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

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... 

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

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!