"Coming Home" Virginia by starship

Virginia Travel Guide: 7,490 reviews and 17,753 photos

"Carry Me Back to Ole Virginny"

When you are born and raised in a particular place, it's very easy to make the mistake of thinking you know everything about it. As a child, I remember my Father being a person who, for his whole life, desired to see new and interesting places, but had only a limited opportunity to do so. He all but ignored Virginia itself and the spectacular natural beauty and incredible history that was in our own Virginia "backyard." To some extent, I have followed in his footsteps -- seeing other American states, and other countries before truly exploring my home state.

A good deal of this page will focus on information from the sights seen during a 3-day road trip to Williamsburg, Charlottesville, and Harrisonburg in August, 2009. As I become reacquainted with my home state of Virginia I will share my travels, and some of its history (and love of the state) with you!

Update: included in this page is an entry for our latest trip to Virginia in September, 2012, which included an impromptu stop in the small town of %uSaluda in Middlesex County, Virginia. Will be adding more information about this. Information on my visit to Norfolk, Virginia in February, 2011, has been added as a separate page.

The College Road Trip

The Powder Magazine in Colonial Williamsburg

The term "Road Trip" might conjure up the idea of setting out on the American "open" road with an Airstream trailer for some. Personally, it makes me think of overloading a car with kids, luggage, bikes, camping & fishing gear, which are ALL tied to the roof if necessary, and driving for hours to a special destination. During such a drive, parents would constant hear a chorus of, "Are we there yet?"

Sadly, when I was growing up I remember only 2 major road trips -- one to Canada when I was about 6 or 7 to see relatives, and another with a friend's family to go camping in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

Our "road trip" in August, 2009, was taken with the particular purpose of introducing our daughter to 3 Virginia colleges which she was interested in submitting applications to---we encountered lots of other families doing the same as we visited these 3 colleges! This trip became a reintroduction to Virginia for me. The major fact that the 3 colleges our daughter was interested in are located in historically significant areas of Virginia was an exciting bonus of this trip as ours is a family of history lovers! Two of the 3 colleges are historical destinations in themselves. I was always interested in Williamsburg and had wanted to attend the College of William & Mary at one time myself. So this trip brought me full circle as now it was my daughter who was interested in seeing the College of William & Mary!

Virginia is for History Lovers

James Madison University~Early 20th Century Bldgs.

Needless to say, I was looking forward to the road trip although it was planned as somewhat of a whirlwind because of time and budget constraints. Yet I was determined to see some other interesting pockets of history during this time.

The State of Virginia played an important role in many aspects of American history from the American Revolution to the Civil War and beyond. Travel in any direction and you're bound to come upon a marker on the roadside explaining the historical significance of a particular site. That was very true in my hometown as well, but I never appreciated it as a child. I was more interested in horsebackriding and the beaches in our Chesapeake Bay-side town at that time rather than learning about its history and the various historic roles it played.

Since this particular visit to Virginia, I conducted some research on my own home town of Hampton, and found some remarkable information about its own history and the role it played, particularly during the Civil War. However, the town's history goes back so much further than that.

Pros and Cons

Pros:The Chesapeake Bay, beaches, mountains & history lovers' paradise!
Cons:Getting to be somewhat over populated!!
In a nutshell:Natural beauty is the backdrop for bountiful history!

Last visit to Virginia: Oct 2012
Intro Updated Jan 9, 2013
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Reviews (16)

Middlesex County - Finding Historic... Things to Do (11)

When we set out to find Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell Puller's grave in Saluda, we had no idea that the hunt would take us to... more travel advice

Grave of Lt. Gen Lewis Burwell Puller aka "Chesty" - Virginia

Middlesex County ~ History in Little... Things to Do (11)

I was lucky to be born and raised in a state chock full of historical places, both large and small. I came across a... more travel advice

Charlottesville ~ Present Day Thomas... Things to Do (11)

In the previous tip on the University of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson's Academical Village, I mentioned the historical... more travel advice

Don't Miss Historic Tavern in... Restaurants (2)

Though Mitchie Tavern is also listed in my "Things to Do" tips, I couldn't miss adding Mitchie Tavern's Ordinary to the... more travel advice

Hotels (3)
See All Good Location ~ Great Value

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Comments (11)

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Yaqui Jan 27, 2013 at 1:32 PM

Lots neat sights to see and enjoy! Nice page!
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  starship Jan 27, 2013 at 3:21 PM
  
  Thanks, Dee. My Virginia page continues to be a work in progress but someday I hope to have lots more time to work on it.
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  Yaqui Feb 2, 2013 at 7:40 AM
  
  I perfectly understand. My time is spent between work and work....lol!
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balhannah Jan 8, 2013 at 11:37 PM

Interesting reading your page about your home county. It sounds like you grew up in a very nice area.
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  starship Jan 9, 2013 at 5:50 AM
  
  Hi Dee, thanks so much for stopping by my Virginia page! It was nice to grow up in a small town, but it has gotten so much larger now. Still Virginia has loads of appeal and I still have relatives there.
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  balhannah Jan 9, 2013 at 5:42 PM
  
  Small towns are great!
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Yaqui Mar 2, 2012 at 1:27 PM

There is so many wonderful things to see and do in the beautiful state of Virginia! Nice page!
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toonsarah Feb 29, 2012 at 12:36 PM

I loved Colonial Williamsburg but we never made it to Charlottesville, which sounds lovely too - and that tavern meal looks delicious!
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DAO Sep 23, 2011 at 6:46 AM

Hi, did you see the video on my Algeria page? That's my new friend Ahmed. He took me jetskiing for 2 hours. Great guy.
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easterntrekker Nov 21, 2010 at 10:09 AM

Great pages..I love the architecture in Virgina!!Happy thanksgiving!
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HORSCHECK Nov 14, 2010 at 8:45 AM

Sylvia, lovely page with brilliant photos here. A pity that your accomodation was not as good as expected.
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DennyP Aug 28, 2010 at 7:50 PM

had to revisit this page Syvia...so much about this great part of the country...love it..great tips and pics..
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BruceDunning Apr 7, 2010 at 2:29 PM

You presented a very nice place of Williamsburg. I got here a couple of times many years ago, and was always impressed, as you also was based on the descriptions. Great job
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Bwana_Brown Nov 21, 2009 at 9:22 AM

OK Sylvia, I will check later to see how you are making out with this page!