HOLIDAYS IN VIRGINIA:

FROM CAPITAL TO THE COAST

Day One - Richmond, VA

A.M. - Visit Agecroft Hall, which was built in England in the 15th century, was transported here in 1925 and is set amid gardens along the river. The country manor house is lovingly decorated for the season and contains an extensive assortment of Tudor and early Stuart art and furniture.

The Virginia House, a 12th century priory reconstructed as an English manor house is sure to please your group. Tour the home and enjoy making a gingerbread house. Then have cider and cookies while the staff talks about holiday traditions in this grand old manor that was once home to an ambassador to Spain.

Enjoy lunch in CaryTown complete with shopping for that eclectic gift you’ve been waiting for. A mile of boutique stores and restaurants line this famous area of Richmond. Did you know the first strip mall was located here?

Visit the Virginia State Capitol. Thomas Jefferson designed this neo-classical marvel featuring a hidden dome, pre-historic fossils in the floor marble and the world-famous Houdon statue of George Washington. See how the Commonwealth shows off its Capitol during the holidays. If you are here Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, you can add a visit to the Executive Mansion and see how the Governor of Virginia’s house decorates for the holidays.

Come share the glow of the season and

experience millions of lights and holi-

day events from Virginia’s capital city to

Coastal Virginia. Drive-through or walk-

through light shows that will dazzle and

shine with more than two million lights in

Richmond, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach,

Virginia. Lighted boat parades, city illumi-

nations, festivals, parades, living history

re-enactments, caroling, dining events,

and music are among the many activities

occurring throughout the region from

Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

Stop at the themed 5-star Jefferson Hotel for afternoon tea. This historic hotel has catered to no less than 11 presidents, British royalty and countless celebrities. It’s sure to raise a wow at its beautiful decorations during the holidays. Have a group photo with the magnificent Christmas tree or on the famous staircase that inspired the one used in the movie Gone With The Wind.

P.M. - End the night at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens just in time to delight in the GardenFest of Lightsfeaturing more than 500,000 holiday lights arranged in botanical themes. See Virginia’s only classical, domed conservatory, all dressed up for the holidays. Enjoy holiday shopping at the gift shop and dinner in the Robbins Room.

A.M. - Begin the day at Maymont, a spectacular 100 acre Victorian estate in the midst of Richmond. This gilded Age mansion’s Victorian Christmas décor is a special treat that offers a fashion show of days gone by.

Visit the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts that is noted for their excellent art and collections. Make sure you see the largest collection of Fabrege’ eggs outside of Russia. Explore the rooms of gold, silver and period furniture. And the holidays…are special at the museum.

Enjoy an Iron Chef Challenge cooking class with lunch at Mise En Place in the heart of downtown Richmond. You’ve seen it on tv, now experience the creative thrill with your challenge partners. If cooking isn’t your style, lunch on your own in Richmond’s cobblestone Shockoe Slip and later indulge in a chocolate making workshop!

Last stop in Richmond is the St. John’s Church, where on March 23, 1775, in the presence of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and the other members of the Second Virginia Convention, the torch of liberty was kindled by the inspired words of Patrick Henry, “give me liberty or give me death.” St. John’s is the oldest church in Richmond and has held services for more than 200 years. Re-enactments of the Second Virginia Convention may be arranged for groups.

P.M. - Experience dinner at the famous restaurant The Tobacco Company. Located in the heart of Historic Shockoe Slip among the cobblestones in Richmond’s oldest part of the city, this former tobacco warehouse exudes ambience and beauty unlike any other dining establishment in Richmond.

It’s off for “Tacky Lights Tour”. The region is nationally known for its Tacky Light Tours throughout many neighborhoods with each house decorated with a minimum of 10,000 lights. Have your cameras ready to do some serious light photos.

A.M. Now is the time to celebrate the holidays in Coastal Virginia.

