Colonial Parkway in Autumn

Fall is right around the corner and it's time to take in some of Virginia's more gorgeous landscapes. Looking for that perfect scenic drive? One of our most treasured drives would have to be The Colonial Parkway. It stretches 23 miles connecting the historic sites (also known as the historic triangle) of Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and the Yorktown Battlefield. As you travel on The Colonial Parkway under the canopy of leaves you can nearly feel the 400 years of American colonial history come to life, as there has been no commercial development to steal your eyes from the natural beauty around you.



The relaxing memorial roadway boasts a colonial experience with a speed limit of only 45 miles per hour. This allows motorists and bilkers alike the opportunity to enjoy the surrounding landscape without the hustle and bustle of more commercial areas. In the fall the leaves provide a myriad of colors, while also offering a diverse environment. The parkway has many open vistas with easy access to hop out of your car and enjoy views of the James and York rivers.

We here at The Vacation Channel who grew up in the Hampton Roads area have rich memories of The Colonial Parkway from childhood to adulthood. As children it was a magical and relaxing trip under the leaves of the pine and evergreen trees whether travelled by car, or by bike. As adults it was always a wonderful place to bring a date, or to go and have an afternoon picnic. Some things will never change. So, if you're looking for a special way to tie up the afternoon, or evening, after a long day of taking in the rich sights and history of the area there is nothing more rewarding, or appealing than The Colonial Parkway.

Help Out the Virginia Living Museum!

As you may or may not have heard, this weekend's crazy weather has caused some damage at one of our favorite spots. Even though flood doors were secured,The Virginia Living Museum sustained damage from some substantial flooding. During the storms, water overtook the entire lower level of the main museum building and the Wason Education Center. This is the second time this summer the museum has flooded.

Despite all of that, there is plenty of good news. First, none of the museum animals were hurt. Second, clean up started immediately and is progressing nicely. There was a great effort Monday at noon as well with a lovely group of volunteers that showed up to pitch in. And, finally, the last piece of good news - their are still ways to help. Go to  http://www.thevlm.org/Flood-donations.aspx  and donate to help them raise the money to cover the $50,000 insurance deductible.

The upper levels of the VLM will be open Tuesday at 9 AM, so you can also head down there and show your support simply with the price of admission. See you there and thank you for supporting one of our local treasure!

Enter to Win!

We have a great contest running right now! If you haven't signed up, you are missing a great chance for one of three gift certificates from Quirks of Art in Williamsburg. Here's the deal...

In March, we implement a social media presence for the Vacation Channel. With about a hundred fans on Facebook, we started working on reaching our great fan base in a number of new ways. We have since created a Google+ and Pinterest presence, this blog, and vamped up our Facebook and Twitter presence.

Now, as the summer winds down, we have more than a 400% increase in fans on Facebook and are nearing the 500 mark. Overall, we are pretty excited with the progress and we want to celebrate.

So in honor of our nearing the 500 fan mark, we are giving a great opportunity. Go to our Facebook page, like it and share our photo. Spread the word and as soon as we get to 500, we will select three people who liked and shared and give out Quirks of Art photos. So go to our page and win!

New Town Dining

In our weekend adventures through New Town in Williamsburg, one of the things that we loved about the area was that there was no lack of good food. So many options! Although we couldn't hit all the amazing restaurants in New Town, we managed a culinary experience at quite a few spots...

If you are looking for an easy, familiar and low-priced meal, there is a Panera Bread at the end of the main street. Want something high class? Opus 9 came highly recommended by several people we encountered along the way. Ichiban, right next to the theatre has an amazing atmosphere, great food, and all you can eat sushi during lunch. Z Pizza is right across the way, if that is what you are craving.

Cogan's Sports Pub came highly recommended as well. We opted for a stop at Buffalo Wild Wings so we could catch up on the Olympics while we were there... Later on, we discovered the Green Leafe - a friendly, local watering hole. Great service, great drinks.

Our favorite part of the culinary experience were the dessert portions! The fro-yo at Sweet Frog was incredible. The do-it-yourself set up was fun and the flavors and toppings were delicious. One of there newer shops was Williamsburg Cupcake. Best cupcake ever.


And that, friends, isn't even all of the places there. That means that there is a trip back to New Town Williamsburg in our future to finish exploring... Until then, check it out for yourself and let us know what we missed!

New Town: Shopping Edition

So now we move on to the important stuff: shopping. It's an essential for every vacation. Or everyday really, but that may be an opinion. And if you had to pick the most prominent feature of Williamsburg, you would probably say... well, history, but after history, you would definitely say shopping! A lot of awesome shopping venues around town, but we submit to you New Town as our top pick. There is literally something for everyone in that vein too.

