Recreation THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF RECGOV.ORG & GOVEmPLOyEE.COm September 2014
Volume 32/Number 9
www.recreationnews.com
News
Conquering West Virginia’s wild and wonderful Gauley River
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Whitewater Rafting Adventure for 4 from BlackWaterOutdoors.com and 2-night stay at Black Bear Cabins in Tucker County, WV
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Three Pull-Out Sections! Virginia getaways I West Virginia getaways I Discount & Housing Guide • Virginia’s Space Coast • The elements of Luzerne • Southern Delaware outdoors • Civil War • Garrett County international whitewater event
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publisher’s note I karl teel
Ways to make this a September to remember days you weed, and without each, you’ll never harvest. Life’s experiences, particularly as they pertain to travel memories, are exactly like that, too. Here at Recreation News, we certainly can help with the first few stages. We hope our stories help plant that seed of a dream: “Wow! I’d like to see that.” We can help with the planning with our features — both in print and online — as well as our YouTube channel videos, our weekly email blasts, our Twitter feed, and our Facebook page, all of which you can see, link to, or sign up for at RecreationNews.com. But it’s you, and you alone, who needs to react. And, upon completing the “react” part, the reflection will follow. So, what better time than now? September is a time of transition. It always has been — back to school, seasonal changes, and so on — and I often think of it as “the springtime of people.” Perfect weather certainly helps, and it’s a time of celebrations and festivals, too. Why not transition your plans to take some time off as well? Get that dream, research it, and pull the trigger. Get the wheels turning and make it happen. Tomorrow will become yesterday soon enough. Will that yesterday become one of regrets, or one of memories? Make it a September to remember. It’s calling for you — the next move is yours. Do it. And enjoy!
There’s a time to dream, a time to plan, a time to react, and a time to reflect. Done in equal measure, memories can be created. Too many of us, though, get caught up in one stage or another. For example, that great patio set you bought — you’re so consumed with working you never get to enjoy it. All the while, it sits there, while you wait On our cover for that dream stage to become a reality. One day, Fall on the Gauley you’ll have a bunch of friends over, relaxing to a River offers world class sunset and cocktails, but you’re not quite there, whitewater rafting. Adyet. ventures on the Gorge Or, there’s my father’s return to Europe, a lifehas trips that will prolong dream that never happened. Or, there’s that duce a lifetime of memocruise — had you better planned for it, you would ries. (Adventures on the have known how to maximize that port of call and Gorge.) not missed its marquee sight. It takes all the stages “Fall in love” with to create a great memAmericA’s #2 resort for fAmilies! ory. A miss on one stage can dilute or prevent the -TripAdvisor.com 2014 experience. Prolonged delays can prevent the great memory from happening, too. It’s been said, “The enemy of the good is the perfect.” So much time spent planning, there’s no time left for “doing.” It’s like farming — some days you plant seeds, some days you water, some
TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 ~ Publisher’s Note 6 ~ Editor’s Note 7 ~ The elements of Luzerne 8 ~ Travel Line 10 ~ International canoe event in Garrett County 12 ~ Cycling through Talbot County 14 ~ PA Route 6 15 ~ Allegheny National Forest 16 ~ Corn Maze round-up DHG 1-8 ~ Discount & Housing Guide VA-1 ~ Northern Neck VA-4 ~ Coastal events VA-6 ~ Explore the Space Coast VA-8 ~ Fredericksburg VA-9 ~ The Valentine VA-10 ~ Harrisonburg International Festival VA-11 ~ Montpelier’s Constitution Day VA-12 ~ South Central discovery itinerary VA-14 ~ Civil War section VA-18 ~ Glen Maury Park WV-2 ~ Fall in the parks WV-4 ~Gauley River adventure WV-6 ~Bridge Day WV-8 ~Canaan Valley leaf peeping 17 ~ Cruise Corner 19 ~ Southern Delaware outdoors 22 ~ Calendar of Events 26 ~ Wine Doctor 27 ~ Adventures in Taste 28 ~ Music festival 31 ~ Classified
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editor’s note I marvin bond
The card arrived The red, white, and blue card arrived recently confirming my status as one of the 10,000 baby boomers who turn 65 each day. Welcome to Medicare! But wait a minute; I’m not some doddering senior citizen. I’m still working, taking care of a
home, traveling, and doing many other activities. So, it would seem, are most of my contemporaries, those of us born as the first half of the 20th century was coming to an end. Travel remains an important part of our lives, whether it’s an annual family vacation at the beach, a day trip to explore area wineries, a trip to an all-inclusive resort, or a cruise. Research shows that boomers consider travel a www.calvertparks.org 410.535.5327 necessity, not a luxury, have traveled more than their predecessors, and are more interested in off-the-beaten-path Hiking Trails destinations. Of course, as large as the boomer Picnicking group is, they are still one part of the traveling Education Programs public. That’s what makes our Interpretive Exhibits work here at Recreation News so rewarding. As writers, we get to ferret out those destinations and experiences that will appeal to readers of all ages and interests, from the thrill-seeking millennial to the Civil War buff to the true foodie. Jane and I find surprises on almost all of Kings Landing Park our trips — people and Canoe & Kayak Access places that aren’t necesGroup Camping & Facilities sarily in any brochure but that add immeasurFlag Ponds Nature Park ably to the experience. Chesapeake Bay Beach and Fossil Hunting As summer recedes and fall begins this Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary month, there are ample opportunities to enjoy Trails Through a Bald Cypress Swamp travel. Take the family
Calvert County Nature Parks Explore the Wonders of the Natural World
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to a corn maze, meet a pony at Assateague, find a festival for some old-fashioned fun, or plan a longer trip now that there are fewer crowds but the weather is still warm. You’ll find some great ideas in our pages this month and additional content at RecreationNews.com. Don’t let the grass grow under your feet. Your card is coming, too!
Travelers’ toolbox ◆ Dakota Watch Co. offers a Zip Clip model for outdoor adventures that also includes a bottle opener, LED light, small knife, and split rind for attaching to a belt or backpack. (dakotawatchsales.com) ◆ For outdoor adventures or to be prepared for hurricane season, the Sun Power Bank 4000 is a high-efficiency solar cell/lithium battery charger for smart phones, tablets, GPS units, cameras, and other devices with USB cables. (securproducts.com) ◆ The 365 Guide to New York City lists 365 restaurant deals and bar specials in the Big Apple detailing type of food or bar specialty. Many of the specials are common happy hour-type offerings, but there are some gems and establishments known primarily to locals. (amazon.com) ◆ There’s a new Moon handbook for Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., organized by major town or region. Guidebooks are always somewhat subjective and area locals may find favorite attractions or experiences are missing, but the book does offer information on sights, food, accommodations, and traveling with pets. (moon.com)
Coming next month Mid-Atlantic wine and other libations Artists’ studio tours Hawk Mountain
pennsylvania I matthew graham
Explore the great outdoors in lovely Luzerne County Luzerne County is one of the most spectacularly beautiful areas in Pennsylvania. Nestled amongst the Pocono and Endless mountains there are a wide range of forested parks, the winding Susquehanna River, the Lehigh Valley gorge, and the charming town of Wilkes-Barre. Outdoor lovers can explore the area by air, by land, and by water.
paddle down the Susquehanna with a stop at Bartolai Vineyards for wine tasting and snacks. Try a full-moon kayak tour along five scenic miles of the river from Whites Ferry to West Falls. Or, simply rent a boat for a half day of paddling along the Susquehanna River Water Trail. (poconowhitewater.com, kayaktheriver.com)
By Air
By All Three
From nearly 10,000 feet the view is breathtaking. Above the Poconos Skydivers offers tandem jumps with seasoned instructors to help visitors safely enjoy the views. Above the Poconos is the oldest continually running USPA member skydiving center in the world. Tandem jumps are recommended for first timers because an instructor can provide guidance from top to bottom. With the instructor cinched tight to your back, you waddle like a four-legged crab to the open doorway of the airplane. Below is nothing but air and the verdant landscape of northeastern Pennsylvania. The wind roars as the instructor calmly counts down for the jump and, in a flash, you are falling. Racing through the air and hitting speeds of 120 mph, freefall often lasts for more than a minute. The ground is still thousands of feet away as the chute is deployed, the canopy pops open, and the world becomes quiet. Floating gently to the ground, the instructor steers the chute and explains the mechanics of setting up an approach pattern into the Hazleton Municipal Airport. The grass drop zone adjacent the runway comes up slowly and your instructor pulls the brake handles hard to flare the canopy for a soft touchdown. The center offers complete instruction programs for becoming a licensed skydiver. (paskydive.com)
The ultimate experience in Luzerne County is the Ricketts Glen State Park Waterfall Hike. The 3.5-mile loop hike follows a path down into a gully
LUZERNE
COUNTY
and back with an astounding 22 waterfalls. Climb under the falls, sit in the catch pools, and even get a little airtime jumping off one of the overlooks into the deeper pools. It’s the most fun a additional coverage at recreationnews.com person can have on a hot summer day! (dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks)
www.
Before you go Luzerne Co. Tourism: tournepa.com
Events
Luzerne County Fair Funfest Weekend Haunted Lantern Tours
You'll find it all right here in Northeast PA!!
By Land Take the stroll of your choice along the Mocanaqua Loop Trail System. With a series of interconnecting loops, you can do an easy walk of a couple of miles, a moderate hike of seven or eight miles, or connect the loops for a 15-mile trek. Many of the trails follow old coal mining roads through the woods and past large rock formations. The main trail runs along a ridge of Penobscot Knob and features several scenic overlooks of the Susquehanna River and a view of the town of Shickshinny. The vistas include wide-open, flat, rocky areas ideal for a picnic or simply basking in the sun and watching the birds soar along the ridge. (earthconservancy.org/html/mocanaqua_loop_ trail_system.html)
By Water Feel the rush of adrenaline as you tackle the whitewater of the Lehigh Valley Gorge with Pocono Whitewater. Splash through 17 Class II and III rapids on a 12-mile, five-hour guided river run. These high-intensity trips are operated on select dates when water is released from the Francis E. Walter Dam. Slightly more mellow “family” trips with Class II rapids are also offered. For a completely relaxing river excursion, take a tour with Kayak The River. Enjoy a fabulous
ure h c o r B e Fre
Spend some time in Luzerne County ountyy
enjoying outdoor recreation in our picturesque parks, lakes and rivers. New this season is Wilkes-Barre Bike Share; a free bike program for visitors to explore downtown Wilkes-Barre, thee River Common and nearby communities. Find out why Luzerne County has been named "Official Best of Outdoor Recreation" ...order your fall foliage driving tour brochure.
Fall Events Visit www.tournepa.com or call 888.905.2872 recreationnews.com I september 2014 I recreation news 7
travel line I carol timblin
Celebrating the 150 anniversary of the National Park System th
Though President Abraham Lincoln’s legacy rests primarily on his leadership during the Civil War and his eloquent Gettysburg Address, his signing of the Yosemite Grant Act 150 years ago had a long-lasting effect upon the country that continues today. The act gave birth to the country’s outstanding system of national parks. In late June, the Yosemite Act was commemorated during a special
Among the Mid-Atlantic sites administered by the National Park Service is Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, which includes Independence Hall.
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ceremony held in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in California’s Yosemite National Park. “We stand in awe among these giant trees that are thousands of years old,” said National Park Service director Jon Jarvis to the assembled crowd, “and are reminded about the importance of protecting our natural resources so that future generations can experience what John Muir called ‘nature’s forest masterpiece.’” Today, there are 401 sites in the National Park System, which cover 84 million acres total. The system includes 125 historical parks/sites, 78 national monuments, 59 national parks, 25 battlefields/military parks, 18 preserves, 18 recreation areas, 10 seashores, four parkways, four lakeshores, and two reserves. In 2013, the park system recorded more than 9 million visitors and volunteers contributed 353,299 hours of service. The National Park System is one of the United States’ greatest treasures, and among its crown jewels are Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon. Established in 1890, Yosemite offers a plethora of activities amid its 748,000 acres, from backpacking to rock climbing, hiking to auto touring, and fishing to horseback riding. The year-round California park entertains more than 4 million annual visitors who enjoy its history, natural beauty, and accommodations, including the historic Wawona and Ahwahnee hotels. The 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act will be celebrated in Yosemite on Sept. 3. (nps.gov/yose) Yellowstone, our nation’s and the world’s first national park, was established in 1872. Harboring one of the last natural ecosystems in the world, the park is almost as pristine as it was when Native Americans roamed the land. Covering 2.1 million acres, primarily in Wyoming, the park welcomes more than 3 million visitors a year. Its main inhabitants today are grizzlies, wolves, bison, moose, elk, coyotes, owls, and ospreys. With 10,000 hydrothermal features, more than 300 geysers and 290 waterfalls, one of the world’s largest calderas, and one of the largest petrified forests, Yellowstone always delivers a spectacular show, including Old Faithful’s daily eruptions. Among the varied accommodations are historic inns such as Roosevelt Lodge Cabins (named for President Teddy Roosevelt), Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Old Faithful Inn, and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins (nps.gov/yell). Five million annual visitors spend time in the amazing, multi-hued Grand Canyon, which is onemile deep and crowned by the South Rim and the North Rim (open seasonally). Getting around the entire canyon is not easy with only one pedestrian and one auto bridge, so visitors may opt to visit only one side, the most popular being the South Rim. This area offers the only lodging in the park, the grandest being the 1905 El Tovar Hotel. Most visitors travel by car, while others ride the Santa Fe Railroad from Williams, Ariz., to the century-old train depot in the Grand Canyon Village or take shuttle buses. A free shuttle runs between Tusayan, Ariz., and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, where visitors pick up free in-park shuttles. Browse through the exhibits and the bookstore at Verkamp’s Visitor Center in the Grand Canyon Village. Also, visit Lookout Studio, one of six buildings designed by architect Mary Colter and part of the Mary Jane Colter Buildings National Historic
8 recreation news I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
Landmark. More adventurous travelers may backpack, ride a mule to Phantom Park, or take a raft down the Colorado River. (nps.gov/grca) The Skywalk in nearby Grand Canyon West is an interesting side-stop for visitors. Managed by the Hualapai Tribe, the horseshoe-shaped steel frame with a glass floor and sides that extend 70 feet from the rim offers breathtaking views of the canyon. Visitors may also experience Native American culture at the authentic replica of a village, the open air market, and Hualapai Ranch. (grandcanyonwest.com)
National parks to explore in the Mid-Atlantic A large number of visitors are expected at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine the week of Sept. 10-16 for “Star-Spangled Spectacular.” The event commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore, during which Francis Scott Key was prompted to write The Star-Spangled Banner. Special programs featuring reenactors, hands-on educational experiences, and many more activities have served as a prelude to the event at the fort, which welcomes 650,000 visitors a year. The “Spectacular” will kick off with the arrival of tall ships and naval vessels in the Inner Harbor on Sept. 10, followed by festivals, public ship tours, and the Star-Spangled Air Show. It culminates with a patriotic concert and fireworks on the evening of Sept. 13. A huge Stars and Stripes will be raised over Fort McHenry the next morning. The celebration ends on Sept. 16 with the Parade of Ships’ departure. (starspangled200.com) Every year, more than 3.6 million people visit Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. The 55-acre site covers more than 20 blocks in the historic district and includes more than a dozen museums. A tour of Independence Hall is a must-see, as is Liberty Bell Center, where the famous bell is displayed. Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia’s most renowned citizen, lived and worked in what is now Franklin Court. An open-steel structure outlines Franklin’s house and a new museum features artifacts, animations, and hands-on interactive exhibits that tell his story. Also here are a printing office, architectural/archaeological exhibit, and operating post office. (nps.gov/inde) Shenandoah National Park, another Mid-Atlantic gem that covers 197,000 acres, has one of the largest designated wilderness areas in the eastern United States. Park visitors are celebrating Wilderness Week through Sept. 7. You can experience the wilderness by walking through it or driving over the popular Skyline Drive. It stretches for 105 miles from Front Royal, Va., to Waynesboro/ Staunton, Va., where it connects with the 476-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, also a part of the National Park System. If you take the Skyline Drive, be sure to stop at the visitors’ centers, overlooks, historic sites, lodges, and concessions along the way. Historic Big Meadows Lodge and Skyland Lodge in Shenandoah offer lodging, dining, shopping, and entertainment. On Sept. 20, Skyland Lodge invites visitors to stir the apple butter that will be cooked in copper kettles over a fire. The menu will feature
special apple dishes, including apple-smoked barbecue and apple cobbler, and canned apple butter will be sold. There will also be opportunities for wine tasting, pony rides, children’s crafts, and live entertainment throughout the day. (goshenandoah.com) The Blue Ridge Parkway began in 1936 as a New Deal project under President Franklin Roosevelt and was completed in 1983 with the building of the Linn Cove Viaduct at Grandfather Mountain. The parkway starts at the end of the Skyline Drive and ends 486 miles later at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina. Like the Skyline Drive, it is known for its natural beauty, historic sites, overlooks, lodges, concessions, and outdoor recreational options. The parkway covers 93,000 acres of terrain in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Last year,
MARYLAND
more than 12 million people traveled “America’s Most Scenic Highway.� (blueridgeparkway.org) Private citizens are encouraged to support the National Park Service by giving to the nonprofit National Park Foundation, chartered by Congress in 1967. You can sign up for foundation’s free Guide to National Parks at nationalparks.org. Roosevelt’s words about national parks still ring true today: “There is nothing so American as our national parks. ... The fundamental idea behind the parks ... is that the country belongs to the people.�
Last Summer Fling If you didn’t make it to the beach this summer, there’s still time to soak up a little sun, play in the surf, and enjoy a few activities at area beaches. Ocean City, Md., will host Bikefest, Sept. 11-14; Sunfest, Sept. 18-21; Wine on the Beach, Sept. 26-
Carol Timblin welcomes travel news at ctimblin@ gmail.com.
travel line
MARYLAND
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27; and Octoberfest, Oct. 18-22. (ococean.com) The Neptune Festival continues in Virginia Beach with Blues on the Beach, Sept. 5-6; Neptune’s Surfing Classic and Neptune’s Fall Wine Festival , Sept. 6-7; the International Sandsculpting Competition, Sept. 26-Oct. 5; Sandman Triathlon, Sept. 26; and the Neptune Festival and Boardwalk Weekend, Sept. 26-27. (neptunefestival.com/ event) On the Delaware coast, the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel sails Sept. 1-6 from Lewes Ferry Terminal. The Eating Rehoboth Culinary Tour happens every Friday and Sunday, Sept. 5-Oct. 16, and the Eating Lewes Culinary Tour happens every other Thursday, Sept. 4-Oct. 3. (visitdelaware.com)
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maryland I reed hellman
Celebrating autumn’s glory in Garrett County, Maryland If the natural splendor of western Maryland’s fall color show isn’t enough, autumn in Garrett County also offers a full calendar of festivals, events, and adventures. From international adventure sport competitions to full-out celebrations of autumn’s glory — complete with parades, marching bands, concerts, and shows — Maryland’s westernmost county presents a season full of attractions. From Sept. 17-21, the Adventure Sports Center International, atop Wisp Mountain, will host the International Canoe Federation’s Canoe Slalom World Championships. Olympic-quality athletes from more than 35 countries will compete on the world’s only recirculating mountaintop whitewater course. For action and spectator thrills, few sports can beat canoe slalom racing. “It’s fascinating for a spectator to watch,” said David Florence, a competitor from Scotland training at the ASCI course. “It’s very difficult to control a craft on whitewater. Competitors have to weave in and out of the gates.” Along with maneuvering a cockleshell boat through thundering rapids along a 300-meter course, competitors have to knit their way through a series of 20 to 25 gates hung from wires above the whitewater rapids. Paddlers must navigate the
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The International Canoe Federation’s Canoe Slalom World Championships take place in Garrett County, Md., Sept. 17-21.
YOUR CHANCE TO SEE THE WORLD COMPETE!
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One of Smithsonian Magazine’s Top 20 Small Town’s to visit in 2014.
Attractions Havre de Grace announces a Summer and Fall full of Activities Art Show, Haunted History Tours, Fall Harvest Festival
September 27th to September 28th STEPPINGSTONE FARM MUSEUM’S FALL HARVEST & CRAFT FESTIVAL
11am- 4pm Original Fall Festival with craft booths; scarecrow making; pumpkin painting; apple bobbing & pressing; apple butter making; hay rides; straw maze; bluegrass music; food; and tours. Price: Adults $10, children under 12 and member free Website: http://www.steppingstonemuseum.org/
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Events
“
In no other sport do you get
to see people compete on a field like this.”
green and white striped gates while going downstream and the red and white gates while paddling upstream against the rushing torrents. The action is fast, precise, and exciting. Spectators can discover themselves leaning, stretching, and breathing hard in empathy with the competitors. “The water is like a living beast,” explained Casey Eichfeld, an American who has paddled in the past two Olympics. “It’s not the same all the time. In no other sport do you get to see people compete on a field like this.” The ASCI course uses water pumped from the same pond that supplies the snow-making system at the Wisp Ski Resort. “We just completed a $2.2 million project to bring the course up to World Championship standards,” said the competition’s Todd Copley. When not hosting international competitors, the whitewater course is open to the public, adding another dimension to Wisp’s expanding inventory of adventure sports. “It’s a unique course,” added Richard Hounslow, a canoeist from London. “The amazing thing is that you had Olympic-quality folks out training here this morning. And now, the public gets to raft the same course.”
Fall foliage and more For a less strenuous but no less exciting autumn celebration, the 47th annual Autumn Glory Festi-
val, Oct. 8-12, offers two large parades, concerts, band competitions, art exhibits, and more. They’re the highlights of a festival that the Travel Channel just listed as one of the Top 10 Best Fall Foliage Road Trips in America. Thursday brings the Oktoberfest dinner and concert by an “oompah” band, as well as a fireman’s parade. Throughout the week, visitors and locals alike can enjoy a variety of activities, including historic area tours, antique and craft shows, fine arts exhibits, a farmers market, a 5K walk, musical concerts, dogsled events, a quilt show, a corn maze, art glass exhibits, outdoor adventures, food and drink specials, a comedy basketball game, a pumpkinchucking contest, horseback trail rides, and shopping specials. Music lovers will enjoy the Official Maryland State Banjo and Mandolin Championship in Oakland on Friday, featuring contestants of all ages competing for top honors. The music continues on Saturday at The Front Page Stage, and at 1:00pm, when visitors can check out the Grand Feature Parade, complete with bands, clowns, floats, and plenty of sidewalk vendors. There’s even more music in store with the Western Maryland Tournament of Bands’ high school field show competition and the Maryland State Fiddle Championship on Saturday. Sunday brings more antique and craft shows, the Autumn Glory Festival Car Show, the Great Pumpkin Festival on the rapids at ASCI, and a nohands sundae eating contest at Lakeside Creamery. Insider tip: You don’t have to attend the festival to catch the fall foliage. Visitors can drive or bike the county’s 2014 Autumn Glory Fall Foliage Tours.
The two routes combine history and scenery. Maps and more information about Deep Creek 2014 and the Autumn Glory Festival are available at the visitors center on Route additional coverage at recreationnews.com 219 in McHenry.
www.
For More Information: Garrett County Tourism: visitdeepcreek.com Wisp Resort: wispresort.com Adventure Sports Center International: adventuresportscenter.com
Reed Hellman
The Adventure Sports Center International course is the world’s only recirculating mountaintop whitewater course.
recreationnews.com I september 2014 I recreation news 11
maryland I fran severn-levy
Fall fests and bike adventures lure you to Talbot County Early autumn on Maryland’s Eastern Shore is a gift. The temps are cooler, the crowds are thinner, and the bugs are gone. It’s a perfect time to explore the outdoors in Talbot County, where the season welcomes
a host of interesting events, too. With flat terrain and little traffic, the area is perfect for bikers. The county has six themed bicycle trails that meander along the back roads, stopping at historic sites, old church
Maryland Tourism
Organized events and six themed trails make Talbot County a great destination for road cycling.
