Posts Tagged ‘lodging’

Chincoteague Island Events, July 2011

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Parades, ponies, and carnivals. Sounds like a child’s dream, right? Well, actually, these three things are included in an event happening towards the end of this month on Chincoteague Island, the setting for Marquerite Henry’s famous novel Misty of Chincoteague. If you haven’t guessed by now, this event is Pony Penning Day, where the wild ponies of Assateague Island are rounded up by the Saltwater Cowboys and brought over to Chincoteague. This tradition most likely began in the 1700s, but it was not recorded until 1835. Since then, it has evolved into a fully-fledged tourist attraction, including various other events that accompany the swimming, penning, and selling of the wild ponies.

© 2011 Chincoteague.com

What sparked an international interest in Pony Penning Day was the aforementioned book, Misty of Chincoteague. It is the story of a wild pony named Phantom, her foal Misty, and the loving family that buys Misty. You should definitely read it during your Pony Penning Vacation! And while you’re reading it, you should definitely be staying at one of the fabulous Bed and Breakfasts in the area. For the full experience, check out Miss Molly’s Inn, the wonderful B&B at which Marguerite Henry stayed as she penned her novel. Do you see the pun I made there? “Penned”??? “Pony PENNING Day”??? Yeah, okay, it’s not the wittiest of puns, but it’s still sort of clever!

© 2011 Miss Molly's Inn

There are also a number of other inns in the area that are also wonderful choices, so you have your pick of fantastic establishments!

Virginia’s Historic Triangle

Saturday, May 28th, 2011

The Tidewater region of Virginia is perhaps best known for being home to the Historic Triangle. Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg are all located here.

Tidewater VA Bed and Breakfasts are close to:

  • Jamestown, the country’s first permanent English settlement,
  • Colonial Williamsburg, the cultural and political center of the New World from 1699 to 1780.
  • Yorktown, where the Revolutionary War was effectively ended after the British surrendered.

Historic reenactments in Colonial Williamsburg.

British settlers arrived in Jamestown in 1607. They believed that the Virginia colony was “a paradise inhabited by simple, friendly people”, for that is what they had been told back home. Yet they found hardship, not wealth or good fortune. The colony struggled until 1614, when settler John Rolfe harvested a profitable crop of tobacco and married Pocahontas, a Powhatan woman. Peace with the Native Americans and Britain’s tobacco addiction enabled the struggling colony to thrive, and colonists began to arrive by the thousands.

Williamsburg is located midway between James River and York River. It was garrisoned and fortified in 1633, and became home to the country’s second institution of higher learning in 1693, when King William and Queen Mary granted a royal charter to the College of William and Mary. Indeed, it was college students who successfully lobbied to locate the new statehouse in their town. Williamsburg, as it was then named, became the capital of the area in 1699, as well as a thriving market town. It was a town where both goods and ideas were exchanged.

The York River has a deep channel, and the village on its banks has been a deep water, international port since the early 17th century. Yorktown was the chief tobacco port on the Chesapeake Bay in the early 18th century, and an active slave port. Yorktown gained everlasting fame when American troops under George Washington resoundingly defeated the British at Yorktown and effectively ended the American Revolutionary War with the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. The town itself, however, was the main victim of the battle, and it never again prospered as it had prior to the war.

There is much to do in Virginia’s Historic Triangle. Travel back in time in Colonial Williamsburg. Visit the Battlefield and Victory Center at Yorktown, and the historic settlements at Jamestown. It would be easy to spend months exploring this area. Williamsburg Bed and Breakfasts and Yorktown Bed and Breakfasts welcome travelers however long their stay.

See Colonial Williamsburg for more information about events and activities. See Jamestown and Yorktown for more information about events and activities.

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The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

Monday, March 21st, 2011

There are many interesting historic sites in Northern Virginia, making it an interesting destination for a weekend excursion from the Washington D.C. area. Of particular note are the several historic homes, plantations, and museums near Paris Virginia Bed and Breakfasts.

One of the most interesting historic sites and museums near Paris Virginia Bed and Breakfasts is the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. It encompasses the Glen Burnie Historic House, the Glen Burnie Gardens, and the Museum of Shenandoah Valley itself. It easy to spend several days exploring these three venues; indeed, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley houses four large gallery spaces within its 50,000 square feet.

The Four Galleries of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley: (more…)

The Amish of Southern Virginia

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
Amish Lad

A young Amish lad.

The Amish Community of Southern Virginia has grown substantially over the past five years, but is still relatively small. The community that has developed north of South Boston, in the area around Nathalie, was founded in 2005 by an “Old Order Amish” group from Dover, Delaware. They were drawn to the fertile, open land of Southern Virginia.

