Tales from the Corners

In the summer of 1978, my family made a classic 1970s trek to Washington, D.C. Even though the sights and sounds of D.C. left an impression on me, it was the trip through Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley that introduced me to the region’s natural beauty. Dressed in our blue “Virginia Is For Lovers” T-shirts (which I kept for several years after), we rolled down the windows of our spacious Oldsmobile to take in the scenery. My sister Aimee Nebel-Gould, who now lives in Akron, Ohio, has fond memories of our family’s trip, which took place just before she headed off to college. “I recall the mountains being absolutely beautiful and peaceful,” she said. “The landscape in that area is spectacular, in that there is this blue haze from a distance over the mountains.” Almost three decades later, the Shenandoah Valley is still a pristine slice of Virginia that welcomes all visitors. A great starting point The best place to start a tour of the region is at the new Museum of the Shenandoah...

Richmond, Virginia and its surrounding areas are steeped in so much history, it is often hard to experience all that it has to offer in one trip. "Richmond has a fabulous history and is filled with outstanding museums and historical attractions," said Richard Lewis, national public relations manager for the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Still don't know much about history? Don't worry. History buffs and novices alike can always find something new to learn about this area. The roots of Richmond The Richmond region's history dates back to 1607 after the first permanent English settlement was established at nearby Jamestown. At Henricus Historical Park in nearby Chester, Va., you can experience what it was like for settlers like Sir Thomas Dale. Here, visitors can enjoy interactive displays that bring the story of Dale to life. Dale, who settled Henricus in 1611, established the second successful English city in the New World. Henricus was originally inhabit...

The 30th anniversary of my family's Virginia trip is mentioned in my latest feature on Men's Traveler Also, more material is available on my Tales from the Corners blog. Don't worry big brother, local issues are discussed :-)

About 30 years ago my family made a classic 1970s trek to Washington, D.C. Even though the sights and sounds of D.C. left an impression on me, it was the trip through Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley that introduced me to the region’s natural beauty. Dressed in our blue “Virginia Is For Lovers” T-shirts (which I kept for several years after), we rolled down the windows of our spacious Oldsmobile to take in the scenery. Click here for the full story.