If you want to find unique shops, be sure to check them out. Paisley, The Nautical Dog and The Mole Hole were some of the specialty shops we wandered in, but we also found a music shop, jewelry store, stationery shop, candy store and a cigar shop - all of which were delightful!

We also had the chance to pop in a great variety of old favorites including Ann Taylor, White House, Black Market, Victoria's Secret, and Joanne Fabrics. We even popped in Barnes and Noble to browse, borrow the wi-fi, and grab a cup of coffee.

One of our absolute favorites was a store that just opened called Charming Charlie's. If you need accessories, they are the store for you. It was absolutely amazing. And apparently you can hold private events there too!

After exploring, we checked out the movie theatre in the center of town. It was the perfect addition to our visit. And we definitely enjoyed The Dark Knight Rises for a second time. All this to say and we haven't even gotten to the dining experiences yet! So stay tune for more adventures in New Town...

Painting the New Town Red!

This weekend's adventure took us to New Town in Williamsburg. If you haven't had a chance to explore New Town, you are missing an adventure! We definitely didn't get to make it to all the stores, but we managed to take in quite a few. There was way more to do than we could discuss in a single blog post, so let us start with the basics of what New Town has to offer.

New Town is Williamsburg's premiere living, dining, and shopping central location. It is conveniently located in the middle of Williamsburg, just a few miles from the historic Colonial Williamsburg area of town, as well as near a great number of hotels, resorts, and other vacation rentals. One of the best parts about New Town is that you can stop in for a few hours to do some shopping or take in some of their other entertainments, or spend a whole day there and take in some of their dining options.





If you are a local to the area, you have the opportunity to live in this delightful neighborhood. The shopping and dining options are interspersed with lovely townhouses, condos, and house that make a charming little village. With New Town being so, well, new, there are still some houses being built, but also availability in some of their completed dwellings as well, so be sure to check it out if you are in the market. Also, they have a post office, banks, medical offices and daycare right there to make it even more convenient!

All that to say, New Town literally has it all and whether you have a few minutes, hours, days or a life time, there is plenty there for you to do, so be sure to stop by. And stay tuned for more blog posts about some of our favorite shops and dining experiences!

Beat the Heat: Water Park Edition

In previous postings, we have discussed some great ways to handle the Virginia summer weather including the heat! Well, as we battle another bout of it, we are checking out a few other ways to manage to have the best vacation ever while keeping cool.

So if you have been here on certain days you will ask yourself if it is possible to keep cool by staying in the water all day. We assure you it is... Try one of our fabulous water parks! While you might be heading to our area with dreams of historical discoveries, epic roller coaster rides, and lounging on the beach, don't forget to make a trip to one of local water parks. If you are headed to Busch Gardens during your stay, you may want to look at adding Water Country when you purchase your passes.

Want to make it easier? How about sleeping at the water park? You read that right. Reserve your room at Great Wolf Lodge and enjoy their onsite water park. Best part: you don't even have to step outside in that heat to enjoy it. Great Wolf Lodge features a spectacular selection of rides and water adventures with the luxury of being indoors. Check out GWL's other amenities on their website.

If you already have a place to stay, but still want to enjoy a water park, one of our favorite options is Ocean Breeze in Virginia Beach. Ocean Breeze offers 16 different water slides and well as pools, playgrounds and other attractions. They have some great events too! Our favorite is Dive-In Movies on Fridays during the summer. Be sure to explore season pass options and look at purchasing corporate discount tickets online. And make sure your check out their birthday options if you are having a party this summer. Go to their website for deals on tickets and other opportunities.

So plan your water park trip today!  And no matter where you end up making a splash, just make sure you stay cool and safe!

Squeaky Clean

One of the best parts about being located in the middle of the East Coast is the easy accessibility by car. So let's say you hop in your car, load in the friends, kids, dogs, whatever and hit the open road to Tidewater Virginia...

You have arrived! Now you can unpack your car and find the remnants of four or five fast food meals' worth of wrappers, cups and lost french fries... And let's not even mention the outside of the car. The bugs get bigger the further south you go. If you are coming from the South, well, the bugs are still big and plentiful. So you arrive, unpack, and survey the disaster area. But don't spend another moment of your vacation thinking about it...

Head on over to Mega Auto Spa in Williamsburg! State of the art equipment, a great selection of services and other options make it a perfect spot to pamper your car for its hard work. You will be guaranteed an easy process and top notch service - two things you should have whether you are on vacation or not.

And to our locals, enjoy the same quality and easy luxury at Mega Auto Spa, but with the added option of monthly passes that will save you money the more you visit! Also, be sure to ask about fundraising opportunities.

Hurry over to Mega Auto Spa today and in no time at all, you will be on your way with a clean and comfy car once more... For more information check out their website!

The High Life at High Street

Happy Monday, all! We hope you had a wonderful weekend. We definitely did! This weekend, we took some time in Williamsburg to visit a favorite area, High Street. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, you really should! If you are coming into the area for a visit, be sure to plan to spend an afternoon or evening checking the place out.

