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Virginia has what it takes to make it to the top - at least according to editors at Travel + Leisure and readers of Southern Living. Several of Virginia's finest lodging properties made Travel + Leisures's 500 Best Hotels in the world. And Southern Living readers elected several Virginia destinations as the top ten in the south in the annual Reader's Choice Awards. See the full news release here.

Virginia is a hotspot for music, especially old time country music found deep in the heart of Southwest Virginia. One of our newest tourist destinations - The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, showcases that music at some of the most famous and authentic bluegrass and country music venues in the world. A recent study of the Crooked Road, which was created in 2004, proves that not only is it a great place to visit, it has major postive impacts on the region's economy, to the tune of $23 million, more than 200,000 visitors and 445 jobs. Click here for the Associated Press story.

We have officially kicked off the 40th anniversary of Virginia is for Lovers. Governor Kaine and his father in-law former Governor Linwood Holton announced 2009 will mark 40 years of Virginia's famous tourism slogan at a press conference at the Virginia State Captiol.

See this great slideshow from Michaele White, Governor Kaine's official photographer.

2009 is going to be a great time to cover Virginia, as we show off our newest travel passions, from 130 wineries to the birthplace of country music and major upgrades to historic favorites from Mount Vernon to Montpelier and more.

Stay tuned as we prepare to launch the largest vacation sweepstakes in Virginia's history in January.

This brand-new little gem, The Red Hen, is Lexington's first farm to table restaurant. Although the restaurant is new, the building itself is from the 1850's, beautifully rehabbed and fits in perfectly with Lexington's historic charm.

The food is earthly and thoughtful and almost everything comes from local farmers, growers and artisans. The wine list focuses on organic and biodynamic wines from around the world as well as several Virginia's offerings. The Red Hen is a brilliant addition to Lexington's beautiful downtown. They are doing dinner and Sunday brunch but hope to expand soon to lunch.

Virginia is Green and we've got the #1 ranking to prove it. TripHow.com researched the tourism Web sites for all 50 states and Washington D.C. and Virginia rated #1 for green travel information. This is a feather in our cap for Virginia's sustainable tourism efforts.

Wine lovers are tipping a glass to mark October as the 20th anniversary of Virginia Wine Month. To celebrate this major milestone, the Virginia Wine Marketing Office recently hosted a Heritage Tasting in Richmond, featuring Virginia Wines from 1998 - 2007. Bartholomew Broadbent, noted wine enthusiast who has recently moved to Richmond, was one of the special guests. See Richard Leahy's blog to review Bartholomew's notes on the wines that wowed him.

Roanoke has a lot going for it as a destination, with food being one of my favorite reasons to visit. My current restaurant crush is on Kitchen 202 right down in Roanoke's walkable downtown. I was there recently as we were in town for the kick off of the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. 202 has a very urban vibe, superb wine list and unlike drive through restaurants where the staff watch the customers, at 202, guests watch the chef on an unimposing flat screen. Two faves from the "snackies" menu - mushroom tempura and fried chicken sqewers.

Just back from a meeting with the Garden Club of Virginia. Garden Week in April 2009 is sure to be a huge hit- as Virginia's week of blooms and historic homes is the Grande Dame of all Garden Weeks. The headquarters for Virginia's Garden Club is the Kent-Valentine House in historic Richmond, a spectacular mansion, fully restored and open for tours each year during Garden Week, with priceless art and antiques on display - just one more little known but powerful reason to visit Virginia for Garden Week.

Virginia is the Mother of Presidents, with eight Commanders in Chief (more than any other state) hailing from Virginia. As the nation prepares to elect our next president, now is a great time to explore the origins of the presidency in Virginia, especially with the major updates and upgrades to Mount Vernon, Montpelier and the upcoming new visitor experience at Monticello.

Other sites such as the Martha Washington Inn in Abingdon, Virginia State Capitol, Woodrow Wilson presidential library in Staunton and many more offer travelers an excellent presidential refresher course.

It feels like fall in Virginia and it may be my favorite season.

Wine Month in October is going to be a huge hit this year, as we celebrate 20 years, which is hard to believe. Our wineries know how to celebrate and like to keep things light and festive - like at the Norton Bluegrass Festival at Chrysalis.

While up in Loudoun County, check out downtown Middleburg for great shopping and eating! And Goodstone Inn and Estates just up the road is one of Virginia's lesser-known treasures. Wrap a weekend around the festival and visiting the other wineries in the area, with an unforgetable stay at Goodstone. They are committed to local/organic menu and have a solid wine list with many Virginia offerings.

-TTA

Constitution Day (Sept. 17) was spectacular at James Madison's Montpelier, which has just undergone one of the most significant historic restorations in the country. The Madison's home is open for history buffs to travel back in time to Madison's day. Be sure to visit the many wineries in and around Orange County and check out overnight options at the fine Inns at Montpelier.

-TTA