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"Virginia is for lovers,"
the state's tourist commission tells us, and the
pictures of spectacular vistas from the Blue Ridge, the
shady thickets of the Shenandoah, the lively nightlife
of Virginia Beach, and the quaint historic buildings
scattered across the countryside have fueled many a
couple's dream of the perfect honeymoon. Virginia is
packed with things to do and see, and perhaps no other
state is as steeped in history or as sensitive to its
influence in the development of the nation. Much of
America's past can still be seen here: Colonial
Williamsburg, Monticello, Mount Vernon, the battlefields
of Fredericksburg and Manassas, the little town of
Appomattox...all stand ready to reveal stories of
bravery, perseverance, hardship, defeat, and renewal.
Today, much more than geography separates the cluster
of Virginia cities surrounding Washington D.C. from the
coal towns in the state's southwestern corner. As
dissimilar in lifestyle and mindset as two separate
countries could be, the contrast is real, but defies
stereotypical labels. Case in point: Blacksburg, the
site of Virginia Tech and a town set firmly within the
boundaries of coal country, is also home of the famed
Electronic Village, where each resident and local
businness is wired to the Internet. After one visit to
this charming state, you could be singing "Carry me back
to Old Virginny...where the cotton and corn and
electronic industry grow."
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