We popped into Quirks of Art first for look through the delightful collections. The name is quite appropriate for the stock they carry. The art work, jewelry and other specialty items has selections that are lovely, unique and some great conversation starters! Whether you need a something festive to add to your own decor or a quirky gift for someone else, we can assure you that it is currently waiting for you at Quirks of Art.

After that, we made a stop at the always fabulous Plaza Azteca. The menu is a selection of the most delicious and authentic Mexican dishes. Plaza Azteca also has a phenomenal atmosphere both with their indoor and outdoor seating. We enjoyed their patio where live music was playing and can't even begin to describe how amazing the fresh guacamole was!

After our amazing dining experience, we headed over to Movie Tavern to take in a showing. We opted for drinks and dessert, but their food selection was impressive and incredibly reasonable in price. We definitely want to check out the King Kong burger on our next visit. Our order items were great and staff and atmosphere were wonderful. And we are pleased to say the new Spiderman movie was worth a view!

High Street is conveniently located off Richmond Rd. just a short trip from the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area and the College of William and Mary Campus. Whether visiting or an area local, there is a good time to be had by all. Stop by today!

Fun for the 4th!

In this area of the country, Independence Day is especially exciting. We are in the epicenter of some major American history and it's definitely a passion around here. And a true celebration of the 4th of July isn't complete without a spectacular firework display. So in honor of the upcoming celebration, here is your round up of the great places in the area that you can visit for some firework festivity...

Chesapeake

July 3rd. Celebrate Freedom. Grassfield High School. 7:30 PM. http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/Calendar/Celebrate-Freedom---Concert-FIREWORKS_s_p4902.htm?EventMode=View&EventOccurrence=0

New Kent

Racing to the Stars and Stripes. Colonial Downs. 5 PM. http://www.colonialdowns.com/promos/viewpromo?fid=344 

Newport News

4th of July Stars in the Sky. Victory Park Landing. 6PM. http://www.newport-news.org/things-to-do/events.php

Norfolk

The 30th Annual AT&T Fourth of July Great American Picnic & Fireworks. Town Point Park. 5 PM. http://www.festevents.org/mini-site/30th-annual-atandt-fourth-of-july-great-american-picnic-and-fireworks 

Portsmouth
Independence Day Fireworks. Seawall or along Crawford Parkway. 9:30 PM. http://www.portsvaevents.com/july_2012.html

Suffolk
Stars and Stripes Spectacular. Constant's Wharf Park. 6 PM. http://www.suffolk-fun.com/calendar.html

Virginia Beach

July 4th Celebration. Mount Trashmore Park. Activities begin at 4 PM. Fireworks at 9:30 PM. 

http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/special-events/Pages/default.aspx

4th of July Celebration. First Landing State Park. Activities begin at 10 AM. http://dcrintra.dcr.virginia.gov/dcr_public/events/ViewEvent.cfm?585D0E707D080106010D0A1B0109

4th of July Fireworks. Sandbridge Beach. 6:30 PM. http://sandbridgelife.com/archives/1226

Stars and Stripes Explosion. Virginia Beach Oceanfront. 7:30 PM. http://www.beachstreetusa.com/events/StarsAndStripesExplosion

Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg Independence Day Celebration. Events starting at 10 AM. Fireworks begin at 9:30 PM. http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/do/special-events/12-4-july/

Busch Gardens Illuminights. 9:30 PM. http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg/Events/IllumiNights

Yorktown

Yorktown Independence Day Celebration. Riverwalk Landing. 7 PM. 

http://www.yorkcounty.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=7108&vw=3&ItemID=2530&d=20120704

All events are on the 4th unless otherwise stated. We hope you enjoy... Have a safe and happy holiday!

Beat the Heat: The Essentials

In our previous blog post we talked about ways to beat the heat by scheduling your itinerary around the hottest times of day, but no matter what activity you are participating in, you should plan on being out in some intense weather.

No matter what sites you are planning on visiting, seeing the sites is exhausting, so be sure to bring some necessities with you to eliminate a lot of unnecessary stress. Whether you are out in the heat or not, you should plan to have some bottles of water with you. It's easy to get, but it is also easy to forget and really not that hard to become dehydrated. So be sure you take the time and grab some water before you head out for the day. 

SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, SUNCREEN. If you haven't already discovered how easy it is to acquire a sunburn, you will when you get to this area. Do yourself a favor and keep the sunscreen handy and apply at regular intervals. We promise you will not regret it. 

If you get too hot, do what the locals do... Go to Rita's. It always makes us feel better. Not only a nice, cool options, but delicious. Check out their Facebook page for frequent coupons and other savings and events. 

