Virginia General Information Nickname: Old Dominion State State bird: Cardinal State flower: Dogwood Capital: Richmond Date of admission to the Union: 25th June 1788 (original 13 States; date of ratification of the Constitution) Population: 7,078,515 (2000) Population density: 63.9/sq km 2000 total overseas arrivals/US ranking: 364,000/20 Time: Eastern (GMT - 5). Daylight Saving Time is observed. The State: Virginia stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. It is one of the country’s most historic and scenic States. Some of its leading attractions are located along the Potomac River – Arlington National Cemetery, with the grave of John F Kennedy; Old Town Alexandria; and Mount Vernon, George Washington’s country estate. Driving trails link more than 250 Civil War sites across Virginia. Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy in the Civil War, has many fine old buildings and cultural options. Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown (the birthplace of the USA) are three of its most historic sites, situated further east. Shenandoah Valley, with its caverns, waterfalls and popular resorts, is to the west. Other attractions include Virginia Beach, Shenandoah National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Luray Caverns, Cumberland Gap and Great Falls Park. Norfolk is an important Atlantic seaport and home to the world’s largest naval base. Viriginia boasts nearly 60 wineries offering tastings and tours. Travel - International AIR: International airports: There are flights from US and major European cities into Virginia’s Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) (website: www.metwashairports.com) and Maryland’s Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) (website: www.bwiairport.com). Washington, DC is also served by North American flights via its Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. See the Washington, DC section for airport details and flight times. RAIL: Amtrak (tel: (800) 872 7245 (toll free); website: www.amtrak.com) rail service passes through Virginia on two main north–south routes, linking New Orleans (via Atlanta and Charlottesville) and Miami (via Richmond) with Washington, DC and New York City. A couple of services (originating in Newport News) continue on to Boston. Approximate rail travel times: From Richmond to Williamsburg is 1 hour 15 minutes, to Washington, DC is 2 hours 10 minutes, to Virginia Beach is 3 hours 30 minutes (including bus transfer), to Philadelphia is 4 hours 45 minutes, to New York is 6 hours 30 minutes, and to Boston is 10 hours 20 minutes. ROAD: Located mid-way between New York and Miami, Virginia boasts well-maintained major highways as well as some of the nation’s oldest and most scenic byways. Bus: Greyhound (tel: (800) 229 9424 (toll free); website: www.greyhound.com) buses run from most larger towns to destinations across the USA. A number of East Coast routes are run in partnership with Carolina Trailways. Approximate bus travel times: From Richmond to Williamsburg is 1 hour, to Charlottesville is 1 hour 30 minutes, to Washington, DC is 2 hours 15 minutes, to Norfolk is 2 hours 30 minutes, to Baltimore is 3 hours 45 minutes, and to Philadelphia is 4 hours 45 minutes. Introduction NORTHERN VIRGINIA: The region of Northern Virginia has historic ties to both the Revolutionary and Civil War eras and is also the State’s horse and wine country, where visitors enjoy steeplechase, polo events and wine-tastings in the rolling countryside. Well-known attractions include Arlington National Cemetery, where an eternal flame burns at the gravesite of John F Kennedy; the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial; George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Robert E Lee’s Arlington House; and historic plantations such as Oatlands, Morven Park, Kenmore, Gunston Hall and Woodlawn. Carlyle House, Christ Church and Gadsby's Tavern are well-preserved public buildings in Old Town Alexandria. Potomac River cruises afford scenic views of Alexandria, Washington, DC and the Mount Vernon Estate. The Newseum in Rosslyn is dedicated to US and international newsmakers. Wolf Trap Farm Park is America’s only national park for the performing arts. CENTRAL/SOUTHSIDE: Richmond is the State capital and was also the Capital of the Confederacy. This compact city is ideal for walking tours of historic districts and is ringed by Civil War battlegrounds. Among its numerous