The Amish culture is fascinating. As American society becomes increasingly dependent on technology and, some would argue, increasingly distanced from the land, the Amish maintain their historically “simple” way of life. Their homes have no televisions, or even phones. They don’t use the internet. The children don’t play computer games. What, then, do they do? How do they live? It’s intriguing.

Guests of South Boston Virginia Bed and Breakfasts may notice horse drawn buggies clip clopping along the road, carrying simply clad men, women, boys, and girls. It is not unusual for children to stare and wave as cars pass – after all, with no television, radio, or internet, “English” culture is as strange to them as the Amish culture may be to you.

While traveling through Halifax Country, absorbing the beauty of Amish and “English” farmland, keep an eye out for Amish businesses. As a rule, Amish people are polite and friendly, and when the occasion arises, they are happy to chat with outsiders. The best way to do this is in a shop. Ask your Southern Virginia Bed and Breakfast innkeepers if they know of local Amish businesses or farmer’s markets. The Amish are superlative craftsmen, and their goods, from furniture to quilts to jams and baked treats, are appreciated by one and all.

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.

Skydiving in Orange, Virginia

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Float above Central Virginia during your next romantic weekend.

The jumps have started in Orange Virginia, just outside Charlottesville. Experienced and novice skydivers alike are consulting their calendars and making reservations in Orange Virginia Bed and Breakfasts.

Have you ever dreamed of flying? Really flying, not in a plane or helicopter but just you in the air? Never mind that skydivers only fly down – the experience is still exhilarating. The skydiving center at Orange, VA, is the closest diving center to the D.C. area. They offer tandem jumps for novices, classes, and solo jumps for more experienced jumpers.

For the next month, jumps take place several times a day on Saturdays and Sundays (weather permitting). By mid April, jumps should be available Wednesdays through Sundays.

Skydiving can be a great addition to special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries. Some couples have traditions of jumping together several times a year. Consider adding a jump to your next romantic weekend at a Bed and Breakfast Orange VA – your idea of romance may never be the same again.

For more information about jumps, please see Skydive Orange.

New Year’s Eve in Virginia

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
Lets cheers Happy new year 2009

Spend New Year's Eve at a Bed and Breakfast Virginia.

Consider spending New Year’s Eve in a Virginia Bed and Breakfast. Inns have a much more intimate feel than large, corporate hotels; you won’t have to worry about landing next to a huge hall party and not getting any sleep (as regretfully happens from time to time). Instead, you may relax in common areas, toasting the New Year with a handful of other guests, or welcome 2011 privately in your room after an evening out.

Several Bed and Breakfasts Virginia offer New Year’s Eve Specials. Some provide dinner or arrange for guests to dine at a nearby restaurant. Many provide hors d’oeuvres, Virginia wine, and champagne toasts on the 31st, and at least one goes all out and puts on a masquerade ball.

Outstanding breakfasts become brunches on New Year’s Day. Enjoy the first meal with coffee or a mimosa. Sleep in first, or get a good start on those resolutions and walk or run before heading to the table.

Whether you like to be in the city or the country, with friends or with strangers, there is a Virginia Bed and Breakfast just right for you.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Parkway

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
BRP_HDR_23

Wonderful views from the Blue Ridge ParkwayThe Blue Ride Parkway runs almost the entire length of Virginia. It joins the Skyline Drive just east of Waynesboro, VA, in the Shenandoah Mountains, and it slowly meanders its way for nearly 475 miles to Cherokee, Tennessee, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Parkway is the type of road that requires a leisurely pace. Time slows down on the Blue Ridge Parkway if you let it. The views will take your breath away, whether they span valleys and mountains or reveal a small, almost hidden waterfall. As you travel, plan on staying at a number of Virginia bed and breakfasts near the Blue Ridge Parkway – that way, you’ll have plenty of time to fully enjoy each leg of your journey.

Virginia bed and breakfasts near the Blue Ridge Parkway have much to offer. Aside from being a place to sit and enjoy great views, they are great bases for exploring the area. The innkeepers can be your local insiders – people who know the area well and who can provide priceless travel tips.

Take advantage of your stay by heading out to listen to mountain music; opportunities for this include the Floyd Country Store Friday Night Jamboree, Pickin’ Porch, and several festivals throughout the year. Spend a day or two visiting Blue Ridge Parkway area wineries, sampling wines produced in the fertile valleys. Vow to stop at every antique shop you see.

Travel the Blue Ridge Parkway when flowers are in bloom. the parkway website handily provides a Bloom Schedule, so you’ll know when your favorite trees, flowers and shrubs are at their most beautiful. These times can be ideal for hiking the trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Ask bed and breakfast Virginia innkeepers about favorite hikes near their inns.

You are sure to enjoy your time traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway, especially if you treat yourself to lodging in Virginia bed and breakfasts.