Beat the Heat

We have had some pretty extreme weather in our area lately! And if you are not used to the heat of a Tidewater Virginia area summer, it can be pretty tough to handle. Who are we kidding - we live here all year and it can be tough for us! Either way, heat can be brutal and if you are going to be out and about in the area this summer, we want to make sure you are being cautious of your time in the heat, so we are beginning a series of blog posts about how to beat the heat.

We want to, of course, stress how dangerous the heat can be. No matter where you are in the world, extreme hot weather requires precautions. Here in the Tidewater Virginia area, we definitely have our share of hot days. The first recommendation is to save the indoor visits (museums, shopping, etc) for the really hot hours of the day.  


All of the places you will love around the area can be visited at a variety of times, not just middle of the day. Consider your time on the sand. Get up early to hit the beach. Not only is it much cooler, but also less crowded.


 Also, with many of our awesome local attractions, summer brings longer hours so places like Busch Gardens you can go to until 9 or 10 pm. Also, there are a lot of evening programs available. Colonial Williamsburg offers a variety to choose from and don't forget our current favorite Swingtime Salute at Nauticus. 

Stay tuned for our next post on how to beat the heat and post your tips in the comments below!

For the Love of the Game

In preparation for Father's Day this weekend, we though it only appropriate we talk about one of our dad's favorite things... golf. He sure loves it! But as much as he does, he could definitely use some work on his game... don't tell him we said that. He's an AWESOME dad, so his less than stellar golf skills aren't that big of a deal. Again, don't tell. So, in honor of him, we have a few pointers that will help improve your game.


For his bunker shot, check this out:

Here's one for a driver...

One for a chip:

And how about his putt...

Hopefully, this will help your game. Thank you to Colonial Heritage for helping us out with this series. Be sure to check out their awesome courses. And Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there, even if you aren't golf pros... 

Aye Aye, Captain!

So many visitors travel from all over the world to the Tidewater Virginia area in search of some of the most inspiring tales of history ever told. With a location so rich in history, it is not surprising that not only is the ground we walk on full of rich history, but our food as well. And if you are looking for an historic American tale of the most inspiring, Captain George's Seafood Restaurant is just that. For over forty years, the restaurant has been a true show of American dreams and has done so with absolute perfection.

Beyond the strong history, the popularity has grown impressively. The restaurant itself has been visited by thousands of patrons from all over the world and they have helped spread the word of the phenomenal menu that Captain George's offers. Now Captain George's boasts an incredible sales average of one million pounds of crab legs per year.

If you haven't had a chance to visit this phenomenal local landmark and culinary delight, please be sure to stop into one of their four locations. Our location in the Tidewater Virginia area is home to two of those great locations - Virginia Beach and Williamsburg. Find out the great story of Captain George and try the amazing seafood items offered. Also, if you are going to be trying some of those famous crab legs, check out our video before you go!

Swinging Into Some Summer Fun

If you are in the area or are local and looking for some fun, Thursday marks the opening of a great new opportunity  for entertainment! Swingtime Salute: An On-Deck Revue opens at Nauticus! Nauticus is a wonderful, contemporary museum set right in the harbor of Norfolk that provides engaging and interactive experiences to showcase maritime history and education to all who visit. They have outdone themselves this time with a phenomenal display of engaging experience via their new production.


Premiering this week, get a new historical perspective on Navy life by experiencing a 40's era variety show created to be reminiscent of the show that our military members would have experienced during deployments from a time now gone. There will be retro-inspired numbers complete with glamorous performers accompanied by a live, on-stage band. A great experience for the whole family.


For more information including on ticketing, check out the Nauticus website. You can start by planning your visit the phenomenal museum including the Battleship Wisconsin, one of the largest battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy,  that is docked at the museum and which you are welcome to explore. Then, starting on Thursday, come on down and experience a little vintage fun with the Nauticus presentation of Swingtime Salute: An On-Deck Revue. 

We Heart Dinosaurs!

Fact: there are few things in the world cooler than dinosaurs. And technically they don't even exist, which makes their awesomeness downright mind-blowing. But the creatures from the past have yet to lose popularity with society, so The Virginia Living Museum is giving us exactly what we want and we want dinosaurs! 

On May 26th, The Virginia Living Museum will open its summer exhibit displaying an impressively high-tech collection of dinosaurs. With these robotic replicas of the former residents of our planet, you get mind-blowing experience as you see these creatures up close stomping and roaring about the museum. What could be cooler than that?! 

As if the dinosaurs weren't cool enough, we get to check out the current resident of our planet that is most akin to dinosaurs in the form of a rare and exotic albino alligator. After that, you can dig deeper into the history of dinosaurs by participating in some special programming including about the dinosaur dig in the program featured in the Planetarium, Dinosaur Prophecy. Also, check the museum for daily schedule of shows to learn more about other animals that are possibly related to dinosaurs.

