Trail Running in Coastal Virginia

On any given day in the cities throughout Coastal Virginia, you are sure to find runners pounding the pavement and logging their weekly miles. Though we often choose the sidewalks and streets closest to our homes out of convenience, we may be missing the benefits found in other environments.

A great alternative to the paved streets and walkways are nature trails and paths. Studies have shown people who run trails actually have fewer injuries. This comes from a combination of factors. Natural paths are softer and uneven causing less stress on bones and joints and increasing strength in the muscles responsible for stability. Many people find an increase in performance when they introduce trails into their routine.

Now that you know the benefits, where can you find trails in this region? Coastal Virginia is packed with great places to check out. Here is a list The Vacation Channel team put together from around the area.

 

Williamsburg
Matoaka Trails is 10 miles of wooded trails surrounding Lake Matoaka. Located on the William and Mary campus, this trail is great for runners who want to get closer to nature.  It offers fresh streams and a diversity of wildlife

Newport News
Newport News Park offers a 5.3-mile trail that is surrounded bike way (unpaved, multi-use trail). Most of this trail would be conducive to running with jogging strollers or riding bikes.

Nolan Trail is a 5 mile unpaved trail. With 14 wooden bridges, small hills, mile markers, and beautiful scenery, it’s a great place to log some miles.

Hampton
Matteson Trail a 3 mile trail located around The Hamptons Golf Course. This trail is friendly to walkers, runners and rollerbladers. It is a great place to catch some exercise on your lunch break as well.

Sandy Bottom Park trails range from .12 to 3.3 miles in length. The area is host to a lake, marshlands, and wildlife.Great location for a nice jog or scenic walk with the family.
 
Norfolk
Elizabeth River Trail is a 9.49 mile stretch. It is a combination of paved and unpaved trails. If you like to run alone, this is a great place to do so.

Virginia Beach
Stumpy Lake Natural is 1.65 mile loop located in a wooded area by Stumpy Lake.

WestNeck Trails is 2.5 miles of natural trails.This is a nice place for a short run or to take a walk with the family.

First Landing State Park, 20 miles of trails broken down into 10 separate trails that vary in distance and terrain. This park is an exceptional place for families, bikers, runners, and folks that want to bring their dog along.

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!

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. 

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/

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.

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!