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By Patrick Evans-Hylton
At one time Virginia stretched from the Atlantic Ocean
across the north and west, and included areas that are
now West Virginia and Kentucky. Heck, even the island
of Bermuda was once part of the state.
But we love what we have now – a beautiful land stretching
from the Appalachian Mountains down to the sea; small towns
and big cities; art and culture that includes blue grass music and
Tiffany glass; great food and great wine and so much more.
Now is the time to discover – or rediscover – Virginia. Here's
our guide to help you find a place you're bound to be passionate
about:
Much more than just a suburb of Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia offers an expanse of places to visit and
things to do from the nation's capital across rural areas to
the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The arts, culture, shopping, history and good food all
come together in this region from Fredericksburg north to
the winding Potomac River.
On The Plate...
Locally-grown produce from rural areas, crabs from
the nearby Chesapeake Bay and Big City flavors from
neighboring Washington, D.C. offer visitors to Northern
Virginia a wide-and-varied assortment of culinary offerings.
The Dine – Crab cake with lemon-butter-caper sauce,
grilled asparagus and roasted pommes noisette with
rosemary.
The Wine – The Winery at LaGrange's Viognier (a signature
white Virginia grape) perfectly compliments the
richness of the crab and butter. Citrus flavors
of lemon and grapefruit play off the asparagus,
and the full-fruit flavor holds up
against the roasted potatoes. $21.
See our Grapevine section in this issue
of Virginia Wine Lover for a list of wineries
in Northern Virginia.
Uniquely Northern Virginia...
- Revel in the nation's military past and present at Arlington National
Cemetery, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania Military Park, the Iwo
Jima Memorial, Manassas National Battlefield Park and the Na
tional Museum of the Marine Corps.
- Visit dad – the father of our country, George Washington – at his
Mount Vernon estate. In addition to his famous mansion overlook
ing the Potomac River, there are some 25 galleries and theaters
on premise, and hundreds of artifacts and interactive displays that
introduce guests to the real George Washington.
- Prince William's Potomac Mills gives everyone's inner shopaholic a
workout with countless stores and outlets like Neiman Marcus Last
Call, Nordstrom Rack and Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, in addition to
Virginia's only Ikea location.
- Become enriched with the visual and performing arts at venues as
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Trowbridge-Lewis Galleries in Middle
burg, Nissan Pavilion At Stone Ridge in Bristow, Torpedo Factory
Art Center in Old Town Alexandria and Wolf Trap National Park for
the Performing Arts in Vienna.
- Have a shot – or two – at the only distillery in North America mak
ing their own barley. Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville offers tours
and tastes of their single malt American whisky and rye whisky daily.
More things to do at www.virginia.org
Fabulous Festivals
April – Warrenton Wine & Arts Festival, Warrenton
June – Fourteenth Annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival, Manassas
June – Potomac Celtic Festival, Leesburg
AUGUST – Flying Circus Hot Air Balloon Festival, Bealeton
December – Parade of Lights Holiday Boat Parade, Alexandria
Travel Virginia More events at www.virginia.org
Uniquely Appalachia...
- Honor miners along the Virginia Coal Heritage Trail, which
includes the Pocahontas Exhibition Mine & Museum.
- Take a hike, literally – some great walks include Gap Cave
at Cumberland National Historical Park, Pine Mountain Trail in
Wise and Dickenson counties, Sugar Hill Loop Trail in St. Paul,
Big Stone Gap in Greenbelt, and Devils Fork Loop in Wise.
- Relive history at Wilderness Road State Park and Martin's Sta
tion, a recreated frontier fort, to explore Daniel Boone's legacy
of trailblazing through the Cumberland Gap. Also, visit Cumberland
Gap National Historical Park as well as Historic Crab
Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park. Enjoy the outdoor musical
drama "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" from late June
through August in Big Stone Gap.
- Tap your foot to old-time mountain music every Saturday night
at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, a tribute to the First Family
of Country Music. Also, visit the Ralph Stanley Museum and
Traditional Mountain Music Center in Clintwood.
- Explore the work of local craftspeople and fine artists at the
Appalachian Arts Center in Richlands. Shop for local treasures
at the June Tolliver House & Folk Art Center in Big Stone Gap.
Also, visit Coeburn's Purely Appalachia Crafts and Music Center.
More things to do at www.virginia.org
In the far western part of Virginia, fertile valleys are
surrounded by stoic mountains on all sides; this is the Heart
of Appalachia – an ancient part of this country homesteaded
by hearty folk who relished in the natural beauty all around
them.
Visitors will delight in the beauty, too; the region features
incredible natural wonders and awe-inspiring views.
On The Plate...
Foodways in Appalachia borrow from Native Americans
and the large influx of Scot-Irish immigrants. Original
living was harsh and completely off the land. Food was
what could be hunted or grown, and then it was prepared
simply and straight-forward.
The Dine – Venison Steak Au Poivre; parsleyed roasted
carrots, turnips and potatoes in beurre blanc; applesauce
cake
The Wine – MountainRose Vineyard's Jawbone Red,
a fruit-forward red with cherry components and a bit
of spice at the end. The wine is a blend of Cab Franc
and Chancellor (a French-American hybrid with Shiraz
characteristics). The body and flavors are not
lost with the richness of the venison, and
complement the earthiness of the root
vegetables. $10.99
See our Grapevine section in this issue
of Virginia Wine Lover for a list of wineries
in Western Virginia.
Fabulous Festivals
April – Honaker Redbud Festival, Honaker
May – Hill of Home Bluegrass Festival, Coeburn
May – Gathering in the Gap, Big Stone Gap
June – Clinch Mountain Music Fest, Gate City
October – Bush Mill Days, Scott County
More events at www.virginia.org
For the rest of this article, see the Summer issue of Virginia Wine Lover Magazine.
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