Have you ever visited Abingdon, Virginia? Besides being a beautiful town with a world-renowned hotel and spa and the 34.3-mile Virginia Creeper Trail, Abingdon has big talent on stage at the Barter Theatre, the State Theatre of Virginia.

Plan a weekday or weekend visit to take in a show or two. Nearby hotels offer packages that include show tickets, although another notion is to purchase a deal from the Barter itself. Enjoy your show with extras thrown in. See below!

Summer 2013 Schedule

• May 2, 4, 5, 7, 9-11: “I’ll Never Be Hungry Again” - Gone With the Wind as a musical-comedy! Described as Mad magazine meets Scarlett O’Hara as performed by Monty Python.
• May 2-4, 8-9, 11: “Little Women” – Adapted pretty straight forward from Louisa May Alcott’s treasured novel of the same name.
• May 2, 4-5: “Half a World Away” – Noted as a timely story of the timeless desire to belong, this is a powerful play about the immigrant experience of a 17-year-old boy who has spent half his life in Burma and the other half in America.
• Select dates May through August – “The Blonde, the Brunette & the Vengeful Redhead” – A one-woman show about the day Rhonda went berserk at the mall when she sees her husband carrying on with the blonde at the jewelry counter.
• Select dates May through August – “Les Miserables” – One of the most loved musicals of all time, entirely in the Barter’s own production.
• Select dates May through August – “Southern Fried Funeral” – A big-hearted comedy about Southern family, manners and traditions. You’ll laugh out loud!
• Select dates June and July – “A Streetcar Named Desire” – One of the 20th century’s most enduring plays by Tennessee Williams, one of the south’s greatest writers.
• Select dates June and July – “The Gin Game” – Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner, “The Gin Game” is a game of gin rummy between two nursing home residents that drums up old heartaches and resentments.
• Select dates July and August – “Hanging Mary” – This is a brand new tale of a significant regional story – that of a circus elephant named Mary who meets an untimely end for murder. Only eight performances!
• Select dates August and September – “Good Ol’ Girls” – Love a strong southern woman? Don’t miss this musical quilted together by chart-topping country pop writers. Bring the girls and tap your toes!

Plan a Trip!

• $70 for two tickets, two gourmet desserts and two specialty coffees at Barter Theatre and Barter Theatre Cafe
• $85 for all of the above plus two meals at Barter Theatre and Barter Cafe
• $155 for two at The Martha - one night, two tickets, two three-course dinners at The Martha
• $165 for two at Holiday Inn Express - one night, two tickets
• $228-$466 for two at Summerfield Inn – one or two nights, two tickets, afternoon refreshments, gourmet breakfast

Discover more historic Virginia theatres at Virginia.org/Theatres.

LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.
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Some art adventures are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. I mean, who doesn’t want to see an authentic Michelangelo? While we can’t move the Louvre to Virginia, we can certainly bring a little bit of Louvre-level, iconic art here.

Madonna and Child by Michelangelo, Florence, Casa Buonarroti

Between now and April 14, Michelangelo: Sacred and Profane is on display at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg. It’s a rich and varied collection of 26 drawings straight from his family home in Florence, Italy, Casa Buonarroti. Several pieces of this collection are on display for the very first time in the United States; be one of the first to see the master’s work for just $15 per person.

Of Michelangelo’s piece to the right, the Muscarelle Museum of Art writes, “Throughout his career, Michelangelo (1475-1564) alternated between interpretations of the divine and the worldly, or profane. The master’s powers to evoke the sacred are fully displayed in the large drawing “Virgin and Child,” which is one of Michelangelo’s most admired images. The statuesque figures of the child is contrasted to the expressive freedom of the Madonna’s face, which appears to see the future with foreboding.”

~ If You Go ~

Lodging

• Cedars of Williamsburg Bed & Breakfast (0.1 mi.)
• Inn at 802 Bed & Breakfast (0.3 mi.)
• A Williamsburg Sampler Bed and Breakfast Inn (0.4 mi.)
• Hilton Garden Inn Williamsburg (0.4 mi.)
• A Williamsburg White House Bed and Breakfast (0.4 mi.)

Dining

• The Crust Cafe (0.4 mi.)
• Cafe Provencal (0.4 mi.)
• Jungle Jim’s Bar & Eatery (0.4 mi.)
• Berret’s Seafood Restaurant & Taphouse Grill (0.4 mi.)

More to See

• Williamsburg Winery (0.4 mi.)
• The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg (0.5 mi.)
• Virginia Premiere Theatre (0.5 mi.)
• Colonial Williamsburg (1.2 mi.)

LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.
Request a free Travel Guide. 

If you’re last-minute gift shopping or just now getting into the spirit of the season, we have a few unique ideas for you.

Bed & Breakfast Getaway

Purchase a Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia gift card. This alleviates the fuss of which B&B to book and when. The cards can be purchased in increments of $25, never lose their value and never expire. The gift card is only accepted at BBAV member B&Bs, but there are more than 200 to choose from.

Season Passes or Just a Night

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Courtesy of Wolf Trap.

Is music, performing arts or sports one of the things your recipient loves? Treat them to a ticket package, gift certificate or season pass to a venue.

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is known for the amazing artists they bring to the stage every year, as well as their Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods. While the 2013 schedules continue to unfold, go ahead and give your music and art lovers a gift certificate that they can apply to the event of their choice. Available in values of $10 to $100.

Invite the adrenaline to flow when you give the gift of racing. American Indoor Karting in Virginia Beach  is offering 50% off gift cards when purchased between now and Christmas Day. Annual memberships are available, too.

The Castleton Festival in Rappahannock County doesn’t kick off until July 2013, which means you can treat someone to a ticket package they can look forward to. From three opera performances (starting at $67.50) to five theatre performances (starting at $97.50), your recipient can enjoy world-class art under the direction of former New York Philharmonic Music Director, Maestro Lorin Maazel.

SplatBrothers® Paintball, Hopewell

Paintballers are dedicated and will hit the scenario field any time of year. Give the gift of strategy with a gift certificate to SplatBrothers® Paintball Park in Hopewell – Virginia’s largest and longest running paintball park. Available for $25, $50 and $100 and they never expire.

The American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton offers a $400 annual pass that provides 16 tickets for your choice of productions plus 25% off additional tickets. Their $198 Pick 6 package provides six tickets for your choice of productions plus 10% off additional tickets. For either package, the provided tickets are good for productions through June 16, 2013.

The Barter Theatre in Abingdon has a few ticket packages, all including two tickets to a production of your choice and then adding on either meals at the Barter Cafe, just desserts or three-course dinners at The Martha. The prices range from $70 to $155.

Museum Memberships

The fun of a museum membership is that you’ll often get an advanced viewing of the newest exhibits, be invited to special members-only events and enjoy discounted museum store shopping.

Through the Virginia Historical Society the purchaser AND the membership recipient receive a keepsake Dogwood ornament. Membership levels range from teacher ($48) to family ($72).

Explore More Discovery Museum, Harrisonburg.

Museum memberships are awesome for kids. The Explore More Discovery Museum in Harrisonburg offers weekday drop-in programs that are free to members, as well as discounts for birthday parties. Membership levels range from One Plus One (one named adult and child; $65) to Explorer (two named adults and all their children; $125).

Kids of any age (and their parents) would enjoy membership to the Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton where benefits include unlimited free visits, free and discounted IMAX tickets, special camp and party rates and quite a bit more. The list is long! Membership levels range from Commuter (one individual and a guest; $65) to Million Miler (one individual and up to 9 guests; $500).

Hopefully this has given you some “outside-the-box” ideas for gift-giving. Make it a merry and bright season to remember with the gift of travel!

LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.

From the shores of the Chesapeake Bay to the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia’s beautiful outdoors are a major draw each fall as 15 million acres of foliage burst into color and illuminate parks, forests and coastlines. Families, friends and couples who love the outdoors can enjoy Virginia’s mild fall weather and stunning scenery while spending quality time together in the great outdoors. Below are trip ideas to get you outside and into Virginia’s fall splendor.

Shenandoah National Park

Soar Above the Foliage on Virginia’s Eastern Shore - Glide over the Eastern Shore of Virginia like a bird while gazing down at some of the most beautiful scenery on the East Coast on a Discovery Hang Gliding Flight at the Eastern Shore Hang Gliding Center. No experience is necessary and all ages four and older are able to enjoy this pure form of flight from 2500 feet or a mile high.

Take a Cycling Scenic Road Trip – Road cycling enthusiasts looking for an epic fall ride can enjoy a scenic ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the country’s most legendary scenic roads. This 469-mile scenic route winds through 39 counties in Virginia. It is one of the best leaf peeping destinations on the East Coast and is popular among bicyclists and motorists during fall.

Go on a Guided Backpacking Trip in Shenandoah National Park – See places in Shenandoah National Park that few people know about; breathtaking waterfalls, high meadows, rugged mountaintops, even historic structures. This guided backpacking trip includes gear, meals and instruction by an experienced guide. Prices start at $225 per person.  Folks who want to plan an independent backpacking trip can certainly do so without a guide in Shenandoah National Park, or in other outdoor wonderlands like Mount Rogers Recreational Area and along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia.

Stay in a Luxury Tree House – Located near the Blue Ridge Parkway, the new Golden Eagle Tree House at Primland Resort in Meadows of Dan is a highly luxurious way to experience fall foliage. Designed by La Cabene Perchee, one of the world’s top tree house architectural firms, the tree house sits in one of Primland’s oldest and most beautiful trees – without the intrusion of one single nail – and overlooks the Dan River Gorge. The red cedar tree house features a king bed, huge deck and all the luxurious amenities found at Primland’s main lodge.

Watch Roaring Falls Framed by Colorful Fall Foliage - Great Falls National Park, just outside of Washington D.C. is a collection of jagged rocks jutting up from the Potomac River in the narrow Mather Gorge creating an amazing series of falls. There are 15 miles of trails – five are multi-use and allow bikes and horses – to see the falls from various angles.

Go Tree Climbing – Adventurers can get an up close and personal leaf peeping experience as they climb among the foliage up to the tree tops. Blue Ridge Tree Climbing in Southwest Virginia and Riverside Outfitters in Richmond offer the chance for folks to climb to sky-high branches using safety techniques borrowed from professional arborists.

Ride Along Virginia’s Rail to Trails – Families can enjoy any number of Virginia’s rail trails, many of which are multi-use trails that trail runners, hikers and bikers of all skill levels can enjoy as they are well maintained, primarily flat trails converted from old railroad lines. In Martinsville, try the Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail, a paved 4.5 mile section of the old Danville and Western Railroad. In Nelson County, the Virginia Blue Ridge Rail Trail runs along the Piney River and crosses into Amherst County – a beautiful wooded trail set against the Blue Ridge Mountains.

James River

Visit Virginia’s State Parks – Virginia State Parks are consistently rated the best in the nation and have been the backdrop for perfect family vacations for more than 75 years.  Families will find that Virginia’s 35 state parks are as diverse as the state itself, with parks found along the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, on historic sites, in the Blue Ridge Mountains or just outside of major cities, making fall outdoor fun accessible in every region of the state.

Float through Foliage on Virginia’s Scenic Water Trails - Virginia’s vast system of scenic rivers, salty tidal bays and quiet inlets and streams provide paddlesport enthusiasts endless opportunities to experience fall from the water.

Look for Wildlife - Virginia is full of places for wildlife viewing, especially along the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, which consists of 65 trail loops throughout Virginia. The first such trail in America, this trail reaches every part of the state and brings visitors up close and personal with Virginia’s abundant wildlife treasures. Fall is particularly great for birding as one of the most important migration stop-overs on the East Coast happens. Millions of songbirds and butterflies and thousands of raptors will converge on Virginia’s Eastern Shore during their long journey south during the 20th Annual Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival, October 5 – 7, 2012 in Cape Charles.

Discover more ways to connect in Virginia’s beautiful outdoors at Virginia.org/Outdoors.

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.
Request your free Travel Guide.

It’s summer and great vacation deals for you and your family are at your fingertips here in Virginia. To make planning a getaway easy, we’ve pulled together some of the best and most exciting family vacation savings here for you, with many more found on www.Virginia.org. So what are you waiting for? Book a package deal and come see why we say love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation.

Kids playing at Assateague Island National Seashore

• Unplug the Kids in Shenandoah National Park: Enjoy two nights in the park at Skyland Resort or Big Meadows Lodge with breakfast and dinner included for the kids; a fun filled Scavenger Hike Adventure book and admission to Luray Caverns. Starting at $359 Details
• Williamsburg Flex Vacation: Take a family getaway with a whole lot of fun and flexibility. Experience all the adventure Williamsburg and the Historic Triangle have to offer: three living- history museums, two national park sites, and one amusement park. 3 Days / 2 Nights from $514 Details
• 3 Night Summer Getaway in Virginia Beach: Save up to 15% Looking to take a mini-vacation? Come check out the newly renovated Holiday Inn & Suites, North Beach. Enjoy a 3 night stay in our two room suites.
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• The Homestead Experience Package: The Homestead invites guests to plunge into the family fun with complete abandon at a great nightly rate. You choose the activities to include in the package – all for one price! From $275 Details
• Dolphin Discovery Package: 2 nights oceanfront accommodations Dolphin Watching boat excursion Admission to Virginia Aquarium, IMAX and Special Family Pack Welcome Gift. Starting at $124
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• August “beat the heat” Villa mountain escape!: Come on down to Meadow Villas in the beautiful Allegheny mountains. Take the vacation you want and enjoy 30% off ANY available villa when you mention this August “beat the heat ” special from Virginia.org.
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• Celebrating Summer Package: Summer is always special at Keswick Hall. Package includes: Superior room, $50 credit to be used anywhere in the resort and parking. Details
• A Natural Bridge Summer Family Escape: Book the Summer Family Escape Package to put the natural wonder at your front door & get a great deal on a room. Details
• Busch Gardens Package: Great Deal! 1 night’s accommodations in a one king or two double-bed room 2 single day admission tickets to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Details
• Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Downtown Civil War Package: Includes breakfast for two, two tickets to Museum of Confederacy, two tickets for tour of Confederate White House and more. From $151.90
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• Summer Couple’s Getaway: Plan a “Summer” getaway to Shadow Mountain Escape! Enjoy a deluxe Timberframe cabin – celebrate Romance with your special someone! From $370. Details
• “Concert Under the Stars” Wolf Trap Picnic Package: Enjoy great food and drinks while being swept away by world-class music and entertainment underneath clear, crisp skies. From $139 Details

For more great travel package and discount offers, visit Virginia.org/DealsAndPackages/.