Vintage Virginia: the Old Dominion practically wrote the book on American history, and it's a place of rare beauty as well - State Of The Month

From mountain hollows to mighty harbors, Virginia captivates visitors who come with a hankering for history, a thirst for outdoor adventure, and a burning yearning to explore one of eastern America's tourist hotspots. Whether you'd rather escape to Revolutionary times at Colonial Williamsburg or commune with nature high atop a Blue Ridge crest, you'll find a staggering array of historical and scenic attractions between the Atlantic seaboard and Appalachian highlands.

The Old Dominion, as the venerable state is nicknamed, is where hardy settlers in 1607 established the New World's first permanent English settlement at Jamestown. Also known as the "Mother of Presidents," Virginia was the birthplace of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe--four of our first five chief executives. In addition to its rich colonial heritage, the state abounds with Civil War shrines as more than 60 percent of the war's bloody battles were fought on Virginia soil.

The state's beach resorts, marinas, and wilderness tracks provide a host of recreational opportunities. Virginia has some of the South's best skiing, and you can even go llama trekking.

Located north of the Carolinas and south of Maryland, Virginia claims part of the Washington, D.C., metro area. To the west, it borders Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. For tourism purposes, the state is divided into eight regions: Northern Virginia, Tidewater & Hampton Roads, Eastern Shore, Chesapeake Bay, Central Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, Blue Ridge Highlands, and Heart of Appalachia. Following is a region-by-region look at the state's pleasures and treasures:

NORTHERN VIRGINIA. If you're visiting the Nation's Capital, your first foray into Virginia might be to Arlington National Cemetery, just across the Potomac River from Washington. You can spend hours walking the cemetery's shady paths, searching out gravesites, from Gen. Omar Bradley and boxer Joe Louis to Challenger space shuttle astronauts and marines killed in the 1983 Beirut Massacre. Tourmobile buses make stops at the John F. Kennedy Gravesite, Tomb of the Unknowns, and Arlington House, the columned mansion of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Also just across the Potomac (and accessible by subway) is Alexandria, George Washington's hometown. The well-preserved Old Town section is a haven of 18th and 19th century architecture, red-brick sidewalks, and cobbled streets. Stop by Gadsby's Tavern to hear the balladeer and perhaps try "George Washington's Favorite Duck" with fruit dressing and Madeira sauce. Up the river is the first president's Mount Vernon Estate.

Horseback riding is a way of life in Northern Virginia's Hunt Country, a land of quiet hamlets and rolling pastures bordered by plank fences and fieldstone walls. Huge estates with million-dollar stables reflect the genteel character of Loudoun and neighboring counties, where the traditional English sport of fox hunting is alive and well. Tourist diversions range from historic homes and antique shops to equestrian events and winery tours. The manners and trappings of the "horsey set" dominate Middleburg, the prim "capital" of Hunt Country, a tidy village with art galleries, tack shops, and charming country inns.

A side trip south of Washington takes you to Fredericksburg, a great little walking town chockfull of history. Sights include the Mary Washington House, a white cottage where the president's mother spent the last 17 years of her life; the James Monroe Law Office; and George Washington's Ferry Farm, his boyhood home. Tea and gingerbread are served at Kenmore, the plantation home of Washington's only sister, Betty. Some of the most intense fighting in the four-year-long Civil War took place in the battlefields encompassed by Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

TIDEWATER & HAMPTON ROADS. For many visitors, Colonial Williamsburg is Virginia. Widely regarded as the world's foremost living history museum, this restoration project portrays 18th century Williamsburg, which served for more than 70 years as the capital of England's largest and richest New World colony.

Besides restored and reconstructed buildings, the 220-acre village enlightens guests with craft demonstrations by makers of shoes and soap, harnesses and horseshoes. Fife and drum performances, plus musical and drama programs, also take 21st century guests back to the days of powdered wigs and three-corner hats. Specialized tours spotlight the life of women and African-Americans 200 years ago. It's easy to spend an entire day--two would be better--touring the exhibits, wandering the gardens, and sampling colonial-style fare at cozy taverns, the type frequented by folks like Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry.

A family vacation in Tidewater Virginia would not be complete without a dash to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, a Europe-themed amusement park with live shows and concerts, ethnic foods, import shops, and white-knuckle rollercoasters like the Loch Ness Monster and Alpengeist.