Richmond.com :: Travel

Lots of Skinny Dipping Going On

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The White Tail Resort is participating in the AANR Largest Skinny-Dip Across North America on Saturday, July 11.

Care for a Little Hard Cider, Virginia?

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:50:00 EDT

Just in time for summer - Central Virginia's first hard cider-making operation in modern times.

OBX Horses

Fri, 29 May 2009 16:15:00 EDT

Corolla’s Wild Horses are a natural beauty in dire need of protection.

Theme Parks on a Budget

Wed, 20 May 2009 16:29:00 EDT

Tips for saving money at amusement parks.

Virginia Beach

Wed, 13 May 2009 16:24:00 EDT

Expects lots of sand, surf and sun with a trip to Virginia Beach. The beach is the place to be with 29 miles of coastline, sandy, natural beaches and the popular three-mile-oceanfront Boardwalk.

Myrtle Beach

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:44:00 EDT

People flock to Myrtle Beach for the 60 miles of beaches and coastline, which includes two oceanfront state parks. Others think golf when they hear the words Myrtle Beach, thanks to the area’s 120 courses.

Cape Fear & Brunswick Islands

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:41:00 EDT

Along Cape Fear, the tagline says it all: an ocean, a historic riverfront town and the stories they tell. There are 31 miles of island beaches near Wilmington, which has a 230-plus block National Register Historic District.

Crystal Coast, NC

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:32:00 EDT

Also known as North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks, the Crystal Coast is made up of Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle, Beaufort, Morehead City and Cape Lookout.

Outer Banks, NC

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:23:00 EDT

The Outer Banks are a series of long sand bars that stretch roughly 180 miles from the Virginia border to Cape Lookout.

Norfolk

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:14:00 EDT

Featuring mostly naval yards and harbors, you’ll want to head here if you’re interested in maritime and naval heritage

Hampton

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:08:00 EDT

The Hampton Roads area features 12 deep water marinas and activities in Hampton tend to center around the harbor and fishing in the Chesapeake Bay.

Virginia River Beaches & Chesapeake Bay

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:05:00 EDT

Many beaches can be discovered lining Virginia up and down the river. River beaches are popular with fishermen, crabbers and can be used for swimming and relaxing.

Eastern Shore

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:00:00 EDT

The Eastern Shore is the strip of land that is separated from Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay. Eastern Shore is accessible to mainland Virginia by the 17.6 mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

Beach Guide

Wed, 13 May 2009 14:46:00 EDT

If you're ready for a vacation or a weekend getaway, check our beach profiles, including lists of things do to, attractions and much more.

A Passion For Food

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:12:00 EDT

Come spring, the blue crab must let go of its tough armor and stand exposed in the tidal currents. It sheds its old shell, after growing a larger one underneath.

D.C.'s Cherry Blossoms in Bloom

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:52:00 EDT

It's that time of year again, when a swath of the nation's capital becomes awash in a sea of pink.

