Essentially America....

A CAPITAL TIME IN THE CAPITAL REGION

There's never been a better time to visit the Capital Region. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean, the time is right for a capital time in Washington, DC and in the surrounding Virginia and Maryland areas.

One of the many beauties of exploring the Capital Region's indoors and outdoors attractions is the wide variety. This cultural cornucopia has something for every British visitor at any time of year.

Of course, the nation's capital is filled with museums, historical and cultural sites, entertainment opportunities, world-renowned dining, and an international flair that is unsurpassed. The exploration options in the DC-area are virtually endless, while, nearby, Virginia and Maryland offer even more options to Capital Region visitors.

Naturally, outdoors opportunities abound, with the Virginia and Maryland mountains to the west offering hiking, biking, horseback riding, freshwater fishing, river rafting and canoeing, skiing, and more. To the east, water lovers can enjoy swimming, sunning, boating, fishing, and many other activities, along the shores of both states.

The indoors attractions are just as interesting. Capital Region cities like Baltimore, Annapolis, Richmond, and Norfolk offer a wide range of museums and historical attractions, with many featuring British historical and cultural influences. Of course, history buffs from Britain will want to spend several days down in the 'Historic Triangle' of Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown.

This variety is matched by ease of travel. All of the major Capital Region attractions make for easy day or multi-day outings from the DC-area. It's amazing what's just beyond the Beltway (the motorway circling the city).

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

British visitors will think they're back in the Lake District when they head west out of Washington to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Fabled for blue tint of the air (a complex chemical reaction of the trees with the atmosphere), the Blue Ridge Mountains offer a wide range of sightseeing and outdoors options.

One of the best introductions to the area is Skyline Drive (you could once see the DC 'skyline' from there). This 105-mile road runs through one of the prettiest sections of Shenandoah National Park, with slower speed limits and lots of overlooks making for a pleasant drive. Hardy hikers will also enjoy trying parts of the famed Appalachian Trail, a 2,145-mile footpath that runs all the way from Georgia to Maine.

Along with driving tours and hikes, other mountain memories are easy to plan. Unusual underground caverns have been discovered throughout the area and several, like Luray Caverns, Skyline Caverns, and Shenandoah Caverns, are open to the public. Further south, the Skyline Drive turns into the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs through more undeveloped wilderness all the way to North Carolina.

Out of the mountains, small town life down in the stunning Shenandoah Valley can be enjoyed in places like Winchester, Strasburg, New Market, Staunton, and Lexington. This area was where English, Scottish, Irish, and other European settlers established frontier homes. Staunton's Museum of American Frontier Culture features 18th and 19th century working farms from England, Germany, northern Ireland, and America. It's enjoyable and educational to walk the grounds and talk with the 'actors.' This is a great overview of the development of the Shenandoah Valley frontier.

In the 1860s, much of the Civil War was fought in this region, so battlefields and museums are seemingly around every turn. Virginia's new Civil War Trails program makes it easy to visit many significant areas in one trip. Thankfully, the Blue Ridge Mountains are a much more peaceful place to visit now.

BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS & THE BAY

The area between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay features several fascinating cities and a wealth of historic landmarks not to be missed. Everything is within easy reach of Washington.

Actually located just on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore is one of the nation's most interesting cities. Bountiful fresh seafood, the lively Inner Harbor area, and lots of history await Baltimore-bound Brits. Locals will quickly remind British visitors that it was at Baltimore's Fort McHenry that Francis Scott Key wrote the nation's national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner (during the War of 1812 with Britain).

Maryland's capital, Annapolis, is another capital attraction. Just east of Washington, Annapolis is steeped in history and the water, thanks to an historically important location on the Chesapeake Bay. It was here, in 1783, that the young country's first Continental Congress met.

Likewise, Virginia's capital of Richmond provides a United States history lesson. The vocal patriot Patrick Henry gave his "Give me liberty or give me death" speech in Richmond's St. John's Church. Today's recreations are almost as stirring. Nearby, the White House of the Confederacy reveals Richmond's capital role in the Civil War.

To the west of Richmond, the Historic Triangle is inevitably fascinating to British travellers. The links to Britain include: Jamestown as the location for the first British settlers in 1607; Williamsburg as the Colonial capital of the New World; and Yorktown as the last big Revolutionary War battle. British accents weren't and aren't out of place for this trio of history. Between Richmond and the Historic Triangle, the plantations of many early patriots are open to the public.

Down in the Hampton Roads area, vibrant cities like Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, and Portsmouth all feature historical and cultural sightseeing possibilities. The area is especially strong in the military arena, thanks to many large Armed Forces bases (including the world's largest naval base) and several prominent military history museums.

THE BAY & OCEAN

The Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean provide a final option to Capital Region visitors. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge crosses over to the Maryland and Virginia Eastern Shore, where life on the water is lived at a slower pace. Towns like St. Michaels and Cambridge in Maryland, as well as Virginia counterparts like Chincoteague and Onancock, make the Eastern Shore a fascinating DC-area outing. Right out in the middle of the bay sit Maryland's Smith Island and Virginia's Tangier Island, where the descendents of early-17th century settlers (with names like Smith, Harrison, and Crosby) still speak with a Cornish accent.

Of course, the Atlantic Ocean's beaches lure from Washington. Maryland's bustling Ocean City to the north and Virginia Beach in the south are the two most popular places for beach blankets, but many quieter sandy spots also lie between them. Assateague Island National Seashore is one of the quietest possibilities, with more than 33 miles of undeveloped beachfront and a herd of wild horses roaming the landscape.

Thus, whether you choose the varied cities, the water, or the mountains (or all of them), the Capital Region provides a host of capital possibilities. There's never been a better time to visit.

Lynn Seldon is a Virginia native and resident. His writing and photography have appeared in hundreds of international magazines. He is also the author of many books.