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cemeteries, small towns, and scenic parks. Peddle them all, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve covered 180 miles. Paddlers can explore the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water trails. There are two maps available, one showing four paddle paths around St. Michaels, the other with 10 trails around Tilghman Island. These offer a great variety of experiences, taking paddlers to undeveloped guts and creeks where theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find all sorts of water-based life swimming and splashing in the reeds and marshes. The native waterfowl and land birds are joined by the first of the migrating geese and other birds heading south for the winter. The maps rate each trail by difficulty from beginner to experienced, suggest an average time to finish the route, give some tips on what to look for, and have a checklist of what birds you might spot. They also have a list of outfitters that rent or sell paddle equipment and a log to record the conditions and your experiences. Insider tip: The tourtalbot.org website includes excellent downloadable brochures/maps of the bicycle and water trails.
Lots of fall festivals September is also filled with an amazing range of festivals to interest bikers, aviators, historians, and movie lovers. The annual Tour de Talbot on Sept. 7 invites bicyclers on a journey
through the county. They can choose between a century (100 miles), a metric century (62 miles), or a â&#x20AC;&#x153;more-for-us-normal-peopleâ&#x20AC;? trip of 20 miles. Proceeds benefit Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an increasingly popular event, so making reservations early is suggested. (tourdetalbot.org) The annual Chesapeake Film Fest, which is set for Sept. 19-21, is an award-winning cinematic event noted for its scope and quality. The festival screens more than a dozen narrative, documentary, comedy, and short independent films that would otherwise not be available in the area. (chesapeakefilmfestival. com) Orator, abolitionist, and social reformer Frederick Douglass is honored on Sept. 27 with Frederick Douglass Day. The Talbot County native was instrumental in exposing the injustice of slavery in pre-Civil War days and continued to work for social equality in the years following. Events in Easton include educational exhibits and a walking tour of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Hill.â&#x20AC;? Research indicates that this may well be the oldest community of free African-Americans in the country. Participants will see the archeological dig at the site and learn what the artifacts tell about the lives of those who settled there. (frederickdouglasshonorsociety.org) Also on Sept. 27, Easton Airport
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Take a Day? Take a Weekend?
You need to escape, but not too far away! Check out this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exciting events in Carroll County! THE MARYLAND WINE FESTIVALÂŽ September 20 | 10amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;6pm September 21 | Noonâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;6pm Carroll County Farm Museum Westminster
WESTMINSTER FALLFEST September 25â&#x20AC;&#x201C;26 | 6pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10pm September 27 | 10amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;10pm September 28 | Noonâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;6pm Westminster City Park
800-272-1933 | www.CarrollCountyTourism.org 12 recreation news I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
9TH ANNUAL MICROBREWERY FESTIVAL September 27 | 11amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;6pm Union Mills Homestead & Grist Mill, Union Mills
invites people to celebrate the serious fun of aviation during Easton Airport Day. Classic and antique planes and warbirds will be on display and in the air. Much of the flying will be formations by teams of trained pilots. And, since war planes go on bombing missions, there will be a “bomb”
competition. At noon, pilots will “bomb” a target near the runway with rubber chickens. In the “tug the jet” contest, teams of six people (three men, three women) compete to see which is fastest at pulling an F-104 jet across the parking ramp. There will also be rides in antique planes and dis-
plays by the Maryland State Police and other aviation organizations. The event is free and runs from 10:00am-3:00pm. (eastonairport.com)
For more information Talbot County Tourism: tourtalbot.org Talbot Co. Tourism
The flat roads and minimal traffic make road biking especially enjoyable in Talbot County.
recreationnews.com I september 2014 I recreation news 13
Fall is for seeing, tasting and enjoying life! Do it on Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Favorite Road Trip US Route 6 In Pennsylvania Potter County Historical Society
paroute6.com
308 N. Main St., Coudersport Pa 16915
12-room museum â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Genealogy Research
Pottercohist@zitomedia.net
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pennsylvania I kathleen ganster
Pennsylvaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Route 6 yields many delights Driving along U.S. Route 6 through Pennsylvania in the fall is one of the most beautiful trips anyone can make. Throw in all of the culinary destinations along the way and it can also be one of the most delicious. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Culinary arts and destinations have become so popular. We took a look and said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What can you taste along PA Route 6?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and it turns out, there is a lot,â&#x20AC;? said Terri Dennison, who promotes the PA Route 6 Alliance. Those destinations include cheese factories, chocolate makers, maple producers, and two well-established wine trails â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Lake Erie and Endless Mountain.
Wineries and other libations The well-known, award-winning wineries along both trails have welcomed visitors for quite some time. Joining the veterans are several new
establishments, along with new craft breweries and the latest trend, distilleries. One of the veterans is secondgeneration Conneaut Cellars Winery, which has been producing wines for more than three decades. Owner Joal Wolf is building on the wineryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation and has just introduced a brand new distillery featuring vodka made with grapes. Wolf is excited about the new venture. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are kind of unique in several ways. For one, we have been making award-winning wines since the beginning, which shows that we have been consistent. And, we have over 25 wines named after local areas,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, we have launched the distillery to satisfy every visitor and our local guests.â&#x20AC;? (ccw-wine.com) Nearby Voodoo Brewery offers several unique brews in a fun set-ting with locally sourced food and is a great stop for hungry beer drinkers.
Fall is fabulous in Franklin County.
Beautiful vistas, lots of apples, and great festivals are waiting.
in Pennsylvaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ffoliage ol ONLY ON NLY National Forest!
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Lodging, attractions, restaurants & packages
800-473-9370 â&#x20AC;˘ visitANF.com 14 recreation news I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
Sept. 27 Townfest in downtown Mercersburg Oct. 4 Old Market Day in downtown Waynesboro Oct. 18 AppleFest in downtown Chambersburg Oct. 25 - 26 Great Outdoor Festival at Whitetail Resort in Mercersburg
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Save these dates!
Open Daily Sept. 30 - Nov. 3 Reynolds Fall Farm Family Fun in Waynesboro
Corn Maze & Festival Fun
Stonerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dairy Farm in Mercersburg | Aug. 30 - Nov. 2 Bring the family for a day of fun! Wander 5 acres of our this Wild West-themed maze, visit the petting zoo and play area, or take in the beautiful, spacious skies on the hayride. Maze operating hours will continue through November 2nd.
For more great festivals visit us online at:
DoDineStayFranklinCountyPA.com/Festivals 717-552-2977 ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com | Facebook.com/FCVBen | Twitter.com/FCVB
CJ Spirits in Kane is also brand new and the first northwestern Pennsylvania craft distillery. Sam Cummings, co-owner along with Tom Jones, focuses on local grains for their products. “We use only pure Allegheny Forest water and local grains that are cooked, mashed, and bottled on site,” he said. Located in the beautiful Allegheny National Forest, it is the perfect visit during fall foliage season. Cummings said guests are welcome to their full service bar for tastings, drinks made out of their products, and lunches and appetizers.
producer as well as a museum, is dedicated to educating and preserving maple history. Located in Edinboro, the free museum has exhibits and displays about maple production and a large tasting room where visitors can taste and purchase various maple products. “Maple syrup is the first agricultural product harvested each year and such a big part of Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry. Most people don’t
know that it is only produced in the northeastern region of North America,” owner Janet Woods said. (hurryhillfarm.org) The PA Route 6 Artisan Trail also includes food destinations and the trail guide provides information for visitors to the region.
For more information PA Route 6 Alliance: paroute6.com PA Route 6
Traditional tastes The LeRaysville Cheese Factory is a functional cheese production company where cheese is made in the Amish tradition. Visitors can see the cheese production during the week. Cheese samplings are offered and the artisanal cheeses are sold. “The ride to get here, especially in the spring and fall, is just so beautiful. People always say this is just a calm, relaxing place,” manager Charity Dunbar said. (leraysvillecheese.com) It wouldn’t be a tasting trip without a stop at a maple farm. Patterson Farms is the largest maple syrup producer in the state and the second largest maple syrup producer in the country. “We are so proud of that fact,” said Linda Neal, who manages the sugar house. Located in tiny Sabinsville, Patterson Farms welcomes visitors for tastings of syrup, cream, candy, and sugar, plus a lesson in maple syrup production. “This is a beautiful location and when you visit, you learn a different story every time about the local history and characters,” she said. (pattersonmaplefarms.com) The Hurry Hill Farm Maple Museum, a maple
The maple products at Patterson Farms are a treat for any traveler along Pennsylvania’s Route 6.
pennsylvania I staff
Scenic drives greet visitors to the Allegheny National Forest Its miles of trails, reservoir, and waterways lend an expectation that the best way to take in the spectacular scenery in the Allegheny National Forest region of Pennsylvania is on foot or, perhaps, on a bike. While it’s true that hiking and biking are surefire ways to enjoy the region, there are also seven designated byways that entice the car-and-driver crowd into the area’s nooks and crannies. Scenic Route 6, which crosses the northern tier of Pennsylvania counties, climbs into the Allegheny Highlands where some of the world’s finest hardwoods are grown. The Tionesta National Scenic Area holds the largest stand of ancient trees in the entire Allegheny National Forest. Wineries and galleries make interesting stops along the way. A four-mile side trip along the Kinuza Bridge Scenic Byway brings you to the Kinuza Bridge State Park where part of a collapsed railroad bridge — the highest in the world
when it was built in 1882 — was reborn as the Kinuza Skywalk. The stunning views into the gorge are worth the trip. In Smethport, see how the lumber and oil barons lived during the 1800s, find a seat in the Route 6 Diner and order a “Hubber Burger,” and visit the Old Jail Museum to learn about the famous Bucktail Regiment, organized here during the Civil War.
impressive rock outcrop with spectacular views. Other loops and byways stretch to the southwest, southeast, and northeast of the region and an Eastern
Continental Divide loop takes in the eastern border of the area. Maps and information about the byways and loops are available at visitanf.com Allegheny National Forest Region
Longhouse Byway The Longhouse National Scenic Byway is a 36-mile loop around the Kinuza Creek arm of the Allegheny Reservoir. From the reservoir, the byway rises through hardwoods and hemlock and passes the Old Powerhouse Museum which reflects the area’s oil boom days. Trailheads lead to hikes past boulder fields, forgotten homesteads, and the shores of the reservoir. Rimrock is a rocky outcropping and overlook above the reservoir. Jakes Rocks on Longhouse Drive is another
The Kinuza Skywalk is worth the short diversion from Route 6.
recreationnews.com I september 2014 I recreation news 15
corn mazes I karen graham
Mid-Atlantic corn mazes provide fun for the whole family Corn mazes continue to rise in popularity and many farms throughout the Mid-Atlantic host mazes as part of the fall festival experience. The farms like to get creative with the themes of each maze, which this fall range from a celebration of The Wizard of Oz movie to “Music Through the Decades.” Some locations even have “flashlight” mazes at night, which makes for even spookier events.
ing its 10th year of operating a corn maze. The five- to six-acre maze has twists and turns and kids of all ages will enjoy the other attractions, including a haunted trail, hayride, and corn pit. Opening date to be announced.
Celebration Farm 17638 Garden View Road Hagerstown, Md. 301-393-4377 celebrationfarm.org Eight-acre corn maze and pickyour-own pumpkin patch. Try all three mazes for one price. Open weekends, Aug. 30 to Oct. 26, with moonlight mazes on Friday and Saturday nights.
Lawyer’s Farm and Moonlight Maze 13003 Creagerstown Road Thurmont, Md. 240-315-8611 lawyersmoonlightmaze.com Open weekends, Sept. 19 through Nov. 2, the 2014 corn maze is designed in memory of the family farm’s owner, Jan Lawyer, who died in 2013 of brain cancer. There are a total of five mazes where you can find 21 checkpoints to keep score on your map. An indoor area features hay maze and fort, pedal go-kart speedway, playground, and picnic area. Special evening activities.
Green Street Gardens 391 W. Bay Front Road Lothian, Md. 410-867-9500 greenstreetgardens.com Green Street Gardens is celebrat-
Montpelier Farms 1720 North Crain Highway Upper Marlboro, Md. 410-320-0464 montpelierfarms.com Explore the 10-acre corn maze,
MARYLAND
and visit all of the fall festival activities, including the pumpkin patch, bounce house, mini corn maze, train rides, and hay rides. Fall festival begins Sept. 6. Rodgers’ Farms 1818 Greenspring Valley Road Stevenson, Md. 410-241-3392 northrunfarm.com Opening Sept. 27, Rodgers Farm offers a variety of fall festival activities including the corn maze, a large pumpkin patch, farm animals, and hayrides. There will be two flashlight evening mazes, Oct. 10 and 17. Summers Farm 5620 Butterfly Lane Frederick, Md. 301-620-9316 summersfarm.com Choose from the smaller maze or the super-challenging maze on this 14-acre course. The maze is divided into phases for adventure seekers of all ages. It’s said to be one of the area’s largest mazes and has two hidden bridges. Open Sept. 20 through Nov. 4, seven days a week.
Sunrise Farm 100 Dairy Lane Gambrills, Md. 410-923-0726 mdsunrisefarm.com Negotiate your way through almost 10 acres of maze trails. You will receive a map with your ticket and you may wave a flag if you need help finding your way out. In addition to the corn maze, there are other fall festival activities such as hay wagon rides and a hay maze for younger kids. Open on the weekends in September and October beginning Sept. 20.
VIRGINIA Back Home on the Farm 2915 Willow Run Road Harrisonburg, Va. 540-442-6493 backhome-onthefarm.com At the 240-acre farm owned by the Hess Family, the corn maze opens Aug. 30 and closes Nov. 2. Explore three miles of paths, bridges, and clues. Other farm activities include the pumpkin patch, barnyard area, carousel, and much more. The farm is open seven days a week. continued on page 29
culture I gwen woolf
Fall into art with two regional festivals Searching for that special artwork that will have an honored spot in your home or office? Two regional festivals this month offer a pleasant way to shop for quality art and meet the artists, too. The Brandywine Festival of the Arts on Sept. 6-7 in Wilmington, Del., has been going on for more than 50 years and attracts some 10,000 visitors a day. More than 200 artists from 15 states will participate in the juried show, which will be held in Brandywine Park. You’ll find such artistic delights as paintings, jewelry, pottery, photography, and other media. “It’s definitely one of the better shows I do. It’s in the top two or three,” said potter Steve Datz. Olga Ganoudis, a festival regular for 25 years, displays her handcrafted jewelry. Her work has been used in products created for HBO’s Game of Thrones. Need to know: Hours are 10:00am-6:30pm on Saturday, and 10:00am-4:00pm on Sunday. Admission is $5 (children under 12 are admitted free).
Art in Virginia The King Street Art Festival, Sept. 13-14, will
turn the main thoroughfare in Old Town Alexandria, Va., into one huge outdoor gallery for the 12th year. Some 200 local and national artists will set up shop under tents between Washington Street and the Potomac River waterfront.
Look for a variety of paintings, sculptures, photography, glass, wood, fiber, jewelry, collage, ceramics, and mixed media. Prices range from $25 for hand-designed earrings to $50,000 for metal sculptures. continued on page 20
FREE IN DC
Washington, D.C., is packed with festivals this month ... Live music, dances, a kids’ fair, artisans, and vendors highlight Adams Morgan Day, a neighborhood festival, on Sept. 14. (ammainstreet.org) ... The H Street Festival on Sept. 20 offers live music by 50 artists, art exhibits, and pie eating and tattoo contests. (hstreet. org) ... A parade, children’s festival, arts and crafts, and food celebrate Latino culture at Fiesta DC on Sept. 21 on Pennsylvania Avenue. (fiestadc.org) ... The Turkish Festival on Sept. 28 in Freedom Plaza features live music and folk dances, arts and crafts, kids’ activities, and Turkish cuisine. (turkishfestival.org) — gwen woolf
family event
Mount Vernon’s Colonial Craft Fair will be held Sept. 20-21, 9:00am-5:00pm. Check out an early American marketplace with vendors and family entertainment, as well as artist demonstrations, while exploring the beautiful grounds of Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Va. Visit the 500-acre estate of George Washington, including the gardens and outbuildings. Make sure to leave time for the museum and impressive kids’ room, to learn more about Washington’s life and his family. (mountvernon.org) — karen graham
16 recreation news I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
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recreationnews.com I september 2014 | discount housing guide I DHG-3
Academy Ford: Academy Ford is proud to announce that it is now included by Vets-Cars.com in the recommended list of dealerships to serve the military. Academy Ford has been selected because of its continued dedication to improving customer service and its special pricing for sales and service for active and retired military. Active and retired military veterans can save up to $750 off in the Sales Department and 10 percent off in the Service Department. Agriculture Federal Credit Union: Money. Savings. Convenience. These are the things AgFed values. For more than 80 years, AgFed has been serving its members with the most competitive rates on auto, personal, and home loans and lines of credit. Quick approvals and low loan rates with world-class member service are what AgFed does best. Join AgFed today and discover the credit union difference. Visit agfed.org to learn more about membership and loans. Apex Home Loans: Are you thinking about buying a new home but intimidated by the purchasing process? Let Apex Home Loans put your worries to rest by having your loan pre-approved with a streamlined process so you can focus on what matters most — finding your dream home. Apex Home Loans is a local, experienced, and independent mortgage banker now offering $500 off closing costs for all federal employees. For a free loan pre-approval consultation, contact Apex Home Loans (NMLS# 2884) at 301-610-9600 or apexhomeloans.com. Apex Home Loans is an Equal Opportunity Lender. AT&T: Share and save with AT&T. AT&T Mobile Share Value Plans give you unlimited talk and text, plus shared data on up to 10 devices. You can also save with a no annual service contract option.* Find the right plan for you; just choose the amount of data you would like to share, add smartphones to your plan, add more devices to your plan, and find out how much you can save. Calculate your savings now with AT&T Mobile Share Value at myattrpc.com. Ready to save even more? Sign up for your discount on qualified monthly service charges from AT&T at att.com/gov/movn. *Additional plan and other restrictions apply. See att.com/ mobileshare for details on AT&T Mobile Share Value Plans.
Beldon Home Solutions: Include Beldon Home Solutions when you’re looking for quotes for replacing your gutters and/or windows. Beldon is a trusted name in the home improvement industry and a family-owned business since 1946. The competitive pricing includes special offers and discount coupons available at select events and locations. There are several payment options, including no payments/no interest for 12 months. Call to schedule a no-cost in-home consultation. leafguardgutters.com, 888-298-4693 or teamwindow.com, 888-293-0594. Brittany Commons: Brittany Commons Apartments has lots of amenities and an array of home features to suit your lifestyle. Enjoy cooking in your gourmet kitchen with a serving bar, take a refreshing bath in the over-sized garden tub, or snuggle up next to the gas fireplace. Community amenities include a fitness center, swimming pool, tennis courts, and more! Only minutes to VRE, Central Park, Route 3, and I-95. Government employee discounts are available! Rents starting at $1,010/month. brittanycommonapts.com Brookland Ridge: Live rent-free in September! (Select apartments; may end without notice.) Welcome to Brookland Ridge, a newly reinspired apartment community. Tucked away in the heart of D.C., Brookland Ridge offers everything you need right at your fingertips. Walking distance to the Metro and Catholic University, Brookland Ridge allows you to experience all of the conveniences of city living within a beautifully landscaped setting. Government employee discounts available! View one of our newly renovated apartment homes. Rents starting at $1,399/month. brooklandridgeapts. com Career Guard: Protect your job with CareerGuard®! Up to $2 million of liability coverage to protect your personal assets, up to $200,000 of legal defense protection, coverage for reduction in security clearance, no extra cost for HR-218 coverage, no extra cost to federal employees assigned to posts worldwide, 36 months of coverage from retirement date, payroll deduction payment option, and $5,000 accident insurance included. Enroll online at career-guard.com, or call 800-2213083 for information.
Charlottesville Doubletree: Unwind in DoubleTree by Hilton Charlottesville after exploring the city. The hotel overlooks the Rivanna River and is five miles from the University of Virginia, John Paul Jones Arena, and Charlottesville-Albermarle Airport. Enjoy a warm chocolate chip cookie — our gift to you. Admire the winding staircase at the Promenade Ballroom and the outside garden terrace. Take the bridge walkway to the guest room tower. Relax in one of 235 spacious guest rooms, one-bedroom suites or executive-level suites. Located at 990 Hilton Heights Road, Charlottesville, Va. 434-973-2121, doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/virginia/doubletree-byhilton-hotel-charlottesville-CHOSHDT/index.html The Chesapeake: Waived pro-rate! (Select apartments; may end without notice.) A true Connecticut Avenue landmark where your path home to The Chesapeake includes everything that you need! From buying home goods at Walgreens and CVS to grabbing a bite to eat at Starbucks before boarding the Van Ness Metro, all of these local conveniences are walkable within one easy direction. Ask about our Preferred Employer Program for government employee discounts! Offering a combination of historic charm and modern convenience, these apartments start at $1,350/month. thechesapeakedc. com The Cloisters: The Cloisters proudly combines high-energy city living with a serene setting and private walkways. Enjoy a cosmopolitan location minutes from Capitol Hill, the Washington Hospital Center, Catholic University, and Children’s Hospital. Only a short stroll to the local market/deli and the Metro. As a resident, you’ll enjoy wonderful community amenities including a 24-hour fitness center, on-site parking, a Metrobus stop at our entrance, and more. Government employee discounts available! Rents starting at $1,579/ month. thecloistersdc.com Cove Haven: Cove Haven Entertainment Resorts, three couple-only resorts located in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, feature unlimited breakfast and dinner, live nightly entertainment, heart-pumping activities, and luxurious one-of-a-kind suites continued on discount housing guide 5
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DHG-4 | discount housing guide I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
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From Virginia with LOVE Wallops becomes NASA Workhorse
Oysters and the Northern Neck I Fall in Fredericksburg I Constitution Day at Montpelier The Valentine shows off Richmond I Music at Glen Maury Park I Civil War section virginia I martha steger
Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Northern Neck serves up autumn events Events served up with big helpings of history Whenever we travel to Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Northern Neck, my husband and I are glad the 1920-21 stock offering of the Northern Neck Railroad was a bust. Without a transportation link to cities, the pristine, sparsely populated peninsula between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers remained a largely undeveloped, agricultural area. Wineries and fresh, local seafood have stimulated restaurant
start-ups, and visitors like ourselves â&#x20AC;&#x201D; attracted by the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historical attractions and cornfields stretching from counties into towns â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are supplying demand for good food and wine. One of the 80 ghosts said to inhabit Belle Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast whispers in my ear not to forget â&#x20AC;&#x153;fine accommodationsâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; beginning with the B&Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s location on U. S. Rt. 301 in King
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SEPTEMBER 20 & 21, 2014
SATURDAY 11AM - 6PM & SUNDAY 11AM - 5PM
George at the top of the Neck. The birthplace of President James Madison, Belle Grove overlooks the Rappahannock River, where we watched an eagle soar past as we sipped our morning coffee and enjoyed innkeeper Michelle Darnellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take on Eggs Benedict from the upstairs porch. continued on virginia tourism 2
Westmoreland County Virginia More Beaches, More Parks, More Wine, More History
www.visitwestmorelandva.org
www.colonialbeachva.net
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Find us on Facebook
For more info call 804.493.8440
recreationnews.com I september 2014 | virginia tourism I VA-1
Northern Neck continued from virginia tourism 1 The inn, which dates to 1791, has a wine festival on Oct. 18 and offers ghost tours the last two weekends in October. (bellegroveplantation. com)
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Fewer than 15 miles east of King George sits Colonial Beach, nicknamed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Playground of the Potomacâ&#x20AC;? now for its much quieter tourism style than a half-century ago when offshore gambling tables existed in Maryland waters. We learned of food and arts-and-crafts tables at what locals are calling a must-stop along the Neckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fall festival trail: the first Colonial Beach Bike Fest, Oct. 9-12. The new festival begins with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blessing of the Bikeâ&#x20AC;? on Friday, and includes a free Molly Hatchet concert Saturday evening and bands all day Sunday. Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Walk, 6:00-9:00pm, will offer chats with featured artists during the reception. Galleries showing handmade pottery, paintings,
jewelry, and gems are open throughout the weekend. (colonialbeachbikefest.com) An earlier fall event in a historic setting is the annual Northern Neck Land Conservancy â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boots and Barbecue,â&#x20AC;? on Sept. 14, 1:00â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4:00pm, at Northumberland Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gascony, a historic home built in 1848 overlooking Mill Creek. Music, information on conservation issues, and history of the Northern Neck are on the program, along with pork barbeque, fried oysters, side dishes, and desserts made by local residents. Tickets are limited. (nnconserve.org/events/ boots-bbq) The Urbanna Oyster Festival, Nov. 7-8, is in its 57th year and offers Stratford Hall oysters raw, roasted, steamed, smoked, fried, in fritters, or in a stew â&#x20AC;&#x201D; along with clams, shrimp, and crabs, too. When festivalgoers arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t preoccupied by the infinite variety of crafts and artwork, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also find hamburgers, hot dogs, roast beef, and goodies too numerous to mention. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the old-fashioned firemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parade on Friday evening or the oyster-shucking contest behind the firehouse Saturday. UrStratford Hall hosts a wine and oyster event, Sept. 20-21, featuring local banna closes its streets wines and oysters. for this free, walk
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VA-2 | virginia tourism I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
The Washington and Lee families The George Washington Birthplace National Monument, 10 miles down the road from Colonial Beach, and Stratford Hall, the Lee family plantation six miles farther in Westmoreland County, offer serenity in many ways, not the least of which are walks on the marl paths above the Potomac River. Both sites provide a refresher in Virginia history — early America’s history — beginning with the rich environment settled by Washington’s great-grandfather. At Stratford Hall, the tour guide explains the intertwined Washington and Lee families, with Robert E. Lee’s marriage to Mary Custis, great-granddaughter of Martha Custis Washington, wife of George Washington. The Stratford Hall Wine and Oyster Festival on Sept. 20-21 combines the products of the vintners along the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail with those of oyster growers. From 11:00am-5:00pm each day you can also enjoy beer from Fredericksburg’s Blue and Gray Brewery, free tours, artisans, kids’ activities, and other local seafood. (stratfordhall.org) The museum and library named
for the first president’s mother lies farther down the Neck, in Lancaster’s historic courthouse village, eight miles from where Mary Ball Washington was born. Capturing the stories and rich history of the people of the Northern Neck, the museum proves history is neither static nor carved in stone: As new artifacts surface, interpretation shifts.
