Visitor Information

Each city and town has a visitor information office.

The best source for statewide information is the Virginia Tourism Corporation, 901 E. Byrd St. (P.O. Box 798), Richmond, VA 23219 (tel. 800/847-4882 or 804/786-2051; fax 804/786-1919; www.virginia.org). It publishes or distributes a host of information, including a statewide travel planner; official state highway maps (including the state's "Civil War Trails" and a very useful "scenic byways" map highlighting the state's many beautiful routes); lists of hotels, motels, country inns, and bed-and-breakfasts; an outdoor guide to the state; a golf directory; a biking guide; a state park directory; a list of Virginia wineries and wine festivals; and a guide for travelers with disabilities. Most are available on, or can be ordered from, its website.

When driving into Virginia you can stop at roadside Welcome Centers in Bracey, on I-85 near the North Carolina border; Bristol, on I-81 near the Tennessee border; Clear Brook, on I-81 near the West Virginia border; Covington, on I-64 near the West Virginia border; New Church, on U.S. 13 south of the Maryland border; Fredericksburg, on I-95 southbound between U.S. 17 and Va. 3; Lambsburg, on I-77; Manassas, on I-66; Rocky Gap, on I-77 near the North Carolina state line; and Skippers, on I-95 north of the North Carolina border. The centers are open daily from 8:30am to 5pm.

A good regional source is www.visithamptonroads.com, operated by the Hampton Roads Partnership and covering Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, the Williamsburg area, and other localities in southeastern Virginia.

Another is the Shenandoah Valley Travel Association, 277 W. Old Cross Rd. (P.O. Box 1040), New Market, VA 22844 (tel. 877/847-4878 or 540/740-3131; www.visitshenandoah.org), which covers the valley from Winchester to Lexington.

The National Geographic Society (www.nationalgeographic.com/maps) publishes excellent maps of Shenandoah National Park (map no. 228) and of Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (no. 786).

I post updates to the information in this guide on my personal website, www.billgoodwin.com.

Dial 511 for Info -- You can dial tel. 511 from anywhere in Virginia and receive up-to-date travel, traffic, and weather information.

Destination Virginia -- Pre-Departure Checklist

• Did you make sure your favorite attraction is open? Many Virginia attractions are closed on Monday, for example, so call ahead for opening and closing hours.

• Do you need to book any theater, restaurant, or travel reservations in advance?

• Do you have a safe, accessible place to store money?

• If you purchased traveler's checks, have you recorded the check numbers and stored the documentation separately from the checks?

• Do you have your credit and debit card PINs? Is there a daily withdrawal limit on credit card cash advances or from an ATM?

• To check in at an airport kiosk with an e-ticket, do you have the credit card you bought your ticket with or a frequent-flier card?

• Did you bring your ID cards that could entitle you to discounts such as AAA and AARP cards, or student IDs?

• If you're flying, are you carrying a current, government-issued ID, such as a driver's license or passport? You also will need them to visit attractions on military installations such as the Norfolk Naval Station.

• Did you bring emergency drug prescriptions and extra glasses and/or contact lenses?