There are also some special, limited time programs taking place. So mark your calendar for the weekends from May 26th to June 24th when there will be a dino puppet show at the museum. On Saturdays June 30th through August 4th, come back and join in on some special fossil themed fun. And the event we are most excited about is June 1st through the 2nd when you have the chance for a dinosaur-themed sleep over IN the museum. Doesn't get much cooler than that... 

For all this fun and more, be sure you head on down for the Donisaur exhibit opening at The Virginia Living Museum on May 26th. For more information, check out their website. 

Weekend Round Up!

It's almost the weekend! And we have a lot going on in the area this weekend! Here are a few of the major events going on. Let us know which ones you are attending or if we have missed anything in the comments section!

Colonial Williamsburg: .Run for the Dream and Drummers Call.
http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/eventsAndExhibits/specialEvents/runForTheDream.cfm

Muscle Cars for Missions Car, Truck, and Bike Show: Show, lunch, and bake sale.
http://www.northamptonpres.com/calendar/muscle-cars-for-missions-car-show/ 

Busch Gardens: Verbolten, the newest coaster, officially opens!
http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg/Verbolten

Water Country: Park opens this weekend!
https://www.facebook.com/events/287329331360441/?context=create

Merchants Square: Semi-Annual Sidewalk Sale.
http://www.merchantssquare.org/calendar.html

Langley Speedway: Military Appreciation Night.
http://www.virginiapeninsulachamber.com/index.php?mod=Pages&LiveEdit=true&page_id=150

Ripley's Believe It or Not: Millennium Falcon Arrival.
https://www.facebook.com/events/300699523346056/

Virginia Beer Festival
http://www.festevents.org/mini-site/11th-annual-virginia-beer-festival-in-partnership-with-virginia-arts-festival

International Spring Wine Festival

http://www.neptunefestival.com/events/9th-annual-intl-spring-wine-festival/1

To Market, To Market...

It's one of our favorite times of year! Farmers Markets! The Farmers' Markets are out in abundance and just as great as summer itself. Fresh produce, delicious baked goods, and other wonderful specialty items... Yum! Whether you are visiting from out of town, new to the area, or a long time resident, we hope you take some time to check out some of our local markets. We have compile a list for you of the area Farmers' Markets. Also, if we missed any, please let us know and we will gladly add them to the list!

Chesapeake

Chesapeake Farmers Market, http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/Government/City-Departments/Departments/Agriculture-Department---Virginia-Cooperative-Extension/farmers-market.htm

Hampton

TBD

Newport News

Game's Farmers Market, http://www.gamesfarmersmarket.com/

Hilton Village Farmers Market, https://www.facebook.com/HiltonVillageFarmersMarket
Port Warwick Foundation, http://pwfarmersmarket.org/

Norfolk

Five Points Community Farm Market, http://www.5ptsfarmmarket.org/

Portsmouth
Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmers Market, http://www.portsmoutholdetownefarmersmarket.com/index.html

Suffolk
Suffolk Farmers Market, http://www.suffolk-fun.com/farmers-market.html

Virginia Beach
Brookdale Farm, http://www.brookdale-farm.com/summer-market-page
Old Beach Farmers Market, http://www.oldbeachfarmersmarket.com/
Virginia Beach Farmers Market, http://www.vbgov.com/farmersmarket

Williamsburg

Williamsburg Farmers' Market in Merchant Square, http://www.williamsburgfarmersmarket.com/

Yorktown

Riverwalk Landing Market, http://www.riverwalklanding.com/

Off to the Races!

Happy Derby Day! For those of you not celebrating Cinco de Mayo or looking for something to celebrate in addition to it, you are in luck! For some, Derby Day is just a day that a horse race occurs on. But for a good chunk of the country, it is a major holiday! 

So what makes it so special? Well, there is more to the race than just "the greatest two minutes in sports." The Kentucky Derby is the kick off and first of three races composing what is known as the Triple Crown. For horse racing fans, it's a pretty big deal. For the city of Louisville, Kentucky, Derby Day is the close of a nearly month long celebration that kicks includes the largest annual firework show in North America. Overall, its a huge event for sports fans, horse lovers, Kentuckians, and just fun loving citizens... 

Viewers of the race know that horse racing isn't the only draw. A substantial number of followers tune in just to see the hats worn by the attendees. For decades, wearing a Derby hat has been a huge part of the fun in attending the Derby. High fashion, giant hats, small fascinators, fun, traditional, and some just plain bizarre - these can all be found at Churchill Downs on race day. 

Enjoying the Derby isn't just for locals either. On Derby Day, towns and cities all across the country are home to hundreds of Derby parties. Whether restaurants or homes or other fun locations, Derby is a reason to celebrate and host a traditional Derby party. Although the degrees of formality vary from party to party, there are some things that are staples to celebrating. There are dozens of other specialty foods, games and other things that have been created over the years that chosen to be included in the Derby party agenda. But you will find that every party done right includes hats, mint juleps, and Derby Pie.