restored homes and museums are the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the intriguing Edgar Allan Poe Museum, the Science Museum and Universe Planetarium, the White House of the Confederation, the Virginia Historical Society and Paramount’s Kings Dominion theme park. Many of the nation’s greatest founders lived in Central Virginia. Thomas Jefferson’s beloved Monticello, the graceful, domed mansion he lived in for 40 years, can be visited at Charlottesville. Minutes away is Ash Lawn, the 535-acre plantation which belonged to President James Monroe. The mansion and grounds of Montpelier, where James Madison, ‘Father of the US Constitution’, lived with his wife, Dolley, can be found in Orange County. SHENANDOAH VALLEY: Here, travellers will find glorious mountains, a spectacular valley and some of the most beautiful scenery in America. Skyline Drive runs through Shenandoah National Park and travels across the crests of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A wide range of outdoor activities, from hiking and canoeing to horseback riding and special naturalist programmes, are on offer in and around the park. In Roanoke, Shenandoah’s largest city, there is a zoological park, the Transportation Museum of Virginia and one of Virginia’s finest farmers’ markets. Several museums, a planetarium and a theatre can be found at the ‘Center in the Square’. Explore Park recreates Native American settlements and portrays life in pioneer days. At the northern end of the valley, Winchester, ‘Apple Capital of the Nation’, plays host each year to the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. In Staunton, a recreation of Shakespeare’s Blackfriar’s Theatre is a popular draw, as is the Frontier Culture Museum, with its reconstructions of early farmsteads. The wonders of nature are visible everywhere in this region, from the 65m-high (215ft) vaulted Cathedral of Stone outside Lexington at Natural Bridge, to the seven castle-like rock towers of the Natural Chimneys, west of Harrisonburg. The largest of the five limestone caverns open for tours is at Luray. SOUTHWEST: The Blue Ridge, Allegheny and Cumberland mountains offer many country roads, hiking trails, clear creeks, cascading waterfalls, well-maintained parkland and picnic areas. On the border with Kentucky are two breathtaking parks: Breaks Interstate Park, with its 480m-deep (1600ft) Grand Canyon of the South and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Here, the adventurous Daniel Boone travelled the famous pass to the west. Bristol is home to the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Museum, a good introduction to the rich musical heritage of this region heard in local barns and rural music sheds such as the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons. The Blue Ridge Parkway, one of America’s most scenic roadways, takes visitors through lush farmland. Wytheville is home to Wolf Creek Indian Village, while Abingdon has a thriving local arts scene. Mount Rogers, 32km (20 miles) to the east, is the highest peak in Virginia. TIDEWATER & HAMPTION ROADS: This is the oldest part of America and features historic cities, unspoilt beaches and colonial taverns. At the Colonial National Historical Park and archaeological dig at Jamestown, visitors will see the remains of the first permanent English settlement, established in 1607. At nearby Jamestown Settlement, a full-scale replica of James Fort is on display, along with reproductions of three 17th-century ships that brought the English settlers to Virginia. In Hampton, the Virginia Air and Space Center houses full-size air- and spacecraft. Formerly the State capital, Williamsburg is the largest restored 18th-century town in America and is home to William and Mary, the second-oldest college in the USA. In Norfolk, visitors will find the Chrysler Museum, Nauticus, the National Maritime Center and the upscale MacArthur Center. To the north, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel leads to Virginia’s Eastern Shore, a 112km-long (70-mile) peninsula that is bordered by the Atlantic on one side and Chesapeake Bay on the other. East of Norfolk, Virginia Beach is a popular seaside town offering a range of attractions and facilities. The First Landing/Seashore State Park has miles of seashore, picnic areas, camping and a beautiful biking trail. Other attractions in Virginia Beach include the Cape Henry Lighthouses, Old Coastguard Station (built