A.M.Norfolk’s historic houses are decorated for the holidays. The Hunter House Victorian Museum, rich in architectural detail, displays the Hunter family’s collection of furnishings and decorative pieces done up for a Victorian Christmas. The Moses Myers House, an elegant federal period home dating back to 1792, was built by one of Norfolk’s first Jewish residents and is decorated for Hanukkah.

Day Two - Richmond, VA

Day Three - Norfolk, VA

Dinner - Savor dinner at the historic Omar’s Carriage House, whose original patrons were horses! Converted to a restaurant in the 1940s by Virginia Bruce Roper, Omar’s is sure to please. Be sure to try the fresh jumbo lump crab cakes and potato crisp flounder while you’re there.

P.M. - Experience Norfolk’s “Garden of Lights” through the magic of the gardens, 2.5 mile twinkling light display from the comfort of your tram at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Norfolk’s spectacular “Garden of Lights” display features a whimsical flower theme with wisteria arbor arches, animated humming birds, a windmill, scarecrow, leaping frogs, butterflies, mushrooms and a waterfall.

A.M.Stroll through 5,000 years of art history at the Chrysler Museum of Art, home to Walter Chrysler Jr.’s world-class collection of more than 30,000 pieces of art theme. Experience the art of glass with a glass blowing demonstration in their new studio! Maybe you will have a chance to make your own ornament.

Enter into a magical world at Nauticus with Dickens’ Christmas Towne. Stroll through Victorian Streets with Christmas characters, carolers, sweet treats, train displays, activities and crafts. Be sure to enjoy a photo with Father Christmas himself!

Holiday shopping and lunch is a must at MacArthur Center with more than 140 new-to-the-market retailers. Enjoy lunch at MacArthur’s 600-seat food court or at one of its numerous sit-down restaurants. And celebrate the holidays by participating in MacArthur Center’s outdoor winter carnival complete with an ice skating rink.

P.M. - Discover over 20 local artists and their studios with a guided tour of d’ART Center in Norfolk’s NEON arts district. The d’ART Center is an environment where working artists are a part of an interactive arts community that engages the public through the experience of art and the creative process

Enjoy a tour holiday meal aboard the Spirit of Norfolk Dinner Cruise. Celebrate the holiday festivities with great food, great view from the water and great entertainment.

A.M. - Attend a live taping of the 700 Club at the Christian Broadcasting Network. After the show, enjoy a tour of the “state-of–the-art studio facility, followed by Lunch at the Swan Terrace, which is located inside the beautifully decorated Founders Inn.

After lunch, enjoy a riding tour of Virginia Beach for an overview of area history including the Cape Henry Lighthouses. Then, visit our historic homes- Lynnhaven, Adam Thoroughgood and Francis Land- all decked out for the Holidays. The last stop will be Forbes Taffy for a lesson in holiday taffy making. Dine at Rockafellers, a Virginia Beach favorite.

Take a shiny journey into nautical, holiday, and adventure lands – all along the beautiful Virginia Beach boardwalk from the comfort of your Motorcoach. Festive fish, jumping dolphins, frolicking porpoises – all in bright, colored lights against the clear night-time sky, are the stars of McDonald’s Holiday Lights at the Beach.

Day Four - Norfolk, VA

Day Five - Virginia Beach, VA

Next stop is Sound of Freedom at Naval Air Station Oceana. Be sure to thank the brave men and women who help protect this great country. Enjoy a boxed lunch and experience Swingtime in the Skies at the Military Aviation Museum, housing one of the largest collections of flying WWI and WWII military aircraft in the world.

Before you head home, pick up a few last holiday gifts at Lynnhaven Mall, the largest Mall in Coastal Virginia for an afternoon dessert reception and those important last minute gifts.

Tonight enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants in Town Center, and then catch a holiday show at The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. Save room for dessert at The Royal Chocolate.

On your way home, don’t forget to visit Christmas Town at Busch Gardens.

Day Six - Virginia Beach, VA

Day Seven- Virginia Beach, VA

Melissa HopperVisitNorfolk

mhopper@visitnorfolktoday.com800.368.3097

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION