Virginia Tourism Office....

THE OLD DOMINION OFFERS OLD AND NEW ADVENTURES

IN SPORTS & OUTDOOR RECREATION

Virginia's outstanding sports and outdoor recreation opportunities are as old as the hills. However, increasing interest in adventure travel and ecotourism has sparked a new wave of possibilities throughout the state.

The vast state parks and recreation system and a large number of independent outdoor adventure operators make Virginia perfect for the sporting set. Young or old, it's just a matter of picking your pleasure in the outdoors.

ONE IF BY LAND. . .

The variety of landscapes throughout the state mean it's a great place for landlubbers to explore. No matter where you are in Virginia, the great outdoors and another adventure are just a step outside the front door:

**Hiking--Lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails. Forests cover two-thirds of the total acreage in Virginia, with hiking trails lacing the woods throughout. One-quarter (more than 450 miles) of the Appalachian Trail is in the state and the myriad of national and state parks make it easy to pound something other than pavement. The state also offers some unusual hiking possibilities, like the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in the Tidewater region near Suffolk.

**Horseback Riding--Virginia is horse country. The addition of the popular Virginia Horse Center outside the Shenandoah Valley town of Lexington has renewed interest in recreational riding throughout the state. Many commercial outfitters make it easy to giddy-up-and-go along a beach, in a vast Virginia forest, or in the mountains.

**Bicycling--The Tour DuPont and Greg LeMond put two wheel travel on Virginia's map. Whether you want a slow and flat ride by the seashore or an invigorating ride in the mountains, biking is better in Virginia. More adventurous cyclists should check out the new mountain biking center at Wintergreen, along with other off-road cycling possibilities throughout the state.

**Golf--From the nation's oldest first tee at The Homestead in Hot Springs to many new resort courses by the world's best golf course designers, Virginia is a premier golf destination. The newly-formed Golf Virginia Resorts Association makes it easy for any duffer to hit the links almost anywhere in the state.

Many other landlubbing possibilities exist throughout Virginia. Some options include: a family camping trip to one of the state parks or commercial campgrounds; skeet and other shooting sports; caving with a commercial outfitter or a visit to awe-inspiring caverns; grass skiing at Bryce Resort; or one of many outdoor learning opportunities with a full outdoor outfitter, like the Bear Mountain Outdoor School in the Potomac Highlands of Virginia.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE. . .

Mother Nature has blessed Virginia with many beautiful bodies of water and that means lots of water sports. There are lots of ways to enjoy H2O on the go:

**Saltwater--The Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay offer many salty possibilities. Like anything else in the state, Virginia's saltwater fishing and boating excursions are unusually diverse. You can try for marlin while deep sea fishing, fish on and around the bountiful Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, or head into James Michener territory for the abundance of fish in the Chesapeake Bay. More adventurous explorers can get closer to saltwater action with sea kayaking, scuba diving, windsurfing, water skiing, jet skiing, parasailing, and much more. State-sponsored and commercial outings feature an array of activities for old and young salts.

**Freshwater--The streams, lakes, and rivers of Virginia mean lots of fishing, boating, and other recreational opportunities. The state's freshwater options continue the theme of variety in watery experiences. As with the saltwater possibilities, there are many angling choices of what to fish, where to fish, and how to fish for them. The state park system and many other public possibilities can lead to all sorts of watery fun, from a family fishing outing to a windsurfing class at popular spots like Lake Windsor near Virginia Beach.

**Rollin' Down a River--The state features more than 2,000 miles of rolling water and there are lots of ways to enjoy the fun. Whitewater rafting, canoeing, and kayaking are popular on rivers like the James, Shenandoah, and Maury. River runners can enjoy the thrill of urban whitewater through downtown Richmond with the Richmond Raft Company or wet and backwoods whitewater with companies like Shenandoah River Outfitters in Luray. More sedate trips down the river can be found on slower-moving flows throughout the state. Commercial outfitters can help with a short tubing trip or a multi-day canoe adventure.

The state makes finding H2O on the go easy. Whether you're searching for fun on the wide open Atlantic or a quiet stream, you'll find it with the waters of Virginia.

THE WILD BLUE 'YONDER

The Wright brothers could never have envisioned the ways you can take to the air in Virginia. Adventurous souls enjoy the incredible sense of freedom and breathtaking views that only the wild blue 'yonder can provide:

**Ballooning--It's not all a bunch of hot air. . .ballooning in Virginia is as much fun as everyone claims. It's a unique way to explore the beauty, history, and thrill of the Old Dominion. Popular spots include the Boar's Head Inn near Charlottesville, the Barnstormers Airshows at Hanover County Airport outside of Richmond, and the Flying Circus in Bealeton, just 30 miles northwest of historic Fredericksburg.

**Flying with the Eagles--There are all sorts of ways to fly in Virginia. Along with their popular airshow, the Flying Circus offers biplane flights to tourists in search of low-flying fun. History buffs should contact Historic Air Tours for an enhanced appreciation of the fascinating background around the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg, the James River plantations, or the maritime history of the Hampton Roads area. For the purist, head to the Warrenton Soaring Center and a glider ride over Virginia's peaceful hunt country. True air adrenaline-seekers should try hang gliding, parachuting, or bungee jumping.

Like everything else in the state's outdoors, the view of Virginia from the sky is always unique and exhilarating. Just pick your mode of transportation.

For further information concerning Virginia sports and outdoor recreation possibilities, contact the Virginia Division of Tourism, 1021 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Telephone (804) 786-2051 or (800) 548-9797.

FACT SHEET OF POSSIBLE CONTACTS

ONE IF BY LAND. . .

Division of State Parks

203 Governor St., Ste. 306

Richmond, VA 23219

Reservations--(804) 371-8502

Information-- (804) 490-3939

Virginia Campground Association

9415 Hull Street Rd., Ste. B

Richmond, VA 23236

(804) 276-8614

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

P.O. Box 349

Suffolk, VA 23434-0349

(804) 986-3705

Virginia Horse Center

P.O. Box 1051

Lexington, VA 24450

(703) 463-2194

Wintergreen Resort

Wintergreen, VA 22958

(804) 325-2200

Golf Virginia Resorts Association

P.O. Box 358

Wintergreen, VA 22958

(800) 93-BACK9

Bryce Resort

P.O. Box 3

Basye, VA 22810

(703) 856-2121

Bear Mountain Outdoor School

Hightown, VA 24444

(703) 468-2700

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE. . .

Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament

968 Oriole Drive South, Ste. 102

Virginia Beach, VA 23451

(804) 491-5160

Virginia Dept. of Game and

Inland Fisheries

4010 West Broad St.

Richmond, VA 23230

(804) 367-1000

Richmond Raft Company

4400 East Main St.

Richmond, VA 23231

(804) 222-RAFT

Shenandoah River Outfitters

Route 3

Luray, VA 22835

(703) 743-4159

THE WILD BLUE 'YONDER

Boar's Head Inn and Sports Club

P.O. Box 5307

Charlottesville, VA 22905

(804) 476-1988

Barnstormers Airshows

Hanover County Airport

Ashland, VA 23005

(804) 798-8830

Flying Circus

P.O. Box 99

Bealeton, VA 22712

(703) 439-8661