on location: south � heather swick

When it comes to love, allgirls have their hearts seton something a little dif-

ferent. But when it comes to your girl-friend getaway, think of Virginia aseveryone’s perfect match.

Quaint, sophisticated and steeped inhistory, Virginia has aged like the finewines it is famous for. American charmis visible even in the most modern towns,and chances are a treasure trove of an-tiques, gourmet food or spectacular out-door views is never far away.

For a delectable food and wine selec-tion, Floyd is the place to settle in andstay awhile. For the group seeking aquiet, remote getaway, the Bent Moun-tain Lodge Bed and Breakfast providesjust that. A flower garden, gazebo, porchand rooms overlooking Southwest Vir-ginia’s Cahas Mountains make this theideal setting for your group to unwindafter a day spent wining and dining. TheMountain Rose Inn, a Victorian-stylebed and breakfast, is also a top groupchoice.

Because a trip to Floyd requires atleast a sample of the county’s wine, theBlue Ridge Wine Trail ensures yourgroup gets a wide and varied tasting.The trail offers wine, mead and cider with stops at Villa Appalachia,Chateau Morrisette and Amrheinwineries, Foggy Ridge Cider and BlackSnake Meadery. Remember to take thescenic route when getting aroundFloyd; the Blue Ridge Parkway is aNational Scenic Byway visited for itsnatural beauty. This route is especiallyincredible in the fall when flamingleaves paint the countryside in a rain-bow of colors.

Natasha’s Market Café at the Harvest Moon Gallery is available fororganic brunch, lunch and dinner.

Everything from the crackers to thedesserts are made in-house, and whenyour meal is done there is plenty ofshopping available at the gallery.

The area offers enough boutiqueand specialty stores to satisfy even the

most avid shopaholic, but the NewMountain Mercantile is the hub of alllocal artistries. More than 100 artistsand craftsmen are represented withitems including books, candles, beads,jewelry and pottery. (floydvirginia.com)

Williamsburg Winery, a favorite

with girlfriend groups, is a place for

touring, tasting and relaxing.

Virginiafor Girls Only

From mountain townsto coastal resorts, the state

abounds with getaway options

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Winchester is known as an artistichub, and with good reason—Shenan-doah University provides a college-townatmosphere with concerts, operas, playsand festivals. The Shenandoah AppleBlossom Festival takes place here everyMay and more than 250,000 peoplefrom around the world attend. Whilefamily fun abounds at the festival, thereis no shortage of activity for girlfriends.Live music, dancing, luncheons, celebrityappearances and carnival shows are justa fraction of what visitors can expect.

Veramar Vineyard is a picturesquelocation for a stroll or tasting, and forthose who dream of creating their ownwines, the vineyard hosts a three-daywine camp with meals and lodging. Fora shopping break in Winchester, browseLoudoun Street for a wide selection ofantique, boutique and specialty stores.(visitwinchesterva.com)

An oceanside excursion is always acrowd pleaser, and Virginia Beach is noexception. Seventeen blocks of outdoorcafes ensure that you never go hungry. Ifyou have a hankering for seafood, you’vecome to the right place. Chesapeake Baycrab cakes, steamed shrimp and stripedbass are all local favorites.

Being a health-conscious city, Vir-ginia Beach has many health and well-

ness spas. The Flowering Almond Spaat the Founders Inn is pure decadencefor you and your girlfriends. The Vir-ginia Beach Spa Bed and Breakfast, located right on the water, is a completetrip in itself: cozy lodging, seaside spaservices and gourmet breakfasts. Spenda morning at the beach and, after lunchon the boardwalk, visit the Cape HenryLighthouses for views of the AtlanticOcean and Chesapeake Bay. (visitvir-giniabeach.com)

Chesapeake City is Virginia’s go-todestination if you are looking for a rus-tic escape from the bustle of everydaylife, and it is the perfect backdrop forkayaking, bird watching, fishing, hiking,biking and camping.

Spend a day kayaking in Virginia’ssecond-largest natural lake, LakeDrummond, and explore the wetlandsin the Great Dismal Swamp NationalWildlife Refuge. Stop by FamousUncle Al’s Hot Dogs and Grill orWood Chicks BBQ for lunch or savorseafood at the Rose Bay SeafoodRestaurant.

Carafe Wine Makers allows yourgroup to taste and create a wine of itsown. Delicious wine at an affordableprice makes this the perfect stop for girl-friends, and each bottle is personalizedwith labels designed by you.

Chesapeake City is home to ample“Virginia Green” certified lodging op-tions. For a stay that is as kind to theearth as it is to its guests, opt for theTown Place at Greenbrier, Aloft Chesa-peake or the Candlewood Suites Chesa-peake. (visitchesapeake.com)

Richmond is ideal for a trip to thepast. Stroll the streets of the HistoricDistrict and you will be walking in thefootsteps of Edgar Allan Poe, Robert E.Lee, Patrick Henry and Lt. StonewallJackson. Explore the tastes and sights ofthe city with a bar crawl through favoritelocal haunts like Legend Brewery orCapital Ale House. For classy dinner op-tions to begin a night out, try RowlandFine Dining in the Fan District or sa-vory French cuisine at Chez Max. Par-ticipate in the Richmond tradition ofSunday brunch in the Rotunda lobby ofthe Jefferson Hotel.

Tour the vineyards at the James RiverCellars Winery, Woodland Vineyardand River City Cellars, where a winetasting is offered every Friday night. Towine a bit more, explore the shops atOnce Upon a Vine, Strawberry StreetVineyard and Wine Lovers.

Richmond has a rich selection of artgalleries and exhibitions. The Manches-ter District Art Galleries, Virginia Mu-seum of Fine Arts or a tour of the publicartwork and sculptures allows yourgroup to sample a wide spectrum of tal-ent. (visitrichmondva.com)

Regardless of the season, the townsof Virginia, from the mountains to theseacoast, have much to offer you andyour girlfriends. Why should the lovershave all the fun? LGT

on location: south �

Obtain Virginia

visitor guides

and itineraries –

and contact group-

friendly suppliers

directly – at

leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

Groups enjoy touring Virginia homes during Historic Garden Week in April.

Tour members in Gloucester take a

break from Main Street shopping.

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Discover one of Virginia’s favorite group travel attractions!

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