The barrier island, home to the Virginia town of Chincoteague, is nestled between the mainland and Assateague Island National Seashore and gets its name from the Gingo Teague tribe of Native Americans who hunted nearby. Built on the blue-collar traditions of fishermen and women, Chincoteague is renowned for its oysters, which thrive in the salty bays. But bivalves are not the only creatures that lure hundreds of tourists to the island every year.
Virginia’s brewing scene is growing rapidly in popularity. Annually, the commonwealth produces almost two gallons of beer for every adult, but it is not just Virginians enjoying the suds explosion as travelers seek out breweries in Virginia’s major cities and rural countryside. Here are seven destination breweries in Virginia worth visiting.
Roanoke, Virginia, has blasted onto the American beer scene. Some locals even call the city of 96,000 nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia the “new Asheville,” a nod to the well-established beer city of Asheville, North Carolina. It’s a worthy comparison. With over 20 breweries in the Roanoke region, Virginia’s “Magic City” has blossomed into a destination for craft beer fans.
Destination weddings have been a popular idea for a long time. For most, the idea of a destination wedding conjures the idea of exotic locations of surf and sand.
But extensive travel is not always on a wedding party’s ideal to-do list, and the idea of being far from home may be the last thing a bride and groom want on their wedding day.
For those couples minding their travel budget, there is a state south of the Mason-Dixon Line which has embraced the idea of love. Virginia is for lovers, and naturally, weddings. Two destinations – one in the east and the other in the west – offer unique experiences steeped in tradition and allow for the entire family and wedding party to be included in the special day, or days.
Architect Ben Samberg can feel the pulse of an idea. A certain je ne sais quoi speaks to him through dimensions, aesthetics and history (or lack thereof) of a particular space. In his own words, architects “create in a sea of limitations where each enterprise is a new experiment.” This is why he loves what he does.
enise and Bob Harter stumbled upon a dream. The idea — open and run a bed-and-breakfast with an on-premise brewery — sprang into Denise Harter’s mind as she sat on a porch swing at a bed-and-breakfast in Clarion, Pennsylvania.
The production of olive oil dates back to at least 2400 BC in the annals of Eastern Mediterranean history. More than 3 million metric tons of olive oil are produced annually worldwide. Olive oil is used for cooking and eating, in religious ceremonies, and in soaps and other skincare items. It has even been used as lamp oil. Claims of it being a health benefit continue to grow.
When my editor suggested a Father’s Day story written by a dad about his son, I was sold immediately. I’ll be glad to brag, but my son Tyler’s accomplishments as a chef speak for themselves. Of course, I’m a bit biased and overly impressed with my son’s young resumé of work, but so are some of the top culinary names in the industry.
Lancaster County’s history of watchmaking is not solitary in its importance. Cities like Waltham, Massachusetts, and Elgin, Illinois, rivaled Lancaster’s reputation for watchmaking. However, the movement of this “uniquely American way” of watchmaking gained heady steam here and created an industry that’s still respected by collectors and historians alike.
Stepping into Kurt Fichthorn’s home is a treat in itself. The circa-1841 farmhouse is like a local historical preserve. Once an active horse farm owned by Kurt’s great-uncle Dan, the property, tucked away amid new development in East Cocalico Township, was once a bustling apparatus of early community, drawing neighbors to its harness-racing track.
