VA Trip Stats (7/07):
Counties visited:
31
Last
visited:
7/2007
Best county:
Albermarle
Town visited most:
Arlington
Places slept in:
Arlington (Rosslyn) 2x, Staunton, Charlottesville
Most impressive town:
Alexandria
Least impressive town:
Hampton
Biggest town:
Arlington
Most scenic area:
The hills along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Most scenic spot:
Cumberland Gap overlook.
Three Words:
historic, classic, America
Best Food: the
place Katy took me for some seafood on the Potomac
Road Trips: Appalachia
Trip (2005), Patriotic New Year (2006-07), Jefferson (2007)
Neighboring States:
DC, NC,
WV, TN,
MD, KY
Areas throughly
explored: Suburban Washington, DC
Future Plans: I
hope to visit the Shenendoah NP. It was closed due to mudslides last
time I visited.
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First Contact:
I first stepped foot in Virginia when my plane from O'Hare landed at Reagan International
Airport in Arlington. I remember seeing the Mall from the cab as I sped
along to my destination in Alexandria. I was there to represent NEIU at the inauguration
of President George W. Bush and particpate in a Washington Center seminar. I stayed
one week, but made the most of every day. (For the record, this state did shut
down when there was a dusting of snow one night. A good sign.) |
Arlington Co. (1/2001)
Arlington.
Each of the two times I have stayed near Washington, I slept
here in the busy neighborhood of Rosslyn across the Potomac from
Georgetown in DC. The rest of the city is dominated by the
national cemetery and a diverse community of suburbanites. It is
the home of Washington's skyline since it seems tall buildings
are banned near the Capitol. Second-tier corporations seem to
occupy the area near Rosslyn which has far less character than
the neighborhoods to the west. The over-planned monstrosity that
is the Crystal City neighborhood was cursed by me to hell. The
Washington Parkway, operated by the NPS, is a fine way to see
the city. (Arlington is the only town in America where I have witnessed Sacagewa
dollar coins being used as real currency!) Arlington National
Cemetery. Has very strict rules and outrageous parking fees,
nevertheless it is a beautiful place and it makes me happy to
know that the Lee family plantation is now a place of
remembrance for the Union dead.
Fairfax Co. (1/2001)
Thanks to cousin Katy for showing me her
home county in 2000. Alexandria. The city where
I saw fireworks ring in the new year in 2007 at the imposing
Masonic Temple. Alexandria is a well-to-do suburb that reminds
me of Chicago's North Shore. The
city includes some very old colonial buildings and was quite pleasant despite the wet
winter weather both times I have visited it. Mt. Vernon. George Washington's home and birthplace is the
most beautiful spot I saw during my first trip to Virginia. It seems the man really did know his real
estate as the history books say he did. My favorite part of the house was his personal
office with all the books on the wall and inventions laying around. He is buried on his
old farm, which is far better than the similar site at Jackson's Hermitage plantation near
Nashville.
Lee Co. (3/2005)
Cumberland Gap NHP. Crossed
the state line on US-58 into the county before entering the park commemorating the passage
of Daniel Boone and friends across the Appalachians, adding fuel to the fire of the
American Revolution. A 4,500 foot-long tunnel was built in the 1990's to preserve the
natural historic views at the gap. |
I am looking over the
Cumberland Gap where Daniel Boone crossed the Appalachians into history.
(3/05)
A cannon guards the battlefield at Yorktown where America
won its independence. (1/07)
The Blue Ridge Parkway winds around the mountains
that Jefferson called home just west of Charlottesville.
(1/07)
The James River flows past rebuilt pallisades at
Jamestown NHP, the site of the first English colony in
America. (1/07)
Stepping into Jefferson's headquarters at
Monticello is like stepping into his brain. (7/07)
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