Sports, fashion, food and drink, and general festivities... How could anyone not love Derby! There is something for everyone! Feeling inspired to get in on the fun? Our very own, local Colonial Downs has a variety of activities going on today to participate in. Or you can throw your own Derby Party. For other upcoming race events and activities, check the Colonial Downs facebook page and website. There is plenty of fun still to be had this summer! 

The Two Men We Love the Most

Now that the weather in the area has finally warmed up, it's time to increase our visits with our two favorite people - Ben and Jerry. What can we say, they are always there for us. And now that it is more of the season, we can stop relying on their convenient location in the grocery store ice cream aisle and head into one of their charming shops. To get you into the spirit too, here are some facts about one of our favorite foods...

About 50 licks are required to finish off a cone with a single scope of ice cream.

The U.S. enjoys an average of 48 pints of ice cream per person, per year, more than any other country.

In the USA, Portland, St. Louis and Seattle lead the country in per capita ice cream consumption

Of all the days of the week, most ice cream is bought on Sunday.

The ice cream cone's invention is linked to the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. An ice cream vendor reportedly didn't have enough dishes to keep up with the demand, so he teamed up with a waffle vendor who rolled his waffles into cones!

"The world's largest ice cream sundae" in St. Albans, Vermont; the sundae weighs 27,102 pounds. Guess which brand of ice cream was used...

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield established there beloved company in 1978 with the first location being in an old gas station in their home state of Vermont.

Be sure to check out our favorite Ben and Jerry's location in the beautiful Yorktown Riverwalk. And tell us what your favorite flavor is in the comments section! 

Rainy Day Fun

Well, it's been a rather rainy week here in the Tidewater Virginia area... But that doesn't mean our status as greatest vacation destination changes any! Although it is not ideal to have rainy weather while you are on vacation, that doesn't mean you can't be prepared for it and have just as much fun.

So as you plan your agenda for your vacation, here is a tip: add a floating rainy day plan. Figure out which activities are best during bad weather and put them all on the same day and prepare to utilize that day as needed. That way if you wake up and discover that the clouds have rolled in, you won't have to worry about it at all.

Our area has a great selection of rainy day opportunities. Of course our museums are high on the list of opportunities - Mariner's Museum, Virginia Living Museum, Children's Museum to name a few. Although they are all wonderful choices, the list isn't exclusively museums. Be sure to add the Peninsula Fine Arts Center to the list. Just outside of the historic area, you have Ripley's Believe it or Not and just up the street from that Yankee Candle offers shopping as well as some great activities onsite.

There are a lot of great options! So pick your favorites, add them to the schedule and you are all set for vacation! If you have any great suggestions for fun around the area, be sure to add them on in the comments.

Happy Earth Day!

This weekend we are celebrating our planet! Earth Day has been around since 1970 when Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin at the time, founded the day. At a tumultuous time in our history, it was a quite an accomplishment to get millions of Americans to pitch in and rally for the preservation of our planet.

In the spirit of this day, we hope you too will join us this weekend in giving the Earth some extra affection. There are a lot of things you can do not just this weekend, but everyday to take care of our planet. First, just remember that you can make simple changes in your own home. Buy reusable shopping bags and other reusable containers to use instead of disposable items. Use cloth items instead of paper towels and napkins. Turn off lights when you are not in the room and unplug appliances when you are not home. Recycle what you can!

Beyond changes at home, you can volunteer in your neighborhood for community clean up events. Or you can organize your own event. And check out the other events going on around. Our friends at the Virginia Living Museum have organized a weekend filled with celebration and education. Check out everything they have going on here.

However you decide to take care of our planet this weekend, we hope you have a Happy Earth Day!

Titanic: We Remember 100 Years Later

This weekend marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.
As the week has gone on, we have heard tell of a number of memorials and events popping up around the country and even around the area to commemorate the tragic event. Our very own Mariner's Museum joined the universal chorus of remembrance by hosting their own events including a "Titanic Day" of learning for attendees to gain a better understanding of the time and the circumstance and a period dinner fundraiser. Passengers could choose to purchase either first class or third class reservations for the event. It was an innovative way to create a memorial for the attendees to participate in.

Overall, the world is bustling with memories, flocking to relive the event in theatres, and ensuring we never forget the tragic event. The Vacation Channel is contributing our commemoration by offer these random and little known facts about the Titanic:

• Titanic was carry 20 lifeboats; it had the capacity for 64. 
• There were 13 honeymooning couples on the Titanic. 8 of them were in first class.
• The ship recorded bringing 40,000 eggs on the voyage and 1000 bottles of wine. 
• There were at least 9 dogs on the ship.  
• The length of the ship was equivalent to nearly 3 football fields. 
• The most expensive ticket to travel aboard the ship would cost about $99,000 in today's money.
• The ship cost $7.5 million to build - that translates into about $172 million today. The film cost $250 million to make. 

