Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for virginia
Books and Brew
By Linda Tancs
There’s certainly nothing special about brew on a college campus. But when the brew is an 18th century brewery unearthed at the second oldest college in the United States–well, that’s something special. The discovery was made at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. And what, you might wonder, comprised a brew of the 1700s? One concoction was a mix of water, persimmons, hops and yeast.
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The United States of North America
By Linda Tancs
Named for its two private owners, the Pope-Leighey House represents renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision to create affordable housing for middle-class families. The architectural convention is often referred to as Usonian (thought to be an acronym for the United States of North America), characterized by a single-story, L-shaped home crafted with native materials. Situated in Alexandria, Virginia, the house is part of the Woodlawn estate, which was originally part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
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The Birthplace of Country Music
By Linda Tancs
Imagine being able to step into the shoes of some of the first families of country music and record your own rendition of the songs that launched their careers. You can do that at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Located at the junction between Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia, it’s officially recognized by Congress as the birthplace of country music. The museum’s mission is to preserve and promote the 1927 recording sessions of legends like Jimmie Rogers and the Carter family, an event that Johnny Cash hailed as a seminal event in country music history. Even the Library of Congress has ranked the “Bristol Sessions” as one of the 50 most significant events in the history of recorded music. A special exhibition honoring the Carters runs through 28 February.
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America’s Stonehenge
By Linda Tancs
In Natural Bridge, Virginia, Britain’s Stonehenge meets its astronomically correct rival. Made entirely of Styrofoam to Stonehenge’s exact measurements, the creation is dubbed Foamhenge. The “stones” are even painted to appear ancient. Unlike its more famous counterpart, admission is free.
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A Birthday Parade in Alexandria
By Linda Tancs
It’s parade day in Alexandria, Virginia, the hometown of first U.S. President George Washington. The largest parade in the United States celebrating Washington’s birthday, the festivities kick off at 1:00 p.m. in Old Town. Thereafter, take advantage of free admission at historical sites such as the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, the Lyceum, Carlyle House and Christ Church.
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Civil War Richmond
By Linda Tancs
It’s been over 150 years since the start of the Civil War. And the pulse of Civil War history can be found in Richmond, Virginia, onetime capital of the Confederate States of America. In downtown Richmond’s historic Court End neighborhood you’ll find the White House of the Confederacy, home to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family for most of the war. A National Historic Landmark, the neoclassical mansion has been restored to its wartime appearance and includes half of the family’s furnishings. Guided tours are offered daily.
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Charlottesville Hits the Big 2-5-0
By Linda Tancs
The City of Charlottesville, Virginia, one of the oldest municipalities in the country, is celebrating its 250th birthday this year. The year- long celebration will feature lectures, exhibitions, special packages for visitors, and national and international talent. While you’re there, why not follow the Monticello Artisan Trail, a regional trailway that connects destinations including craft artisan studios, galleries, agri-artisan farms, local restaurants, wineries and microbreweries, lodging, and area points of interest in the counties surrounding Charlottesville.
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Jefferson’s Second Home
By Linda Tancs
Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States. His beloved home Monticello is a fixture in Charlottesville at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western Virginia. What most folks might not know is that Jefferson had a hideaway from his glorious 33-room manse, a self-designed, eight-sided country villa outside Lynchburg, Virginia. The octagonal house (the first in America) is known as Poplar Forest, a retreat that many regard as a true masterpiece of architectural and landscape elements. Opening today through 15 December, the home is located off Route 661 south of Lynchburg.
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Fun in a Nutshell
By Linda Tancs
Why would some 200,000 people from as far north as Canada gather in Suffolk, Virginia over a peanut? Well, maybe it’s the all-you-can-eat steamed shrimp on 6 October kicking off the four-day Suffolk Peanut Festival. Or maybe it’s the Friday night demolition derby. There’s a fireworks extravaganza on Saturday night, and the roar of motorcycles on Sunday at the rally. You see, it’s not all about peanuts although they’re obviously nutty about the little legume.
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Feeling Bullish in Virginia
By Linda Tancs
Civil War buffs are readying for the call to arms near Virginia’s Manassas Battlefield Park this weekend. Commemorating the sesquicentennial of the Battle of Bull Run, the first major land battle of the American Civil War, the Commonwealth and the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission will treat spectators to a reenactment of the seminal conflict at Manassas Junction on both Saturday and Sunday. Other events include tours of seven historic sites–Manassas Museum, Liberia Plantation, Confederate Cemetery, Cannon Branch Fort, Jennie Dean Historical Site, Mayfield Fort and Camp Manassas–a parade, concerts at the Loy Harris Pavilion, and events at Manassas Museum.
