The Shenandoah Valley has emerged as a leader in wine production over the last few years. There is a vast array of wineries concentrated in the area, which makes for an amazing wine trail to follow.

There are many things to pique visitors’ interest in Shenandoah Valley, like tastings, tours, grand views of the mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway, special events throughout the year, significant Civil War sites and battlefields and presidential homes such as Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and James Madison’s Montpelier.... Read More

It was springtime; it was time to think about planning our summer vacation. I called a family meeting and discussed ideas.  Everyone agreed they wanted to head south to Florida. The kids wanted to go to Orlando; my wife wanted to go to Sanibel Island. My 9-year-old son, who loves trains, asked if we could take a train. Everyone thought that would be fun, so I went online and did a little research.... Read More

While Virginia Beach, Virginia, offers a year-round farmers market, it’s a bit of a drive from the resort area where most of the visitors stay. Luckily a local restaurant has offered up its parking lot for the summer and fall within walking distance of the oceanfront.

Every Saturday morning through mid-October vendors are out selling their wares at the Old Beach Farmers Market. In addition to locally-grown produce and flowers, we found artisan cheeses, organic meats and sausages, locally-brewed root beer and coffee and all manner of baked goods and treats.... Read More

Everybody knows about Jamestown and Plymouth Rock.  But do you know the first English settlers actually landed in Virginia Beach? Yep, it’s true, and an annual summer exhibit and beachside play aim to spread the word.

Fort Story has long been a locals’ favorite spot to enjoy an almost-deserted beach and the historic lighthouses all while on a joint forces post. Since 2007, summers have also meant a chance to tour a recreated Colonial settlement and villages of the American Indians of the Chesapeake region.... Read More

A summer exhibit has long been a popular way for museums to increase visitors in the summer months. It entices tourists to come in and gives locals something new to see. Norfolk, Virginia’s institutions are no different, and this summer they seem to have a common theme- to entertain children. Mazes and labyrinths give children a journey with a goal to pursue-and in these cases -educate as well.

Nauticus is downtown Norfolk’s museum dedicated to the sea, the Navy and maritime adventures, complete with its own decommissioned battleship in residence. Also at the museum until October 10 is “Atlantis! A Labyrinth Adventure.” ... Read More

As someone who really enjoys the Christmas season, I can personally recommend the assortment of holiday light displays and fireworks shows in the picturesque towns of Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Williamsburg.

The Grand Illumination at Colonial Williamsburg is the crème-de-la-crème of holiday fireworks shows in the area. The one-night-only event, which takes place this year on December 5, boasts three synchronized fireworks displays that launch... Read More

I recently wrote about the Williamsburg area, the corner of Virginia where our country’s history began. I’ve been there several times before; in fact, it’s one of my favorite places to go for a completely relaxing several days. This trip I was on another mission, though—to experience dining in some of the area’s reconstructed restaurants and taverns, in essence to “dine like a patriot.”... Read More

A visit to Colonial Williamsburg is a terrific opportunity to slip into another century. Walking among tradesmen, aristocrats, slaves and merchants along dusty streets lined with immaculately reconstructed buildings was as close as I’ll get to experiencing life in pre-Revolutionary War America. Shut your eyes, take a deep breath and you’re in 1770s America - there were no “United States” then.... Read More

 
Seventy five years ago, construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway  began as a project to put people back to work during the Depression.  Today the 469-mile winding roadway in Virginia and North Carolina has evolved into one of the United States' most-visited sites, drawing about 17 million people annually and bringing about $2 billion to surrounding areas.  This year the National Park Service will commemorate... Read More

 
       This is fifth in a series of entries from blogger Sally Doran on her summer road trip (find previous here).

     As our nine-day adventure winds down and some travel weariness is creeping in, it’s a good thing to finish the road trip with a soft landing on the beach.

We arrive in Virginia Beach after a scenic 4+ hour drive from Baltimore via U.S. Routes 50 and 13 through eastern Maryland and the Chesapeake peninsula of Virginia.  The small towns, rural... Read More