Virginia

Did you know that there are 450 Civil War sites in Virginia?  Again, so much to see, so little time.  Not to mention Colonial Williamsburg, American Revolution sites, and the Atlantic shore!

So I did the only touristy thing:  I sent off for a 2012 Virginia Travel Guide.  Got back a wowzer magazine, a 2012 edition Virginia map, a scenic roadway map, and a supplement map that takes you to Civil War sites via scenic roads!  Now we're all mapped up.

You might say, it's winter time (with uncharacteristically no snow) WHAT scenic roads?  Well, when the leaves are off the trees, guess what?  You can see BEHIND the trees.  We are discovering old log homes and more (yes, more) tobacco barns, bridges, animals...  I kept wondering where all of the horses were.  I thought Virginia was big on horses.  We discovered all of the horse farms were in NORTHERN Virginia.

Turns out, on our visits to Richmond we missed a "fascinating" medical museum located at the site of one of the largest hospitals during the war, a really cool bridge called the Goose Creek Stone Bridge built in 1801, the Aldie Mill built in 1809 that was milling grain for the troops, an 1889 engraving showing the first Confederate flag was almost identical to the U.S. flag which caused a lot of confusion for both sides of the Civil War ...  suffice it to say, we've lots more to do here before heading off to another location.

I also learned that the McLean home, where Robert E. Lee officially surrendered to U.S. Grant, had been completely dismantled in 1893 to be moved to Washington, D.C. for display.  It wasn't until the late 1940's that it was reconstructed on it's original site!  Who knew!  (Now you do!)  (Can you imagine the Yankees flaunting that surrender for eternity?  Good choice not to rebuild it in D.C.)

So, stay tuned for more Virginia, Virginia.  ( A  lil' play on words there - very little.)  See ya' on the highway!  Bye-bye!