Back to bikes … and watermen The new home of the Northern Neck River Ride is Belle Isle State Park, with its 739 acres and seven miles of shoreline along the Rappahannock River. Scheduled for Oct. 4, the bike ride’s multiple routes include rolling hills, scenic water views, and the engaging small towns of Lancaster County. We personally enjoy exploring the wide variety of tidal wetlands, interspersed with farmlands and upland forests, at this park. (riverride.org) We end our trip at the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum, where the new exhibit “Disasters and Other Mishaps On and Around the Chesapeake Bay” opened in late May. The museum’s 25th annual Oyster Roast is Nov. 8, 2:00-5:00pm, with limited ticket sales. If you miss the event, do circle December on your calendar for the museum’s 18th annual Train Show, where you can watch, as we did, the video on the failed attempt at a Northern Neck railroad.
Before you go Northern Neck Tourism: northernneck.org
Come Relax
around festival. (urbannaoyster festival.com) Insider tip: For a different experience, try dining at farm-totable seafood restaurant Merroir, along the Rappahannock River in Topping and only 300 yards from one of its oyster farms. We recommend its crab cakes, along with its original oyster dishes.
At The
RIVAH
Where you can find The only official State Oyster festival:
Urbanna OYSTER FESTIVAL The Famous
Rappahannock OYSTERS The Home & Resting Place of
Gen. Chesty Puller the most decorated U.S. Marine
Deltaville-The Boating Capitol of the Chesapeake Historic Harbor Town of Urbanna VisitMiddlesexVA.org
www.
Water, history, and so much more on Virginia’s Northern Neck
River Terra Retreat
“ A unique B & B and place to meet in Virginia’s Northern Neck.”
703-304-5274 37 4th Street, Colonial Beach, VA 22443 rtr@riverterraretreat.com • www.riverterraretreat.com
Colonial Beach, Virginia Westmoreland County
Great Place to Get away,Play and stay
Close to D.C and Richmond ColonialBeach.org
Enjoy our waterfront hospitality. Take advantage of our hop/on-hop/off trolley for just 50¢. Experience our Boardwalk Arts and Craft Show Find us on Facebook Sept. 6 & 7. For more information and brochure call 804-224-7181
Ranked among the “Top Hotels in the South” by Conde Nast Traveler
Located on a private peninsula on Virginia’s Northern Neck, the Tides Inn is perfect for families, couples, groups, and special events. Enjoy delicious regionally-inspired cuisine, onsite activities, Journey spa® and the widely recognized Golden Eagle Golf Course. Members of the military use code MIL when booking for special savings. 480 King Carter Drive • Irvington, VA 22480 TidesInn.com 804-438-5000 or 800-843-3746
recreationnews.com I september 2014 | virginia tourism I VA-3
virginia I angela blue
Coastal Va. presents fall festivals featuring water, wine, and crafts There’s an unwritten rule encouraging many travelers to flock to Virginia’s beaches during summer and the mountains during fall. Though the leaves speckling the mountain ranges are at their peak in autumn, the Old Dominion’s coastal region is
alive with events to draw you back this fall.
Something in the water Since waterways are essential to the region’s recreation and livelihood, several events are dedicated
Enjoy the deck at the Sunset Beach Grille near Cape Charles, Va.
to honoring the bodies of water that make up Hampton Roads. Join in the celebration of historic waterways and rich cultural heritage at Chesapeake’s Waterways Heritage Festival, Oct. 11-12 at Great Bridge Lock Park. Participate in kayak tours, listen to live music, and peruse the works of exhibitors offering unique crafts. (visitchesapeake.com) The 32nd annual Hampton Bay Days Festival, Sept. 5-7, attracts more than 200,000 visitors to Hampton’s downtown waterfront. The festival features more than 35 diversely talented musicians, tremendous feats from the Tidewater Dock Dogs, the Freaky Kon-Tiki Hampton River Raft Race and Cornhole Tournament, Bay Days 8K run, a car show, food vendors, merchants, and a spectacular display of fireworks. There are also educational opportunities to learn the importance of the Chesapeake Bay and how to contribute to its upkeep and preser-
vation. (baydays.com) Across the bay on Sept. 6, the folks in Onancoke hold the 16th annual Onancoke Challenge paddle races with a bonus seafood boil on the wharf. On the northern part of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Chincoteague hosts its Chili Chowder Cookoff on the carnival grounds, Sept. 27.
Pinots, pints, pork (and oysters) October is Virginia wine month, and there are plenty of chances this fall to become familiar with the state’s most vivacious vintages. Sip and savor chardonnays, merlots, and rieslings by the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Sept. 6-7, during the 18th annual Neptune’s Fall Wine Festival (neptunefestival.com). Sample delectable Virginia-made vintages, as well as international wines, at the Chesapeake Virginia Wine Festival, Oct. 11 in Chesapeake City Park. Nosh on enticing dishes
ISN’T IT TIME FOR A LITTLE
U.O.U.
VA-4 | virginia tourism I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
from high-quality restaurants and caterers as you browse the wares from a juried selection of fine artisans. Live music from Lewis McGehee will set the tone for a fabulous day of celebrating the incredible art of wine. (chesapeakevawinefestival.com) If oysters are your favorite, the annual Chincoteague Oyster Festival runs for the 42nd time on Oct. 11 at Tom’s Grove Campground. (chincoteagueoysterfestival.com) Also, on Oct. 11, Cape Charles, just across the Chesapeake Bay BridgeTunnel from Hampton Roads, holds its fall festival, 10:00am-5:00pm. That same weekend, Oct. 10-12, the Eastern Shore Birding & Wildlife Festival covers the shore with excursions, bird walks, lectures, exhibits, and plenty of other activities. (esbirdingfestival.com) On Oct. 18-19, the 27th annual Town Point Virginia Wine Festival, presented by AT&T, draws vino-loving crowds along Norfolk’s Elizabeth River to sample wines from more than 30 Virginia wineries and savor gourmet food, specialty wares, and live musical performances. (festevents.org) Wine isn’t the only beverage that’s being celebrated this fall. A sumptuous selection of tasty brews beckon prominence during the Virginia Beach Craft Beer Festival, also Oct. 18-19. Gather under a big tent
and listen to live music while sampling craft beverages from local, regional, and national breweries. (beachstreetusa.com) There’s something particularly satisfying about the combination of craft beer and ribs, and this luscious pairing will be lauded at Norfolk’s 2nd annual Ribtoberfest, being held Sept. 20 in Town Point Park. Pork enthusiasts can pig out as beer and barbecue collide in a mouthwatering food-for-all featuring live music, restaurant competitions, and great family fun. (festevents.org) November on the Eastern Shore is Wine & Brine month, pairing wine and oysters at a series of events including the Merroir & Terroir Oyster Extravaganza at Chatham Vineyards in Machipongo on Nov. 8. (chathamvineyards.net)
tage of a free shuttle to the festival. “The Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife is one of my all-time favorite festivals of the year. It’s the longest-running festival on the peninsula,” said Rebecca Cutchins, who promotes Newport News. “The festival started in 1974 and was only supposed to be held through 1976 — the year we celebrated our nation’s bicentennial. The goal of the festival was to showcase folklife traditions that were in danger of disappearing, such as folk dance, traditional music,
and historic trades and crafts … but the festival was so well received that it became an annual event!” (nngov. com) Whether you’re anticipating an afternoon of Virginia wine or beer tasting, a weekend of water-centric fun, or a day of perusing the local arts scene while basking in fall’s perfect temperatures, there are plenty of reasons to head to Virginia’s coast this autumn. Festival season ensures plenty of fall fun for the whole family.
Appreciating the arts Sometimes, all folks really want out of a festival is a chance to relish the cooler weather and change of seasons. The 41st Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife, Oct. 4-5, attracts 70,000 attendees to Newport News Park to delight in more than 200 craft exhibitors, live entertainment, children’s activities, and loads of delicious food. Insider tip: You can pitch a tent at the Newport News Campground that is part of the park and take advan-
Ships,History Great Outdoors
Newport News Tourism
The Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife includes 200 craft exhibitors, live entertainment, and great food.
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DISTINCTLY NORFOLK. Just a short drive away or a relaxing ride on Amtrak, discover great dining, festivals and fun in Norfolk. This vibrant coastal city has a hip pub and restaurant scene including local craft breweries and Virginia’s first-ever urban winery and tasting room.
888.493.7386 newport-news.org
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recreationnews.com I september 2014 | virginia tourism I VA-5
virginia I martha steger
Va.’s Space Coast: Road trip with out-of-this-world seafood Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel connects major space attractions This year’s 45th anniversary of man’s first walk on the moon was good reason for a space-related
road trip to two Virginia attractions on opposite sides of the Chesapeake Bay — NASA’s Wallops
Marvin Bond
Planes, prototypes, and space capsules fill the main hall at the Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton, Va.
Explore Coastal Virginia
Flight Facility and the Virginia Air and Space Center. Between the destinations were plenty of places to enjoy. Off U.S. Route 13, I landed easily at Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center near Chincoteague Island. With more than 15,000 rocket missions since 1945, Wallops is NASA’s most active launch range. I didn’t try to time my trip to match a launch time, as I learned early from NASA bulletins that scheduled launches are unpredictable, depending on weather and other variables. I was thrilled to visit the center when young Space Flight Adventure Camp participants were setting off their individually made rockets. Visitors can easily spend more than two hours with the visitors center’s exhibits, films, and programming, including a 25-minute film on the life and death of stars. With a wide range of accommodations on Chincoteague, choosing a base camp is easy. On this trip, mine was Marriott’s year-old Fairfield Inn & Suites, a short drive from the Atlantic Ocean beach on Assateague. I drove to Gary Howard Seafood on Deep Hole Road for my roasted oyster fix and picked up — what else? — Wallops Rocket Fuel ice cream (chocolate, cinnamon and chili pepper) at Island Creamery before returning to the hotel’s deck to enjoy both while watching a hazy sunset over Chincoteague Bay. The recently restored, 143-foot-tall historic Assateague Lighthouse, located on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, provides a bird’s eye view of the islands. I checked out the Museum of Chincoteague Island, which provides an engaging look at life on the island with its oyster-rich history and the famous “Misty” of Chincoteague.
Heading south on the Shore Continuing down Route 13, the Wehner family’s Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek beckons for a stop. There are plenty of fall events to draw you to this friendly coastal winery. I stopped at Cape Charles by the Bay to stretch my legs and ducked into the bustling Arts Enter Cape Charles complex, where a collective exhibit of works by artists from the shore and across Virginia is on
VA-6 | virginia tourism I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
year-old moon rock brought back by Apollo 17. display through Sept. 22. Before you go Insider tip: Bring preschoolers to the new, origiAnother great dining spot for sunsets: Sunset NASA Wallops Flight Facility: nal, half-hour animated series that follows young Beach Inn and Grille, which sits directly on the bay nasa.gov/centers/wallops/home spaceship cadets at the Stardust Bay Space Acada half mile north of the Chesapeake Bay BridgeChincoteague Tourism: chincoteaguechamber.org emy as they soar through the solar system. Tunnel. Offering a wide choice of beverages, Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism: The end of my trip called for a calamari dinner including local wines that pair well with fresh seaesvatourism.org at Conch & Bucket near my waterfront accomfood, the restaurant features party weekends with Hampton Tourism: visithampton.com modations at the Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina live music on the beach every Saturday through Virginia Air & Space Center: vasc.org Hotel. The next morning, before leaving Hampton, Sunday and on holidays. In addition to its 64 guest I drove by the Paradise rooms and eight suites, the resort’s popular RV Ocean Club, Hampton’s park opened 40 new, pet-friendly camping sites new gem on the Chesathis year with electricity, Internet, water and sewer peake Bay. Check out hookups, and cable TV. There’s a seasonal pool, its outdoor entertainand kayak rentals are available on the property. ment schedule, along Golfers should check out the fall packages with dining inside or at Bay Creek Resort with its two championship outdoors. Space geeks courses. would definitely apprePresident John F. Kennedy’s challenge to put Experience a terrific ciate the feel of the primen on the moon had not only jump-started Amerfamily or golf getaway. vate cabanas for rent. ica’s space program, but had helped enable this project that was taking me to sea via car. The bridge-tunnel is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. I’d left early because I wanted to make the 11:00am harbor cruise aboard the doubledecked Miss Hampton II. The 2-1/2-hour narrated Swim, Golf, Kayak, Dine and explore the quaint, historical town of Cape tour passes Hampton atCharles all while enjoying comfortable accommodations at Bay Creek. tractions such as Blackbeard’s Point, where the Cape Charles, Va. notorious pirate’s head 888-422-9275 was hung from a pole BayCreekResort.com after his capture off the coast of the Outer Banks. We got off the boat to visit Fort Wool in HampVirginia Air & Space Center ton’s harbor, where both President John Tyler and President Andrew Jackson spent time escaping from the White House. Back aboard, I enjoyed the sea breeze while passing local fishing boats, large commercial cargo ships, and the awesome gray fleet at the world’s largest naval installation, Naval Station Norfolk. Then, I was off to Perfect for Nature Lovers, Bird Watchers the Virginia Air and and Fun Seekers Sunset Beach Inn is Space Center, the ofsurrounded by the National Wildlife ficial visitor center for NASA Langley, with Refuge and the Chesapeake Bay more than 100 hands-on exhibits and two gallerBook now and save 30% ies, including “Space Sunday thru Thursday Quest: Exploring the 800-899-4786 757-331-1776 Moon, Mars & Beyond!” Offer available only I marveled at the Lunar by phone reservation. Excursion Module SimuValid through December 30, 2014 lator that America’s first set astronauts used at NASA Sun l le PEOPLE HAVE G ri Langley Research Center to practice landing HERE FOR OVER 400 YEARS. on the moon. My next-favorite COME MAKE A DISCOVERY. 800.800.2202 VisitHampton.com exhibits: the Apollo 12 SunsetBeachInn.com command module from Cape Charles, VA ½ mile north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel the second manned mission to the moon, folNew RV Camp Sites available now! lowed by the 3-billion-
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recreationnews.com I september 2014 | virginia tourism I VA-7
virginia I jane and marvin bond
Fredericksburg celebrates art and heritage in September The history of Fredericksburg, Va., is littered with famous names and important events spanning the centuries from Colonial times to the Civil War to modern days. During September, Fredericksburg celebrates the heritage of some of its well-known citizens and puts on some unusual art events as well. Drive about an hour south of Washington on I-95 on the weekend of Sept. 20-21 and you’ll find Fredericksburg hopping with interesting things to do. Just outside the James Monroe Museum, the 25th edition of the Fredericksburg Welsh Festival offers traditional music, dancing, food, and arts and crafts featuring vendors with Welsh connections from 11:00am-5:00pm. (welshfred.com) “This is the only Welsh festival on the East
Coast,” said Monroe Museum director Scott Harris. If Fredericksburg seems an unlikely place for the cultural celebration, consider that James Monroe himself was of Welsh ancestry on his mother’s side. Step inside the museum to learn more about the nation’s fifth president and see the desk where he composed the Monroe Doctrine. (jamesmonroemuseum.umw.edu) A free trolley makes the circuit to other events in town including the Via Colore Street Painting
Festival located on Charlotte and Sophia streets and Riverfront Park on both Saturday and Sunday. About 100 mostly local artists put their talents to work on the streets, creating magical images in unexpected places. (viacolorefredericksburg. org) “The public love to circle through the event and see the progress of the art as time passes,” said Julie Perry, who promotes Fredericksburg. continued on virginia tourism 20
James Monroe Museum
Touring Fredericksburg
The only tour that includes all of the Attractions • Monuments • Markers • Historic Homes • City Dock • Battlefield See all by trolley in 75 minutes! Group rates available Departs from the Fredericksburg Visitor Center in Old Town 706 Caroline Street • Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-898-0733 • www.fredericksburgtrolley.com PC516
The Fredericksburg Welsh Festival is the only Welsh festival on the East Coast.
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The Valentine is 116 years new Combine cultural heritage with exercise and a beautiful urban landscape and you’ll experience a bit of why Richmond has become a new Southern hot spot. Choose from hundreds of walking tours offered by Richmond’s hometown museum – the Valentine. Follow the Liberty Trail and walk in the footsteps of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and more of the Founding Fathers. Stroll down Monument Avenue, which has been called “the most beautiful in America.” Visit exquisite bluffs overlooking the James River in Hollywood Cemetery, where several United States presidents, leading Richmond citizens and Civil War soldiers are buried. One of Richmond’s first public museums, the Valentine was established in 1898 by the bequest of the late Mann S. Valentine II, was first housed in the 1812 neoclassical John Wickham House on Clay Street. The Wickham House was built for the prominent lawyer who defended former Vice President Aaron Burr in his trial for treason. Here, Wickham entertained Chief Justice John Marshall, his neighbor and the judge who presided over Burr’s trial. In 1930, following the death of Mann’s brother, sculptor Edward Virginius Valentine, Edward’s studio was relocated to the property and a collection of his works is now open to the public. Mann, an avid collector of archaeological and cultural objects, was wealthy enough following the Civil War to travel throughout the world buying art, archaeological artifacts, and scientific objects.
He made his fortune creating and selling “Valentine’s Meat Juice,” a health tonic endorsed by U.S. and European medical communities. Edward, whose most famous sculpture is the Recumbent Lee
at Washington and Lee University, opened the museum in the Wickham House after brother, continued on virginia tourism 20
The Valentine
The studio of Edward V. Valentine is a fascinating look at the prominent people he sculpted, including the Recumbent Lee that is in Lee Chapel at Washington & Lee University.
WHY THE FALL LINE? WHERE DO WE LIVE? WHAT DO WE PRODUCE? WHO HAS A VOICE? WHAT DO WE VALUE?
A NEW EXHIBITION IN A NEW SPACE
Opens October 25
1015 E. Clay Street | Richmond, Virginia | (804) 649-0711 | thevalentine.org
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17th International Festival expected to draw 10,000 visitors Among the featured entertainers at the Harrisonburg, Va., 17th annual International Festival
will be JosĂŠ-Luis Orozco, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s author and folk singer. His appearance, on Sept. 27 from noonHarrisonburg Tourism
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The diversity of Harrisonburgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downtown restaurant scene is also reflected at the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Festival.
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6:00pm, is the result of a collaboration between the Harrisonburg International Festival planners, the Harrisonburg City Public Schools, and the Shenandoah Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choir. The festival, held at Hillandale Park, is free, with plenty of food and crafts available for purchase. Visitors can enjoy an array of performing, visual, and culinary arts, as well as handmade and imported art and souvenirs and a world of stories. The festival is expected to draw as many as 10,000 people this year, according to its coordinator, Vaunda Brown, who noted the event has grown every year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The festival attracts people from throughout the region and last year we welcomed a tour bus from New York City,â&#x20AC;? Brown said. She also noted that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great place to sit back and observe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love just watching people enjoy each other, watching them slow down and walk in, smiling. I love the music, the smells, the kids playing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that community part of it,â&#x20AC;? she said.
Find out more: International Festival: harrisonburg-international-festival.org
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West Virginia parks celebrate food, fiddling, and foliage When the nights cool down and the foliage starts to color the landscape, West Virginia state parks are magical places. The crowds thin, but the views continue to dazzle. Plus, many parks celebrate the season with music, storytelling, and festivals of old-time crafts and food.
Add in special seasonal deals such as Stonewall Resort’s Freedom Day golf special for veterans, Cacapon Resort’s weekday bed-andbreakfast specials, and Pipestem’s Mountain Creek Lodge golf package, and you have outstanding reasons to visit a West Virginia park this fall.
Some folks make a fall ritual of watching the leaves shift color from the open air seat of a railroad car ascending Back Allegheny Mountain, said Gail Hyer, who promotes Pocahontas County. continued on west virginia tourism 11
Steve Shaluta
Cass Railroad State Park provides an unusual experience on an old logging railroad site.
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The roar of the Gauley River lures whitewater rafters this fall Wayne, a 52-year-old rafting guide, perches in the back of a raft as if he’s been there all his life. As he ushers people down the Gauley River, he sews stories together that describe the lure of one of the world’s top whitewater destinations. How does he guide people safely through 26 miles of the river, with 668 feet of elevation loss, and more than 100 rapids, 53 of them rated Class III or higher? “With every trip, I read the river like it’s a story that’s never quite finished,” he explains. With his calm manner and glint of humor, “Wayne-O,” as he likes to be called, provides a “learn as you go” approach to the river. As the boat draws closer to a particularly tricky set of rapids, he gives his rafters a choice: “We can take this Class V rapid around to the left or to the right — or we can paddle with what I call ‘hey-diddle-diddle-straight-down-the-middle.’” Of course the adventurous group chooses the “hey-diddle-diddle” route, taking the plunge downstream, then pausing to give each other high-fives with their paddles. In between rapids, the Gauley is calm. Butterflies circle overhead, then swoop in to nearly rest on the rafters’ helmets and heads. As the current starts to ramp up again, Wayne-O makes an offhand comment: “That’s funny. The last two people butterflies landed on — they fell out of the boat.”
The rafters exchange startled glances, then just smile, brace themselves, and get ready for the next set of Class Vs.
Are You Ready? On Sept. 5, Gauley season will officially open as the Army Corps of Engineers makes the first of its seven fall season releases of flood-level water into the Gauley River. The releases are each weekend through Oct. 19. The annual draw-down of the Summersville Lake turns the Gauley into what rafters affectionately call the “Beast of the East.” And, it’s becoming more beastly than ever, according to Wayne. “For years, we used to mark low- and high-water levels at fairly consistent measurements,” he said. “This year, we’ve had such high water in general that we’ve had to redefine what low-water levels mean.” Since the river is not dependent on rain to raise the water levels, Adventures on the Gorge has the advantage of knowing, ahead of time, just when water levels will be at their best.
Top Rafting Destination The Mid-Atlantic region is fortunate to have the Gauley, since it’s not only a rafting destination for the region but for the nation and the world.
Adventures on the Gorge
Rafters find the Gauley River especially challenging during seven fall dam-release weekends.
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Discovery News ranks the Gauley fourth in the nation among U.S. rafting trips, and Frommer’s ranks it eighth in the world among rafting excursions, placing it among destinations such as the Zambezi River in Zambia and the Apurímac River in Peru. The lure of the Gauley captures first-time visitors — and often turns them into lifetime fans, said Dave Arnold, a managing partner of Adventures on the Gorge. Arnold points out a house perched on the mountainside at the outskirts of the resort. “The owner is a guy who has been on the river at least 200 times,” Arnold said. “He invested money in our company this year. He went from a frequent guest, to the builder of a home, to becoming part of the team here.”
Something for Everyone The Gauley is a magnet for the most experienced rafters in the nation, and even the world. But, thanks to expert guides and trip planners, there’s at least one Gauley trip that’s appropriate for rafters of every level. Adventures on the Gorge offers Gauley trips ranging from one-day excursions to multi-day challenges. The Upper Gauley River, which drops more than 335 feet in less than 13 miles, is recommended for rafters with some experience. The Lower Gauley is a good choice for a firsttime rafter or someone who has forged lighter rapids and is ready to step up to the next challenge. The Gauley overnight trip is a mixture of adventure rafting and, in the evening, a riverside campout so comfortable it’s almost decadent. Chefs cook up hors d’oeuvres, salmon, and steak, then keep the campfires and adult beverages going. After a soak in a hot tub next to the river, rafters are ready for the next day’s plunge down the Gauley. After their excursions, rafters gather in Chetty’s Pub to watch videos taped by kayakers — extreme adventurers in their own right — who put together film highlights of their trip. As the video unfolds, showing rafts purposely diving into holes in the river and emerging unscathed, even the more-experienced rafters exclaim, “Look, there we are!” At Adventures on the Gorge, people take trips down the Gauley so they can test their ability to handle the extreme. Whether they opt for a few hours on the river, or a heart-stopping run over the world-renowned rapids, they smile when they recall their adventure. More often than not, they say, “I can’t believe I did that!”
Learn more: Adventures on the Gorge: adventuresonthegorge.com/rafting
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Bridge Day offers plenty of activities for 80,000 visitors Go jump off a bridge — and, if you make it the New River Gorge Bridge, you’ll be the most extreme sportsperson in the land of extreme sports. Constructed in 1977, the iconic steel bridge was, at that time, the longest steel single-span arch bridge and the highest vehicular bridge in the world. Today, it still ranks in the top four for both length and height. Last year, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each year, more than 450 “BASE” jumpers flock to the New River Bridge for Bridge Day. BASE — or Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth — jumping is known as one of the most extreme sports in existence. Jumpers use parachutes designed specifically for rapid deployment. The designated landing zone for jumpers is a parking area along the river on the south side of the gorge. The parachutes aren’t known for their accuracy in landing, though. One river guide floating underneath the bridge pointed to the trees along the bank. “I see the BASE jumpers land and get snagged in those trees every year,” he said. This year, some 80,000 people will gather at the New River Gorge, most of them spectators, on Oct. 18 to celebrate the 35th annual Bridge Day and watch the BASE jumpers. Spectators can also watch teams from around the world rap-
West Va. Tourism
Jumping off of the New River Gorge Bridge is just one of the many activities at the annual Bridge Day festivities on Oct. 18.
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pel and ascend. Or, they can get a piece of the action and sign up to get on a rope and take a zipline stretching 700 feet down off of the bridge. Insider tip: Not everyone can BASE jump. To register, you have to purchase a BASE jump pass that requires at least 100 previous skydives or BASE jumps. Jumpers must also have made a skydive or BASE jump in the last two years. For those still working up enough experience to be eligible for a pass, tandem jumping is also available.
spared commuters a 45-minute trip on narrow roads that snaked up one side of the gorge and down the other. On Bridge Day, the New River Gorge Bridge is open to pedestrian traffic for the only time all year. The walk across the main span of the bridge is 1,700 feet, and the total bridge length is 3,030 feet. The view is spectacular since the bridge is 876 feet above the New River. To put this in perspective, you could easily fit the Washington Monument underneath the bridge — and still have 325 feet to spare. If you can’t make it for Bridge Day, you can still experience the height and magnificent view from the bridge. Guided tours use a 24-inch side catwalk that runs underneath the bridge. Visitors are harnessed to steel cables, so they’re free to enjoy the view without fear of falling.
Rich Bridge Day Traditions Children riding over the bridge have a tradition of trying to hold their breath for the entire span of the bridge. If Mom or Dad is obeying the speed limit, this means a little more than a minute of attempted breath-holding. No wonder the bridge was so publicly celebrated when it opened decades ago. The span
For more information:
Date:
The Train Where
EAGLES FLY Historic Locomotives & Trains IN ROMNEY, WEST VIRGINIA
• Regular 3 hour excursions & selected all-day trips available • AC lounge & coach seating available on all trains • Excursions operate Saturdays May – September
Daily Departures in October, check out our website for schedule and holiday specials INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS: 304-424-0736 • www.potomaceagle.info Potomac Eagle, Wappocomo Station, Route 28 North • P.O. Box 657 Romney, WV 26757
Bridge Day: officialbridgeday.com
Here’s what’s
GONNA HAPPEN. We’re gonna hustle you onto a ‘76 International Harvester school bus. It corners like a delivery van, rides like a brick & it’s got enough torque to drive through the Hoover Dam. See that man? That’s Dink.
Dink’s a badass. Beneath that beard lies the unbridled power of Poseidon's trident. Also he’s a nice guy... AND he holds the reins of this sheet metal
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CHARIOT OF AWESOME. Meet your guide... she talks fast & can tell you the lines on every rapid on every navigable river in South America. She lives in a bus & we’re pretty sure we
saw her spin the head off a live chicken in Mexico.
Oh.
She’s beautiful. She’s telling you what to do...
Also, we’re going boatin’!
GauleyRiverRafting.com
& you’ll like it.
We’ll help you get to where the real adventure begins. In person or online, start your New River Gorge vacation at our Visitor Center and discover all the region has to offer. Make plans now to join us the 3rd Saturday in October for the 35th Anniversary of Bridge Day!
VISITOR INFO: NewRiverGorgeCVB.com • 800.927.0263
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Leaf Peepers Festival celebrates early show of natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s colors Tucker Co. Tourism
The fall color comes early to the Canaan Valley of West Virginia.
If you want some early, breathtaking views of the red, gold, and orange colors of autumn in the Allegheny Mountains, the Leaf Peepers Festival, Sept. 26-28 in West Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tucker County, is the place to be. The leaves turn color faster there than elsewhere because of the elevation, so the festival is always held the last weekend in September. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just gorgeous,â&#x20AC;? said Bill Smith, who promotes the county. He suggests some of the better vantage points for leaf-spotting include the Pendleton Point and Lindy Point overlooks, and the chairlift ride at Canaan Valley Resort State Park. With the new U.S. Route 48, the drive time from Washington D.C. is less than 2½ hours, about an hour less than last year. The 26th annual festival is centered
in the village of Davis, where the population triples in size during the event. Sponsored by Alpine Festival, the family-oriented event includes a parade, Appalachian craft fair, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;duckâ&#x20AC;? race, a golf tournament, and a car show. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a 5K run and 2K walk and a Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Oktoberfest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Great food, good music, cold beer, friendly people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; what else can you ask for?â&#x20AC;? said Smith. Another way to enjoy the foliage in the spirit of the Old West is from atop a horse. Timberline Four Seasons Resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fall Frontier Weekend will supplement the festival with an extended leaf-peeper horseback ride through the woods and fields on Sept. 27. Accompanying the riders will be members of
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wvtourism.com WV-8 | west virginia tourism I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
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the Saddle Tramps Old Western Heritage Club, who don cowboy attire and make believe it’s the 1880s. That evening, the cowboys will set up a “cow camp,” complete with a campfire and chuck wagon. In addition to all-you-can eat barbecue, there will be western music performed by the Saddle Tramps and — whoa! — a “shootout” on horseback. “It’ll be a lot of fun and very interesting for people to see,” said Kim Bennett, of Mountain Trail Rides, which operates stables at Timberline and on Freeland Road in Davis. The company will offer discount rides on Friday and Saturday if you mention you’re in town for the leaf festival. It also will give horse-drawn
•Zip Line
wagon rides downtown.
Learn more Tucker County Tourism: canaanvalley.org Timberline Stables: timberlineresort.com Mountain Trail Rides: mountaintrailrides.com
•Tubing
AUTUMN FUN IN THE MOUNTAINS
Hands-on activities, exhibits and petting zoo
304-259-5611 farmdiscoverycenter.com
•Rafting • Camping
•New Aerial Adventure Park • And More!
Adventures on horseback 304-866-6326 timberlineresort.com
Mountain Trail Rides Guided horseback riding and family fun
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Leaf Peepers Festival! September 26–28 Call or click for your free Vacation Guide 800.782.2775 | canaanvalley.org
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WV Parks continued from west virginia tourism 2 Visitors love fall rides at Cass Scenic Railroad and turn out by the dozens for such special railroad events as the Sept. 6 dinner train with bluegrass music. Rail aficionados savor the pleasure of comparing the strength of a Shay locomotive against the Heisler, which comes out of storage Sept. 14. And if you want to linger in this turn-of-thecentury logging town complete with general store, restaurant, and museum, you’re in luck. Guests visiting Cass may choose from among 20 completely furnished, two-story company homes for their stay. These cottages accommodate groups of four to 14 in small-town style at reasonable rates.
From Colonial life to clogging At Prickett’s Fort State Park, off I-79 south of Morgantown, festivities abound throughout the month. Starting with a free concert by two wellknown local blues bands, Bill Stalnaker Night Moves and KWT Band, on Sept. 5, the month ends with some superfine yarns and true stories
at the West Virginia Storytelling Festival, Sept. 25-26. In between, visitors can enjoy two free events, a lecture by Shawnee Chief Cornstalk on Sept. 14 and a full day of traditional music on Sept. 20. But the fun doesn’t end in September. The Harvest Festival, Oct. 11-12 at this re-created Colonial fort, focuses on 18th-century foods including wild game, garden harvest, preservation, and customs. Food is also featured farther south. Clogging, churning, and cooking up pork and apples the old-time way will be featured at Camp Creek State Park’s Fall Festival on Sept. 20. The park, known for its trout stream, is situated off I-77 in southern West Virginia. A little farther north at Summersville, the Battle of Carnifax Ferry will be re-enacted on Sept. 14, and living history demonstrations depicting Civil War military life will take place Sept. 1213. This strategic battle forced Confederates out of the Kanawha Valley and cleared the way for West Virginia statehood. Festivals at Blackwater Falls State Park feature ice cream, cookies, and sky watching. September Fest, Sept. 22-25, includes forest hikes, outdoor buffets, desserts, music, train rides, fishing, geology, and bingo. If that’s not enough, visit with a Cherokee leader or watch chainsaw art
being created. Insider tip: Sept. 25-28, visitors can get more personal with the astral bodies through stargazing parties and workshops during Astronomy Weekend. The Blackwater Falls area boasts one of the premier dark sky sites in the eastern United States. On Oct. 11, visitors at Holly River State Park near Buckhannon can try their hands at road bowling. Although relatively new in the United States, Irish Road Bowling dates back to the 1600s, when Irish patriots rolled stolen English cannonballs down a country lane by the light of the moon. It’s still played in the road.
Find a deal West Virginia state parks offer numerous fall deals and packages. Pipestem Resort State Park has a September Kicker weeknight discount and a discount package that includes two overnights and three days of golf. Bluestone State Park offers a 20 percent birthday discount, and Cacapon has a mid-week couples’ bed-and-breakfast $106 special. And, on 9/11, all veterans golf free at Stonewall Resort.
Learn more West Virginia State Parks: wvstateparks.com
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virginia I gwen woolf
Party like it’s September 1787 at James Madison’s Montpelier For someone who stood just 5 feet 6 inches tall, James Madison has a towering reputation. The fourth president, known as “The Great Little Madison” for his slight build, has great stature in U.S. history as the “Father of the Constitution.” In honor of the 1787 signing of that seminal document, Montpelier — Madison’s 2,650-acre estate in the Virginia countryside — will take its annual Constitution Day celebration to new heights on Sept. 20 with hot-air balloon rides and other activities. The Orange County event draws up to 5,000 visitors to Montpelier, a stately brick home 90 miles from Washington, D.C., with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Constitution Day provides “a wonderful family outing on the lawn of a presidential mansion,” said Leigh Mawyer, who promotes the county. A wine festival and a horse trail ride will be held in conjunction with the observance. The daylong festivities will open with James and Dolley Madison arriving by carriage at 10:00am and end with fireworks at 8:15pm. Besides the tethered hot-air balloon rides, there will be a horse parade, wagon rides, live music, arts and crafts, and food vendors. There also will be children’s activities, including face painting, balloon art, magic shows, jugglers, and a dancing dragon.
Take a tour Montpelier was Madison’s lifelong home, and a highlight of the event will be tours of the 22-room mansion. You can get a real sense of history in the newly refurbished library, where Madison worked on the Constitution and other significant concepts. A concerted effort is being made by the curatorial staff to track down and re-acquire the diverse
4,000-volume collection and furnishings from Madison’s time, according to Montpelier’s Caroline Godfrey. The mansion itself underwent a major restoration in 2008 to return it to its Madison-era appearance after years of being the residence by horsewoman Marion duPont Scott. On the grounds, you can see archaeological excavations that reveal new information about the Madisons. The remnants of an 18th-century landscaping wall are among recent discoveries. You also can stroll through the garden or the 200-yearold landmark forest, and visit the Madison family cemetery. Constitution Day admission is $10 per car. There’s an extra charge ($20 in advance; $25 at the gate) if you wish to attend the Taste of Freedom Wine Festival, sponsored by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. Ten Virginia wineries will take part. There also will be local cider and craft beers available, including a new Montpelierlabeled ale developed by Devil’s Backbone Brewing Co. Also taking place will be the Liberty Trail Ride, named after Madison’s horse. Riders bring their own horses and enjoy an 11-mile scenic route through woods and pastures, including a stop at Grelen Nursery and lunch. This year’s route has been altered to provide “a new experience” for riders, said Jayson Woods, of the Orange County Parks and Recreation Department. The trip begins and ends at Montpelier, where the public will get a chance to see the horses. (Riders should register at orangecountyva.gov/parksandrecreation.) The estate’s horse tradition continues on Nov. 1
with the 80th running of the Montpelier Hunt Races. Between 80 and 100 horses, primarily from Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, will vie for purses totaling more than $105,000 in seven races. The festivities also include Jack Russell terrier races, a stick horse race for children, a hat contest, a tailgate competition with an ’80s movie theme, plein air painting, and vendors.
Learn more Montpelier: montpelier.org Montpelier Hunt Races: montpelierraces.org Orange County Tourism: visitorangevirginia.com Orange Co. Tourism
Orange Co. Tourism
James and Dolley Madison interpreters greet guests at Montpelier.
Orange.
3rd Annual Liberty Ride in
3RD ANNUAL LIBERTY RIDE
Saturday, September 20, 2014 Calling all riders! In conjunction with Montpelier’s Constitution Day and the Taste of Freedom Wine Festival, saddle up and depart from Montpelier on an 11 mile, round-trip trail ride. • Pre-registration is required. • Cost is $40 per horse & rider pair before 9/17.
Saddle up your horse for the third annual Liberty Ride as part of the Constitution Day activities at James Madison’s Montpelier on Sept. 20.
For more info, go to www.orangecountyva.gov/parksandrecreation.
recreationnews.com I september 2014 | virginia tourism I VA-11
virginia I sue bland
Spend a long weekend in Farmville and Appomattox South-central Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hilly countryside between Farmville and Appomattox will surprise you with action-packed getaway choices and Civil War history. Great restaurants, art galleries, shops, and musical and theatrical entertainment combine with choices for outdoor fun like bicycling, zip-lining, kayaking, and canoeing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a terrific region to explore on a long fall weekend.
Day One Drive to Farmville from the Washington area, taking I-95 South to Richmond and Route 360 to Farmville. Get your bearings at Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heartland Regional Visitor Center and Transportation Heritage Museum in downtown Farmville. Here,
19th-century photographs depict High Bridge, once one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tallest bridges. Today, High Bridge is a rails-to-trails conversion within a state park used by avid bicyclists, hikers, and equestrians. Enjoy lunch at the Riverside CafĂŠ on Main Street where local artists display their work. Work out the kinks with a bike ride in the High Bridge Trail State Park or take a canoe or kayak out on the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterways. Northgate Outfitters rents mountain bikes, cruisers, canoes, and kayaks from a converted gas station on Main Street. The 125-foot High Bridge is more than 2,400 feet long with a crushed limestone surface. The whole trail runs 31 miles with access from Farmvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Main Street. It sustained a
Va. State Parks
Civil War battle and burning in 1865. Insider tip: Reserve your ride for the Appomattox River, nearby lakes, or bicycling the High Bridge Trail. River trips depart at 9:30am and 1:30pm. Northgate will launch your boat and pick you up at the end of your paddle. (434-392-7275) When you return to Farmville, have dinner at Charleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Waterfront CafĂŠ overlooking the Appomattox River. The restaurant is located in a pre-Civil War tobacco warehouse where you can still see its old tobacco scale. It offers an Italian buffet with live music on Wednesdays and performances nearly every weekend. Take your pick of accommodations from area bed-and-breakfasts, chain hotels, state park cabins or campgrounds, and privately owned cabins.
Day Two
Fishing at Bear Creek Lake is one of many activities awaiting in southcentral Virginia. %HDU &UHHN /DNH _ +LJK %ULGJH 7UDLO _ +ROOLGD\ /DNH 3RZKDWDQ _ 3RFDKRQWDV _ 6DLORU¡V &UHHN %DWWOHILHOG +LVWRULFDO _ 7ZLQ /DNHV
The next morning, have breakfast in Farmville at Walkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diner where the homestyle, locally sourced food includes hand-cut fries. Discover quality home furnishings, textiles, and decorative arts at reduced prices in the many stores operated by Green Front Furniture. Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve found the perfect furniture piece, carpet, or accessory, visit the art galleries in town to pull together the whole look. Then, shop for antiques while you have lunch at The CafĂŠ at Poplar Hall. Later, drive to Sandy River Retreat and Treetop Adventure Park, where you can zip your way through 63 obstacles. Prove your strength during the three-hour course, then relax at Sandy Creek Reservoir, just five min-
utes away, or visit nearby Twin Lakes State Park. End your day with a stay in a state park cabin with a gorgeous autumn view at Twin Lakes, or at Sandy River Retreat where the log cabins are hand-hewn, sumptuously furnished, and steps away from the zip line dream world.
Day Three Combine Civil War history with outdoor adventure during the third day of your visit. Hike the trails around Twin Lakes, where five miles of trails are dotted with 10 geocache treasures. This year, Virginia State Parksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; geocaches feature native birds, and Twin Lakes hones in on the American goldfinch. Canoes and rowboats are also available. Depart Twin Lakes for Sailorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creek Battlefield State Park, the spot where Confederate and Union armies fought on April 6, 1865, just 72 hours before the surrender at Appomattox Court House. Learn the riveting story of the battle in the visitors center, tour the battlefield, and see the Overton-Hillsman House. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee lost eight generals and 7,700 men here. From Sailorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creek, drive to Appomattox and Appomattox Courthouse, the village where Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Choose your overnight accommodations in Appomattox from the distinctive bed-and-breakfasts, chain hotels, or the campground at Holliday Lake State Park, where Civil War programs are featured this fall. Enjoy a dinner to suit your mood. Dine at the Babcock House, Best Part of the Civil War
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VA-12 | virginia tourism I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
The fall colors are beautiful at Briery Creek Lake and the largemouth bass are plentiful.
a restored Victorian-era bed-andbreakfast in Appomattox, where reservations are required for reasonably priced chicken, fish, and steaks, Tuesdays through Saturdays. Or, choose Huddle House, on Confederate Boulevard, which offers homestyle sandwiches and food, 24 hours a day.
Day Four Enjoy breakfast with books in Appomattox at Baineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Books and Coffee, where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find freshly baked treats. Browse through the books, musical instruments, locally made pottery, and music selections. You can also relax with the wide variety
of live music here every weekend. Next, visit Appomattox Courthouse National Historical Park, where special programs continue through next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 150th anniversary of Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surrender. (nps.gov/ apco) Take in the new Museum of the Confederacy at Appomattox to gain personal insight into the people of the Civil War. Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ceremonial sword and dress frock coat, which were worn during the surrender, are highlights, along with the wall of period photo portraits. (moc.org)
two local tourism offices for tips on planning your trip and to find out about special events such as the annual Historic Railroad Festival in downtown Appomattox, Oct. 11-12. Festival highlights include a parade, arts and craft vendors, live music, train exhibits, a fine art show, and fireworks. (appomattoxrrfest. org) In addition to its exhibits, the Museum of the Confederacyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Appomattox location hosts talks on subjects ranging from Sher-
manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March to the Sea to the role of women in the Civil War to music of the era.
More info: Appomattox Visitor Center: historicappomattox.com Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heartland Visitors Center: co.prince-edward.va.us/travel_ regionalvisitorcenter.shtml 434-392-1482 Best Part of the Civil War: bestpartofthecivilwar.org
Plan ahead Before you go, touch base with
Va. State Parks
Va. State Parks
Biking along High Bridge Trail puts you up close to fabulous fall colors.
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Geocache treasures can be found along five miles of trails in Twin Lakes. This year, Virginia State Parksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; geocaches are featuring birds.
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recreationnews.com I september 2014 | virginia tourism I VA-13
civil war I jane and marvin bond
A scorched-earth summer: Lexington recalls campaign The Shenandoah Valley, known as “The Breadbasket of the Confederacy,” was hard hit on many sides during 1864. The cruelest blows, however, may have been struck by Union Gen. David Hunter in the weeks following the Confederate victory at New Market in May. Hunter, an avid abolitionist, and his 18,000man Army of West Virginia were ordered into the Shenandoah Valley to destroy anything of value and to capture Lynchburg, an important Confederate supply and transportation center. Hunter’s orders to his men were so harsh that some reportedly refused to obey them. After defeating a Confederate force at Piedmont on June 5, Hunter marched on Staunton where he destroyed railroad lines and warehouses. He reached Lexington, farther south, on June 11 and sacked the town after bombarding it. A letter survives from 16-year-old Fannie Wilson to her father describing the shells piercing their garret and exploding with fire and smoke. Another resident noted, “We remained as quiet as possible all the afternoon while the town was alive with soldiers plundering and robbing the inhabitants.” A primary target in Lexington was the Virginia Military Institute, which was both a state arsenal and military training school. Hunter’s troops looted the school, seizing the bronze statue of George
Washington (which was returned in 1866) and setting fire to the facilities. After three days in Lexington, the Union soldiers marched to Buchanan where they burned foundries, warehouses, and supplies. Then, it was on to present-day Bedford, where they tore up rail lines and burned warehouses and homes. Confederate Gen. John McCausland fought a delaying action as Hunter moved toward Lynchburg, allowing Gen. Jubal Early’s 8,000 southerners to arrive by rail from Richmond. The Confederate force defending Lynchburg then numbered about 12,000, including Early’s troops, home guard soldiers, and convalescents from Lynchburg’s military hospitals. After a seesaw battle, Hunter realized he was greatly outnumbered and withdrew during the night. He eventually reached the safety of West Virginia, but left a path of destruction throughout the middle and lower part of the valley. Early described the desolation, reporting, “The scenes on Hunter’s route from Lynchburg had been truly heart-rending. Houses had been burned, and women and children left without shelter. The country had been stripped of provisions and many families left without a morsel to eat. Furniture and bedding had been cut to pieces, and old men and women and children robbed of all
clothing except what they were wearing. We now had renewed evidences of outrages committed by the commanding general’s orders in burning and plundering private houses.”
Marking the event The Virginia Horse Center in Lexington is the site of several events commemorating McCausland’s resistance and Hunter’s Raid, Sept. 11-14. The horse center is an appropriate venue because so much of the action during the summer of 1864 involved large contingents of cavalry. The Virginia Sesquicentennial HistoryMobile will be open at the horse center Thursday through Sunday, and there will be living history demonstrations, a sutlers row, music, and period dance lessons. On Saturday, camps will be open to visitors and there will be a reenactment and seminar about the raid and the impact on Lexington and surrounding areas. Sunday brings a church service, living history, and a final reenactment of the Battle of Lexington at 2:00pm.
Learn more Lexington Tourism: lexingtonvirginia.com Virginia Horse Center: horsecenter.org
VMI
The barracks at Virginia Military Institute were burned by Union troops in the 1864 battle.
150th Commemorations
Third Battle of Winchester: Sept 19-21 Battle of Cedar Creek: Oct 18-19 Sheridan’s Field Hospital Living History: Oct 25
Where 19th-century culture mingles with the ghosts of the Lincoln assassination story. 9118 Brandywine Road, Clinton, MD 20735 Phone: 301-868-1121 www.surrattmuseum.org
VA-14 | virginia tourism I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
Plan Your Visit virginiacivilwar.org
871-1326 (877) 871 1326 www.visitwinchesterva.com
civil war I gregg clemmer
View the Valley at war on the site where it happened in 1864 Cedar Creek reenactment just one part of the commemoration Rudyard Kipling once said, “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” As visual learners, we recognize the wisdom in his advice, of standing and reflecting on the actual site of where it happened. In the wake of Winchester, Va.’s Third Battle sesquicentennial commemoration in September, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the Shenandoah Valley’s Civil War past by attending the living history interpretative programs, historical lectures, and remembrances of what followed in that bloody autumn of 1864. These historic events climax with the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Cedar Creek, the Shenandoah Valley’s largest and most decisive battle. According to Kristen Laise, executive director of Belle Grove Plantation, “The commemoration of the Battle of Cedar Creek will honor those that fought on this hallowed ground and will raise public awareness about the preservation of this aspect of Virginia and U.S. history.” On Oct. 18-19, explore this enduring past with living history presentations, auto tours of battlefield stations, National Park Service ranger continued on virginia tourism 17
Marvin Bond
Belle Grove, where James and Dolley Madison spent part of their honeymoon, was in the thick of the Battle of Cedar Creek.
Battle of Cedar Creek Civil War 150 Middletown, Virginia
in Lexington
See History Come Alive... Experience history come alive on the rolling fields of this hallowed battlefield in the Shenandoah Valley. Cavalry charges, cannon blasts and programs for all ages will stir the senses and send you back in time.
Looking for a daytrip or weekend getaway that will make memories? It’s just a short drive away in Lexington, Virginia, voted one of the 20 Small Towns to Visit according to Smithsonian.com. Watch in awe at the July 4th Balloon Rally and fireworks. Wonder at Natural Bridge. Get up close with the animals at Virginia Safari Park. Tube down the river. Get a great day started at www.lexingtonvirginia.com/outdoors.
October 18-19, 2014
Information: www.nps.gov/cebe Tickets: www.ccbf.us
For your free travel guide call toll-free, 877-453-9822, or visit lexingtonvirginia.com/outdoors.
recreationnews.com I september 2014 | virginia tourism I VA-15
civil war I gregg clemmer
Autumn 1864 was when the Valley defenses began to fail Winchester’s third major battle of the Civil War occurred that year Five months after the Civil War entered its fourth and final year, Winchester, Va., would endure its third major clash of the war. Fought on Sept. 19, 1864, the Third Battle of Winchester would be the largest battle ever fought in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and would prove to be one of the war’s pivotal contests. Confederate Gen. Jubal Early’s Army of the Valley would be driven south in defeat by the Union forces under Gen. Philip Sheridan. And as the now-dead Stonewall Jackson had warned two years earlier, “If this Valley is lost, Virginia is lost.” The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation will commemorate this epic battle on Sept. 19-20 with “Whirling Through Winchester: The 150th Anniversary of Third Winchester.” Friday, on the battle’s 150th anniversary, join author/historian Scott Pachen for a real-time, detailed motor coach tour of the battlefield. If
you want to explore history on your own, vivid living-history camps and exhibits will be open at Star Fort and Fort Collier, noon-4:00pm. In addition, park rangers from Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historic Park will interpret the battle at key points throughout the afternoon To top off this epic day and support continued battlefield preservation, make your reservation now for a very special evening at Winchester’s George Washington Hotel, where you can share conversations and good food with acclaimed historian and epic tour guide Ed Bearss and Academy Award-winner Robert Duvall. On Saturday, 10:00am-noon, the Old Courthouse Civil War Museum in downtown Winchester will feature descendants of veterans of Third Winchester, highlighted by Nicholas Picerno’s presentation, “Eyewitness to History.” That afternoon, Patchan will con-
duct a two-hour walking tour of the preserved battlefield, beginning at
1:00 pm. In “The Storm of Lead” tour, Patchan revisits the combat between Winchester Tourism
Experience the Life
STON E WA L L
Explore the only home he ever owned. Meet the professor at Virginia Military Institute. Experience the man before the legend.
Sheridan’s Field Hospital used a unique radiant floor heating system to keep the 500 tents warm.
The VMI Museum Lexington, Virginia www.vmi.edu/museum 540.464.7334
AIR SHOW & BIPLANE RIDES
Every Sunday May through October 45th Annual
Flying CirCus Air show
4 FAMILY FUN 4 GREAT AIRSHOW 4 THRILLING AIRPLANE RIDES GATES OPEN / RIDES BEGIN 11am SHOW STARTS 2:30pm
540-439-8661 5114 Ritchie Rd., Bealeton, VA Adults $15 • Children $7
The Stonewall Jackson House Lexington, Virginia www.stonewalljackson.org 540.463.2552
STONEWALL JACKSON
VA-16 | virginia tourism I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
The Flying Circus is a 45 minute drive from the Capital Beltway. It is located 14 miles south of Warrenton and 22 miles north of Fredericksburg off Rt. 17 on Rt. 644 near Bealeton. Watch for the Flying Circus signs.
CHECK OUT OUR BALLOON FESTIVAL AUGUST 16-17
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Blue and Gray with stops at First Woods, Middle Field, Second Woods, and Huntsberry Farm. Or, you can walk the ground yourself, absorbing the history around you, all punctuated by period music, artillery and infantry demonstrations, and the dedication of new interpretive sites. For the youngsters, the Virginia Museum of the Civil War will be conducting the Third Winchester Kids Camp from 5:00-6:30pm on the Huntsberry Farm. The day concludes with a commemorative program at Huntsberry Farm — “The World on Fire: Third Winchester and the 1864 Shenandoah Campaign.” The program will feature an honor guard and period music. After a roll call of the states and a recognition of living descendants of the veterans
Cedar Creek continued from virginia tourism 15
Tours and talks On Sept. 18, at 7:00pm, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society’s Heritage Museum in Dayton will feature professor and author Jonathan Noyalas’ poignant address, Faded ... From the Memory of the Average Reader: The Meaning and Legacy of Fisher’s Hill. Two weeks later on Oct. 3, the Heritage Museum will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the controversial death of John Rodgers Meigs, son of Quartermaster Gen. Montgomery Meigs and aide-de-camp to Gen. Phil Sheridan. Meigs’ death was an event that helped provoke Sheridan’s notorious Burning of the Shenandoah. Dr. Irvin Hess provides a graphic lecture on The Burning at 7:00pm. On Sept. 22, the Strasburg Heritage Society will host an “On This Day” tour of the Fisher’s Hill battlefield. On the actual anniversary of the battle, historian Richard Kleese leads the tour beginning at 4:00pm at Ramseur’s Hill on Battlefield Road. The Edinburg Mill will follow up with a presentation on Oct. 4 at 1:00pm by Kleese on The Burning, preceded by period music from 10:00amnoon, with viewings of the film The Burning throughout the day. Sheridan had ordered this 1848 mill torched, but upon learning Mexican War
Recognizing a major medical accomplishment Finally, a unique event is scheduled for Oct. 25. From 10:00am-4:00pm, Dr. Jonathan O’Neal, a member of the Society of Civil War Surgeons, will lead tours of Sheridan’s Field Hospital on the very site at Shawnee Springs where the Union Army established the hospital after Third Winchester. The
“
This may very well be one of the most memorable events of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, as nearly 4,000 Civil War reenactors are expected to participate.”
veteran Maj. George Grandstaff had built the mill, ordered his men to extinguish the fire. Charred evidence remains visible to this day. Five days later, on Oct. 9, another “On This Day” tour explores the Battle of Tom’s Brook along U.S. Route 11. Led by park ranger Eric Campbell, this car caravan tour will explore the clash between Blue and Gray cavalries, which turned into a lopsided victory for the North known today as “The Woodstock Races.” The tour will cover key areas such as Spiker’s Hill, Tom’s Brook, and Round Hill, and leaves from the Shenandoah County Park in Maurertown at 4:00pm. The Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation presents the third “On This Day” tour on Oct. 13, covering the Battle of Hupp’s Hill. Kleese will describe this engagement and its impact on the pivotal Battle of Cedar Creek less than a week later. The tour begins at 4:00pm at the Hupp’s Hill Civil War Park in Strasburg. To really stretch your legs, join an interpretive hike led by National Park Service rangers up to Signal Knob for one of the Shenandoah Valley’s most spectacular views. It was from here that Confederate officers could see the Union camps at Belle Grove and along Cedar Creek and planned
500-tent hospital, which was located just off Opequon Avenue, would be the war’s largest temporary medical care facility, incorporating a unique radiant floor heating system that modernized military medicine with warmer tents to counter the coming colder weather. These collective commemorations of Third Winchester are the biggest events in the history of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.
For more information Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation: shenandoahatwar.org Winchester Tourism: visitwinchesterva.com
their surprise attack. The Oct. 17 hike, 10:00am-4:00pm, concludes with the History at Sunset program and a cannon demonstration on the Cedar Creek Battlefield.
Learn more Belle Grove: bellegrove.org Cedar Creek Foundation: ccbf.us National Park Service: nps.gov/cebe Shenandoah Battlefields Foundation: shenandoahatwar.org Valley Heritage Museum: valleyheritagemuseum.org Shenandoah Battlefields Foundation
programs, and of course, vivid re-enactments of Cedar Creek on the actual battlefield. Belle Grove was the site of Gen. Philip Sheridan’s Union encampment on Oct. 18, 1864, when Confederate troops under Gen. Jubal Early made a surprise attack and hand-to-hand fighting took place around the home. The Confederates, many hungry and without shoes, stopped to loot the Union camps. That gave Sheridan, who was returning from consultations in Washington, time to rally his men and driving the southerners back, effectively ending Confederate resistance in the Shenandoah Valley. “Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation has been successfully hosting battle reenactments for 23 years on our property,” said Tim Stowe, president of Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation. “And, we are excited that our partnership with Belle Grove will allow us to offer even more for reenactors and spectators to experience during this significant anniversary.” The Cedar Creek Commemoration concludes on Monday with the rededication of the Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur Monument along US Route 11 at the entrance to the Belle Grove Mansion. Indeed, this may very well be one of the most memorable events of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, as nearly 4,000 Civil War reenactors are expected to participate.
of Third Winchester and key program volunteers, special guest speaker Jeffry Wert, author of From Winchester to Cedar Creek: The Shenandoah Campaign of 1864, will address America’s continuing interest in the Civil War.
George Armstrong Custer was just one of the soon-to-be-famous individuals who were at the Battle of Cedar Creek.
Marvin Bond
The fields around Belle Grove were alive with hand-to-hand fighting during the Battle of Cedar Creek.
recreationnews.com I september 2014 | virginia tourism I VA-17
virginia I su clauson-wicker
Glen Maury Park sparkles in Buena Vista, Virginia Almost 30 years ago, the beloved late musician Mike Seeger had a vision for Glen Maury Park in the mountain town of Buena Vista, Va. — to hold
a mountain music festival featuring dancing and great tunes. Seeger, brother of folk musician Pete Seeger, got the festival off the ground, and music-
loving Shenandoah Valley residents have continued on with it ever since. The 28th Rockbridge Mountain Music and Dance Festival, Sept. 5-6, brings old-time music and dancing to the park on the Maury River. The park is open and economically priced for camping daily, so arrive any time. Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway and I-81, Buena Vista is a three-hour drive from Washington, D.C. The town-owned park is the site of other events this fall, too. On Sept. 12-13, Showdown in the Park Car Show features some of the coolest custom cars, bikes, trucks, and minitrucks on the East Coast. Check out the colors and custom installs, including amazing lighting and sound systems. On Sept. 25-27, Glen Maury’s Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Festival draws plenty of fans, as well as Su Clauson-Wicker headlining talent Musicians of all ages enjoy the many events that Glen Maury Park hosts during the fall. that includes Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Junior Sisk, and homewww.recreationnews.com grown Nothin’ Fancy, 410-638-6901 | fax: 410-638-6902 which has played at 28th Annual venues ranging from 1607 Sailaway Circle, Baltimore MD 21221 Rockbridge the Grand Ole Opry Mountain Music & to New York’s Lincoln Dance Festival Center. The sounds September 5-6, 2014 Come enjoy called dances and heard at this laidflatfooting, open stage action, back festival include workshops, jamming and more! classic bluegrass maAdditional Festival information can be found at terial drawn from Bill www.rockbridgefestival.org VACATION RENTALS Monroe, Ralph Stan14th Annual CABINS • COTTAGES ley, and the Country Nothin’ Fancy Gentlemen, as well as Bluegrass Festival gospel and occasional September 25-27, 2014 bluegrass renditions Featuring: Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Bluegrass Brothers, James of songs by Bob Dylan King, Lonesome Will Mullins, and and Bruce Springsmany more! teen. Ticket information and reservations are available by Mountains jut into visiting www.nothinfancybluegrass.com Hummingbird Inn ... the skyline every❁ 5 guest rooms ❁ Acre of grounds Glen Maury Park is a 315-acre park along the Maury River offering ❁ Jacuzzi tubs ❁ Pet Friendly where you look in camping, golf, water activities, hiking, biking, paddling, and access to $/ ❁ Variety of Outdoor ❁ Cozy-Comfy & 7 52< 287'22 some of the best outdoor amenities in Virginia. 21 56 5 Buena Vista, so it’s ) Activities Relaxing We invite you to visit for a special occasion, only appropriate that < 0 7$ outdoor recreation or just a weekend getaway! 21 7 9$&$7,2 1 5 ( 1 Mountain Day is celeGlen Maury Park (800) 270-8808 30 Wood Lane / Goshen, VA 101 Maury River Drive, Buena Vista, VA 24416 brated here; this year, 540.997.9065 / 800.397.3214 (540) 261-7321 or visit www.glenmaurypark.com www.FrontRoyalOutdoors.com it’s on Oct. 11. The
Mountains of Music ...
Fun in the Shenandoah Valley
6.
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VA-18 | virginia tourism I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
annual downtown street festival honors the culture, history, traditions, and natural beauty of Buena Vista. It focuses on traditional “lost arts,” such as blacksmithing, chair caning, broom making, and other crafts, with demonstrations and exhibits. Live music, antique farm machinery displays, and children’s activities round out the day.
Su Clauson-Wicker
Great facilities The Blue Ridge Mountains and rippling Maury River provide the perfect backdrop for these events. And you won’t be cramped — Glen Maury Park offers 315 acres of elbow room, as well as sweeping views of Elephant Mountain as it towers over Buena Vista. Park accommodations include a 52-site campground offering Passport America rates for RVs and a rough group camping area that can accommodate more than 250 units. Two playgrounds, a skate park, trails, a seasonal pool, and river activities keep families busy onsite. Anglers find the Maury River yields a reliable supply of smallmouth bass and bluegills. Insider tip: Paddlers can put in or take out at Glen Maury Park landing for short floats or longer paddle treks, depending on the water level. A popular eight-mile run from Lexington’s Jordan Point meanders over gentle Class I rapids to the park. This is also prime tubing territory. For a step up in difficulty, kayakers and canoeists can tackle Class II rapids in the 12 miles between Glen Maury and Glasgow, Va. Canoe, kayak, and tube rental and shuttles can be arranged through Wilderness Canoe Company. Glen Maury Park is bordered by Vista Links Golf Club. The club’s 18-hole, par-72 championship public golf course offers panoramic views at most holes. It includes an outstanding practice facility with a driving range, putting green, and a chipping area. “We were so comfortable in this lovely place that we didn’t even get out to explore Lexington or Natural Bridge. Next time,” said recent camper Liz Baker of Raleigh, N.C.
For more information Glen Maury Park: glenmaurypark.com Lexington/Rockbridge Co. Tourism: lexingtonvirginia.com
The Hoorah Cloggers entertain at Glen Maury Park in Buena Vista, Va.
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What happens when professional artists from around the globe create art from discarded hubcaps? An exhibition unlike any you’ve seen before. Only on view September 7, 2014–March 1, 2015.
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Second Time Around includes WASTE NOT, a version of the exhibition Green Revolution made available by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service based on an exhibition originally created by the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, and its Black Creativity Council. Media Sponsor: Shenandoah Country Q102.
Mustang Sally, 2009, Kevin Caron, AZ
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recreationnews.com I september 2014 | virginia tourism I VA-19
Fredericksburg continued from virginia tourism 8 Make a stop at the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center, where exhibits trace the relationship of the town to the Rappahannock River and to transportation history. There are also sizable exhibits relating to the fierce Civil War battle that brought the first street-to-street fighting of the war to Fredericksburg and its impact on the civilian population. (famcc.org) “The weekend activities make for a very vibrant downtown,” Perry said “It’s a weekend when many merchants get into the spirit of things with sidewalk sales.” On Oct. 3, the Fredericksburg Area Museum presents an outdoor screening of From Grain to Growler, a documentary about Virginia breweries. Don’t miss the samples from local brewers. The next day, the Capital Alehouse on Caroline Street holds its Octoberfest with family fun games and authentic Octoberfest Beer from Blue & Gray Brewing.
At the Mary Washington House, the home of George Washington’s mother, the focus is on hands-on activities dealing with writing, including letters, stamps, and postcards. The Rising Sun Tavern will host 18th-century cooking experiences, including using and caring for cast iron cookware. The Hugh Mercer Apothecary will demonstrate how pests such as leeches and beetles were used in 18th-century medicine. (washingtonheritagemuseums.org) Insider tip: With so many centuries to cover, a
good way to orient yourself is to take one of the Fredericksburg Trolley Tours that depart from the visitor center. Aside from all the special September events, there are battlefields, interesting architecture, a brewery, a distillery, and wineries nearby. It’s a September to remember in Fredericksburg.
Learn more Fredericksburg Tourism: visitfred.com Fredericksburg Trolley Tours
More in September Fredericksburg’s September art experience actually gets started Sept. 13 with Art Attack, a plein air event that involves painters, potters, and other artisans showcasing their talents on Caroline and William streets downtown. The artists create in full public view, 10:00am-4:00pm. Wander into PONSHOP Art Studio and Gallery on Caroline Street to catch the month-long show of featured artists. If you’re feeling creative, check out the classes that are available. In a tip of the tri-cornered hat to its Colonial past, the city’s Washington Heritage Museums hold an “Our Living Legacies” weekend, Sept. 1214. The legacies referred to are postcards, pots, and pests.
Valentine continued from virginia tourism 9 Mann, died. Edward willed the museum and house to the Valentine, which today honors its founders in an exhibition on the newly opened second floor. It features the Valentine family and re-creates the premiere exhibition with artifacts from an 1898 photo. The mansion, featuring an elliptical staircase, is located in Court End, where the city’s most wealthy and powerful families lived. A multi-million-dollar renovation of three row houses next to the Wickham House and gardens will allow multiple galleries for changing Valentine exhibitions and an education center. In mid-October, visitors will be able to see everything from George Washington’s bust by Edward Valentine to a costume worn by local rock band GWAR.
With centuries of history to discover, Fredericksburg Trolley Tours offers a great way to orient yourself to Fredericksburg, Va.
Insider Tip: Bring good walking shoes — you’ll want sturdy ones to trod over all those historic cobblestones. The Valentine focuses on issues and diverse communities which define Richmond history. Among its holdings are more than 1 million photographs of Richmond and one of the largest col-
lections of western textiles and costumes. A new exhibition, This is Richmond, Virginia, opening in mid-October, will welcome visitors to offer their take on what liberty and community mean today.
Find out more The Valentine: thevalentine.org
The Valentine
Walking tours, too Take advantage of the many $15 two-hour walking tours offered by the Valentine. All guides are trained and registered by the Valentine and can tailor a tour to your individual tastes. Ask about the Civil Rights years, Richmond’s Slave Trail, Monument Avenue, the James River, the Civil War and many more.
Among the unusual artifacts at The Valentine is a dented fender from race car driver Rusty Wallace’s car, which was damaged at Richmond International Speedway.
VA-20 | virginia tourism I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
continued from discount housing guide 4
(many with private in-room pools and fireplaces). You will receive up to 40 percent off, a one-level upgrade at check-in (based upon availability), and a 10 percent discount card for the cafés and gift shops. Use the RecGov Getaway Club offer code GETAWAY when booking online, then add GA-30252 in the Special Requests area. The number is transferable — friends and family can enjoy the same great discount. Visit pocono-getaway.com. Or, call 800-862-9323 to get the best rates! Creig Northrop Team: The Creig Northrop Team of Long & Foster Real Estate is consistently ranked as the No. 1 real estate team in Maryland and one of the top in the United States by REAL Trends and The Wall Street Journal. The team has a division devoted to government employees and members of the military, and five offices are located close to local military installations and government agencies. Whether you are buying, selling, or looking for a rental home, you’ll benefit from expert knowledge and services. Find out about our “Smart Move” rebate program for members of the government and military. Call 410-531-0321 or visit northropteam.com. The Forest: Discover Rockville’s best kept secret — The Forest Apartments! Now offering a Preferred Employer Program for government employees. Our one-, two- and threebedroom apartments feature in-home washers and dryers and have the area’s largest floor plans. Starting at only $1,560/mo. Enjoy the on-site fitness center, swimming pool, and sundeck, as well as the convenience of being close to Twinbrook Metro, downtown Rockville, and Washington, D.C. We are a pet-friendly community accepting all breeds. Call today to take a tour of your new home! theforestapt.com Franklin Park: Have it all at your front door! Franklin Park at Greenbelt Station offers renovated one- and two-bedroom apartments, three-bedroom townhomes, a fitness center, and government employee discounts. Franklin Park is petfriendly and in an award-winning school district. Rates from $1,139. Ask about one month free! Contact Angela at 301379-4364. franklinparkliving.com
alive.com. Better still, fill out the online Info Request form, and a representative will get in touch with you to discuss your upcoming event. 301-598-3843
browse the Owens Corning 1800basement.com site and give us a call at 301-333-6000 for your free employee-discounted design and estimate.
New York Life Insurance: Do financial concerns keep you up at night? New York Life Insurance Company has products available that offer guarantees. Ask yourself: Am I satisfied with the progress I’ve made toward retirement? Do I have enough guaranteed income to cover my basic living expenses for the rest of my life? What would happen to my family if I weren’t here tomorrow? Stop by at one of the events this year. There’s a free financial assessment for anyone who wants it, with no obligation. At New York Life, we take your peace of mind seriously. Contact Satchie Carvounis, agent at New York Life Insurance Company, by emailing satchie@sentinelpa.com or calling 301-356-8989.
