Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Hot Springs, Virginia, is on my list of places to visit—especially after the fun my little family had in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a couple of years ago. While there, we stayed at the Arlington, a resort and spa that opened in 1875.

Do you know who else enjoyed staying there? None other than one of America’s most infamous gangsters, Al Capone. While it’s now a safe space for family fun, Hot Springs had a wild reputation back in the day. From gambling to illegal moonshine, it was the perfect spot for someone as notorious as Capone.

And while I can’t personally vouch for Virginia’s version of Hot Springs (yet), I can definitely recommend today’s lead story—because reading that, it looks like such a fun place to be. I’m so glad you’re here.

The Omni Homestead Resort and surroundings. (Magrino PR)

By Ellery Weil

Here’s what you need to know: The Allegheny Mountains are home to some of the loveliest scenery in Virginia. That’s why it should come as no surprise that this part of the Old Dominion has been a popular vacation spot since the eighteenth century.

Our top facts:

• The original leisure site, simply called the Homestead, was a place for Americans to relax since before America was even an independent nation. The founding dates all the way back to 1766, when military officer and surveyor Thomas Bullitt built a simple wooden lodge on the land that’s currently home to the resort.

• The modern resort as we understand it today dates back to the late nineteenth century, specifically the 1880s, when Dr. Thomas Goode’s family sold the Homestead to a group of investors, including a lawyer from Cincinnati named M. E. Ingalls and the famous banker J. P. Morgan. Ingalls, Morgan, and their partners began an extensive renovation plan.

   

• The most significant renovation project would be completed in 1929, when the iconic tower was revealed. The tower is the symbol of the resort to this day, and appears in the Omni Homestead logo. Other renovations have added a ballroom, a shooting club, and, in 2012, the Allegheny Springs water park, complete with water slides and a lazy river.

   

Want more fun? We’ve got more information on this resort at our link below.

A doctor shows a patient some options. (Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock)

By Jessica F. Simmons

Virginians who rely on birth control to prevent pregnancy could soon see those protections written into state law as lawmakers prepare to consider a proposal that would guarantee access to contraception statewide.

House Bill 6, filed last month by Del. Marcia S. Price, is among several bills this session that address issues from raising the minimum wage to preserving affordable housing and protecting same-sex marriages.

If passed, HB 6 would create a statutory right for individuals to obtain and use contraceptives and for health care providers to offer contraceptive care and related information.

The legislation would also bar state and local governments from enforcing laws that “limit, delay, or impede access to contraceptives or information related to contraception.”

Poppy celebrates in style. (Metro Richmond Zoo)

Hippo, hippo, hooray! Poppy, the pygmy hippo that captivated the world with cuteness last year, recently celebrated her first birthday.

Housed at the Metro Richmond Zoo, Poppy’s videos have generated over 62 million views on the zoo’s social media channels. She’s also appeared on “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” and other national broadcasts.

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