder of the year Phone: (757) 788-3391 Fax: (757) 788-3386 Email casematetours@fmauthority.com Address: 20 Bernard Road, Fort Monroe, VA 23651   Image via Pixabay

In Chesapeake, Bergey’s Breadbasket has been serving the community freshly made cinnamon rolls, ice cream, danish, and other products made from scratch for years. Not only can you get a taste of homemade deliciousness, but you can visit annually for the corn maze. Test Your Problem-Solving Skills in the Corn Maze The corn maze at Bergey’s is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00am to 6:30pm. It is 5 acres in size so you’ll get a little exercise while you test the problem-solving skills of your whole family. Ages 4 and under are invited for free. In September, ages 5 and up get in for $8 admission and admission is $10 in October and November. more Fall Family Fun and Harvest After you navigate through the corn maze, go on a pony ride, visit our farm animals, and pick out some pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. No visit to Bergey’s is complete without stopping into the bakery for a treat. In addition to bakery items like breads and pies and the famous cinnamon rolls, you can also get sandwiches and ice cream. Take home a basket of fresh produce or some fresh-cut flowers for your kitchen table. Birthday Parties at Bergey’s Starting in November, you can have birthday parties at Bergey’s. Parties can be booked Monday through Saturday, and start at either 10:00am or 3:00pm. Parties start at $175.   Image via Pixabay