United States of America
Passionate travel and tourism storyteller. Well versed marketer cognizant of social media strategies and tactics. Proficient user of Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver, as well as Ektron and WordPress. Always on the lookout for the next big thing.
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Previously of Virginia Tourism Corporation.
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These clips are representative of my work. This is not a comprehensive collection.
History & Film
What's in a name? Plenty. We hope to see you soon when you visit all of the Shenandoah the Shenandoah Valley has to offer.
The Christmases of years past were simpler. Muted decorations, live evergreens, genuine hospitality, and serious reflection were hallmarks. One of the key destinations to witness these ideas put into practice is Colonial Williamsburg. People from near and far note every detail - from the wreaths to the tavern menus - for replication at home.
Virginia's history is America's history. When you visit these sites, take your time to enjoy significant outbuildings, flora and fauna, and points of interest you'll otherwise miss. Take a moment to imagine what life was like at each of these places. Doing so will give you a new appreciation for your own place in history.
While we eagerly await the Academy Awards this Sunday to see how Virginia-filmed Best Picture nominee Captain Phillips fares, let's take a look back at other films shot wholly or in part in Virginia that were honored with an Oscar. Argo was filmed in McLean and Fairfax County, Virginia in 2011.
Culinary & City Travel
What's the history of Virginia eggnog? According to the Virginia Egg Council (yes, there is such a thing), it's believed the English colonists transformed a drink call posset into the drink we know today by adding rum and bourbon. Learn more and see a recipe, if you want.
Before Thanksgiving a friend asked me about great jazz clubs for her out-of-town guests. I completely dropped the ball and didn't follow up with her (I'm sorry, Tracey!), but to make it up (if that's possible), here's a list that all can enjoy and use as a reference.
It's a beautiful, colorful season. Get out and enjoy it as a family, a couple, or alone. Don't miss the wave of color as it sweeps across Virginia. In fact, enjoy it somewhere comfortable. Somewhere that has plenty of fun AND romance. Enjoy it at a Virginia resort.
There's a story in every meal. "Which farmer planted, tended, and harvested these beans?" "Is this local, pastured chicken?" "I wonder if this cornbread was made with locally grown and ground corn." "Where was this Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab caught?"
We love funky finds, especially if there's good food to be had. Check out these old filling stations with new purpose: serving great food and drink in a fun, quirky, cute atmosphere. The Art of Coffee in Montross is a coffeehouse and art gallery neatly tucked into an old three-bay service station on Kings Highway.
Outdoor Recreation
The National Park Service will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2016. In honor, the NPS will increase their typical nine fee-free* days to 16. January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day April 16-24: National Park Week August 25-28: National Park Service Birthday September 24: National Public Lands Day November 11: Veterans Day There are 409 NPS sites nationwide but only 127 charge an entrance fee.
Fall is one of Virginia's most romantic seasons. Crisp air makes you reach for the warmth of another, while explosions of red, gold, and orange foliage set the stage for a memorable time away together. Make the most of it by staying somewhere that's warm, comfortable, and showcases the best of the season, both in flavor and in views.
Delicate habitats are to be treasured, not trampled on, and only 21 Virginia Natural Area Preserves offer public access. Tread lightly, leave nothing, and take only photos as memories. This, the first of a four-part series, suggests ways to experience all four publicly accessible Eastern Shore Natural Area Preserves in one trip.
Certain stretches of river are incredibly beautiful and some are even protected ecosystems. Since 1970, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has celebrated these waterways through the Virginia Scenic Rivers Program . The process to recognize sections of river as "scenic" begins as a grassroots effort, but there's no doubt that residents and visitors alike treasure the recreation and scenery these streams provide.
United States Route 58 is a scenic stretch of road coursing east to west across southern Virginia. One can reach Virginia Beach from Cumberland Gap on the KY/TN/VA border in 10 hours. Not the fastest route for eager beach-bounders, to be sure, but worthy of a being the trip when you stretch it over a couple of days and take in these sites along the way.
Family
I'm not a psychologist but I am in the middle of my own chaotic storm. It's the storm called life as a working mama of three. What works for your happiness may be slightly different than mine, but I'm willing to share and you can try my five steps if you want to.
Discover the perfect vacation spot: Come Visit Virginia! Sparkling waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean gently lap against miles of sandy beaches. The blue-hued morning mist hugs the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains.
We strive and push and pull, jockeying for position, attention, salary, and notoriety. It's tiresome. We're left exhausted and with blurred vision. Does the person who dies with the most money, highest rank, prestige, etc. win? "Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future.