The Residences at The Manor: One month free and $500 upfront! (Select apartments; may end without notice.) Welcome to the best of Frederick! Situated on the grounds of a former 18th-century agrarian estate, The Manor has luxurious amenities that you will love! From a sparkling swimming pool to a fitness center, cyber café, and relaxing garden/courtyard area, The Residences has everything that you need. Come home to your little corner of paradise at The Residences at The Manor. Government employee discounts available! Rents starting at $1,015/ month. theresidencesatthemanor.com
Red Roof Inns: Red Roof Inns offers its deepest discount of 20 percent off “best available rates” for employees of RecGov agencies. Just visit govemployee.com to book using our link or use the booking code VP617040 on redroof.com, 800-REDROOF, or at the inn directly. The primary goal at Red Roof® is to provide customers a savings without sacrificing comfort at more than 375 locations coast to coast. A recent $150 million renovation upgraded hotels with sleek and modern NextGen® redesign elements. Red Roof Plus+ hotels feature updated stylish and home-like interiors and exteriors. Don’t forget the extra savings of free Wi-Fi, free local and long distance calls, and select hotels with free breakfast offerings. Remodel USA: The REMODEL USA goal is to give customers an exceptional living environment with the peace of mind that comes from having quality products like the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System and Sunsuite Sunroom. As federal and military employees, you should expect the same quality that you put out every day in serving our country. Feel free to
Luther Sales: Two back-to-school sales deals! Deal 1: Get a free wireless printer or free MS Office Home Student Edition with your qualifying computer purchase! There are selected computer bundles that will give you all the tools to succeed this school year. Back-to-school supplies are limited so hurry! Deal 2: You choose your TV bonus! Choose from the top brand TV bundles and qualify for a free Blu-ray DVD player or free home theater package. Certain restrictions apply; call your Luther Sales representative for more information. Luther Sales is luxury made easy: easy qualification, responsible and convenient purchasing, no out-of-pocket expenses, no major credit card needed, and fixed payments with defined finish. Visit luthersales.com or call 800-358-6466 today. Plants Alive!: Specialists in tropical plant rental and leasing for commercial spaces, special events, and residential interiors. Plants Alive! offers a wide variety of tropical and flowering plants, trees, and planters for all types of events including parties, weddings, sporting tournaments, professional meetings, conventions, and banquets. You receive high-quality service regardless of the size of your order! Find out more at plants-
The Saratoga: Waived pro-rate! (Select apartments; may end without notice.) The Saratoga puts the entire city within your reach. Your path home includes area conveniences such as the Van Ness Metro, Starbucks, Giant Grocery, CVS, and several dry cleaners and restaurants. This modern community is perfectly situated along Connecticut Avenue, affording you traffic-free access to the entire city. Come home to The Saratoga, where truly exceptional and convenient city living awaits you. Now accepting small dogs under 30 pounds. continued on discount housing guide 6
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The Geller Law Group: The Geller Law Group is a woman-owned firm, formed with the objective of making the legal system accessible and affordable for families and small businesses in the MidAtlantic region (Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina). Located in Fairfax, Va., the firm has enjoyed considerable success and growth since 2011. The small size allows for prompt and personal service from a firm with significant experience in family law, estate planning (wills, trusts, and powers of attorney), and small business legal work. Free telephone consultations to federal employees — a way of saying “thanks” for your public service. Email office@ thegellerlawgroup.com to schedule a consultation today! LegalShield: Your LegalShield provider law firm will be there to offer advice or assistance on a host of legal issues. A brief sampling of the areas that the LegalShield Legal Plan covers includes unlimited legal advice and consultation, trial defense hours, letters/phone calls on your behalf, 24/7 emergency access, legal document review, traffic-related issues, and will preparation. To enroll, visit simon58.legalshieldassociate. com, contact Carene Simon at 301-437-8660, or email carenebsimon@gmail.com.
Rollins Ridge: Experience living at its best. Perfectly situated in the heart of Rockville, Md., Rollins Ridge Apartments provides a luxurious living environment and is one of the area’s most desired residences. Located within minutes of schools, churches, synagogues, malls, the Strathmore Cultural Center, athletic facilities, golf courses, and more. And, with a Rollins Ridge apartment, you’re just a short drive from I-270 and the D.C. Beltway (I- 495), and walking distance to the Metro station. Located at 130 Rollins Ave., Rockville, Md. Call 301-881-9436.
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Switch your family to T-Mobile today 15327TMOFAV Call Advantage Direct™ at 1-866-464-8662 and use promo code <TMOFAV1234> Have a question? Contact <Have your employee I.D.Alison.King@T-Mobile.com ready when you call.> 2.5 GB Data Per Line Offer: Limited-time offer expires 9/30/14; subject to change. Four-line minimum family plan; maximum of five lines. After 1/2/16, 2.5 GB of 4G LTE data will automatically revert back to 1 GB of 4G LTE data per line. Capable device required to achieve 4G LTE speeds. Taxes and fees additional. Not all features available on all devices. Unlimited talk and text features for direct U.S. communications between two people. General Terms: Domestic only, unless otherwise specified. Credit approval, deposit, and $10 SIM starter kit may be required. If you switch plans you may be bound by existing term (including early termination provisions) and/or charged up to a $200 fee. Regulatory Programs Fee of $1.61 per line/month applies. Taxes approx. 6%–28% of bill. Partial megabytes rounded up. Full speeds available up to monthly allotment; then, slowed to up to 2G speeds for rest of billing cycle. Roaming and on-network data allotments differ; see your selected service for details. Monthly Discount: Limit five lines. All lines must be activated in same T-Mobile market with same billing address. Discount subject to change. Not available in Puerto Rico. Discount applied to recurring charges while customer remains eligible and does not apply to overage, long distance, roaming, taxes and fees, or other charges. Eligible rate plans only; cannot be combined with Advantage Reward Card offer. ETF Offer: Limited-time offer; subject to change. Eligible device trade-in, new device purchase, qualifying credit, port-in from eligible carriers (including AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint), and qualifying postpaid service required. Payments consist of: (1) credit of device trade-in value, and (2) prepaid MasterCard card in amount of carrier’s Early Termination Fee. Sales tax on ETF not included. You must submit final bill showing ETF within 2 calendar months of port-in and be active and in good standing with T-Mobile when payment is processed; allow up to 8 weeks. Additional validation may be required. Up to five lines; all lines must be activated in same T-Mobile market with same billing address. One offer per subscriber. Check your contract with your carrier for your rights and obligations. MasterCard card is rebate/reimbursement on new device, service, or port-in; for any tax implications of payment, consult a tax advisor. Coverage not available in some areas. Network Management: Service may be slowed, suspended, terminated, or restricted for misuse, abnormal use, interference with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users, or significant roaming. See brochures and Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at www.t-mobile.com for additional information. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Advantage is a trademark of T-Mobile USA, Inc. T-Mobile and the magenta color are registered trademarks of Deutsche Telekom AG. © 2014 T-Mobile USA, Inc.
recreationnews.com I september 2014 | discount housing guide I DHG-5
continued from discount housing guide 5 Ask about our Preferred Employer program for government employee discounts! Rents starting at $1,790/ month. thesaratogadc.com
no overages while on our network. No activation fees. Call our Advantage Direct Hotline at 866-464-8662 and reference your military or federal government affiliation.
Solar Energy: Did you ever think solar would be affordable? Guess what? Now it is! Welcome to the RecGov solar program! Free installation — no upfront cost; pay for power, not panels; locked-in low rates; the average homeowner saves more than $1,200 a year on energy bill; and studies show that homes with solar have a higher resale value. For a risk-free proposal, go to recgovsolar.com and learn how much you can save!
Tripper Bus and Washington Deluxe: Get to Manhattan in stylish comfort. Tripper Bus and Washington Deluxe provide upscale daily coach bus transportation directly into the heart of Manhattan’s Penn Station. Choose a location easy for you to access with departures from Arlington, Va., Bethesda, Md., and multiple departures from Union Station in Washington, D.C. All offer amenities on board such as complimentary Wi-Fi and outlets in each row. Safe, luxurious, and affordable! Visit washny.com or tripperbus.com.
Sprint: Save with Sprint! For a limited time, U.S. military personnel and employees of the federal government can get a $100 Visa prepaid card for each eligible new line activated with Sprint. Claim your reward at sprint.com/promo/IL100V. Hurry, offer ends Oct. 10, 2014. If you buy online from Sprint, you also get free shipping and a $50 invoice credit (within three invoices). Apply promo code “Save50” at checkout. Visit sprint.com/fed or sprint.com/dod.
USA Discounters: Visit the USA Discounters website to view this summer’s furniture specials at usadiscounters.net/categories/ furniture.aspx. USA Discounters offers a large selection of furniture styles and a great variety of payment plans designed to fit each customer’s specific needs. USA Discounters selection of furniture includes living room, dining room, bedroom, and entertainment. For more information, visit your nearest USA Discounters store.
SuiteAmerica: SuiteAmerica offers fully furnished corporate apartments in the Washington, D.C., metro area (Arlington, Alexandria, Tyson’s, Reston, Silver Spring, and Bethesda). Our apartments include all furniture, housewares, utilities, wireless, and parking. Our locations are all luxury high-rises on a Metro, close to the bases and DOD/federal buildings, and close to shopping. We can offer rates below TDY per diem and can do stays as short as three nights, or longer. Starting rates for the area can be as low as $119 per day. Please contact dunbar@suiteamerica.com or 703-690-2030 for more information.
VacationWiser: Travel anywhere at any time affordably! How does a Halloween adventure in Las Vegas sound? Or taking the kids to experience the magic of Disney World? There are 16 new and exciting choices every month, or you can create your own dream vacation. With vacationwiser.com, you can enjoy: 15,000+ worldwide adventures, picking the hotel you want, scheduling transfers or activities, traveling as soon as 45 days from booking (60 days if package includes airfare), and one-year interest-free! Call 800-3586466 or visit vacationwiser.com and discover your dream vacation today!
T-Mobile: Here is a snapshot of the savings offered through T-Mobile’s Federal Government Advantage program: Every line on your account enjoys a service discount on unlimited talk, text, and web. Save 15 percent per month on every line … that adds up! Data and text in 100+ countries included at no extra charge. No annual service contract and
Vamoose Bus: New York City from Bethesda, Md., Arlington, Va., and Lorton, Va.! You have a direct source for travel to Manhattan. Vamoose Bus has multiple daily departures direct to NYC’s Penn Station. You can even stay overnight and come home on another scheduled bus. Travelers enjoy upscale luxury coach buses. Fares start at $27 each way
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Verizon Wireless: Verizon XLTE is here — making the most of the best devices on the best network! It’s the latest advancement of America’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network: double the 4G LTE bandwidth in cities coast to coast. That means faster peak speeds and greater capacity than before, letting you stream, share, and do more. Learn about benefits available to federal employees by visiting recgov.org or visit any Verizon Wireless store. The Whitney Apartments, Minutes From NIH/Walter Reed: If you are looking for an apartment that offers urban conveniences with a suburban feel, look no further. Located in the heart of Bethesda, Md., just two blocks from the Metro and less than one mile from NIH, the location couldn’t be better. The Whitney is within walking distance of countless restaurants and shops. If you prefer to take a break from the urban surroundings, an outdoor oasis awaits out your back door. Enjoy relaxing in the outdoor gardens with access to gas grills and a resort-tyle pool. In addition to The Whitney’s fabulous location, enjoy the exceptional concierge services and monthly signature events, monthly book club, yoga classes, movie night, and much more. Call 301-907-0151 or visit whitneybethesda. com.
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Verizon FiOS: An amazing FiOS deal for government employees. Get the best price on a Verizon bundle — only at verizon. com/connections! This exclusive program for employees provides discounts up to $10 off per month on FiOS and high-speed Internet service bundles for the home. Ordering new service bundles through the Verizon Connections website provides exclusive employee discounts of up to $10 per month, additional online order discount, and Internet activation fee waived with online order (a savings up to $59.99), plus access to current promotions for new customers! Orders placed by phone or any other method do not qualify for this offer. Existing customers may be eligible to receive an employee discount of up to $10 per month on bundles. Visit verizon.com/ connections for details!
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DHG-6 | discount housing guide I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
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recreationnews.com I september 2014 | discount housing guide I DHG-7
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1 Smart Limits can be used to limit/restrict texting and data usage on most AT&T mobile devices, but cannot be used to set specific monthly limits for minutes or MMS messages. All incoming calls are allowed at all times, including during time restrictions, except from numbers you designate as “Blocked Numbers.” Smart Limits is not available on prepaid phones, tablets or corporate-liable accounts. Smart Limits does not work for limiting/restricting data usage on non-LTE BlackBerry devices, or while user is in Wi-Fi mode. Accuracy of data limits/ restrictions is not guaranteed due to network and other technical limitations. Other restrictions and limitations apply. See att.com/smartlimits for complete details. 2 Internet access required. 3 Downloads only accessible for as long as service remains active. Downloading & streaming over the wireless network may use excess data & incur large data charges 4 Visit www.att.com/eptt for full details, terms and conditions. 15% monthly discount: Available to qualified active U.S. military service members or veterans providing proof of eligibility. Eligible individuals must take personal liability for their account. Service discounts apply only to the monthly service charge of qualified plans. Service discounts not available with any unlimited voice plans. For Family Talk plans, service discount will only apply to the primary line. For Mobile Share plans, service discount applies only to the monthly service charge for the data allotment of eligible plans, not on the additional monthly device charge(s). Service discounts may not be combined. Offer subject to change. Additional plan and other restrictions apply. ©2014 AT&T Intellectual Property.
DHG-8 | discount housing guide I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
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RUISE
orner michelle & karl teel
Is bigger always better for cruisers? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Supersize meâ&#x20AC;? has become an American mantra of sorts, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not necessarily limited to the people increasing the size of their burger and fries orders. For decades, American automobiles grew in size until skyrocketing gas prices began to put the brakes on gas guzzlers. Housing sizes increased from the standard WWII-era bungalows that defined the American standard to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;McMansionsâ&#x20AC;? of more recent times. The movie theater of yore is now the multiplex cinema showing 18 fea-
tures. Convenience store leader 7-11 introduced the Big Gulp, only to later replace it with the Super Big Gulp. But not everything is considered better just because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bigger. The shoe box-sized cell phone of the past is now a palm size iPhone. Computers that used to take up an entire room have been replaced with the faster, more powerful tablets and other small devices. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happened with cruise ships? Just 15 to 20 years ago, we cruised on what we thought, at the Royal Caribbean
time, was an absolutely mind-blowingly large ship: 855 feet in length, 77,000 tons in weight, and perhaps eight stories tall. Now, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moderately sized at best, especially when compared to todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest vessels. Royal Caribbeanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Allure of the Seas measures 1,188 feet long (getting close to a quarter of mile), weighs 225,000 tons, and is 15-plus stories tall. In the 1980s, the largest ships were still less than 50,000 tons, and the 100,000-ton mark wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t crossed until 1996. But, is bigger better? The answer is sometimes yes, sometimes
no, and sometimes itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a matter of opinion.
Bigger may be better Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look at some positive attributes for these bigger ships. You can always tell how new or old a ship is from a distance, even if you have poor judgment on estimating length, by just checking one thing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; balconies. People love them, and businesses build what people want to buy. Not only do bigger ships have more room for more balconies, continued on page 18
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The new architecture Royal Caribbean uses on the bigger ships includes interior balconies and an open-air avenue feel and look.
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the architecture changed to allow a higher proportion of balconies. Moving some retail and other spaces to lower deck levels opened up more space
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downside? There are a few. For one, these larger ships simply are too big to fit into certain ports, and if they do, you may be more likely to take a tender or ferry into port, rather than simply walk off at a pier. Also, long walks may be necessary to go from one end of the ship to another. For example, if you have dinner on the third deck in the back of the ship and want to go to a spa on the 13th deck at the front of the ship, it can be a 15-minute workout to get there. Or, if you discover on your cruise that your cabin is at one end and a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cabin is at the other end ... well, you get the idea. While larger ships and heavier weight make the crafts able to handle rougher seas, they are like seesaws, and a longer ship will have more pronounced motion at the front and back as a result.
What matters to you
Of course, some items are a matter of opinion. After all, some people like a vibrant city, others a peaceful, remote feeling. Some like choices, while others may feel overwhelmed with too many options. Do more options for children mean more youngsters on the cruise? This may or may not be Smaller may be better a plus for you. Like any personal choice, the more With all that going for larger ships, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the you know, the more Oceania Cruise Lines likely you are to make better choices. Talk to friends, do research, and best of all, speak to a travel agent. Most of them have firsthand experience and will take the time to hear what you would be happiest with and gently guide you toward a better match. The one universal piece of good news is that now, more than ever, there is truly a match for everyone somewhere in the cruise industry. Whereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Many of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ships considered â&#x20AC;&#x153;smallerâ&#x20AC;? in size are better thought of yours? We hope you find as â&#x20AC;&#x153;boutique,â&#x20AC;? as they tend to be high in luxury. Read about the Oceania it! Bon voyage! Marina in the January, 2015 issue of Recreation News.
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for balcony cabins. In a totally revolutionary design change, to a horseshoe shape, Royal Caribbean now offers interior balconies. The additional supply of balconies has actually narrowed the price difference between them and interior cabins. Another positive attribute of the larger ships is the amenities they offer. Bigger ships simply have more of everything, as well as offering amenities and spaces not seen before. There are more bars, more night clubs, more entertainment choices, more specialized child care and activities, and a wider variety of dining options. In a floating city, just as in a regular city, increased size equals increased options. On longer cruises, this can be particularly attractive. Bigger ships offer bigger water parks, movie theaters, conference rooms with specialty events such as computer or dance classes, ice rinks, rock walls to climb, golf, zip lines, and even aquatic show theaters. Architecturally, they even have open avenues, giving the feel that you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t walking down a hallway, but a vibrant city street.
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delaware I michelle and karl teel
Southern Delaware: Exploring nature on and off the beach Everyone loves going to the beach, but in southern Delaware, that’s only one element of the outdoor scene. State parks, nature centers, and eco-tours join camping, biking, hiking, bird watching, paddle boarding, canoeing, and kayaking as outdoor opportunities in the southern part of The
First State. Given the rich mixture of geography, nature calls you to explore all the outdoor recreation. And now it’s getting even better. Gordon’s Pond, a 900-acre saltwater lagoon, has long been a favorite location for nature lovers. Located at Cape Henlopen State Park, it ranks eighth
of 47 attractions in Rehoboth Beach according to Trip Advisor. Whether you are a hiker, cyclist, or birdwatcher, there is plenty to see and enjoy. The gently rolling sand dunes and savannah-like salt marsh environment make it ideal for waterfowl, especially blue herons, snowy egrets, bald eagles, and osprey. The Gordon’s Pond trail has many popular nesting spots for migratory birds and, at times, portions may be closed to avoid interfering with nature at work. (The state park office can provide specifics.) Other parts of the trail go through a maritime pine forest offering a variety of wildlife to view. The WWII observation towers and concrete bunkers along the Cape Henlopen beaches are not only interesting from a history perspective, but the towers make excellent observation points for birders as well. The improved Gordon’s Pond trail is a 3.2-mile extension of the old less-than-a-mile trail, a perfect complement to the 16 miles of trails within Cape Henlopen State Park. The mostly fine-crushed gravel surface keeps the trail flat and well drained and the half-mile elevated boardwalk has, thankfully, a skid-resistant surface. Three information boards with maps and descriptive information are spaced throughout the route. Two scenic overlooks offer great photo ops as well. The trail also connects with others and cyclists now can enjoy an 18-mile loop between Lewes and Rehoboth. You can pick up the trail at the southern end at Gordon’s Pond parking lot or Herring Point’s continued on page 20
The unique habitat of the saltwater marsh provides a home for all kinds of waterfowl at Gordon’s Pond in Cape Henlopen State Park. Delmarva Board Sports
Warm up to fall at the beach.
Ask about our Autumn Leave Package!
(800)33-BEACH 33-BEACH www.boardwalkplaza.com 2 Olive Avenue & the Boardwalk Rehoboth Beach DE 19971 Delmarva Board Sports offers unique night paddles.
recreationnews.com I september 2014 I recreation news 19
Southern Delaware continued from page 19 parking lot on the northern end. The Herring Point end has the half-mile elevated boardwalk and connects to the two-mile Walking Dunes Trail. At the southern end you can enjoy views of the ocean, the salt pond, the WWII towers, and, of course, the beach.
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It’s a great way to enjoy the area, whether you wish to take a leisurely hike, cover a lot of territory on a bike ride, or just want to enjoy nature off the beaten path. And, remember to bring your camera and binoculars. It’s hard to believe that you can find yourself immersed in the tranquility of such a breathtaking natural preserve just minutes away from the liveliness of the Rehoboth Beach scene. It’s a perfect way to round out your vacation.
Join the SUP craze Sometimes how you enjoy the outdoors is just as important as where. Delmarva Board Sports now has two locations in Sussex County: Fenwick Island (right next to Harpoon Hanna’s) and in Rehoboth Beach on Coastal Highway. Seeing wildlife and nature’s beauty from the water offers a perspective you just can’t find elsewhere. Whether it’s standup paddle boarding, kayaking, or wind surfing, Delmarva Board Sports is a logical first stop. Are you a novice? They’ll teach you. Got some experi-
ence? They’ll rent you equipment. You’re addicted to the sport? They sell great equipment. Not sure stand-up paddle boarding is for you? Check this out. Delmarva Board Sports has a “bucket list option” of 30 minutes for just $15. You can also take group excursions such as the beautiful Bethany Sunset trip. Packages are also available for touring canals, the bays, and other waterways. If you are already experienced and have your own equipment, but just don’t feel like lugging it around, rentals are available from 30 minutes to full weeks. (delmarvaboardsportadventures.com) At visitsoutherndelaware.com, there are whole sections dealing specifically with nature centers and state parks to help with your plans. Trap Pond, in Laurel, has long been one of our favorites, especially the pontoon boat eco-tour. Remember to check out additional content at RecreationNews. com for photos and additional coverage at videos. recreationnews.com
www.
WWII ‘Special Event’ featuring Historic Veteran Heroes Encampments Fort Miles Exhibits US Navy Parachute Team Plane Rides Pilot Competitions
All-Day Entertainment
Craft & Food Vendors
CULTURE continued from page 16
'(/$:$5(
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For information call the Georgetown chamber 302-856-1544 or visit wings-wheels.com
THE REHOBOTH BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL “THE GREATEST JAZZ FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD” ® CELEBRATING OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY IN SUSSEX COUNTY, DELAWARE OCT 15 TO 19, 2014 NICK COLIONNE
BONEY JAMES AL JARREAU
BRIAN CULBERTSON RICK BRAUN
PATTI AUSTIN
BRIAN SIMPSON
KIM WATERS
GERALD ALBRIGHT JACKIEM JOYNER PAUL TAYLOR STEVE COLE
Artists were selected from among hundreds of applicants by a panel of experts. Michael Johnston, of Alexandria, who has a studio at the Torpedo Factory Art Center on North Union Street, has been part of the festival since the beginning. He plans to show figurative and floral paintings and prints. “The figures are usually sitting at a table with wine and/or coffee and cropped at the eye level. This enhances them with a sense of ambiguity,” he explained. “These are acrylic paintings with loose and broad strokes so they are charged with real positive energy. The large florals are similarly colorful and with sweeping strokes which give them a sense of movement.” He thinks the public will enjoy the show because of its beautiful setting near the river and the relaxed way of viewing the art. “They can meet the artists and purchase some really great works without the intimidation of walking across the echoing hardwood floors of a typical gallery,” Johnston said. “Sitting at any of the sidewalk cafes and watching folks stroll along past the booths just makes it a fun afternoon.” He indicates it’s a good experience from the artist’s perspective as well. Johnston enjoys it when people stop by to chat, ask questions, and com-
Explore Southern Delaware Join us for NightSUP™ ... a premium excursion, offered by appointment at our Fenwick Island location next to Harpoon Hanna’s.
Minimum age is 18 and prior paddle boarding experience is required.
ALSO APPEARING
STANLEY JORDAN, ELAN TROTMAN, JESSE J, MARC ANTIONE, MARCUS ANDERSON, ART SHERROD Jr NICHOLE HENRY, NICHOLAS COLE, JEFF BRADSHAW CLUB PHRED, MATT MARSHAK, BENJIE PORECKI JAY ROWE
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ment about the art. “The reaction is always different and I think it reveals more about themselves than they realize,” he said. There also will be interactive art activities and live music at the festival. Visitors can register to win a free art giveaway by Patrick Reynolds. His painting, Sagesse, valued at $2,800, will be on display in his booth. A limited-edition Cheryl Summers art piece also will be given away each day at the Lincoln Motor Company vehicle display. In addition, you can participate in the Ice Cream Bowl Fundraiser by buying a handmade ceramic bowl for $15 and enjoying artisanal ice cream. Need to know: Hours are 10:00am-7:00pm on Saturday, and 10:00am-5:00pm on Sunday. Admission is free. The Torpedo Factory Art Center is also participating in the festival on Saturday. Stop in to see artist demonstrations, including ice carving, live music, and family activities. The center, a former munitions plant packed with 82 artists’ studios and six galleries, is marking its 40th anniversary this year. Part of the celebration was the commissioning of a mural by resident artist Rachel Kerwin that features images of the building and waterfront. See it by the waterfront entrance. The next exhibition is Hacking Objects of Desire, Sept. 6-Oct. 19. The show includes video, sound, text, and sculpture to explore Sami (Scandinavian) design traditions. Families can get into the act on Oct. 11 with the center’s annual Arts Safari, a day of hands-on craft activities.
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20 recreation news I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
Learn more Brandywine Festival of the Arts: brandywinearts. com Alexandria King Street Art Festival: artfestival.com Torpedo Factory Art Center: torpedofactory. org
VISIT HISTORIC LEWES, DELAWARE
9/19—Oktoberfest Street Festival • 10/3–5 Merchants’ Fall Sidewalk Sale 10/4—Boast the Coast Maritime Festival and Boat Parade 12/4—Merchants’ Hospitality Night 12/6—Lewes Christmas Parade and House Tour Call toll-free 877-465-3937 or visit leweschamber.com.
