Posts Tagged ‘biking’

2011 STIHL Tour des Trees VA2DC Tour

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

Dust off your bike helmets, stretch out those calf muscles, and brush up on your environmental knowledge! Registration is open for the 2011 STIHL Tour des Trees VA2DC Tour! “What is this event?” you asked, intrigued by its lengthy title. Continue on, good readers, for I shall tell you.

First, you should probably understand what TREE is if you are not already familiar with the group. TREE, or the “Tree Research Education and Endowment Fund,” is dedicated to “to identify[ing] and fund[ing] projects and programs that advance knowledge in the field of arboriculture and urban forestry to benefit people, trees, and the environment.” They’re a wonderful group that supports nature research around the world, and, according to their mission statement, “the results of TREE Fund-supported research affect people’s lives and arborists’ techniques every day.”

The Tour des Trees is TREE’s largest fundraising event, and it is a primary means of raising public awareness about the necessity and benefit of trees. The first day of the 2011 tour, October 2, is a 30-mile ride around Virginia Beach. Seven days later, the tour ends at Washington D.C. Overall, the riders cover close to 500 miles, and the trip includes areas like Richmond, Williamsburg, and Charlottesville.

If you would like to participate in this enjoyably worthwhile event, registration will be open until September 25, 2011, so there is plenty of time to sign up! Looks like it’s going to be a fun week with some great destinations and a lot of wonderful people (not to mention the health benefits of all the calories you will burn)!

© StihlTourDesTrees.org/

 

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A Secret “Sweet Spot” for Lovers in Virginia’s Beautiful Shenandoah Valley: A TripAdvisor’s 5 Star Award for Excellence

Saturday, July 16th, 2011

“Virginia is for Lovers” is a promise fulfilled at Historic Downtown Harrisonburg’s Stonewall Jackson Inn ~ Bed and Breakfast!  Get out your “Bucket List,”  here is “must” places to visit!!   Two well- known, premier travel directories agree!  TripAdvisor has just awarded the coveted 2011 “Certificate of Excellence” to this Inn for again having a solid 5 star rating from their subscribers for the second year in a row. BedandBreakfast.com has also awarded the Inn “Best B&B in the Mid-Atlantic Region” and lists it in the elite Diamond Collection of the World’s Best B&B’s.

 

The really good news is that this Inn  is located in the hospitality-plus “Friendly City” of Harrisonburg, right in the center of the Shenandoah Valley. The City’s lively Downtown  Historical District  is also the Fine Dining & Entertainment Center of the Valley.  But that’s not all.  It offers museums, galleries, shops, stage theater and music, Farmers Market, outdoor festivals & activities.  In the center of the District in a beautifully restored pre-Civil War home,  you will find a  docent staffed  visitor’s welcome center with a gift shop and  a beautiful Tea Room that serves many different kinds of tea along with homemade goodies. Harrisonburg is not only the Valley’s choice destination for a very romantic B&B & fine dining Getaway,  but it is also a “base camp” for outdoor adventure.    There are easy day trips to experience Civil War and Frontier History, Outdoor Recreation and Entertainment, Shopping & Antiquing, Biking, Hiking, Wine Tasting, and much more.  Check out www.HarrisonburgTourism.com and www.VisitShenandoah.org if you are looking for some ideas.

 

The Stonewall Jackson’s mission and promise of a “A Night’s Delight ~ A Breakfast to Remember” is a tall order, but the Inn’s friendly hospitality team is up to the task.  They literally love their jobs of “making guests happy”.  Galina, a “wannabe” interning Innkeeper from Belarus tells the guests “It is like working in a Disneyworld Bed & Breakfast”.  The team leader, Master Innkeeper and owner,  Dr. Wayne Engel, is Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology at James Madison University.  He and his son started the Inn twelve years ago “just to have fun”.  The ambiance is one of warm Southern Hospitality in a Civil War Era restored mansion , with all of today’s amenities & technological comforts.  The Stonewall Jackson Inn is Certified “Virginia Green” carries a 3 Diamond AAA and an “Exceptional” rating by the Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia www.InnVirgina.com. Visit the website for more information and details of “The Stonewall Jackson Experience” in the “Friendly City” of Harrisonburg.

Dr. Wayne Engel, © 2011 http://www.stonewalljacksoninn.com/

Visit www.StonewallJacksonInn.com, write Wayne@StonewallJacksonInn.com, or call 800.445.5330

Dr. Wayne Engel, Owner/Innkeeper

Stonewall Jackson Inn

547 East Market Street, Harrisonburg, Va. 22801

 

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Cycling the Wicomico to Fleeton Loop

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Spring is a lovely time to cycle in the Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia. Make your way from one picturesque town to the next, stopping to enjoy the sights and meals of fresh seafood. Travel between Chesapeake Bay VA Bed and Breakfasts, or use one as a base and make daily excursions.

The Wicomico to Fleeton Loop runs between the quaint villages of Reedville and Fleeton, by Ingram Bay. Begin the ride with a hearty meal at a Fleeton VA Bed and Breakfast – one that will keep your feet happily pedaling for hours. Then make your way north towards Reedville, a historic town with a thriving fishing industry. The main road would get you to Reedville in under four miles, but the Wicomico – Fleeton Loop takes a longer, more scenic route; the entire loop is just under 27 miles.

The cycling trail leads to the Wicomico River Bridge Fishing Pier, a good spot to rest with a picnic. Several restaurants in this little town are good options, too. The Crazy Crab is an excellent restaurant with a water view; think of fresh crabmeat piled on a fried soft crab. Tommy’s and the Fairport Marina are two other good lunch spots. Before getting back on your bike, check out the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum.

The view from Reedville.

For more information about about the Wicomico – Fleeton Loop, please see Northern Neck Cycling.

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The Shenandoah National Park

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Sunset at Appalachian Trail

Sunset on the Appalachian Trail

The great Wagon Road was once a principal travel route for early American settlers heading south from Philadelphia. A portion of it traverses the length of the Shenandoah Valley, where Virginia bed and breakfasts have been welcoming travelers for centuries.

Today, the Shenandoah Valley welcomes visitors from around the world, many of whom travel here to visit the nearby Shenandoah National Park. Less than two hours from the nation’s capital, the Shenandoah National Park offers scenic drives and a plethora of outdoor activities. It’s impossible to experience all the park has to offer in just one day. They best way to experience it is to take up residence at a Virginia bed and breakfast near the Shenandoah National Park for a while, and take your time exploring it.

Over 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail runs through the Shenandoah National Park, along with hundreds of miles of other trails. It’s possible to enjoy a short, easy hike to a pretty waterfall or scenic overlook, or a long, strenuous hike deep into the back woods; know your capability, and bring lots of water and snacks with you. In addition to hiking, it’s possible to explore the park on horseback or bicycle. Innkeepers at bed and breakfasts Virginia near the park are a wonderful resource – ask them how they most enjoy the Shenandoah National Park.

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