in 1903 and now a museum), the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia and the Virginia Marine Science Museum (featuring an 800,000-gallon aquarium). Two annual festivals offer fresh oysters, steamed clams, crabs and seafood chowder. Further south, the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge has a 7700-acre beach and is a refuge for a large variety of migratory birds. The nearby False Cape State Park is an ocean-to-freshwater bay habitat, accessible only by boat or an 8km (5 mile) bike ride, and offering excellent opportunities for walking and camping. Social Profile Food & Drink: The region excels in local seafood, including oysters and blue crabs, and in the traditional cuisine of the cities. Local wines have become increasingly well known. Richmond, both an old Southern capital and a college town, offers cheap student eateries, thoughtfully-prepared regional cuisine and every type of ethnic food. Visitors can pick up their own fresh fruit and vegetables at the Farmers’ Markets. At Williamsburg, the Williamsburg Shopping Center offers a colonial culinary experience, fast-food places and many pancake houses. There are many fast-food restaurants along the boardwalk at Virginia Beach, where outstanding seafood restaurants can also be found. Theatres & Concerts: Theatres abound in Virginia and many have historic and outdoor settings. The Richmond State Ballet and Virginia Opera offer a rich and varied programme of events. Traditional mountain music and dance is popular, and the world’s largest fiddlers’ convention is held every August in the small town of Galax. Top-name folk musicians play at the Birchmere in Alexandria. Jazz and rock music are on offer in Charlottesville and Richmond. Nightlife: Richmond’s comedy clubs, theatres, rock and jazz venues and pubs offer a diverse nightlife. In Virginia Beach, Peabody’s and Hot Tuna are popular clubs. Shopping: Among the top attractions for visitors to Virginia are the quality and the quantity of its shopping, particularly in the discount and outlet categories. A wide range of shops is found in the malls throughout Virginia, notably at The Fashion Center at Pentagon City in Arlington, Tysons Corner Center and the Potomac Mills outlet mall in Woodbridge. Sport: The whole eastern coastline of the region is lined with long golden sand beaches – at Virginia Beach alone, these stretch for 45km (28 miles) – with plentiful watersports opportunities. Buggs Island Lake and Smith Mountain Lake are Virginia’s largest boating lakes. Whitewater canoeing is popular on the Shenandoah, Maury and James rivers; rapids as high as Class IV are found along urban Richmond’s stretch of the James River. Virginia is one of the richest saltwater sport fishing areas in the world. More than 25 species of freshwater fish are found in the State’s waters, although a licence is required to fish. Cycling is popular: one of the longest US rails-to-trails bikeways (72km/45 miles) is located in Northern Virginia. For hikers, the Appalachian Trail offers 720km (450 miles) of winding pathways through Virginia. Bryce Mountain, The Homestead, Massanutten and Wintergreen are the four downhill ski areas in Virginia. These resorts offer accommodation ranging from the rustic to the luxurious with skiing to cater for all levels. Grass skiing is available at Bryce Resort. Special Events: The following is a list of special events taking place in 2003: Mid-Jan Historic Birthday Parties, Lexington. Apr Historic Garden Week in Virginia (more than 250 of the State’s finest houses, gardens and landmarks open). May Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, Winchester; Virginia Gold Cup, The Plains. Jun Seawall Festival, Portsmouth; Harborfest, Norfolk; Boardwalk Art Show and Sale, Virginia Beach. Jul-Aug Virginia Highlands Festival, Abingdon. Aug Old Time Fiddlers Convention, Galax. Late Sep-early Oct State Fair of Virginia, Richmond. Oct Waterford Homes Tour and Crafts Exhibit, Waterford. Nov Virginia First Thanksgiving Festival, Berkeley. Climate Generally speaking, Virginia enjoys pleasantly hot summers and relatively mild but crisp winters, with moderate rainfall throughout the year. Average coastal temperatures in July and August rarely exceed 90°F (32°C), while in winter there is often snow. The mountainous areas in the west of the region provide welcome respite from the higher temperatures of summer. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.