Arlington National Cemetery
The solemn tranquility at Arlington National Cemetery is momentarily broken – the rifle volley snaps in the air. One… two… three shots. The mournful bugle call of “Taps” rises slowly to its crescendo, and then fades softly away, leaving only the silent stillness. Except for those moments, “Silence and Respect” are the protocol. On these hallowed grounds, there is beauty - in the softly rolling hills, covered with lush green grass; and in the proud, stately old trees – some planted as memorials. There is beauty in the order – the precisely lined headstones, the marble monuments, the steady clip-clop of the horse-drawn caisson; in the proud, tall soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Beauty is in the colors of the leaves in the fall and in the quiet hush of winter. This is the place where valor and courage are honored.
Four million people visit Arlington National Cemetery each year. Some to attend the service of a departed friend or loved one. Some are there to visit the memorial of a loved one. The rest go to these sacred grounds to remember the sacrifice of the 300,000 people whose final resting-place is here on a peaceful rise above the Potomac River overlooking the nation’s capital.
Veterans from every major war of the United States, Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, astronauts, and honored civilians are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. (Some of the Revolutionary War dead were moved to Arlington after it became the national cemetery.) This is where the Eternal Flame marks the spot where President John F. Kennedy lies buried next to his wife and their two sons. This is the place of the Tomb of the Unknowns. Known also as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the monument stands on the top of a hill. The remains of a single unidentified soldier from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War are buried here. (The Vietnam War crypt has been empty since DNA evidence identified the remains.) The Tomb of the Unknowns has been perpetually guarded since 1948, no matter the weather.
Once the home to Confederate General Robert E. Lee and property of his wife, Mary Lee, (granddaughter of George Washington’s adopted stepson), Arlington House was evacuated during the Civil War, and confiscated by the Union. Brigadier General Montgomery Meigs, commander of the nearby garrison, gladly appropriated the grounds at Arlington for a cemetery. His animosity towards Lee was such that he wanted to render the estate uninhabitable. (The property was awarded back to a descendant of the Lees, who then sold it back to the government.)
The Visitor’s Center near the cemetery entrance offers maps, information, grave location services, exhibits, and a bookstore. Arlington National Cemetery is open daily year round. The Memorial Amphitheater hosts three annual memorials on Easter, Memorial Day, and Veteran’s Day.
Busch Gardens Europe at Williamsburg
Busch Gardens Europe, formerly Busch Gardens, Williamsburg has been awarded the “Most Beautiful Theme Park” for sixteen consecutive years; “Favorite Theme Park” for four years running; along with “Best Food”; “Best Shows”; and the “Cleanest Park”. With all those and more, including awards for rides, it’s no wonder that Busch Gardens Europe is one of Virginia’s top attractions.
On the east end of the historic town of Williamsburg, Virginia, the 100-acre Busch Gardens Europe has over 50 thrilling rides, all set in a classic, Old World European setting. Representing the countries of Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, France, and Italy, each section is accurately depicted with appropriate architecture for the region. The Scottish countryside, an Irish hamlet, the Bavarian region of Germany, a French village, and the others have building facades and period pieces that transport visitors back in time. (All this of course, with only the most modern, high-tech thrill rides.)
Within these “countries”, rides are built around the landscape and theme. Discover the mysterious legend at the award-winning “Curse of DarKastle”, a multi-sensory ride though a Bavarian castle, complete with fog, shattering ice, and immense drops. Other thrilling rides include the “Alpengeist”, “Apollo’s Chariot”, the “Loch Ness Monster”, and more. Many of the coaster rides at Busch Gardens Europe are one-of-a-kind in the types, style, speed, number of drops, and spins. As visitors travel through Europe, they can see “Big Ben” in England, take a log (flume) ride or race at LeMans, take a cruise on the Rhine River in Germany, “Escape from Pompeii” in Italy or feel the gut-wrenching thrill of “DaVinci’s Cradle”.
The other attractions at Busch Gardens Europe include the stage shows, live entertainment, and the award-winning cuisine. Nine stage theaters fill the air with live shows – in Ireland the traditional Irish dancing show is a classic people-pleaser. Animal attractions include visits with the beloved Budweiser Clydesdales; “Eagle Ridge”, the one-acre habitat for injured American bald eagles; “Wolf Valley”, a habitat for grey wolves, and “Jack Hanna’s Wildlife Reserve”.