RIVER TOWN. ART TOWN. HOME TOWN.
If you’re looking for a great place to visit, a great place to start a business, or a great place to live…that’s Milford. 302.422.3344 • www.milfordchamber.com
L A N D , W AT E R O R A I R .
More reasons to get out there! If you’re the adventurous type, get ready to get out there. On land, you’re in for outstanding biking, hiking and nature trails, challenging golf, beautiful state parks and campgrounds. Love water? Come paddle our back bays, rivers and wildlife refuges. Go surfing or skimboarding. Enjoy fishing or boating. Still up in the air? Go skydiving, parasailing or birding. Or just relax on our pristine 5-star beaches—and do nothing at all. For a full calendar of events, activities and deals go to VisitSouthernDelaware.com/outdoor
What’s your favorite fall thing to do in Southern Delaware? Tell us at www.twitter.com/VisitSouthDel You could win a weekend for two!
23RD ANNUAL APPLE-SCRAPPLE FESTIVAL, BRIDGEVILLE, DE
Join us Friday, Oct. 10, starting at 4 p.m. and all day Saturday, Oct. 11, for carnival rides, kids’ games, scrapple carving, live entertainment, and so much more. Visit www.applescrapple.com and our website: www.seafordchamber.com.
PRIME FISHING, BOATING, AND CAMPING AT TRAP POND STATE PARK
Spend your day on the water, boating and fishing for bass, and your night in our campground, nestled beneath towering loblolly pines! destateparks.com/camping
recreationnews.com I september 2014 I recreation news 21
MOUNTAIN MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL Sept. 5-6, 6:00pm. If you love dancing and old-time music in a mellow setting, this is the festival for you. Glen Maury Park, 101 Maury River Drive, Buena Vista, Va. 540-261-7321, rockbridgefestival.org ART AND WINE FESTIVAL Sept. 5-7. The festival at Deep Creek Lake includes wine, regional artists, children’s area, silent auction, and live music. 270 Mosser Road, McHenry, Md. 888-387-5237, deepcreekwinefest.com HAMPTON BAY DAYS Sept. 5-7. A combination of free entertainment on multiple stages, a bay education area with a children’s area and the exciting Tidewater Dock Dogs, dozens of arts and crafts booths, food vendors, and fireworks. Downtown Hampton, Va. 757-7271641, baydays.com
September 2014 Sept. 1-Labor Day
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
CHILDREN’S DAY Sept. 6, 11:00am-4:00pm. A fun-filled day for the entire family featuring crafts, hands-on learning stations, educational presentations, sing-a-longs, and magic shows. Ladew Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, Md. 410-557-9570, ladewgardens.com
MARYLAND STATE FAIR Through Sept. 1. Food, tame and thrilling rides and games, thousands of livestock, farm, garden, and home arts exhibits, live thoroughbred horse racing, and concerts. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium, Md. 410-252-0200, marylandstatefair.com
HISTORIC ODESSA BREWFEST Sept. 6. In addition to the fine craft beers, locally sourced food will be available, provided by Cantwell’s Tavern, and live musical entertainment will be presented by reggae evangelists Spokey Speaky and country crossover specialists Philbilly. Wilson-Warner House, 202 Main St., Odessa, Del. odessabrewfest.com
OX HILL FAIR Through Sept. 6. This community fair features an array of events including tractor pulls, ATV racing, demolition derby, and horse judging, as well as carnival rides, food, entertainment, and agricultural displays. Ox Hill Fairgrounds, Plumville, Pa. oxhillfair.com
BREWS ON THE BEACH Sept. 6. Craft brews, food, and entertainment. 12913 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, Md. 410-213-1771. POCOMOKETOBERFEST Sept. 6, noon-6:00pm. Eastern Shore wines and beers, arts and crafts, scarecrow contest, and live music. Cypress Park, Pocomoke, Md. 410-957-1919, pocomoke.com
MARYLAND RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL Through Oct. 19. On weekends, travel back in time as you immerse yourself in the culture of a 16th-century English village, complete with King Henry VIII and his court. Revel Grove, Crownsville, Md. 800-296-7304, rennfest.com
MARYLAND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Sept. 6-7. A highlight of the event is the Crab Soup Cook-off, an Annapolis favorite that brings together the city’s greatest restaurateurs and chefs in a classic Maryland showdown. Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, Md. 410-353-9237, mdseafoodfestival.com
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY FAIR Sept. 4-7. Live animals, food, music, and carnival games. 14900 Pennsylvania Ave., Upper Marlboro, Md. 301-442-7393, countyfair.org
NANTICOKE INDIAN POWWOW Sept. 6-7. Walk with the Nanticoke Indian Tribe as it gathers for the 37th Annual Powwow eight miles east of Millsboro, Del. visitsoutherndelaware.com BOARDWALK ARTS FESTIVAL Sept. 7, 10:00am-5:00pm. Includes more than 100 fine artists who will be featuring paintings, word work, metal, clay, baskets, jewelry, and porcelain. Bethany Beach Boardwalk, Bethany Beach, Del. visitsoutherndelaware.com
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COOKPORT FAIR Sept. 8-13. Agricultural displays and competitions, animal and craft exhibits, rides, and entertainment throughout the week. Commodore, Pa. 724-254-1445, cookportfair. com WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR Sept. 8-14. The fair hosts a variety of family events and fun activities including concerts, livestock shows, horse shows, a lawn mower race, school days, senior day, carnival rides, food, commercial exhibits, educational exhibits, and arts and crafts. Washington County Fairgrounds, 17046 Fairground Drive, Abingdon, Va. washcofair.com ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY FAIR Sept. 10-14. Farm animals, exhibits, contests, carnival midway, entertainment, family atmosphere, agriculture education, 4-H exhibits, and auction. Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Crownsville, Md. 410-923-3400, aacountyfair.org
DELMARVA BIKE WEEK Sept. 11-14. Harley-Davidson bike event with food and merchandise vending. WinterPlace Park and Equestrian Center, 6737 Blue Ribbon Road, Salisbury, Md. 302-629-6161, delmarvabikeweek.com GREAT FREDERICK FAIR Sept. 12-20. Exhibits, rides, entertainment, amusements, educational programming, and eateries. 797 East Patrick St., Frederick, Md. 301-663-5895, thegreatfrederickfair.com FALL GARDEN DAY Sept. 13, 9:00am-3:00pm. Numerous local plant vendors to satisfy your gardening needs. A silent auction, bake sale, live music, and food add to the festivities. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, Va. 703-642-5173, fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring CRAFT BEER AND MUSIC FESTIVAL Sept. 13, noon-6:00pm. More than 100 award-winning artisan beer tastings from regional and national artisan breweries, as well as music of every variety on stage. Shop for arts and crafts and specialty food items, too. Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Md. 410-263-4012 VIRGINIA WINE FESTIVAL Sept. 13-14. The festival features 50 of Virginia’s best wineries, craft exhibitors, seminars, and incredible music. 5089 Old Tavern Road, The Plains, Va. 540-253-5000, virginiawinefest.com SMICKSBURG APPLE FEST Sept. 13-14. Apple butter-making demonstrations, apple cidermaking demonstrations, locally grown apples for sale. Visit more than 20 specialty shops selling apple pies, apple dumplings, apple fudge, apple cider, and apple butter. Smicksburg, Pa. smicksburg.net FOOD AND WINE CELEBRATION Sept. 13-21. Visitors can enjoy winery tours and tastings, a beertasting dinner, the Harvest Food and Wine Tasting, luncheons at some of Cape May’s best restaurants, and the Chefs’ DineArounds. Cape May, N.J. 800-275-4278, capemaymac.org FALL BIRDING FESTIVAL Sept. 19-21. Includes a variety of events, mostly free, for beginning and intermediate birders and families with children. Berkeley Springs, W.Va. 304-258-0992 HONEY HARVEST FESTIVAL Sept. 20, 9:00am-3:30pm. Discover the busy world of bees and other pollinators while enjoying arts and crafts, honey tastings, candle-making demonstrations, and refuge habitat tram tours. National Wildlife Visitor Center, 1730 Eastern Neck Road, Rock Hall, Md. 301-497-5763, fws.gov/northeast/patuxent AFRICAN-AMERICAN FESTIVAL Sept. 20, 10:00am-6:00pm. Celebrate African-American culture with dance, music, art, poetry, historical exhibits, children’s activities, a health and wellness village, a financial empowerment zone, food, and vendors. 400 Washington Ave., Towson, Md. 410-887-4289, aaculturalfestival.com BOATYARD BEACH BASH Sept. 20. Enjoy an evening of great music, food, and drink on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second St., Annapolis, Md. 410-295-0104, amaritime.org ANNUAL AT&T RIBTOBERFEST Sept. 20, noon-8:00pm. Beer and barbecue collide in one deliciously mouth-watering food-for-all, featuring finger-lickin’ good barbecue, fabulously frosty craft brews, live music, restaurant competitions, and great family fun. Waterside Drive, Norfolk, Va. 757-441-2345, festevents.org FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS Sept. 20-21, 10:00am-5:00pm. Vast array of artistic media including paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, glass, wood, handmade jewelry, collage, and mixed media. 1101 N. Highland St., Arlington, Va. 561-746-6615, artfestival.com TRAWLERFEST Sept. 25-28, 10:00am-5:00pm. A four-day boat show, rendezvous, and educational experience. Attendees will enjoy exploring show boats, demonstrations, exhibitor booths, and educational seminar sessions. Baltimore Marine Centers’ HarborView Marina, 500 Harborview Drive, Baltimore, Md. passagemaker.com/events/trawler-fest-2014-baltimore NEPTUNE FESTIVAL Sept. 26-28. Offers everything from a wine tasting and worldclass sandcastle competition to numerous athletic competitions, an open-air art show along the boardwalk, an air show, and the famous Neptune Parade. Virginia Beach, Va. neptunefestival.com CENTERFEST Sept. 27. The festival includes handmade items from across the country, live music, churches, charities, and political organizations, and tons of great food. Downtown Bedford, Va. centertownbedford.com/events/centerfest CRAB-TOBER Sept. 27, 2:00-9:00pm. Enjoy a crabby event to benefit the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, Havre de Grace American Legion. hdgmaritimemuseum.org
CHESAPEAKE HERB GATHERING Sept. 27-28. Enjoy a day of workshops, local vendors, and networking with local medicine makers, teachers, clinical herbalists, healers, botanists, farmers, birthkeepers, plant people, artists, and homesteaders. Melwood Recreation Center, 9035 Ironside Road, Nanjemoy, Md. 301-375-6082, centroashe.org FALL HARVEST AND CRAFT FESTIVAL Sept. 27-28, 11:00am-4:00pm. Apple bobbing, crafts, hay maze, face painting, storytelling, bluegrass music, and crafters featuring handmade items. Steppingstone Farm Museum, 461 Quaker Bottom Road, Havre de Grace, Md. 443-655-7790, steppingstonemuseum.org FIGMENT D.C. Sept. 27-28, 11:00am-5:00pm. Free inclusive, participatory art event that is part of an international grassroots effort and provides a platform for emerging artists. Anacostia Park, Section E, Washington, D.C. figmentproject.org
NOW SHOWING HAGLEY CAR SHOW Sept. 14, 10:00am-4:00pm. Browse more than 500 antique and restored cars, trucks, and motorcycles. This year’s special feature is family cars. Hagley Museum and Library, 200 Hagley Creek Road, Wilmington, Del. 302-658-2400, hagley.org ANTIQUE FIRE ENGINE SHOW Sept. 14, 10:00am-2:00pm. Fire engine rides, Dalmatians, and antique fire engine demonstrations, plus other antique vehicles on display. Run through cascading streams of water as the museum honors area military personnel and first responders. Fire Museum of Maryland, 1301 York Road, Timonium, Md. firemuseummd.org NAS OCEANA AIR SHOW Sept. 20-21. Named the “Blue Angel Air Show of the Year” for 2012, this is a signature annual event. Virginia Beach, Va. oceanaairshow.com FALL ANTIQUES SHOW Sept. 27, 7:00am-4:00pm. This antique event is billed as a buyers’ and sellers’ paradise, with high-quality antiques and collectibles. More than 150 dealers along Lincoln Square and the streets of downtown Gettysburg, Pa. gettysburgretailmerchants.com
THE COLOR RUN RICHMOND Sept. 13, 8:30am-5:00pm. An event to promote healthiness and happiness by bringing the community together to participate in the “Happiest 5K on the Planet.” 600 East Laburnum Ave., Richmond, Va. 804-228-7500, thecolorrun.com/richmond CANNONBALL 5K RUN Sept. 14. The race benefits the Lewes Historical Society’s preservation and educational programming. Lewes, Del. historiclewes.org MUDTOBERFEST Sept. 27, 9:00am. Choose from a 5K or 3K trail with hills, obstacles, and mud. Participants get a race T-shirt, patch, chip timing, and free parking. Bear Mountain Zip Lines, Luray, Va. raceluraypage.com MARIAN HOUSE RACE AND FAMILY FUN RUN Sept. 27, 7:30am registration, 9:00am race. In addition to the 5K race and one-mile run, participants and their supporters will be able to enjoy the race village that will feature food, entertainment, and activities for the entire family. Lake Montebello, Baltimore, Md. 410-467-4246, marianhouse.org/5k BALTIMORE ANNAPOLIS SAILING CLUB Year-round. Offers day-sailing events and seminars in Baltimore and Annapolis, Md., and Washington, D.C., and sailing excursions on the Chesapeake Bay. Membership free. 410-394-9483, mdsailing.com QUANTICO ORIENTEERING CLUB Hosts map and compass activities most weekends in the greater Washington, D.C., area. Suitable for all ages and skill levels; free beginner instruction. qocweb.org POTOMAC APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLUB Leads weekly hikes and work trips in greater Washington, D.C., area. Contact PATC for more information. 703-242-0965, patc.net APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB Leads hiking, bicycling, canoeing, and conservation events in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. amc-dc.org SENIORS EXERCISE FOR A BETTER LIFE Exercise for free on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30-11:15am. Cora B. Wood Senior Center, 3601 Taylor St., Brentwood, Md. 301-699-1238, pgparks.com WASHINGTON AREA ROADSKATERS Year-round; check website for dates and times. Skaters leave from White House, Washington, D.C. meetup.com/ washington-area-roadskaters
FREESTATE HAPPY WANDERERS Various walking trails and locations in Maryland. 410-437-2164, ava.org/clubs/freestate WANDERBIRDS HIKING CLUB Sundays. Various hikes and locations in Virginia. 703-242-0315, wanderbirds.org SWIMMING AND WATER EXERCISE PROGRAMS Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00-8:00am. Glenarden/Theresa Banks Complex Pool, 8615-A McLain Ave., Glenarden, Md. 301772-5515
MUSIC Orchestra/Band/Classical/Choral FAIRFAX SYMPHONY Sept. 21, 8:00pm. The season opens with a performance by clarinetist Ricardo Morales performing Copland’s Clarinet Concerto. The symphony also performs Copland’s Music for the Theatre and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. George Mason University Center for the Arts, Fairfax, Va. fairfaxsymphony.org
Jazz/Blues/Country CHESTERTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL Sept. 6. Featuring the Todd Marcus Orchestra, Bratcher Project, Lena Seikaly, and the 100 Voice Choir of Kent County. Wilmer Park, Chestertown, Md. 443-480-8944, garfieldcenter.org/event/chestertown-jazz-festival YVONNE JOHNSON Sept. 21, 4:00pm. Meade Memorial Episcopal Church, 322 N. Alford St., Alexandria, Va. 703-549-1334, meadechurch.org NOTHIN’ FANCY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Sept. 25-27. Bluegrass performances from artists such as Nothin’ Fancy and many others. Camping available in the park. 27 Glen Maury Park, 101 Maury River Drive, Buena Vista, Va. 540-2617321, glenmaurypark.com
Popular/Other
BROADWAY’S NEXT HIT MUSICAL Sept. 20, 8:00-10:00pm. The evening begins with cast members dreaming up original show songs based on the silly titles provided by the audience. This wacky new twist on musical theater employs a loveable troupe of quick-witted improvisers who miraculously make up a whole new musical right on stage. Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Va. 888-945-2468, hyltoncenter.org LULU AND THE BRONTOSAURUS Sept. 25-Oct. 27. For ages 4 to 9 from the book by local author Judith Viorst. Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, Md. imaginationstage.org
Films D.C. SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL Sept. 11-21. The lineup features a variety of genres: dramas, comedies, animation, sci-fi, documentaries, and creative experimental films. Held at four different venues in the Washington, D.C., metro area. dcshorts.com
Dance DANCE PROGRAMS Weekends, 7:30-11:30pm. Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, Md. fridaynightdance.org THE WASHINGTON BALLET Call for performances and times. 3515 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 202-362-3606, washingtonballet.org
Exhibits Featured Exhibitions A REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT Through October. More than 30 vivid paintings, drawings, prints, watercolors, and sculptures present an overview of the revolutionary art movement that flourished in Germany. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, Md. 443-573-1700, artbma.org
STAR-SPANGLED SPECTACULAR Sept. 13, 8:00pm. John Lithgow hosts this salute to The StarSpangled Banner featuring performances from music stars Kristin Chenoweth, Little Big Town, Pentatonix, and more. 410244-1131, piersixpavilion.com
VIDEO ART EXHIBITION Through Oct. 12. The first museum exhibition to focus on women’s impact on the field of video art. National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. nmwa.org
HIP HOP MUSIC FESTIVAL Sept. 28-29. Check website for bands in the line up. Festival grounds at RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C. rockthebells.net
RYAN MCGINNESS: STUDIO VISIT Through Oct. 19. The exhibit will explore this contemporary artist’s creative process for his 2009 painting Art History Is Not Linear. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Blvd., Richmond, Va. 804-340-1400, vmfa.museum
Theater DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE Through Sept. 14. An unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance, and sensational dancing. National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 202-628-6161, thenationaldc.com SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE’S KING LEAR Sept. 5-21. Renowned classical actor Joseph Marcell (TV’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Folger Theatre’s As You Like It) plays the title role in this stunning production by Shakespeare’s Globe On Tour. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C. folger.edu CANCUN Sept. 11-Oct. 5. A hilarious comedy about contemporary relationships and marriage by one of Spain’s leading playwrights. In Spanish with English surtitles. GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 202-234-7174, galatheatre.org
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BASEBALL AND BECOMING AN AMERICAN Through Oct. 26. Features more than 130 original objects, including game-worn uniforms, game-used objects, correspondence, newspaper accounts, board games, awards, baseball cards, signed baseballs, Jewish ritual objects, and ballpark giveaways. National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall E, Philadelphia, Pa. 215-923-3811, nmajh.org FRONT ROOM: SETH ADELSBERGER Through Nov. 2. A variety of luminescent and textured paintings from Baltimore-based artist Seth Adelsberger demonstrates his innovative approaches to painting over the past five years. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, Md. 443-573-1700, artbma.org PRINTMAKERS OF WORLD WAR I Through Nov. 9. This exhibition focuses on how artists — many of whom witnessed combat firsthand as official war artists — represent the moods and transformative experiences particular to this global conflict. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N Blvd., Richmond, Va. 804-340-1400, vmfa.museum EXALTED NATURE Through Nov. 16. To spend even a moment with one of Charles Burchfield’s hallucinatory watercolors is to experience the artist’s visceral response to nature. Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art, 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, Pa. brandywine.org ELECTRONIC AESTHETICS Sept. 5-Oct. 5. Works by painter Glen Kessler and sculptor Eric Celarier demonstrate how the microchip has initiated societal change. Fisher Gallery, NOVA Alexandria Campus, 4914 E. Campus Lane, Alexandria, Va. nvcc.edu
PRO SPORTS
OUTSIDE THE WALLS Sept. 7-May. An interactive exhibition where visitors can explore daily life in imperial China. Provides a glimpse into the home of a merchant-class family who lived in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N Blvd., Richmond, Va. 804-340-1400, vmfa.museum BLACK BOX: ANRI SALA AND MICHAEL FRIED Sept. 14-Feb. 22. This exhibition will feature one of Sala’s recent works, selected by the art historian and the artist. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, Md. 443-5731700, artbma.org
Mon., Sept. 1 vs. Twins, 1:35pm Tues., Sept. 2 vs. Reds, 7:05pm Wed., Sept. 3 vs. Reds, 7:05pm Thurs., Sept. 4 vs. Reds, 7:05pm Fri., Sept. 12 vs. Yankees, 7:05pm Sat., Sept. 13 vs. Yankees, 7:05pm Sun., Sept. 14 vs. Yankees, 1:35pm Mon., Sept. 15 vs. Blue Jays, 7:05pm Tues., Sept. 16 vs. Blue Jays, 7:05pm Wed., Sept. 17 vs. Blue Jays, 7:05pm Fri., Sept. 19 vs. Red Sox, 7:05pm Sat., Sept. 20 vs. Red Sox, 7:05pm Sun., Sept. 21 vs. Red Sox, 1:35pm
The Orioles play home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 333 West Camden St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Call 888-848-BIRD or visit baltimore. orioles.mlb.com.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS AT HOME Fri., Sept. 5 vs. Phillies, 7:05pm Sat., Sept. 6 vs. Phillies, 4:05pm Sun., Sept. 7 vs. Phillies, 1:35pm Mon., Sept. 8 vs. Braves, 7:05pm Tues., Sept. 9 vs. Braves, 7:05pm Wed., Sept. 10 vs. Braves, 4:05pm Tue., Sept. 23 vs. Mets, 7:05pm Wed., Sept. 24 vs. Mets, 7:05pm Thurs., Sept. 25 vs. Mets, 7:05pm Fri., Sept. 26 vs. Marlins, 1:05pm & 7:05pm Sat., Sept. 27 vs. Marlins, 4:05pm Sun., Sept. 28 vs. Marlins, 1:35pm
The Nationals play home games at Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol St., SE, Washington, DC 20003. Call 202-397-SEAT (7328) or visit washington. nationals.mlb.com.
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT HOME Sun., Sept. 7 vs. Bengals, 1:00pm Thurs., Sept. 11 vs. Steelers, 8:25pm Sun., Sept. 28 vs. Panthers, 1:00pm
The Ravens play home games at M&T Bank Stadium, 1101 Russell St., Baltimore, Md. Call 800-927-2795 or visit baltimoreravens.com.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS AT HOME Sun., Sept.14 vs. Jaguars, 1:00pm Thurs., Sept. 25 vs. Giants, 8:25pm
THE ART OF JAMES CASTLE Sept. 26-Feb. 1. Features a representative selection of the artist’s immense oeuvre, including drawings, handmade books, texts, and constructions. Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th Street and F Street NW, Washington, D.C. 202-633-1000, americanart.si.edu
DISCOVER THE SUITLAND BOG TOURS Sept. 13, 10:00am-2:00pm. This bog is now a unique wetland within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Suitland, Md. 301-627-7755, pgparks.com
ARTIST OPEN STUDIO TOUR Sept. 27-28, 11:00am-3:00pm. Dedicated artists in Indiana County, Pa., open their studios to the public. An informal atmosphere gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at creating art today. Enjoy beautiful country drives to studios across the county. Various locations, Indiana, Pa. 724-465-2787, indianaartscouncil.org
History PRINCE GEORGE’S GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY Sept. 4, 7:00pm. Presentation on “State Censuses: What Can They Tell Us?” City of New Carrollton Municipal Center, New Carrollton, Md. pgcgs.org
HUNTER’S 1864 VIRGINIA RAID Sept. 10-14. Experience history come alive during cavalry rides and reenactments, Virginia Sesquicentennial HistoryMobile tours, period musical demonstrations, a gala ball, a dinner lecture, and living history demonstrations. Virginia Horse Center, 487 Maury River Road, Lexington, Va. events.lexingtonvirginia.com/events THE BATTLE OF BALTIMORE Sept. 13, 2:00-4:00pm. Learn about the battle, see a live-fire demonstration of a historic weapon, and participate in a race against time to make black powder for the defenses on the front line. Robert E. Lee Park, 1000 Lakeside Drive, Baltimore, Md. 410887-4156, baltimorecountymd.gov FISHER’S HILL BATTLEFIELD TOUR Sept. 22, 4:00pm “On This Day” tour on the battle’s anniversary on the actual battleground. Ramseur’s Hill, Battlefield Road shenandoahatwar.org OLD MARYLAND FARM ACTIVITIES Ongoing. Old Maryland Farm, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, Md. 301-218-6770 or 301-699-2544, pgparks.com MONTPELIER MANSION TOURS Sundays, 1:00pm and 2:00pm. Montpelier Mansion, Route 197 and Muirkirk Road, Laurel, Md. 301-953-1376
Lectures/Workshops/Classes NATIVE PLANTS FOR SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPERS Sept. 5, 7:00-9:00pm. The evening will include dinner and guest speaker Carrie Engel, of Valley View Farms. Engel will discuss the importance of native plants and how they can be used to bring wildlife into yards and gardens. Sherwood House, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road, Baltimore, Md. 410-887-2503, cromwellvalleypark.org BUILD YOUR OWN IRONCLAD Sept. 14, 1:00pm. Conservation staff will use various artifacts to detail an effort to construct an ironclad in 100 days. Mariners’ Museum, Newport News, Va. marinersmuseum.org THE AMISH QUILT CRAZE Sept. 18, 7:00pm. Lecture by Dr. Janneken Smucker. Hagley Museum and Library, 200 Hagley Creek Road, Wilmington, Del. 302-658-2400, hagley.org
DC UNITED AT HOME
DC United plays home games at RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol St., SE, Washington, DC 20003. Call 202-587-5000 or visit dcunited.com.
