Thursday, July 03, 2008

State tourism office is encouraging Virginians to travel in own backyard

The Virginia Tourism Corporation encourages Virginians and other commonwealth residents to travel throughout Virginia this summer.

Virginia is one of the country’s top travel destinations.

Traveling in-state is an excellent way to save gas, explore Virginia’s heritage and culture and support the state’s economy. Travel planning resources are available from http://www.Virginia.org.

“Virginians live in one of the nation’s premier travel destinations,“ said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “We want our fellow citizens to take advantage of what millions of visitors enjoy every year - bountiful outdoor offerings, historic attractions and unique towns and cities throughout Virginia. With concerns about increased gas prices, now is the perfect time to travel the Commonwealth and see the exciting destinations in your own backyard.“

Virginia’s tourism office offer these travel tips and vacation ideas to help Virginians travel their own state this summer.
Outdoor Adventure

Get outside. Check out the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail, kayak to a winery with Southeast Expeditions in Cape Charles or dig in your heels along Shenandoah National Park’s 500 miles of hiking trails. 
Beaches

Why drive to neighboring states when Virginia has more than 3,000 miles of coastline?  From Virginia Beach to sandy stretches up and down the Eastern Shore, beach lovers will find Virginia’s beaches are perfect for fun in the sun.

History, Heritage & Culture
Virginia is an iconic history destination, from Civil War sites to the founding of Jamestown, Virginia’s history stretches 400 years and beyond. Visit living heritage along trails such as The Crooked Road or the Virginia Indian Heritage Trail and the new historical trails such as the Road to Revolution.

Historic Downtowns
Spend a few days on foot exploring the history, shopping and dining of Virginia’s historic downtowns, from Richmond to Roanoke to the state’s many Virginia Main Street communities, downtowns are excellent destinations for gas-price conscious travelers.

Virginia Wineries
Travel + Leisure magazine recently rated Virginia as one of the top up-and-coming wine destinations in the country. Virginia has more than 130 wineries, many of which have special events and historic B&Bs and inns nearby. More wine travel ideas are available at http://www.Virginia.org/wine.

Resorts
Virginia’s world-class resorts have it all - golf courses, indulgent spas, fine dining and even indoor water parks. Spend a weekend getting pampered at resorts such as Kingsmill, Wintergreen, Boar’s Head, The Homestead or Keswick. Enlist for Food and Wine Camp at Lansdowne Resort or learn to sail at Tides Inn in Irvington.

Award-Winning State Parks
Virginia’s State Parks are consistently recognized as America’s best. Reserve a comfortable cabin, a tent site or even a yurt and spend a weekend fishing, canoeing, nature hiking, bird watching or simply unwinding. Check ahead for guided ranger programs for the whole family.
Visit http://www.Virginia.org for more trip ideas in Virginia and to request a free copy of the 2008 Live Passionately - Virginia is for Lovers Travel Guide. Travel resources are also available by calling 1-800-932-5827.
Tourism is one of Virginia’s most powerful industries, generating $17.7 billion in visitor spending, supporting 208,000 jobs and providing $1.2 billion in state and local taxes for Virginia’s communities.