New to See and Do in Virginia for 2010 -Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary Tops New Travel Experiences
(Richmond, Va.) Virginia is for Lovers is about a love of life and a passion for travel. 2010 is full of new reasons to visit Virginia to reconnect with family and friends on an unforgettable vacation. Exciting new attractions and additions from museums, restaurants, hotels, wineries and sites listed below have sprung out like new growth on an already impressive family tree of offerings.
Photo -В Hiking at Raven’s Roost on the Blue Ridge Parkway
New Places for Family Traditions
Virginia has always been a favorite of families seeking to get away for quality time together. In 2010, new ways to experience traditional favorites are joined by brand new attractions and reminders of things that have made Virginia a preferred destination for generations:
Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary. Get reacquainted with the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway as it celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2010. Starting at mile marker zero near Waynesboro, some 216 miles of the Parkway lead south through Virginia. Hiking trails, scenic overlooks and iconic photo-ops such as Mabry Mill are familiar to generations of American travelers. The Parkway reveals unforgettable cities and towns, cozy lodging, outdoor adventure, restaurants, wineries and live music venues – all of which add to the magic of this favorite family road trip.
The Virginia Aquarium’s Restless Planet. This new addition to the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach features four immersive habitats, dozens of new exhibits and 110,000 gallons of new aquariums to illustrate how diverse environments from the past compare to those that exist today. New habitats include a Malaysian peat swamp, a coastal desert, the Red Sea and active volcanoes.
The Intimidator comes to Kings Dominion. A tribute to NASCAR legend Dale Earnhart, the Intimidator 305, coming to Kings Dominion in Spring 2010, will be the tallest and fastest gravity-driven roller coaster on the East Coast. Topping out at 92 miles per hour after an initial drop of 300, it will be the second Giga-coaster built in North America.
More New for Families
New Arts Additions
Performing and fine arts are bigger and better than ever in Virginia with new additions to existing facilities, renovations of classic venues and new programs:
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. When it reopens on May 1, 2010, Virginia’s gem of a museum will be even more astounding. An additional 165,000 square feet of exhibit space will include a new library, museum shop, cafГ© and galleries. Outside, a 3.5 acre park and sculpture garden brings inviting green space to the site of a former parking lot. The museum’s fabulous Faberge egg collection will be back and better than ever when the museum reopens, along with a stunning Tiffany exhibit and Art Deco and Art Nouveau furniture exhibits that draw visitors from around the globe.
More New Arts
New at Museums and Historic Attractions
Existing museums and historic homes are adding new features, some of which totally transform the existing facility:
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation presents new adult half-day tours that include shopping, dining and touring. New evening programs include Pirates Among Us, Jumpin’ the Broom and the Great Theatrical Disaster of 1790. The new Richard Chartlton’s Coffeehouse is a historical recreation of a Colonial shop that served as a social gathering place as well as a venue for hot beverages.
More Museums News
New Wine and Spirits
Virginia is emerging as a major wine travel destination with more than 150 wineries scattered throughout the Commonwealth. New wineries and wine trails seem to be popping up all over. These are among the newest offerings:
Narmada Winery. A touch of India comes to Virginia wine country near Amissville. Owners Sudha and Pandit Patil invite you on an exotic journey that blends the wine, food, culture and sounds of their native country.
More New Wine and Spirits
New at Places to Stay
Virginia is known for hospitality with a vast array of places to stay. These new lodging options make the choices even better:
Primland Resort, a stunning 14,000 acre haven on the eastern shoulder of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Patrick County, has added an observatory to its already impressive list of things to do. After a day of championship golf, hunting, fishing, woodland trails, fine dining and prime lodging guests can turn their eyes to the heavens at night. Mountain elevations make for great stargazing.
More New Places to Stay
New and Expanded Transportation
Traveling to Virginia just got easier with a new transportation option that connects major population centers with the heart of Virginia:
AMTRAK’s new passenger service from Washington DC into Central Virginia delivers visitors to Culpeper, Charlottesville and Lynchburg, as well as expanded service into Richmond, all where history, outdoor recreation, shopping and culinary adventures await. Check www.Virginia.org for stop off and stop over suggestions.
December 15, 2009
Posted in: United States East