Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

I couldn’t give you a solid reason why, but I love trains. Always have. I’m still a kid at heart when I see one chug over an overpass or choo under a bridge. It helps that my kiddo also thinks they’re cool. We often race them along US Route 29—and win. 

It’s so much fun to ride the rails. I’ve hopped aboard the Amtrak from Danville to DC, taken a couple of joyrides at the North Carolina Transportation Museum, and gone through Missionary Ridge in Tennessee. If trains fascinate you like they do me, you’re going to love Britteny Dee’s story below. I’m so glad you’re here.

A historic Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 rolling into Victoria Station in Goshen, Va., with fall foliage in the background. (Fan Railer: CC BY-SA 4.0)

Here’s what you need to know: There are plenty of ways to view Virginia’s fall foliage—from hiking through the woods to taking a road trip—but a scenic train ride is arguably one of the best options.

Our top picks:

• Virginia Scenic Railway offers several train ride experiences, including one specifically designed for leaf peeping. The company’s Shenandoah Valley Limited will operate several special fall foliage excursions over the course of five consecutive weekends beginning on Sept. 26.

• The Alleghany Special also travels through the scenic Shenandoah Valley. The three-hour, round-trip ride begins in Staunton and goes west to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, providing views of the Alleghany (also spelled Allegheny) Mountains and rural landscapes.

• The Blue Ridge Flyer is another excellent excursion for leaf peepers. During the three-hour round-trip journey, riders are treated to spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The train also passes through the Blue Ridge Tunnel, which was carved out of rock and spans nearly one mile.

All aboard! Find your next railway adventure at our link below.

If you love a good get-together, you won’t want to miss this.

Join us on Tuesday, Sept. 30, in Northern Virginia for an evening of panels exploring the issues shaping Virginia’s political future. Space is limited, so reserve your FREE spot now.

We asked, you answered. 

Earlier this week, we posed the question: Where would you sit on a six-hour flight to Richmond? (It was complete with a fun graphic of notable Virginians.)

I’m going to highlight my husband’s answer this week. Kody K. picked the seat between Thomas Jefferson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Why? “Because then I could smell what The Rock’s cooking—and it might be Thomas Jefferson’s macaroni and cheese.”

Where would you sit? Feel free to email me at amie@couriernewsroom.com any time.

Ethan Quinn, 4, stands on a stool to brush his teeth as his father, Scott, watches while getting ready for his daycare center in Concord, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

By Michael O’Connor

Republicans and Democrats can agree that childcare in the US is too expensive, but lawmakers have prioritized public investment elsewhere as parents, workers, and childcare providers struggle to make things work. 

Virginia, in particular, is highly cost-prohibitive. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Arlington County topped a list of localities where daycare is most expensive in the US. The total median cost of sending one child to day care in Arlington for five years was $146,741, according to the Journal’s tally. Not far behind, Alexandria’s total median cost for five years of daycare was also in the top 10 most expensive at $123,977. 

By comparison, the average tuition and all mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate colleges for one year came out to $14,460 for the 2024-2025 school year, according to a report from the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia. The figure multiplied by five comes out to $72,300, well below the costs of daycare calculated for Arlington or Alexandria. 

Maureen Coffey, an Arlington County Board Member, said the high costs of childcare come up often amongst her Millennial and Gen Z peers who are also contending with the rising cost of housing as they think about their futures. 

“I think a lot of us in my peer group really just feel discouraged about the ability to have a family, to even think about whether we want to have a family, because it feels financially just so out of reach,” Coffey said. 

• As temperatures rise in Chesapeake Bay, the Virginia waters are drawing species that are typically native to tropical areas. Here’s what to know about Virginia’s new stone crabs. (Read more here)

• Republican gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears did not impress in her endorsement interview with the Virginia Police Benevolent Association, two sources who were there told Dogwood. (Read more here)

• Tuition is rising again, bills are climbing, and job opportunities are shrinking. For students, that means higher costs now and fewer options after graduation. (Watch here)

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