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Veterans Day is approaching and many of Virginia's most popular destinations are offering free admission for veterans in honor of their service. Mount Vernon, Montpelier and Colonial Williamsburg have all just announce that admission will be free of charge on Veterans Day to those who have served our country. Given Virginia's rich military history - these are likely to be the first of many museums and destinations to make this offer as a way of saying thank you. Keep watching this blog and Virginia.org for more offers and check out this page for trip ideas to some of the finest military memorials and museums in the country which are in Virginia.

The results are in for National Geographic’s sixth annual survey of destination stewardship. From 133 places rated, three Virginia destinations made the list. A panel of 437 experts from various fields from historic preservation, to travel writing, to archaeology, ranked the world's most iconic travel destinations and evaluated how they are balancing tourism while protecting the environment.

The Historic Triangle - Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown is listed in the “Places Doing Well” section because of the “well-managed historical sites that evoke key moments in U.S. history, linked by the picturesque Colonial Parkway.”

The Shenandoah Valley is listed in the “Places in the Balance” section as an area that is “beautiful, relaxing, and rich in locally grown products."

The Chesapeake Bay is listed in the “Places with Troubles” section because although the historic sites are well preserved, shopping and retail centers are compromising the area’s character.

The survey found that issues like preservation and sustainability are possible problems for the Virginia destinations mentioned. Read the entire National Geographic article here, or pick up National Geographic Traveler’s November-December issue.

Take a Scenic Drive in Virginia and See "Where America Happened"

Virginia Tourism Corporation is proud to say that the US Department of Transportation recently designated the Journey Through Hallowed Ground, a historic driving route through four states, as a National Scenic Byway. Beginning at Gettysburg, traversing through Virginia, and ending in West Virginia, the Byway meanders through a ton of historic landmarks, with many more Virginia destinations than the other states. The Virginia section includes more than 75 miles and nine counties of Virginia hillside, on and near U.S. Route 15.

For more information on traveling The Journey Through Hallowed Ground in Virginia, click here.

Budget Travel recently named Lexington, Virginia one of America's coolest small towns and it’s easy to see why. Lexington's entire downtown is listed on the State and National register of Historic Places. The downtown not only has beautifully restored architecture, but also offers exceptional shopping including unique gift shops, fresh-made chocolates, fresh-roasted coffees, works by local artisans, book stores, clothing shops and a wide variety of restaurants, all within walking distance. Three inns are found in the heart of the historic district. The article notes that Lexington is “the kind of place where people are invested in making sure history is paid real respect” and mentions landmark Hull’s Drive-In Theatre, B&B’s like the 1868 Magnolia House, and more. Click here for the full article.

Thanks again to all those who either attended or virtually followed along with our Vintage Tweets (#vawinemonth) event at the Hotel Palomar last night. It was an incredible time and we are happy to say that Virginia Wine Month is officially here!

Vintage Tweets - Virginia Wine Travel Trivia Questions and Answers

1. What month is Virginia Wine Month?

a. October

2. How many wineries in Virginia?

a. 148 wineries

3. How many wine trails in Virginia?

a. 13 wine trails

4. How many American Viticulture Areas are in Virginia?

a. Six

5. In what year did October Virginia Wine Month begin?

a. 1988

6. 2009 marks what milestone for Virginia is for Lovers?

a. 40^th Anniversary

7. How many million acres of fall foliage in Va?

a. 15 million

8. Virginia has how many miles of scenic drives?

a. 2,500 miles

9. Which grape is native to Va and the oldest varietal in North America?

a. Norton

10. Which magazine has named Virginia one of the top five up-and-coming wine regions in the world?

a. Travel + Leisure

11. Which county in Va is also known as D.C.’s Wine Country?

a. Loudoun County (20+ wineries)

12. Which winery is Virginia’s largest?

a. Williamsburg Winery

13. Which winery is Virginia’s oldest?

a. Mountain Cove Vineyards (1973)

14. How many Virginia wineries are making 40^th anniversary label wine.

a. Nine

15. How many visitors include a visit to a winery on their trip to Virginia?

a. One million

16. Which Va winery served two wines at an inauguration ball for President Obama?

a. Barboursville Vineyards

17. Which founding father and Virginian was America’s first wine connoisseur?

a. Thomas Jefferson

18. How many grape vines was each Jamestown setter was required to grow and tend to make wine?

a. 10

19. Which wine that starts with a V is thriving in Virginia?

a. Viognier

20. Which state tourism slogan was just inducted into the National Advertising Walk of Fame?

a. Virginia is for Lovers

Tonight we are kicking off October Virginia Wine Month in style with Vintage Tweets - the first-ever Virginia Wine Tweet Up.