Beer, Wine, Oysters & OBX

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:42:47 EST

A handful of hungry Richmonders can summarize their weekend plans in two words: chowder cook-off. Or if they were lucky and scored tickets early enough before the event sold out: oyster roast. Either way, there will be good eats this weekend just a few hours south in North Carolina's Outer Banks. And make no mistake, OBX local beer and wine will be flowing as well. Perhaps as much as the last time you rented a house in Nags Head with 12 of your closest friends. Taste of the Beach , the annual culinary festival for OBX locals and far-flung foodies, gets underway Thursday with four days of eating, drinking and hot dogs. Yes, hot dogs, but more on that later. All of the restaurants, chefs and businesses participating are located in the Outer Banks and are joining together to showcase their kitchen skills. Trophies are even awarded; they look nice when placed behind the bar at any fine establishment. "We have an incredible array of visionary culinaries who are putting out an incredible product, but that's not on everybody's tongue," says Ben Sproul, president of the Outer Banks Restaurant Association and owner of the The Pitt - Boardriders Grill. "There are great events that are unusual and fun. You can really make a real culinary adventure out of the weekend." The event dates back more than 20 years, but last year was expanded to encompass four days of menus, tastings and cooking classes. The festival was named one of the top 10 seafood and wine festivals by Coastal Living magazine in 2008. If the goal for the expanded festival was to draw people who appreciate a good meal not only from drivable places like Richmond, but from anywhere they can get online, savor the schedule and start charging tickets and accommodations to their credit cards, event organizers can claim some success. About 530 tickets were sold for the 2008 festival, and as of yesterday that number is almost double for this year's event. Richmond-area travelers make up about 10 percent of current 2009 ticket sales, according to Quinn Capps, marketing director for the event. Capps says that foodies are packing up and heading to the Carolina coast from as far away as Washington, Canada and Nebraska. A few popular events are sold out including the Taste of Tapas in Duck (a tapas crawl that also sold out last year) and the Sideyard BBQ and Oyster Roast , but the majority of the events are available and inspire noshing, drinking and… well it's really just about noshing and drinking. As for the hot dogs, Manuel Baumann, a qualified German Master Butcher at the Weeping Radish, holds classes on Saturday and Sunday demonstrating how to make old fashioned natural hot dogs with "local hormone and antibiotic free ingredients from sustainable farms," according to the event Web site. Sounds tasty for some, but if the idea of truly knowing what's in a hot dog is somewhat frightening to you there are other events to consider instead. A full list of events with prices and times is available online. Events range in price from $10 (donation) - $85. Sproul, whose organization sponsors the event, offers a few weekend picks in case you're a first timer to the Taste of the Outer Banks. You're 25 years old, single, and looking for fun in the Outer Banks: Check out the Kickin' it back in Kill Devil Hills crawl that happens Thursday night. You're bringing your young family along for the trip: Make time for the Mouthwatering Moments in Manteo crawl on Saturday. You're a true foodie: The Taste of Tapas in Duck crawl is just right. But sorry, it's sold out. The runner-up is Friday's Cross Town Crawl .

Like a Good French Wine...