Busch Gardens Europe is open daily in the summer vacation months, starting in late May and through Labor Day. It is open on weekends (either one day or two) in the adjacent warmer months. The park is closed in the winter season.
Colonial Williamsburg
Once the wealthiest capital of England’s empire in America, Williamsburg, Virginia was the cultural and political center of the largest colony. The hardy people who settled in Williamsburg grew into generations of independent Americans – the thoughts, ideas, and separation from the motherland gave birth to freedom of thought. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were two of the patriots that were nurtured in this environment. The “Becoming Americans,” story at Colonial Williamsburg explains how this diverse group of people grew into a society that fought for liberty and equality. The culmination became a birthright to the generations that followed. As the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Virginian Thomas Jefferson, states, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Colonial Williamsburg tells the story of this land and its people in a 301-acre historic district within the city of Williamsburg, Virginia. When visitors enter this living museum, they enter into a unique view the past, fully immersed in the authentic interpretation of Colonial Virginia. The buildings, the gardens, and even the live animals fit the period timepiece. The “tour guides” are costumed interpreters, who talk, dress, and work as they would have in the 1700s. They tell the stories of the people who lived at the time and whom they represent – whether white or black, slave or indentured servant, immigrant European or Native American. Visitors can learn about the people who lived in the area with featured stories and biographies of the African Americans, the Colonial Children, the Geddy and Randolph families, George and Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and more.
A sampling of the historic buildings includes Bassett Hall, the Capitol, the Courthouse, the James Geddy House, the Governor’s Palace, the Public Gaol (the jail, with stocks and pillory), the Public Hospital, the Peyton Randolph House, and more. Colonial sites include the Bruton Parish Churchyard, the Market Square, and the Great Hopes Plantation.
Colonial Williamsburg has been preserved and restored thanks to the efforts of the Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, of Bruton Parish Church. He desired to save Williamsburg’s historic buildings and feared that the heritage the Williamsburg contained would be lost forever. With the help and generosity of John D. Rockefeller Jr., restoration work began on a few buildings, and by 1932, it opened as a museum. Since then, over one hundred million visitors have visited Colonial Williamsburg, including all the presidents since 1932 (except President Kennedy), many heads of state, and leaders of foreign countries. Today, Colonial Williamsburg is overseen by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. The foundation is an active participant in supporting history education in schools and offers a wide variety of teaching materials to supplement the teaching.
Colonial Williamsburg is open daily year round.
Virginia Beach
From its prestige as the first landing spot for the permanent English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia Beach has long been a place of interest. With northern views of the Chesapeake Bay to eastern views of the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach lies in a critical junction that afforded access to the nation’s capital in the early years of this country. The settlements in this ideal spot have blossomed into one of the most prominent areas in Virginia, and a popular tourist destination that draws in more than three million visitors each year. Touted as a family-friendly, there is a wealth of historical, cultural and natural sites to see in Virginia Beach. Its first site is the Cape Henry Memorial, marking the spot where English Colonists first landed. It is located at Fort Story, at the northeast tip of Virginia Beach. Two famous lighthouses are found at Fort Story, the old one was built in 1792, the “new” one in 1881.
Just under Fort Story stretching from the edge of the Atlantic to the edge of Chesapeake Bay is Virginia’s most visited park, First Landing State Park. Formerly called Seashore State Park, the nearly 3,000 acres are filled with trails, swimming beaches, campsites, and more. Interpretive programs and “crabbing” are offered at First Landing State Park.
The famous boardwalk, dating back to 1888, is a three-mile thoroughfare along the 300-foot wide beaches. Bicyclists, skaters, and strollers enjoy the wide promenade with outdoor cafes and ice cream shops. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk is one of America’s favorite boardwalks.
Other top sites to visit in Virginia Beach include the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, the Atlantic Waterfowl Museum, Back Bay Wildlife Refuge, Battleship USS Wisconsin, and Nauticus: The National Maritime Center. The Virginia Beach City Public Schools Planetarium opens to the public every Tuesday night. In the southeast corner of Virginia Beach sits False Cape State Park, a 4,321-acre, mile-wide barrier between Back Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Six miles of natural beaches with dunes, woods, and marshlands, the park is a habitat for tiny crabs, piping plovers, gulls, and sandpipers. Little Island Park on Sandbridge Beach is a bathing beach on the Atlantic Ocean and a popular spot to view Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins. Virginia Beach is also home to many military installations, including the Oceana Naval Air Station, Fort Story, Camp Pendleton, and the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek.