Family travel in Virginia

Every Tuesday (this week we’re a day late – sorry!) until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly travel ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin , West Virginia , Washington and now we’re moving on to….Virginia!

These guys are HOPPIN’ online  —  you can find their state tourism organization on Twitter at @VisitVirginia plus @VATourismPR, and here is the Virginia travel and tourism Facebook page.

Their state parks folks are on Twitter at @VAStateParks. There is also a Virginia tourism YouTube channel, the Virginia Flickr pool and a whole site for Virginia Green Travel.

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for Virginia

From Dwight Silverman via @dsilverman on Twitter  —  [Virginia Beach’s] Capt. George’s Seafood Buffet is good for kids. Huge amounts of good food; my sister calls it “Capt. Gorge”. She lives in VA Beach.

From Nancy Schretter via @KidTravel on Twitter  — Virginia’s my home state. Two of my favorite VA parks for families are Lake Anna and Smith Mountain Lake. They’re fabulous!

From Jenna Schnuer via @JennaSchnuer on Twitter  — Here’s one of my favorites – and definitely a great family travel spot. Link is to my WorldHum piece about [the Clinch Mountain’s Carter Family Fold dance hall, with old-time country and bluegrass music]  The Most Joyous Place in the World.

From @jayne52 on Twitter  — My favorite place: Arlington National Cemetery, so moving, & historical Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Kennedy gravesite esp. at holidays.

From Char Polanosky via @charpolanosky on Twitter  — Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Great Wolf Lodge, Water Country USA make for a great family vacation in VA.

From @TheLocalAccent on Twitter  — Please visit our website for great travel ideas in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula of Virginia: TheLocalAccent.com

From Ronnie Crocker via @rcrocker on Twitter  — Colonial Williamsburg always has lots of neat stuff, but Busch Gardens is probably most kids’ fave. Not sure about new attractions [see MechTeach below, about Sesame St.]

From @MechTeach on Twitter  —  Williamsburg is #1: Colonial W’burg, Busch Gardens (has new Sesame Street Land) Water Country USA, Yorktown, lots o’ pancake restaurants.

(Speaking of pancakes, but in Virginia Beach….) From Carla Young via @redyelllow on Twitter  — For breakfast close to the beach Pocahontas Pancake and Waffle Shop. She also gives us a “beach tip: don’t forget sunblock, especially behind the knees, even if it looks like there is no sun.”

Facebook Travel Tips for Virginia

From John Bredehoft on Facebook  —  I heartily recommend Williamsburg. The historic district keeps cars outside of the perimeter and provides a living view of our country before it was a country.

I got one tip that came in from the LinkedIn professional networking site: From Debi on LinkedIn (she blogs at By-Lander-Sea Food Tales)  —  Has to be Colonial Williamsburg. I have the fondest memories of going there as a child as well as taking my children. Very authentic. Stay in true colonial homes if you can; check them out.

Of course, I have the Great Stuff for Kids: Virginia and Great Stuff for Kids: Washington, DC categories here on Family Travel Logue, and on the BootsnAll Travel Network you’ll find the Virginia Travel Guide.

(Update:  the state is running a 40 Off Travel promotion – $40 off, 40 % off, spend three nights & get a fourth night free, or buy three, get a fourth free. Discounts apply to attractions, lodging, etc. all over the state – see 40 Off Travel Deals for more details.)

Thanks so much for the contributions – the next state in the series is Vermont.

Send your Vermont highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or my Facebook page (tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

Yes, I know how to search for family travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or Facebook recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

My purpose for this series is not only to highlight worthy kid-friendly vacation destinations in all 50 states, but by using Twitter and Facebook I want to also encourage tourism organizations to learn more about connecting with their visitors using social media and online networks.

Please add your own Virginia suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!