RichmondThe stately Southern granddame of
Richmond has been
Virginia's state capital since 1780, and although a bastion of history, it also has all the hallmarks of a lively and modern urban center. Acting as an ideal gateway to the rest of the state, a range of attractions is within easy reach and visitors can enjoy the neighboring sights and sounds of the ocean, mountains, battlefields, historic colonial
Williamsburg, or can even drive into
Washington DC to visit the nation's capital.
Richmond has played an enormous role in American history, particularly as the capital of the
Confederacy during the Civil War. Today visitors can enjoy a host of monuments, battlefields, cemeteries and museums that hark back to the days when
Jefferson Davis and
Robert E. Lee held out against the Union. This is not a city stuck in the past, however, and there are numerous modern attractions including an active nightlife, plenty of restaurants, bars and outdoor concerts. A stroll along the attractive Canal Walk, and along the restored Haxall and Kanawha Canals, provides a great way to relax and there is also the option to catch a boat; some tours include an historical narration or there is the 'drive yourself' option.
The cityscape is an interesting combination of modern high rise office complexes housing financial institutions, Fortune 500 Companies, government offices, hospitals and universities and the more charming cobblestone, gas-lit streets flanked by 19th-century warehouses and a 300-year old farmers' market, filled with the scent of ripe fruit and fresh flowers.
Getting Around: The
Greater Richmond Transit Company runs the public bus system that serves the Richmond metropolitan area with a basic fare that is only accepted in exact change. The bus service runs daily from 5am to midnight. On weekends between June and September a motorized shuttle service connects all the city's cultural attractions for the benefit of tourists. Orange buses travel from Chimborazo Park across to the
Science Museum of Virginia, stopping at all the attractions in between. The Blue line buses continue from the science museum to Maymount. The fare is standard and passengers can hop on and off as they choose. Richmond is well supplied with more than 40 taxi companies, with cab ranks outside most hotels, the airport,
Amtrak and the Greyhound terminal. The city also offers plenty of walking tours and is relatively compact and easy to negotiate on foot. It is worth hiring a car to explore the outlying regions, but not entirely necessary if staying in town, although traffic is usually fairly light and parking relatively easy to find.
Climate: Richmond has a pleasant climate with four distinct seasons. Spring arrives in April with mild days and cool nights, and late May heralds the start of warm summer days. Summers can be hot and humid, and the days are dampened by gentle showers of rain. July is the wettest month. Days stay warm to mild through to October, when fall is marked by nights once again becoming very chilly. December and January are the coldest months. Light snowfalls occur from the end of November, but most snow falls in January. Average yearly snowfall is 14 inches (36cm).
Shenandoah ValleyThe lush and beautiful
Shenandoah Valley, extending for 200 miles (322 km) from Harpers Ferry in
West Virginia to
Salem and
Roanoke, is a combination of history, beauty and adventure. Visitors to the Valley can enjoy spectacular hikes in the
Blue Ridge Mountains, follow in the footsteps of Revolutionary and Civil War heroes, explore museums, battlefields and historic homes, or ski and golf at top-class resorts.
Known as the Daughter of the Stars, the Valley can essentially be divided into three; the North, South and Central Valley regions. The Northern Valley area is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with exciting opportunities to tackle the
Shenandoah River by canoe or kayak, to hike the
Appalachian Trail or cross-country ski in the mountains.
The Central Valley offers exciting skiing, golfing, snowboarding and fishing opportunities, as well as a chance to explore historical sites, farmers markets and the spectacular Shenandoah Caverns. The Southern part of the Valley boasts several mineral springs, the 215ft (66m) Natural Bridge, attractive historic towns such as
Lexington, and the bustling cities of Roanoke and Salem. For more information on the spectacular Shenandoah Valley, see
www.visitshenandoah.orgVirginia CoastVirginia Beach, 110 miles (178km) east of Richmond, is one of the most popular holiday resorts on the East Coast where thousands of sun lovers flock each spring and summer for a traditional beachfront vacation. Most visitors are drawn to the three-mile (5km) long boardwalk, lined with numerous hotels and restaurants overlooking part of the 20 miles (32km) of unbroken sand that covers the coastline here.
Virginia Beach also has some interesting sightseeing attractions, particularly the
Virginia Marine Science Museum, the most popular museum in the state. Historic landmarks include the Old
Cape Henry Lighthouse dating from 1791 and Adam Thoroughgood House, built around 1680. There is also the First Landing Seashore State Park (where the
Jamestown settlers came ashore) offering nature trails and boating. Website:
www.vbfun.comChincoteague IslandVirginia's only resort island, Chincoteague captures the essence of the
Chesapeake Bay, the waterman culture and the nostalgic summertime rituals reminisced over by so many families in the region. Its small town is a quaint collection of charming boutiques, divine seafood restaurants and museums chronicling life on the sea. On this small barrier island, life revolves around the water, the source for both residents' livelihood and visitors' revered pastimes. Waders in the shallow water rake for clams, while others crab with nets and baited lines. The rewards are the time-honored traditions of the clambake and crab feast. Brown paper is unrolled across tabletops and guests take up their mallets to crack open freshly steamed crabs smothered in the region's ubiquitous red seasoning, Old Bay.
Chincoteague is connected by a bridge to the large barrier island of Assateague, empty but for pristine stretches of beach, a historic lighthouse and herds of wild ponies. Here along the
Assateague National Seashore, in the absence of vendors, amusement park rides and noise, beachgoers bask in the sunshine, read books under umbrellas and enjoy the peaceful beauty. At the height of summer, the event for which Chincoteague is best known takes place: the annual pony swim, poignantly captured in
Marguerite Henry's children's classic,
Misty of Chincoteague. Each year, to manage the wild population, ponies are rounded up by local firemen. These 'saltwater cowboys' then swim the ponies across the Assateague channel to Chincoteague, where they are auctioned off to buyers eager to own one of the unique breed.
NorfolkBordered by the grand
Elizabeth River and historical Chesapeake Bay its no wonder
Norfolk became the 'navy capital' of the
United States. Largely influenced by its watery surrounds, visitors to Norfolk will find a smattering of outstanding maritime centers, museums and nautical memorabilia, not to mention its mammoth navy base, the largest in the world. But belying its naval reputation, Norfolk is also home to a vibrant arts community, boasting a plethora of dynamic art galleries, including the world-class
Chrysler Museum of Art, numerous theaters and a grand opera house.
Norfolk's downtown area has flourished over the years and a stroll through animated Granby Street is testament to this, with a string of lively gourmet restaurants, chic bars and trendy boutique stores. The historic district of
Ghent is a good place to visit to get a picture of old-world Norfolk, where traditional wooden houses, tree lined boulevards and old churches dominate the landscape and visitors can browse for treasures in the quirky antique stores or people watch in one of the locally owned cafés.
For a bit of sun, sea and surf head to the beach at Ocean View or take some time out to visit the Waterside Festival Marketplace overlooking the Elizabeth River, where live entertainment, an attractive array of dining options and superb shopping opportunities can be found. From here travelers can embark on a tour of the harbor and surrounding areas on an elegant tall ship or paddlewheel ferry.