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:53:04 EDT

There's a signature cookie bouquet at the sweetest shop in Carytown, Cookies by Design, that says it best, "Like a rare French wine in a Paris bar, the older you get the better you are." This October, the state of Virginia celebrates getting better with age during the 20th anniversary of Virginia Wine Month. And while the first thing that pops into your head when thinking of "Virginia wines" may be those located to the northwest of Richmond, there's plenty to taste, savor and enjoy right around our beloved River City. When Virginia Wine Month began in 1988, only 40 wineries resided in the state and even though viniculture was young, it was thriving. Now just 25 later, the number of wineries in Virginia has more than tripled and the state's reputation as one of the top five up-and-coming wine regions in the world has grown. In honor of Virginia Wine Month's anniversary theme, " Find the One You Love ," Richmond.com wants to make it easy to "Find the [Local] One You Love." Six of the closest wineries to Richmond each have something special to offer whether you prefer your wine light and crisp or full-bodied and dry. Whether you choose to pay a visit to these wineries one at a time or as a part of the joint venture that has become known as the Heart of Virginia (HOVA) Wine Trail you'll want to do it soon. Even though the wineries will always be open for tasting and hosting events, you only have a few days left in October to raise a glass and toast to Virginia Wine Month. (The next HOVA Wine Trail event will take place the weekend of Saturday, Nov. 1 and Sunday, Nov. 2). James River Cellars (HOVA Wine Trail) 11008 Washington Highway Glen Allen, VA (804) 550-7516 James River Cellars , a quaint, family owned and operated winery, is the closest location to Richmond. Owner Ray Lazarchic works with winemaker James Batterson , viticulturist Sebastian Nagy and winery manager Mitzi Batterson to produce 15 varieties of distinctive white and red flavors. Among their 15 varieties, James River wines have won numerous awards including the 2005 Governor's Cup for best Virginia wine for their dessert wine, Dolce Vino. New for the 2008 season, James River Cellars released its first Petit Verdot, a red grape wine that is principally used in classic Bordeaux blends for tannin, color and flavor. When the grape is still young, its aromas have been likened to bananas and pencil shavings yet as the wine matures, strong leather and violet tones develop. The tasting room at James River Cellars is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays and Mondays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The $3 tasting fee also includes a souvenir wine glass to take home. The winery also offers special events including, Fridays Over the Patio and for the Halloween season James River will be hosting their 2nd annual Monster Mash . For more information, visit jamesrivercellars.com . Grayhaven Winery (HOVA Wine Trail) 4675 E. Grey Fox Circle Gum Spring, VA (804) 556-3917 Located just 30 minutes from Richmond, Grayhaven Winery was founded in 1978 by Charles and Lyn Peple. With the help of their daughters Mallory and Max, the couple worked to keep the vineyard a family owned and operated endeavor. Their first production year didn't occur until the mid-90's, but the 50-acre establishment has steadily grown into a small batch production winery that specializes in the use of vinifera (or common) and hybrid grapes including Touriga, Cabernet Franc and Seyval, as well as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage and Marechal Foch for which the winery is known. With roughly 15 wines for aficionados to taste and choose from, visitors can enjoy a glass of wine on the deck, bring their own picnic or purchase a variety of gourmet goodies at the gift shop and relax by the pond. There's also a playground for the kiddies on-site and friendly horses to pet that surround the rolling hills of the winery. The tasting room at Grayhaven is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fee is $2.50 for the tasting and $5 for those who wish to keep a souvenir glass. For more information, including special Halloween events, visit grayhavenwinery.com . Cooper Vineyards (HOVA Wine Trail) 13372 Shannon Hill Road Louisa, VA (540) 894-5253 Also equipped with 15 wines for tasting, Cooper Vineyards is located midway between Richmond and Charlottesville. And it's not just the adventure of creating wine from their own vineyard, but the joys of drinking that wine that drive their winemaking decisions. Dr. Geoffrey Cooper and Dr. Jacque Hogge began the winery in 1999 with only two varieties to showcase during their first year of production. However, due to time and patience, the vineyard now holds multiple awards for its wines. In 2006, Cooper Vineyards' Norton, with its hints of vanilla oak and cherry, won the Virginia State Fair gold medal. Also in 2006, Cooper won a silver medal in the Governor's Cup for their Viognier, a white wine with pear, pineapple and peach flavors and a light touch of oak to entice the senses. New for the fall season, Cooper Vineyards has released two new ice wines, Ice Vidal and Noche. Both wines were made by freezing the grapes prior to pressing and then infused with their own distinct flavors. The Ice Vidal encompasses the sweetness of apricot and nectar while the Noche boasts a rich chocolate flavor. Cooper Vineyards is open seven days a week for tasting and tours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is a tasting fee of $2.50 or $5 if you would like to keep the souvenir glass. Cooper also hosts a variety of wine events, including its popular Mini Cooper Rally held in August. For more information and upcoming events, visit coopervineyards.com . Lake Anna Winery (HOVA Wine Trail) 5621 Courthouse Road Spotsylvania, VA (540) 895-5085 The first grapes at Lake Anna Winery were planted in 1983 and consisted of 2,000 Seyval Blanc, 250 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1,000 Chardonnay vines. By 1984, owner Bill Heidig made his first commercial grape sale and expansion to the vineyard has continued every since. Although still managed by Bill, the winery is now owned and operated by his sons Jeff and Eric Heidig with award-winning winemaker, Graham Bell by their side. Together, the three have produced almost fifteen varieties of red, white and sweet wines that have won numerous awards. The Spotsylvania Claret, described as a medium bodied red with bright cherry, herb and raspberry flavors won the gold medal in the 2008 Virginia State Fair Wine Competition. Likewise, the soon-to-be released Énigme took the gold medal at the 2008 Tasters Guild International Wine Competition. The Énigme is infused with three varieties of red grapes making it a very dark, rich blend. Speaking of new releases, this spring Lake Anna will also be releasing a sweet yet floral ice wine called Essensual made from the grape, Vidal Blanc. The Lake Anna tasting room is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. The fee is $3 for the tasting or $5 to keep a souvenir wine glass. For more information and upcoming events, visit lawinery.com . New Kent Winery 8400 Old Church Road New Kent, VA (877) 932-8240 New Kent Winery is the newest addition to the Richmond wine region having just opened its doors this past May after eight years of planning and preparation. Not only were owners waiting for the vines to mature, but they were busy obtaining state-of-the-art wine making equipment as well as building a 17,000 square foot, historic winery with a unique and inviting tasting room. The winery is built from materials reclaimed from buildings and structures well over a century old. Old pine trusses were reclaimed from a 1901 Southern Railroad Depot that was located in Shockoe Bottom and pine structural and floor timbers were recovered from an old Connecticut warehouse that was constructed in 1852. Planting their first vines in 2001, New Kent now offers six varieties of wine, some dating back to 2004. Their lot includes Chardonnay and Chardonnay Reserve, Vidal Blanc, Norton , Merlot and Meritage. The tasting room at New Kent Winery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays through Sundays and the $7 tasting and tour fee also includes an etched souvenir glass. For more information and upcoming events, visit newkentwinery.com . Woodland Vineyard 15501 Genito Road Midlothian, VA (804) 739-2774 Located near the Swift Creek Reservoir in Midlothian, Woodland Vineyard is a half-acre, family owned an operated Vineyard complete with an outdoor patio to greet visitors. In 1997, Woodland's first vines were planted by owners and wine artisans Melissa Jeltema and Eric Gretenhart . What began as a hobby quickly turned into a successful business and in the summer of 2004, daughter Megan Witherspoon and husband John Witherspoon officially joined the venture as the winery's graphic designer and business manager respectfully. Woodland Vineyard officially uncorked its first bottle in Dec. 2004 during the vineyard's first annual Holiday Open House. Since then, Woodland has released over ten varieties of white, red and blush wines including their bronze medal winner in the 2008 Women Winemakers Challenge, the 2006 Merlot. The Merlot is said to have supple cherry and cinnamon flavors with strong tannin structure, making it an age-worthy red. Coming soon to the Woodland Vineyard will be a 2006 Cabernet Franc as well as a 2007 Dry Rose Cabernet Blanc. The tasting room is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and during the week by appointment only. A $5 per person or $8 per family tasting fee also gets you a tour of the winery. Carpool with four or more people and receive $2 off your fee. For more information and upcoming events, visit woodlandvineyard.com .

