Spotlight on Virginia

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe wants word to get through the literal grapevine that no one need go thirsty in his state.

McAuliffe, part of a Virginia delegation visiting Toronto Thursday night (May 19), told the gathering that his state has some 145 breweries and 275 wineries, with Virginia now being fifth among US states when it comes to wine production.

Brewery trails are found across the state.

Tourists can visit both the breweries and wineries, with tastings available.

McAuliffe also noted his state is home to distilleries and “put this together and we’ve got about 550 [breweries, wineries and distilleries] serving some kind of beverage in the Commonwealth [of Virginia],” he told PressToday.

Much of Virginia’s tourist trade traditionally has been rooted in its numerous historical sites in a jurisdiction McAuliffe labeled “the first state” and which was home to such pivotal American historical figures as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and also has many battlefields and monuments recalling the US Civil War. “People love history. They love to combine history with their vacation,” McAuliffe said.

Virginia saw some 614,000 Canadian visitations in 2014, an 18% increase.

McAuliffe acknowledged the current dollar exchange may make some Canadians wary about visiting the United States, but added that 70% of Canadians visiting Virginia do so by car and low gas prices help offset the currency exchange.

Coastal Virginia Beach, a cornerstone of Virginia’s tourism trade, has Canada Weeks through mid-June and from mid-August through October offering Canadian visitors the likes of a free night for every paid four nights along with what Sana Keller – Canadian representative for the Virginia Tourism Corporation – called “significant discounts at restaurants and attractions.”

McAuliffe added Virginia Beach has “great” and lengthy oceanfront.
McAuliffe also labeled his state a particularly scenic part of the world, singling out the likes of Shenandoah National Park and Virginia’s 36 state parks, with Virginia celebrating the 80th anniversary of its state park system.

Those visiting state parks can stay in “very cheap” cabins that have the likes of kitchens and fireplaces, he added.

Other tourism attributes include the city of Bristol, which McAuliffe called “the new home of country music.”

Air Canada and Porter Airlines link Toronto and Virginia.

Pictured are Rita McClenny, president of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, McAuliffe and Keller.