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Virginia Vacations

Virginia, the Old Dominion State, was named for Queen Elizabeth I, the “Virgin Queen.” Among the famous who have called Virginia their home are Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee, Nat Turner, and Sam Houston. Major industries in Virginia include farming, tourism, and mining. Virginia, with over 42,700 square miles, has the ocean, mountains, rivers, and lakes. While “Virginia is for Lovers,” Virginia also offers families a variety of activities that both entertain and inform.

Colonial National Historical Park – Yorktown

The Colonial National Historical Park marks two important beginnings in the United States, the location of the first permanent English settlement in the colonies, Jamestown, and the place where the final battle in the Revolutionary War occurred, at Yorktown, leading to the independence from England. The Cape Henry Memorial is located near where the first English settlers landed in 1607. The Colonial National Historical Park includes trails for walking or biking and a variety of wildlife, such as raccoons, deer, mink, and wild turkeys.

Hours for the Historic Jamestown Visitor Center and Yorktown Visitor Center are both 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. The Park, which closes at sunset, does not allow visitors on December 25 and January 1. Fees vary. See website for more information.

For more information, please see:

http://www.nps.gov/jame/index.htm

Metro Richmond Zoo – Moseley

How do you feel about giraffes? You and yours can actually pet and feed giraffes at the Metro Richmond Zoo. Did you know that penguins can dive to over 100 feet? You can learn more interesting facts about penguins when you visit here. The Zoo is also home to lions, tigers, and zebras as well as other exotic animals.

The Metro Richmond Zoo is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed on Sundays, New Years Day, Christmas Day and Eve, and Thanksgiving Day. The Zoo is also sometimes closed due to winter weather. Admissions are $8.25 for seniors, $9.25 for adults, $7.25 for children, and kids under two are free.

For more information, please see:

http://www.metrorichmondzoo.com/index.html

The Poe Museum – Richmond

Enter the world of the famous author of the macabre, Edgar Allen Poe. Located in Richmond’s oldest building, the Poe Museum is only a short distance away from where Poe was first employed. Exhibits include a large collection of Poe artifacts and relics, an 1845 first edition of The Raven and other Poems, and a model of the city of Richmond as it was when Poe lived there. Guided tours are available on the hour.

Admissions are $6.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors, and $5.00 for students. Hours are Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

For more information, please see:

http://www.poemuseum.org/index.html

Berkeley Plantation – Charles City

The Berkeley Plantation has a truly remarkable past. The first official Thanksgiving, held in 1619, took place at this site. In addition, Benjamin Harrison and William Henry Harrison called the Berkeley Plantation home. Benjamin Harrison was one of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence and William Henry Harrison became the ninth President of the United States. Visiting the Mansion will take you back into America’s past. The grounds include lovely terraced gardens, woods, and farm land.

Admissions vary. Please see website for more information. The Berkeley Plantation is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.

For more information, please see:

http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/index.html

Booker T. Washington National Monument – Hardy

The Booker T. National Monument is the location where Booker T. Washington was born in 1856, a slave to James Burroughs. who owned a tobacco farm. Washington did not learn how to read when he was a child as it was illegal for slaves to become literate. After the Civil War, Washington not only learned how to read, he became an educator and an author. When visiting the Booker T. National Monument, you will learn how food was grown in the 1850s and about what Washington’s life was like during the nine years that he lived on Burroughs’ farm.

Admissions are free. Hours are daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Booker T. Washington National Monument is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Days.

For more information, please see:

http://www.nps.gov/bowa/

~Laura Evans Staff Editor

Laura Evans is a freelance writer living in Southern California.

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