capitalregionusa.org
VIRGINIA’S HISTORIC
GARDEN WEEK (April 17-25) YOU DON’T HAVE
Statewide. T_h e oldest and largest
TO PAY A PENNY
statewide house-and-garden tour in
the nation. Visitors can explore four
The Capital Region abounds with activities that won’t cost you a
centuries of Virginia’s rich heritage
penny. Here are some suggestions to whet your appetite:
with more than 35 tours of both
public and private homes, gardens and
Agecroft Hall,
★ National Theatre, DC: ‘Saturday Morning at the National’
Richmond
estates. vagardenweek.org
takes in free performances at Washington, DC’s National
Theatre that are aimed at the whole family. Events range from
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS AND
puppet and magic shows to music and ballet. Tickets, fi rst-
NATURALISATION CEREMONY AT THOMAS
come, fi rst-served, are distributed 30 minutes prior to showtime
JEFFERSON’S MONTICELLO (July 4) Charlottesville. Every
(nationaltheatre.org).
year on the Fourth of July people from many diff erent countries
★ Virginia’s Bicycling Trails: Virginia is home to 838 miles of
come to Monticello, T_h omas Jeff erson’s architectural masterpiece, to
the US Bicycle Route System and is the only state with stretches
become United States citizens. No other home in the United States
of both of_f_i cial US Bicycle Routes. Bikers also fi nd outstanding
refl ects more accurately the personality of its owner than Monticello.
‘rail trails’ throughout the Commonwealth – former railroad beds
Guided tours of the house are off ered daily throughout the year,
turned into scenic biking trails (virginia.org).
with outdoor gardens and plantation tours from April to October.
monticello.org
★ Belair Stable Museum, Bowie, Maryland: Part of Belair
Stud, one of the premier racing stables in the US from the 1930s
INTERNATIONAL GOLD CUP (Mid-October) T_h e Plains.
through the 1950s. Called ‘The Cradle of American Racing’, this
More than 35,000 spectators gather at Great Meadow, near
was home to Gallant Fox and Omaha, the only father-and-son
T_h e Plains, to celebrate the running of the International Gold
horses to win the Triple Crown of US horseracing (cityofbowie.
Cup Races presented by Porsche. T_h e event provides a full day
org/museum).
of entertainment, including a Porsche Classic car display, seven
nationally-sanctioned races and terrier and pony races.
Washingt
on National
vagoldcup.com
Cathedr
al, DC
100 MILES OF LIGHTS (November-January) Richmond,
Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth and
Virginia Beach. Millions of lights and hundreds of events entertain
visitors from Richmond to Virginia Beach in an amazing festival
that features holiday activities from T_h anksgiving to New Year’s Day.
100milesofl ights.com
Chownings Tavern,
Williamsburg
★ Washington National Cathedral: Explore the beautiful
grounds of the sixth-largest cathedral in the world and the
second-largest in the US. It is the seat of both the presiding
bishop of the US Episcopal Church and its bishop of the
Diocese of Washington. Bring your binoculars and check out the
gargoyles – one is even fashioned after Darth Vader, the result of
a children’s competition in the 1980s (nationalcathedral.org).
★ Mount Trashmore Park: Have a picnic at Mount Trashmore
Park in Virginia Beach, which was created by compacting layers
of solid waste and clean soil. Facilities include playground
and volleyball areas, a basketball court, walking trails and an
extensive street-course Skate Park with a 7ft-deep bowl and a
13.5ft-tall vertical ramp (virginia.org).
★ Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center: It overlooks the lake at
Deep Creek Lake State Park and of_f ers visitors a glimpse into
the history and wildlife of Western Maryland. Exhibits include
Allegheny Mountain fossils, fi sh in a lake habitat aquarium and
black-bear paw prints (dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/
discovery.html).
capitalregionusa.org 37
CRUSA 2010 pp35-37 Blossom events.indd 37 11/13/09 12:55:29 PM
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52