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| Country Guide > North America > United States of America > Virginia |
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Social Profile Food & Drink The region excels in local seafood, including oysters and blue crabs, and in the traditional cuisine of the cities. Local wines have become increasingly well known. Richmond, both an old Southern capital and a college town, offers cheap student eateries, thoughtfully-prepared regional cuisine and every type of ethnic food. Visitors can pick up their own fresh fruit and vegetables at the Farmers’ Markets. At Williamsburg, the Williamsburg Shopping Center offers a colonial culinary experience, fast-food places and many pancake houses. There are many fast-food restaurants along the boardwalk at Virginia Beach, where outstanding seafood restaurants can also be found. Theatres & Concerts Theatres abound in Virginia and many have historic and outdoor settings. The Richmond State Ballet and Virginia Opera offer a rich and varied programme of events. Traditional mountain music and dance is popular, and the world’s largest fiddlers’ convention is held every August in the small town of Galax. Top-name folk musicians play at the Birchmere in Alexandria. Jazz and rock music are on offer in Charlottesville and Richmond. Nightlife Richmond’s comedy clubs, theatres, rock and jazz venues and pubs offer a diverse nightlife. In Virginia Beach, Peabody’s and Hot Tuna are popular clubs. Shopping Among the top attractions for visitors to Virginia are the quality and the quantity of its shopping, particularly in the discount and outlet categories. A wide range of shops is found in the malls throughout Virginia, notably at The Fashion Center at Pentagon City in Arlington, Tysons Corner Center and the Potomac Mills outlet mall in Woodbridge. Sport The whole eastern coastline of the region is lined with long golden sand beaches – at Virginia Beach alone, these stretch for 45km (28 miles) – with plentiful watersports opportunities. Buggs Island Lake and Smith Mountain Lake are Virginia’s largest boating lakes. Whitewater canoeing is popular on the Shenandoah, Maury and James rivers; rapids as high as Class IV are found along urban Richmond’s stretch of the James River. Virginia is one of the richest saltwater sport fishing areas in the world. More than 25 species of freshwater fish are found in the State’s waters, although a licence is required to fish. Cycling is popular: one of the longest US rails-to-trails bikeways (72km/45 miles) is located in Northern Virginia. For hikers, the Appalachian Trail offers 720km (450 miles) of winding pathways through Virginia. Bryce Mountain, The Homestead, Massanutten and Wintergreen are the four downhill ski areas in Virginia. The Massanutten Resort now offers year-round attractions, with swimming, fishing, horseriding and golf offered in the warmer months. These resorts offer accommodation ranging from the rustic to the luxurious with skiing to cater for all levels. Grass skiing is available at Bryce Resort. Special Events The following is a selection of special events occurring in Virginia in 2005: Feb 5 Annual Cherry Jubilee, Dumfries. Feb 20 Revolutionary War Encampment and Skirmish, Alexandria. Feb 21 George Washington Birthday Parade. Mar 5 Mardi Gras Celebration, Wintergreen; St Patrick’s Celebration and Parade, Alexandria. Mar 9-12 Williamsburg Film Festival. Mar 12 Manassas St Patrick's Day Parade. Mar 19 March Muster, Fredericksburg; St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival, Roanoke. Mar 19-20 Whitetop Mountain Maple Festival. Mar 27 Easter on Parade, Richmond. Apr 1 Black Maria Film and Video Festival, Richmond. Apr 2 Daffodil Festival, Gloucester; Heart of Virginia April Fools Festival. Apr 15-17 Honaker Rdebud Festival. Apr 16-17 Virginia Fly Fishing Festival, Waynesboro. Apr 23 Celtic Celebration, Big Island. Apr 23-24 Graves Mountain Spring Fling Festival, Syria; Victorian Festival, Staunton; Virginia Hot Glass Festival, Staunton. Apr 26-May 1 Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, Winchester. Apr 30 Coal Heritage Festival, Pocahontas. May 4-8 Birds and Blossom Festival, Norfolk. May 6 Fiesta del Pueblo, Culpeper. May 7 Culpeper Days; Mayfest XVIII, Fredericksburg. Aug 19-20 Fries Fiddlers Convention. Aug 26-Sep 3 Shenondoah Country Fair, Woodstock. Sep 2-5 Labor Day Spectacular, Woodstock. Sep 3 Taste of the Mountains Main Street Festival 2005, Madison. Sep 5 Labor Day Festival and Coal Miners Reunion, Pocahontas. Sep 9-10 Apple butter Festival in Shenandoah National Park, Luray; Neptune Wine Festival, Virginia Beach. Sep 9-11 Hampton Bay Days. Sep 10 Dock Boggs Memorial Festival, Wise. Sep 12-17 Washington County Fair and Burley Festival, Abingdon. Sep 24 Harvest Jubilee and Wine Festival, Altavista. Sep 25 Appalachian Folk Festival, Roanoke. Nov 1-Jan 1 2006 100 Miles of Lights (light shows and holiday events), Hampton, Newport News, Richmond, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg. Nov 11-13 Mistletoe Market, Abingdon. |