Travel
Virginia: Guide
to going places
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Top
Travel Destinations:
Blue Ridge
Appalachia
– Blue
Ridge – Shenandoah
Valley
– Fredericksburg/Northern
Virginia
Chesapeake
Bay
– Tidewater/Hampton
Roads
– Central
Virginia
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Buddy
Mays /
Virginia Tourism Corporation
The
Blue Ridge Parkway connects Shenandoah National Park and Skyline
Drive.
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Blue
Ridge Parkway
America’s most scenic drive” stretches along a 469-mile-long non-commercialized
route in the mountains. Sweeping views of mountains and valleys, fall
foliage, spring wildflowers, wildlife and split-rail fences punctuate
the parkway. Beginning in Waynesboro and ending in Cherokee, N.C., the
parkway connects the Shenandoah
National
Park and Skyline Drive to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Numerous
picnic sites, campgrounds, hiking trails and historic sites are along
the way. Primary tourist season is May-October.
Telephone: (540) 857-2213; (540) 857-2458
The
Barter Theatre
133 West Main Street
P.O. Box 867
Abingdon
The
Barter is the state theatre of Virginia and one of the longest-running
professional regional theatres in America. Year-round entertainment offers
the best in comedy, music, mystery and new works. The concept of bartering
produce from the area farms and gardens to gain admission was conceived
of by an actor who performed there. Admission was 40 cents or the equivalent
in produce when Barter opened its doors on June 10, 1933. More than 100
well-known actors launched their careers at Barter Theatre, including:
Gregory Peck, Ned Beatty, Patricia Neal, Hume Cronyn and Ernest Borgnine.
Telephone: (540) 628-3991
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Bruce
Parker/Richmond Times-Dispatch
Bedford
is home to the National D-Day Memorial. It’s the county that suffered
the highest per-capital losses in the nation.
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National
D-Day Memorial
3 Overlord Circle
Bedford
Bedford
suffered the highest per capita D-Day losses in the nation and is now
home to the National D-Day Memorial. This memorial pays tribute to Allied
Forces that participated in the largest land, sea and air operation in
history: the invasion of Normandy, June 6,
1944. The
memorial stretches over nine acres and features a luxuriant English Garden,
haunting invasion tableau with statuary and stylized landing scene, and
the towering Victory Arch, which pays tribute to the servicemen and women
who sacrificed their lives on that historic day. Open daily from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).
Guided tours and school programs available.
Telephone:
(800) 351-DDAY; (540) 586-DDAY; (540) 587-8973 (tours)
E-mail: [email protected]
Mount
Rogers National Recreation Area/Mount Rogers Highlands
USDA Forest Service
Rt. 1, Box 303
Marion
A 115,000-acre
mountain recreation area within the George Washington & Jefferson
National Forests, including Virginia’s highest peak, the Appalachian
Trail and Hungry Mother State Park. The recreation area offers: six campgrounds;
hundreds of miles of hiking, biking, horse and cross-country ski trails;
two lakes and 50 miles of streams; historic sites; and wildlife viewing.
Visitor center offers information on recreation opportunities.
Telephone:(540) 783-5196; (800) 435-3440
E-mail:
[email protected]
Mabry
Mill
Blue Ridge Parkway
Mile Post 176.1
Mabry Mill
Restored gristmill/sawmill/woodworking shop and blacksmith shop, with
demonstrations of the old-time skills of basket weaving, seat caning,
spinning and weaving. There is Apple butter making on Sundays in October
and old-time bluegrass music on Sunday afternoons. Telephone: (540)
952-2947
E-mail: [email protected]
Birthplace
of Country Music Alliance Museum
P.O. Box 216
Bristol
The
history of Appalachian music – from the very first recordings of
the Carter Family and Jimmie Rogers, to the Stanley Brothers, Lester Flatt
and Earl Scruggs, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Dave Loggins and Kenny Chesney
– is contained within this museum and gift shop.
Telephone:
(423) 990-BCMA
Sources:
Virginia Department of Tourism, U.S. National Park Service
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