We invited 40 of our greatest tweeters (40 in honor of 40th anniversary of Virginia is for Lovers) to join the Virginia Tourism and Virginia Wine industries at the Hotel Palomar in Arlington tonight for wine tasting, tweeting, Virginia wine travel trivia with door prizes and 10 trips to the Chrysalis Norton Wine and Bluegrass Festival October 3 in Loudoun County.

This is the first time we've done an event all through Twitter. The goal is to reach out to people passionate about wine and travel and entice them to visit Virginia's 148 wineries, travel our wine trails, stay at classic B&Bs and inns and enjoy a glorious fall getaway.

We have six wineries each featuring three wines, Chateau Morrisette, Chrysalis, Williamsbug Winery, Glen Manor, Veritas, and White Hall. Guests will be tweeting their thoughts on the tastings.

Twenty wine travel trivia questions will be asked via Twitter - to share with everyone in attendance and all those following virtually.

Our special hashtag for tonight and all of October is #vawinemonth. Follow us @vatourismpr and get a taste of what wine travel is like in Virginia in October and all year long.

Click here for the Wine Month - Bigger and Better news release.

We've got great news to share - Virginia is for Lovers was inducted into the National Advertising Walk of Fame on Monday night at a celebration in New York!!! This is a huge honor and we want to thank everyone who voted to put Virginia over the top to become one of two iconic slogans inducted this year.

COME CELEBRATE WITH US. Join Governor Tim Kaine and the Virginia tourism industry Wednesday, Sept. 23 at the Virginia State Capitol at 12:30 p.m. as we share the love and all the details. Wear your favorite Virginia is for Lovers apparel. Look for us on the steps of the Capitol.

Virginia's win was no small effort! We were up against major national competion including Nike -Just Do It, McDonalds - I'm Lovin' It, Got Milk? and What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas.

As we continue to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Virginia is for Lovers - this goes to show that love does conquer all and 40 really is the new 20! Thank you and hope to see a great crowd on Wednesday as we celebrate.

October Virginia Wine Month combines gorgeous fall scenery with beautiful wineries that stretch across the state. Each year October is devoted to all things wine, with harvest festials, special tastings, concerts and of course beautiful fall colors. Get ready to make the most of Virginia Wine Month - check out this news release for tips and visit www.Virginia.org/wine for trip planning resources. New this year - 48-Hour Guilt-Free fall getaways all about wine. See this video of Luca Paschina, one of Virginia's most respected wine makers as he talks about what makes Virginia Wine Month so special.

Hey fall lovers! Ready for crisp' weather, beautiful colors and relaxing getaways? Virginia is such a great place to visit in fall - gorgeous scenery surrounds you at every turn. 140+ wineries celebrate the harvest with October being Virginia Wine Month, 15 million acres of foliage turn colors and hundreds of festivals erupt statewide.

New this year - 48-Hour Guilt-Free Fall getaways. These are two-night, three-day trip ideas for people who are looking to sneak away and relax this fall. These trip ideas including hiking, biking, wine travel, romance and more. Combine these with savings of up to 40 percent off at destinations across the state, people can get away guilt free.

Don't miss one of Virginia's most beautiful seasons - see our media kit for more fall ideas.

Virginia is for Lovers needs your votes! We were just announced as a slogan nominee for the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame. To vote for the Virginia is for Lovers slogan, go to www.advertisingweek.com/wof, click on the Slogan section, click Virginia is for Lovers and the hit the Vote button. Cast votes by Sept. 18

The winners will be inducted into the Walk of Fame during Advertising Week (September 21-25) and will gain a permanent position on the advertising industry's version of Hollywood and Vine -- Madison Avenue.

The Hall of Fame nomination coincides with the 40th anniversary of Virginia is for Lovers. Launched in 1969, Virginia is for Lovers is America's longest-running state tourism slogan. Virginia is celebrating the 40th anniversary with 40 free vacations, travel deals and special label 40th anniversary wine, all found on www.Virginia.org/40.

Not to sound too cliche, but it is an honor to be a nominee, we're in the running with serious competitors. So share the love and vote for Virginia is for Lovers!

Virginia is a great place to enjoy friends, family and good times for Labor Day weekend. There are still great spots available for the long weekend and hundreds of special events planned across the state. Virginia Beach will host the American Music Festival, Veramar Vineyards in Berryville has a special Labor Day bash, or sample the Blues, Bluegrass and BBQ in Lexington.

Check out this site on Virginia.org for Labor Day events across Virginia. Look on places to stay to find mountain resorts, cabin hideaways, state and national parks and sea side retreats perfect for a long weekend.

Kings Dominion (located on I95 between Richmond and Fredericksburg) announced yesterday that they will build the tallest and fastest gravity driven roller coaster on the East Coast. The new ride, The Intimidator 305, will open in 2010, and garner screams with a 300 foot drop, speeds of 90 MPH and 5,100 feet of steel track. Check out the animation video here and start making plans to visit when this opens next year.