For more interest events and exhibits, be sure to visit the Mariner's Museum in Newport News! 

Give Me A Break...

We all know that feeling. No vacation on the horizon and we are spent. How about a day off to tide you over until that next big break right in your own backyard, so to speak? Here are a few ideas for a quick retreat...

Museums. The obvious one. Check out what exhibits are in your area and see the museums and galleries you have probably never been to or at least not in a while. Planetariums are a fun option too if one of your museums has one.

Zoos. Pick a day with some nice weather and spend it wander around surrounded my exotic animals. Add a trip to the aquarium too if you like...

Train. Grab a ticket from your local station and take a ride. Whether to another town for a night or on a scenic tour for a few hours, it makes a great get away... 

Amusement or Water Park. Everyone has one within a few hours of them. Find out what yours is and head there for a day of fun and excitement for all ages.

Behind the scenes. Find out what your local area has to offer and see if you can get a behind the scenes tour of it. Perhaps a sports stadium, a factory or other claim to fame locally, all have a complicated operation going on inside and it would be fun to check it out.

Tell us what your favorite ways to spend a much needed day off are! And check out our Facebook page for the latest updates on fun events and ideas in the Hampton Roads area. 

Pinterest: Your Newest Travel Agent

Are you a pinner yet? We are and we are completely addicted. Pinterest has become the fastest growing social network recently and it is quite easy to see why. Organization becomes even simpler and more fun that ever on this innovative site.

An awesome way to use it is for your vacation planning! Here are five easy ways to organize your trips using Pinterest...

1. Make a board of places you want to visit.
2. After you pick one, make a board of the things you want to do while you are there - museums, beaches, stores, etc.
3. Make a board of food you want to try on your trip. This will make menu planning a breeze...
4. Make a board of some local flare you want to get for yourself or others while you are there. That way, you won't be spending your entire trip hunting down souvenirs.
5. Use the Pinterest search to find other awesome things other people have found at your destination. This is a great alternative to just googling.

Also, check out our Pinterest page: https://pinterest.com/vacationchannel/. Follow us and we will be glad to follow you back!

Virginia is for Lovers... of History!

It's time for a little local pride, friends! Although lovers of vacation in general, our particular favorite is vacation to our own stomping ground aka the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. We also have great connections to Richmond and the DC area. According to US News, all three made the list of the 12 best U.S. Historic Destinations! Williamsburg (part of the Hampton Roads area) came in second, Washington, D.C. - third, and Richmond at eighth. So basically, that means not only is the state of Virginia generally as awesome as you can get, be we are a pinnacle in the story of our country. Now we are not saying Virginia is the best state ever, but... if you want to say that we would not disagree.

Now, while the list gives a good, concise description of each location, we want to take a minute to talk about how not only are the listed locations great, but some of the surrounding offering for historical greatness that can also be great stops on your history-charged vacation...

Williamsburg... Of course the name of the town is synonymous for visitors with the destination that is Colonial Williamsburg, but the town also offers a plethora of history right across the street at William & Mary. The university and its history plays a big role and will frequent conversation on your tour of Colonial Williamsburg. 

Just a dash up the road is also the historical treasure that is Jamestowne. Visit the reconstructed ships, wander through the replica village, check out the latest discoveries from the archeological dig, and visit the wonderful educational center. Rounding out the Historic Triangle is another quick jaunt to Yorktown. As well as another wonderful visitor center offering, see another great living history interpretation. 

Travel a bit west to #8 on their list and hit the great state capital, Richmond. But keep going a bit up the road and you are in Charlottesville and utopia for any fans of Thomas Jefferson. It is not only home to the University of Virginia, but also Jefferson's own house and architectural masterpiece Monticello. It is open for tours and a awe-inspiring experience. 

We know that technically we don't have any claim to D.C., but a) it is a convenient destination and close to other important destinations that technically qualify as Northern Virginia, but even saying that, we are at the epicenter of historical greatness and we are pretty proud. That leads us to mention the gem of a destination that is Alexandria. This city offers not only great hotels and shopping, but is home to the house George Washington as well as several other important historical houses and establishments. If you are going to spend time in the great capital of our nation, be sure to take a day to enjoy the delightful stop just across the river. 

Do you live in a destination that has a lot of history to offer? Do you have something you want to add to the list of great Virginia destinations? Let us know in the comments! 

Keeping The Troops Happy

Destination? check. Travel arrangements? check. Itinerary that makes all members of the family positively giddy with delight? Hmmmm...