STAINED-GLASS CLASS Ongoing. Mat About You Gallery, 3774 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, Md. 410-313-8860, mataboutyou.com
Wed., Sept. 24 vs. Tauro FC, 8:00pm Sat., Sept. 27 vs. Philadelphia, 3:00pm
SECOND SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT TALKS Second Sunday of every month, 2:00pm. Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Md. 410-547-9000, thewalters.org TRADITIONAL ART CLASSES Ongoing. Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 S. Center St., Westminster, Md. 410-386-3880, carrollcountyfarmmuseum.org
FIGHTING BULLYING Sept. 25, 6:30pm. Panel discussion on bullying from the schoolyard to the workplace. Chenoweth Activity Center, 1707 Fallston Road, Fallston, Md. harfordcountymd.gov/services
The Redskins play home games at FedEx Field, 1600 FedEx Way, Landover, Md. Call 301-276-6050 or visit washingtonredskins.com
GALLERY TALKS Thursdays, 1:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays, 2:00pm. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, Md. 443573-1700, artbma.org
ON PAPER: ALTERNATE REALITIES Sept. 21-April 12. This exhibition presents 26 prints, never before on view, by a diverse group of artists who playfully exaggerate and reimage the visual language of popular culture — religious stories, myths, and folk tales — to consider larger issues of class, gender, and politics. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, Md. 443-573-1700, artbma.org
THE FOSSIL FIELD EXPERIENCE Sept. 6 and Oct. 4. The program begins at the Cove Point Lighthouse at 9:00am with a trained guide where participants learn how to find and identify fossils. Enjoy time on the beach until 11:30am. At 1:00pm, meet the guide back at the Calvert Marine Museum to discuss your finds. Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons, Md. 410-326-2042, calvertmarinemuseum.com
BALTIMORE ORIOLES AT HOME
ADULT ART COURSES Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, Md. 443-573-1700, artbma.org
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TOURS WALKING THROUGH TIME TOUR Sept. 13. Learn about the life and personalities of the City of Fairfax in this 90-minute guided walking tour through the Old Town Fairfax National Register Historic District. Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, Fairfax, Va. 703-385-8414, historicfairfax.org KALORAMA HOUSE AND EMBASSY TOUR Sept. 14, noon-5:00pm. The tour features several of Kalorama’s most beautiful homes, including the elegant Embassy of Luxembourg, the Embassy of Latvia, the bright and modern Embassy of Slovenia, the Korean Cultural Center, and the President Woodrow Wilson House among others. 2340 S St. NW, Washington, D.C. woodrowwilsonhouse.org/events CAPE MAY, NJ Historic district, moonlight trolley, and Cape May sampler tours. Cape May, N.J. 800-275-4278, capemaymac.org MARITIME HISTORY WALKING TOURS Second and fourth Saturdays, 10:00am. Fells Point Visitor Center, Baltimore, Md. 410-675-6750, preservationsociety.com
O THER SUMMIT POINT RACING Park features three road-racing circuits used for amateur automobile, kart, and motorcycle racing, high-performance driver education, and emergency training for local and federal law enforcement. Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, W.Va. 304-725-8444, summitpoint-raceway.com ST. MARY’S RUMMAGE SALE Sept. 5, 10:00am-2:00pm, and Sept. 6, 9:00am-1:00pm. 1 St. Mary’s Church Road, Abingdon, Md. stmarysharford.org FROZEN TRY-OUTS Sept. 6, 9:30am-11:30pm. Try out for Piney Orchard Ice Arena’s Production, Synchro, or Ensemble figure skating teams. Piney Orchard Ice Arena, 8781 Piney Orchard Parkway, Odenton, Md. 410-674-7013 WATCH LOG CANOE RACES Sept. 6. During the cruise aboard the Winnie Estelle, longtime log-canoer January White will share his experiences racing and growing up with log canoes. Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 213 N Talbot St., St. Michaels, Md. Register by calling 410-745-4941, cbmm.org ROUTE 208 SALE TRAIL Sept. 12-13. Experience 24 miles of yard sales, antiquing, and sidewalk sales along Route 208 in historic Spotsylvania County, Va. 208saletrail.com INTRO TO GEOCACHING Sept. 27, 2:00-4:00pm. Looking for a fun, family-friendly way to exercise both mind and body? Try geocaching , a fast-growing sport that’s akin to a modern-day treasure hunt. Robert E. Lee Park, 1000 Lakeside Drive, Baltimore, Md. 410-887-4156, baltimorecountymd.gov MUSEUM DAY LIVE! Sept. 27. More than 1,500 museums nationwide will open their doors to the public for free; tickets can be downloaded. smithsonianmag.com/museumday/tickets
To Submit an Event for the Recreation News Calendar: Send announcements to: Calendar, Recreation News, 204 Greenwood Road, Linthicum, MD 21090, or email to editor@ recreationnews.com.
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recreationnews.com I september 2014 I recreation news 25
wine doctor I edward finstein
‘Light’ alcoholic beverages Allow waist-watchers to imbibe Over the last month or so, I’ve received several queries about “light” alcoholic beverages from readers, so I thought I’d address the issue. Regardless of whether you prefer wine, beer, or spirits, they all contain calories, so if you’re watching your waistline, your favorite drink can be problematic. Alcohol, in general, contains about seven calories per gram. The more alcohol there is in a drink, the more calories it has. Then, if the drink is sweet or has added mixers containing sugar, the calorie count increases. If you indulge in more than one drink, the calories add up even more. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to dull your “buzz” here. I’m just stating the facts. The other
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Call 540.721.1203 or visit www.SMLWineFestival.com *Rain or Shine *No refunds *No pets * Ticket does not include cost of food
option, of course, is “light” drinks. These are beverages (wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, etc.) that have reduced alcohol, calories, and sometimes carbs. There are many on the market.
Let’s talk wine Today’s average alcohol amount in wine is 13.5 to 14.5 percent. That’s a lot of calories. Two main methods exist for reducing alcohol in wine — the spinning cone and reverse osmosis — but I won’t go into the lengthy details about how these work. There are wine selections out there, though, that naturally have less alcohol and have not been manipulated to make them “light.” Those grown in cooler climates and higher altitudes and certain wine styles and wine regions are known for generally producing lower-alcohol wines. Vinho verde from Portugal has around 10 to 11 percent alcohol, while “trocken” (dry- style) German whites usually have an alcohol content of well below 12 percent. Hunter Valley Semillon from Australia usually has less than 11 percent alcohol, Prosecco from northern Italy has 10 to 12 percent, Muscadet from France’s Loire Valley is usually less than 12 percent, and Beaujolais, also from France, has around 12 percent alcohol content. If you must, go for a “light” wine. Though it’s a relatively new phenomenon, many producers are creating them. “Skinny Grape” is one example. As for the taste of these manipulated wines, I personally have not had any that could stand up to the real thing.
How about beer? Generally, the fuller and richer the brew, the more alcohol it contains and the more calories it has. That having been said, the beer industry has long been creating “light” beer with great success, especially for pilsners and lagers. Several ways exist for making a beer “light,” including higher fermentation temperatures, ways of handling the barley mash, the use of rice and
wheat, the use of specific enzymes, or simply watering the beer down. (I personally find “light” beer generally maintains much more of the flavor of the original than does “light” wine.) There also is non-alcoholic beer on the market, containing less than half a percent of alcohol. The alcohol is usually removed after the brewing process vacuum distillation, reverse osmosis, evaporation, or by the removal of yeast before fermentation is complete. One of my favorites that contains no alcohol is Beck’s.
How about spirits? Although spirits contain more calories because of their higher alcohol content, it’s really the mixers in cocktails that add a lot of additional calories. If you’re looking for “light” versions, products as “Skinny Girl” exist. These preassembled cocktails and spirits, which are naturally sweetened and have lower calorie counts and reduced alcohol content, are very popular today. Of course, if you’re into liqueurs that contain added sugar or cream, then the calories are through the roof. The bottom line is this: You could easily go for any of these “light” beverages, but keep in mind that just because they are light, you still can’t go overboard drinking them or their calorie-reduced concept, not to mention alcohol content, is shot. Whether you go “light” or not, the best approach is to simply limit your consumption, stick to those that aren’t sweet, and, if using a mixer, make it a sugar-free one or utilize soda water or plain water. © Edward Finstein, “The Wine Doctor” 2014. “The Wine Doctor” is Edward Finstein, awardwinning author, TV/radio host, renowned wine journalist, international wine judge, professor of wine, and consultant. Website: winedoctor.ca. Twitter: twitter.com/drwineknow. Blogspot: thewinedoctor. blogspot.com. Doc’s Grapevine: winedoctor.ca/ docs-grapevine.html. Facebook: facebook.com/ EdwardDocFinstein?fref=ts
September 20-21, 2014 Saturday, 10 am-6pm & Sunday, Noon-6 pm
Admission price includes: wine glass, samples of Maryland wines, attendance at the wine-tasting seminar, Museum tours & on stage entertainment.
$30 Adults 21 & Older with valid ID $20 Designated Drivers & Ages 13-20
R MIE E PR NFT al estiv es T65E d :Inclu ission $
Adm
12 and Under are FREE with paying Adult Food & crafts for sale. Free handicapped accessible shuttle service available at Carroll Community College and the Carroll County Office Building. No Pets allowed on Museum grounds
www.carrollcountyfarmmuseum.org www.marylandwinefestival.org
Proud Sponsors: Cooperative marking sponsorship is provided by the Carroll County Times, WZBA 100.7 The Bay, Carroll County Bureau of Economic Development/Office of Tourism & Maryland Office of Tourism, BB&T, WTTR AM 1470, Kitchen Saver, with support from the Maryland Wineries Assoc., Maryland Grape Growers Assoc., the American Wine Society, Carroll County Health Dept., the partnership for a Healthier Carroll County, Mid-Western Regional Traffic Safety Program, Love it at Stella’s Bridal & Fashion, LLC., Diamond Resorts, Wyndham Resorts, MPT, and Comcast.
26 recreation news I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
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adventures in taste I reed hellman
I want candy now… and I’m going to make it all by myself
Make your own candy
Simple Recipe for Candied Fruit Oranges, lemons, strawberries, melons, kiwi, grapefruit, pineapple, dates, pitted cherries, or ginger, cut into 1/4-inch slices Sugar syrup, made up of ½ cup of sugar for every 1-½ cups of water Crystalline sugar Boil enough syrup in a pan to cover the fruit. Add the sliced fruit into the boiling syrup and cook at medium-low heat, turning the slices occasionally, for 40 to 50 minutes or until the fruit becomes translucent but is still intact. With a slotted spoon, transfer the fruit onto a wire rack and let cool and
dry overnight. Roll the sliced fruit in crystalline sugar and store in an airtight container, between sheets of waxed paper, in the refrigerator for up to six months. Reed Hellman is a professional writer living in Alberton, Md. Visit his website at reedhellman wordsmith.com or email questions or comments to rhway2go@yahoo.com. Reed Hellman
Candy molds come in a variety of materials.
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I have a sweet tooth and am fascinated by the possibilities of making my own candies. In a previous column, I wrote about my adventures with chocolate, but my forays into confectionery have gone much farther. I began with mints. Mint, like licorice, is an herb with a long history. Ancient Greeks used mint leaves to mask the smell of dead bodies. Other cultures used the herb in foods and medical remedies. In early 20th-century America, mint was primarily a flavoring for gum, candy, and toothpaste, until 1912 when Clarence Crane invented and marketed a candy called Lifesavers, so named because of its unique circular shape. Making hard candy appears to be a relatively easy process: Boil water, sugar, corn syrup, and any flavorings or colorings until the mix reaches 300 degrees. Pour the heated mix into molds, let it cool, and enjoy. However, that simple process hides a number of potential dilemmas. Heating the mix to well above boiling requires a pot deep enough to completely contain the spitting and sputtering liquid. Attaining the appropriate temperature is critical to making a hard candy hard. The process requires a specialized candy thermometer that can accurately register 300 F. Additionally, the molds must be robust enough to contain the superheated mix, as well as carefully and completely greased, or the candies will not pop out when cooled. My first attempt required a chisel to free the candies from the mold, but they tasted great! My next adventure was candying whole clementines. Candied fruit has been around since the 14th century. I first tasted candied clementines in a farmers market in Calais, France. In one of the
biggest mistakes in my career as a culinary adventurer, I only bought three of the amazing confections. I ate the candied clementines whole. The concentrated “orangeness” and the contrast between the sweet syrup and the acidic bite of the orange peels lit up my taste buds. The interiors were totally saturated with the syrup, but had not lost their integrity. I have since experimented with making my own candied clementines. Again, the process is deceptively simple. Recipes vary, but the general technique is to boil the fruit, steep it in increasingly strong sugar solutions for a number of weeks, and then dry off any remaining syrup. My explorations with candying fruits have driven home this overarching principle of candymaking: You never get it just right the first time. Maybe not even the tenth time. But, at least you can usually eat your mistakes. Although I have boiled, steeped, saturated, and dried baskets of clementines, I have yet to get the consistency just right. However, the concentrated sugar syrup, redolent with orange essence, makes a superb cocktail when mixed with equal parts of bourbon. I call them “Kentucky Clementines.”
1$ 9$
My venerable Oxford English Dictionary — the one that comes with a magnifying glass — defines candy as “crystallized sugar, made by repeated boiling and slow evaporation ... also any confection made of, or encrusted with this ... including toffy, and the like.” Given the plethora of candies available to us today, that OED definition appears a bit limiting. Perhaps a better definition is a confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient, and can include chocolate, chewing gum, and glazed vegetables, fruit, or nuts coated with sugar. Of course, some candies are even sugar-free, and each culture has its own ideas of what constitutes candy. Around the 5th century B.C., the Persians and Greeks ventured into India and encountered sugar cane — “reeds that produce honey without bees.” People in ancient China, the Middle East, Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire had coated fruits and flowers with honey to preserve and create an early form of candy. However, the ancient Indians are credited with boiling sugar cane juice to produce khanda, thought to be the original candy. Whatever the origin — and despite cautions from our dentists and health care workers — candy has become a staple of our modern diet. According to Larry Wilson, of the National Confectioners Association, “The total confectionery market reached $33.6 billion in 2013 — marking the sixth consecutive year of sales growth.”
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music festivals I gwen woolf
Thousands expected at Va.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Locknâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Music Festival Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Allman Brothers Band, and Willie Nelson are among the headliners at the four-day Locknâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Music Festival in Arrington in Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nelson County. Locknâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2014 takes places Sept. 4-7 at Oak Ridge Farm near U.S. 29 just south of Lovingston, about a 150-mile drive from Washington. Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inaugural festival, then known as Interlocken Music Festival, drew some 25,000 people from all 50 states. Forty acts are on tap this year, including Wilco, Furthur, Bob Weir & RatDog, The String Cheese Incident,
and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Festival organizers say this will be Wilcoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Furthurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only festival performances this year. There also will be a one-of-a-kind collaboration between Widespread Panic and Steve Winwood. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What sets Locknâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; apart from other festivals is the fact that many of the artists perform more than once over multiple days,â&#x20AC;? notes a festival press release, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and [it] also features one band and one performance at a time, therefore creating a perfect scenario in which unique and exciting artists pairings are programmed.â&#x20AC;?
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PICK YOUR DESTINATIONS ... SEND THE FORM ... GET FREE INFO! r ACE Adventure Center r Adventures on The Gorge r Alleghany Highlands of VA r Allegheny Nat. Forest of PA r Augusta, VA r Back Home on the Farm r Bay Creek Resort r Beach Getaways r Belle Grove r Boardwalk Plaza Hotel r Buena Vista, VA r Bus Trips r Cabin Rentals r Canaan Valley Resort State Park, WV r Cape May, NJ r Caroline County, MD r Carroll County Farm Museum r Carroll County, MD r Cherry Crest Adventure Farm r Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel r Chesapeake Bay Lighthouse Tours r Chesapeake Beach Hotel & Spa r Chesapeake, VA r Chincoteague, VA r Clarion Hotel Shepherdstown r Clarion Resort Ocean City, MD r Clear Space Theatre r Coastal VA
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28 recreation news I september 2014 I recreationnews.com
Willie Nelson is among the performers scheduled to appear at Locknâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2014 in Nelson County, Va.
Musicians perform on two stages at the festival site, which is situated on the 200-year-old, nearly 5,000acre Oak Ridge Estate. Locknâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; LLC, the management company that produces the festival, recently announced the purchase of a 385-acre adjacent farm that will provide additional camping space for concert attendees and lessen the distance they need to travel to access the stages. The added road frontage also
will help alleviate potential traffic congestion. There will be RV and tent camping on the site, plus lodging possibilities in Nelson County, Wintergreen Resort, and at hotels in the surrounding area, including Charlottesville and Lynchburg. Some hotels are offering package deals. Visitors are encouraged to bring bicycles to get around the festival site or take advantage of the farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
30 miles of bike trails. In addition, there will be disc golf, yoga, artisans, and locally sourced food and beverages, including craft beer and hard cider. A group of nonprofit organizations will be available on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Participation Row.â&#x20AC;? You can even arrange to get married in the farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic chapel. A variety of ticket prices are available through the website, ranging from a single-day ticket to a four-day
pass to a VIP package. The festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conceptual theme of sustainability is summed up with the phrase, â&#x20AC;&#x153;When something ends, another begins.â&#x20AC;?
Corn Mazes
donuts, caramel apples, and kettle corn, as well as homemade pies and fudge.
Mercersburg, Pa. 717-328-3617 stonersdairyfarm.com Get â&#x20AC;&#x153;corn-fusedâ&#x20AC;? in the five-acre themed corn maze. The farm offers Friday Flashlight Nights, Haunted Maze nights on Oct. 24 and 31, and a Harvest Farm Festival on Oct. 4. Corn maze open weekends, Aug. 30Nov. 2.
DELAWARE
continued from page 16 Corn Maze in the Plains 4501 Old Tavern Road The Plains, Va. 540-456-7339, cornmazeintheplains.com Wholesome family fun activities include the five-acre corn maze, giant slides, pumpkin slingshot, obstacle course, farm animals, hayrides, and much more. Open Sept. 27 through Nov. 9, with moonlight mazes every Friday night. Cows-n-Corn 5225 Catlett Road Midland, Va. 540-439-4806, cows-n-corn.com Visit an 1,800-acre farm in Fauquier County, which is home to 300 Holstein cows. In addition to the 10acre corn maze, enjoy hayrides and tours of the dairy farm. The fall farm activities open Sept. 19. Hartland Farm and Orchard 3064 Hartland Lane Markham, Va. 540-533-6901, hartlandfarmandorchard.com Celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz movie as you wind through a corn maze designed with Dorothy and Totoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faces. Fall Festival weekends run Sept. 6 through Oct. 26. Enjoy homemade cider
Temple Hall Farm 15855 Limestone School Road Leesburg, Va. 703-779-9372, templehallfallfest.com Opening Sept. 26 for the season, the 286-acre farm located just outside historic downtown Leesburg offers an enormous 24-acre maze. The 2014 maze theme is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Buy Fresh, Buy Local,â&#x20AC;? and visitors wind through designs of animals, vegetables, and other products. There are plenty of other fall festival activities to enjoy on the farm, including a corn cannon, pumpkin blaster, a cow train, and pig races.
Making Family Memories at
Ride the carousel, take a hayride to the pumpkin patch, conquer the maze, pig races & more! Check out the website for special weekend events.
PENNSYLVANIA Cherry Crest Adventure Farm 150 Cherry Hill Road Ronks, Pa. 717-687-6843, cherrycrestfarm.com The 2014 maze theme is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Music Through the Decades,â&#x20AC;? on five acres of trails that opened July 4. Cherry Crestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s park and education center provides wholesome farm activities for the whole family.
2915 Willow Run Rd. near downtown Harrisonburg, VA
540-442-6493
WHAT: Locknâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Festival WHEN: Sept. 4-7 WHERE: Oak Ridge Farm, Arrington, Va. INFO/TICKETS: locknfestival.com
Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Country Market 36258 Zion Church Road Selbyville, Del. 302-436-3276, johnsonscountrymarket.com In addition to the annual corn maze, Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sells fresh produce, jams, pumpkins, and more. Opening day to be announced.
Find yourself in a corn maze
WWW.BACKHOME-ONTHEFARM.COM
Every kid should meet a cow!
Stonerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dairy Farm 7678 Oellig Road
OVER 50 FARM FUN THINGS TO DO plus the Amazing Maize MazeÂŽ in the heart of PA Dutch Country
Open thru Nov. 8th
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Back Home on the Farm
Corn maze attractions often have many other activities for families.
Festival at a glance
OUR WEBSITE FOR SCHEDULE !
Bring your family out to our real working farm for a rare experience. Jump on a narrated hayride, meet a cow, make & taste butter, hug a chicken, walk through the corn, refresh in the country.
Cows-N-Corn Midland Va 22728 540-439-4806 WWW.COWS-N-CORN.COM
Conveniently located in Northern Virginia
A>3<2 B63 2/G =< B63 4/@; E7B6 B63 E6=:3 4/;7:G Try Our corn maze at night with a flashlight for an extra challenge. 5 Corn Mazes, 2 Pumpkin Cannons, Large Indoor Area Featuring Hay Maze, Hay Fort, Playground, Pedal Cart Track, Picnic Area and Farm Animals
Friday 5-10pm* s Saturday 12-10pm* s Sunday 12-5pm*
*Last ticket sold at this time
www.LawyersFarm.comsTaylor@LawyersFarm.coms240.315.8133
recreationnews.com I september 2014 I recreation news 29
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((( 970/8 986-565+800/,)#8-64 05+
recreationnews.com I september 2014 I recreation news 31
GREAT SERVICE FOR OUR COUNTRY DESERVES GREAT SERVICE IN RETURN. VETERANS & MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS
GET
10%
OFF
V
EARN MILITARY-FOCUSED
10% OF NET PROFITS GO TO
CASH BACK
MILITARY
REWARDS*
COMMUNITIES
Introducing Defense Mobile at RadioShack®. Defense Mobile caters exclusively to all branches of the military community—ARMYmobile, NAVYmobile, MARINESmobile, AIRFORCEmobile and COASTGUARDmobile. Veterans, military service members and their families are provided with the latest smartphones and nationwide 4G LTE service from top wireless carriers. Plus 10% of net profits go to military communities. Sign up at RadioShack, the only store where you can get all of the top smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S® 5 with 10% off. Visit our stores or RadioShack.com/DefenseMobile. VOffer good at participating stores with valid military ID, Homeland Security ID or veteran discharge papers. Offer good at RadioShack.com by submitting a valid .mil or .gov email address to generate a unique promo
code valid for one use only. Excludes Apple®, Beats by Dr. Dre®, Fitbit and Quirky products, airtime, gift/entertainment cards, services, special orders and refurbished items. May not be combined with certain other offers, including employee discount. Cannot be used for commercial sales. Void where prohibited. Excludes financed devices. *When you use your MILICASH MasterCard Prepaid Debit Card at participating retailers.
32 recreation news I september 2014 I recreationnews.com