All Aboard the Party Bus!

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:11:39 EDT

As much as we love our "big little city," all its quirks and even the bad parking jobs, there comes a time when we need to get out of town … even if it's just for a day. But with gas prices still high (I don't care what they say; $3.60-something does not constitute as 'low' to me), it's difficult to justify filling up the tank and sitting in traffic to go anywhere. This Sunday, however, Richmonders over the age of 21 can hit the road without spending a dime on gas. At 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17 a luxury motor coach fully-equipped with reclining seats, air conditioning, restrooms and enough room for all your friends will be waiting to take you and your friends to Virginia Beach for the day. It's all part of the Sunday Beach Blast, sponsored by gobuddie.com and Carytown's New York Deli . The bus takes off from New York Deli.(2920 W. Cary St.) and one and all are invited to slip into their bathing suits, pack a beach bags and stock the coolers for the bus ride. Once you get to the beach, you'll have all day to play, with one stipulation -- make your way back at the bus by 6 p.m. … or prepare to remain beach bound. Need some help planning your day? Check out Richmond.com's " One Tank Trip: Virginia Beach" for restaurants, attractions, shopping and much more. Tickets for Sundays' Beach Blast bus are $40 and can only be purchased online at gobuddie.com. Make sure to print the receipt to use as your ticket. Looking to travel to "vabeach" another weekend? Gather up 20 of your best buds and reserve it for your day of choice. For more information and to reserve your seat for this Sunday's trip, head to gobuddie.com or call New York Deli at (804) 358-3354. Tickets are non-refundable unless Gobuddie LLC cancels for any reason.

Help Virginia beat Michigan to win the "Best State Travel Web Site" accolade

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:12:07 EDT

The state of Virginia is facing Michigan in the final showdown for the Best State Travel Web Site in the nation. This is kind of the American Idol of travel site voting and Virginia needs votes – by Friday. www.Virginia.org/vote The Showdown is hosted by the Travel 2.0 Interactive Travel Trend Report blog that provides insight to the convergence of interactive technology and travel. Virginia vs. Michigan is the final round and winner gets national bragging rights. This is all in good fun and a great way to bring attention to the importance of tourism in Virginia. Tourism is one of Virginia's most powerful industries, generating $17.7 billion in revenue, supporting 208,000 jobs and providing $1.2 billion in state and local taxes for Virginia's communities. Go to www.Virginia.org/vote and cast your vote for Virginia.org by 5 p.m. Friday, August 8. Virginia.org is the official travel Web site of the state of Virginia, and gets more than 5 million unique visitors a year. -- Compiled from a Virginia Tourism Corporation news release.