That's a tough one for sure, but if you are vacationing with some smaller members of the gang, your ideas of fun and theirs might be a bit off. But whether you are planning a beach escape, a big city adventure, or a theme park getaway you can stock up on some neat, simple tricks to keep your pre-schoolers happy in any setting. Here are few tips to keep everyone happy no matter where you go...

Go Digital: Not you, the kids! Invest in a children's digital camera and let them capture the moments...

Happy Hunting: A lot of destinations, museums and theme parks particularly, have some sort of scavenger hunt-like activity for kids to give them a little motivation to enjoy the setting. Call ahead or go online to see what is offered. If they don't have one, do a little research and make up your own!

Let's Split Up!: Depending on what sort of trip you are taking, your destination is likely to have options for activities for your kids to enjoy while you get in some time on your own. Check with your hotel or resort to see what they offer and see if there are any other local destinations that have offerings as well.

Find a happy medium: Add a stop at a place that caters to fun for all ages. There are several parks around the country that offer that opportunity. Great Wolf Lodge is a perfect example of such a place. As a hotel and indoor water park, they have a a unique and convenient offering. Check out their website for more information: http://www.greatwolf.com/williamsburg/waterpark/rides.

For more ideas, especially if you are coming to our area, check out www.vacationchannels.com. And be sure to add your ideas in the comments.

Well, It's Easier Than Flying A Plane...

Vacation is the name of our game and we strive to make sure that yours is as fun and relaxing as you would hope it to be. That being said, we like to do our part to make sure all elements of your vacation follow. So let's look at some ways to make your air travel smoother. Here are a few tips...

Booking: There are a lot of myths around this one. But the consensus is mid-week booking is the best for finding a good price. Additionally, 4-6 months prior to date of departure is the best time for rate.

Packing: We have a whole post on it! See this.  Also, wet wipes aren't just for babies. They are wonderful ways of cleaning the tray tables that are undoubtedly gross, cleaning the coffee you spilled on yourself and a plethora of other unavoidable accidents. They are the best travel companion you will ever have... As far as carry-on is concerned, don't overwhelm yourself with stuff. You need your ticket, your wallet/ID, and your cell phone. Those are the only needs. For entertainment, bring a book or two. You don't need more than that. For snacks, think small and individually wrapped like trail mix or granola bars.

Plan: Planning is crucial to a stress-free flight. We know it can be tough, but it is worth it. Be sure to plan on how you are going to get to and from the airports, plan to eat before and/or after so you aren't starving and rushing. If you are traveling with other people, make sure everyone is aware of the plans with plenty of notice. Plan on small and simple games or other items to keep kids entertained. 

Time and Space: Morning flights are best to book for a few reasons. First, schedules are generally still on time at earlier hours. Second, the weather is frequently less turbulent in the morning. For a good seat, choose as soon as you can (at booking, if possible). Avoiding bulkhead seats (where they put babies) and the back rows (fresher air from the filtration system in the front) are also best practices.

Those are just a few and as always we would love to have your input. Let us know what your travel tips are!

Pack Well, Travel Well

Spring Break 2012 is rapidly approaching! No doubt you are working on planning your great getaway... Very exciting! Not just the good kind of exciting. Also the stressful kind of exciting. Well, the team here at The Vacation Channel is going to help relieve a good deal of stress with vacation before you even make it out the door. Packing! It's not the most fun task ever... but it is necessary. Now whether you are a last minute packer, someone who packs days a head, or the one who takes days to pack, it can all be made easier. Since vacation is our game, we have compiled a list of important steps to take to make your packing for vacation not getting you off to a bad start. Here we go...

• Check the weather! Don't waste time and space packing for all kinds of weather. Just pack for the weather you will be dealing with.

• Plan your color scheme. Don't want to figure out how you are going to fill a washer with whites or darks or in between? Try and keep it all in the neighborhood so you don't end up wasting anything.

• Find out what the amenities are where you are staying and leave those items off your list. If the hotel has a hair dryer, bathrobe or etc, don't waste the space. Are staying with a friend that has plenty of beach towels, laundry detergent and a curling iron? Leave them at home. 

• Travel size! They make them for a reason. They really are a great way to keep your bathroom bag condensed.

• You don't need as many shoes as you think. Three at most. Sneakers, comfy sandals, flats or other casuals and a pair of dress shoes. Invest in colors that will work for all of your outfits and you won't have to waste space each time you travel.

• Don't forget the important stuff! Easier said than done, we know... But if you make a list of the things you cannot leave without, it really will help you in the end. Phone and charger, credit cards, medications, etc. List these items out so you aren't pulling your hair out trying to remember at the last minute. 

Don't waste time stressing out about packing for vacation. Just these few simple tricks will make a world of difference in how you prepare to travel. 

Did we miss something on our list? Comment on our post to share your great packing tips!