Just back from meeting and visit in Mathews County, which is about an hour and a half east of Richmond, hugging the Cheasapeake Bay. Mathews is a dream for people who love nature, kayaking, boating and authentic American main streets. Mathews is surrounded by water, nearly every road you take leads to water. For kayakers, the undisturbed waters of the New Point Comfort Nature Preserve are an ideal spot to put in and kayak to the lighthouse, commissionsed by Thomas Jefferson and dates back to 1805.

New to Mathews is the White Dog Inn, with two deluxe guest rooms, two fun bars and an excellent restaurant. Also, the newly enhanced Inn at Tabbes Creek has views of the water from each of the guest rooms and guests can kayak and canoe just feet from their rooms. The owner's grandmother is an artist and her work graces each room.

Art is a big part of Mathews too - local artists display their work all over town, including in the Mathews visitor center, which is housed in Sibley's General Store - est. in 1895. Don't miss the old fashion drug store restaurant, Richardson's, across the street, great ice cream.

Need an excuse to visit? Market Days are coming up, where the streets fill with local art, foods and more. Sept. 11 and 12.

Fall is a brilliant time to visit Virginia, as 15 million acres of foliage burst into color. Check out our new Fall Media Kit for story ideas, including Far Out Ways to See Fall Foliage (Have you ever been on a flying motorcycle?) and 40 Reasons to Visit Virginia this Fall. Combine natural beauty with 143 wineries, October Virginia Wine Month, hundreds of fall festivals, and Virginia is ideal for fall getaways.

Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary of the USDA, proclaimed August 2–8, 2009 as National Farmers Market Week to “encourage people to celebrate the benefits of farmers markets and the bountiful production of our Nation’s farmers with appropriate observances and activities.” Well Sir, we agree!

Luckily for us, there are fantastic Virginia's Farmers' Markets are all over the state, so finding one is a breeze! Virginia has some of the oldest markets in the country and each has a range of produce, baked goods, dairy products, handmade crafts and more available. They are THE place get fresh local ingredients as many crops are picked and brought to market within 24 hours! So, get out this week and get fresh!

Before you head out to a Virginia Farmers Market, check out Molly Watson’s great blog post on About.com: 10 Farmers Market Shopping Tips: Make The Most Of Farmers Markets.

Click here for more info on Virginia Farmers Markets!

That's the word on the street - First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters paid an unannounced visit to Luray Caverns, as reported by Harrionsburg News Daily Record. What a thrill for one of Virginia's most recognizable tourism destinations. Get to Luray and check out the same sites that enticed the First Family to visit. Did you know Luray Caverns is the largest on the East Coast? Great way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Virginia is for Lovers.

Anyone into music, artistic crafts and good old-fashion fun should make a date for the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon, kicking off this weekend. Abingdon is such a great town - with some of the finest artisans and crafters around showcasing their creations. Don't forget to see a show at The Barter Theatre, the official State Theatre of Virginia. Directly across the street is the Martha Washington Inn, one of Virginia's finest historic hotels. So much to do, build a vacation around The Highlands Festival and take in the highlights of Southwest Virginia.

Virginia is blessed with two incredible, family-owned cideries (did you know there are only about 70 in the nation?) that are rich in the state's agricultural traditions. Thomas Jefferson was a big fan of cider (as well as wine). Now Albemarle Ciderworks near TJ's homestead is offering up cider made from heritage and old-fashioned variety apples. Their tasting room just opened this week and is open Wednesdays through Sundays, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Further west, savor the delicious cider at Foggy Ridge in Carroll County. They make their cider from heirloom apples including Sweet Stayman Cider made with the famous Virginia Stayman apples. Visit their tasting room Saturday 11 to 5 and Sunday 12 to 5, May through early December, or by appointment.

With two cideries, 143 wineries, dozens of microbreweries and select distilleries, Virginia has travelers in good spirits.

Virginian Pilot reports Norfolk ranked first in the country and second in the world, behind only Venice, Italy, in Royal Caribbean International's most recently released weekly passenger ratings of ports. Norfolk's Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center is a stunner, with incredible views, excursions and of course, cruises departing right out of the downtown area. Spend some time pre or post "voyage" and explore the history, dining and shopping of one of Virginia's greatest downtowns.

Lemaire restaurant at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond will show off its new look and feel on Wednesday, July 8.

Under chef Walter Bundy, the restaurant will celebrate the natural culinary bounty of Virginia, presenting a “farm to table” philosophy in both the menu and in the innovative cocktail program. The restaurant has undergone a complete renovation, adding a new bar, lounge, lighting and flooring, and the décor also features whimsical nods to the alligators who roamed the Palm Court lobby of The Jefferson until 1948.

With small plates starting at just $5 and no entrée above $30, the new menu offers extraordinary Virginia ingredients in an affordable and delicious format. More at www.jeffersonhotel.com