Last Saturday, we packed our bags for a single night. While we don’t live forever and away from Galax, we really didn’t want to be pulling in front of our home at midnight after enjoying an awesome concert at the Blue Ridge Music Center.
We booked a room in the area, had a pizza delivered for dinner, and had the best little mini-vacation. The following day, we stopped for lunch in Meadows of Dan and explored my favorite place in Virginia for the millionth time (granted, visiting Mabry Mill never gets old).
The best thing about the day trip? It was under $40 for my family of three. If you’re looking for inexpensive but fun places to have a summer adventure before the school year kicks off, you’ll really enjoy today’s lead story. I’m so glad you’re here.
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Colonial Williamsburg tops our list of day trips in Virginia. (Eric Foster/Unsplash)
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By Aila Boyd
Here’s what you need to know: If you’re looking to make the most of the remaining days of summer, consider going on a last-minute day trip to one of these six underappreciated Virginia destinations.
Our top picks:
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Colonial Williamsburg is an excellent destination for a day trip this year given the country’s 250th anniversary. Explore what life was like in Williamsburg in the 18th century by visiting original buildings, viewing active blacksmithing, woodworking, and gunsmithing workshops, and interacting with historically dressed interpreters.
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Located where the Piedmont Plateau collides with the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bedford offers a range of historical and recreational sites that make for an engaging day trip. This year is an ideal time to visit the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, as it’s celebrating its 25th anniversary while the country marks its 250th anniversary.
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Visit Petersburg for a day trip to learn about its key role in 19th-century American history. After learning about its legacy, experience its present by shopping or dining in the Historic Old Towne. In the evening, head to The Brickhouse Run, a pub and restaurant serving homemade British and American specialties in a 190-year-old building.
Want to visit? We’re featuring more about these and other historic locations at the link below.
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Amie Knowles smiles in awe at the amount of food she got for under $11 in Clarksville. (Kody Knowles/Dogwood)
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By Amie Knowles
Full disclosure: At 5 feet, 2 inches tall and 89 pounds, I did not realize by glancing at the menu at Ayala’s Mexican Restaurant in Clarksville that I’d get two full platters of food for under $11.
For comparison, when I go to our local Mexican restaurant, I usually order a single soft shell taco. Needless to say, the portion size—especially coupled with the price—was a shock in the very best way.
What you’re seeing in the picture above is the veggie fajita with a delicious mix of potatoes, peppers, onions, zucchini, and mushrooms on the hot plate. The other platter had generous portions of rice, refried beans, and a salad mix complete with guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo.
Had we realized how massive the portions were beforehand, my husband and I would’ve probably chosen a menu item to share. I’m glad we didn’t, though, because I had plenty left to heat up for lunch the following day! If you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, I highly recommend stopping by Ayala’s on your next trip to Buggs Island Lake.
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Earlier this week, we asked:
If you had an extra $100 to spend this month, where would it go first?
Out of the 83 reader responses we received, it appears that “bills” are the top concern, taking 39% of the vote.
Next, “groceries” beat out “savings” by one vote, followed by “gas.”
It’s never too late to join the conversation. Write to me at amie@couriernewsroom.com and tell me what’s stretching your budget.
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People shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and other food items at a farmers market in Falls Church, Va., Saturday, March 14, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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By Michael O’Connor
More than 100,000 Virginians are no longer enrolled in the state’s food assistance program in the wake of tightening eligibility restrictions ushered in by Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration.
Over 867,000 Virginians were enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) last June, but a year later, that number had fallen to 749,000, according to state data.
The decline comes after Republicans in Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law legislation that lowered taxes for the wealthy and cut spending for social safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid.
The legislation, known as HR 1, cuts $187 billion from federal SNAP funding over the next decade, according to the governor’s office. It also shifts more of the cost of funding SNAP onto states and makes it harder to access the program. The Trump administration has also cut funding to food banks that are expected to see increased demand as enrollment in SNAP falls.
Sabrina Davis is the founder and executive director of Reset Inc., a Chesapeake nonprofit focused on food insecurity. Davis said compared with a year ago, she’s seen more working families coming to Reset‘s 24/7 walk-up food pantry and attending the nonprofit’s food distributions.
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🎒 Would a free backpack help clear some space in your back-to-school budget? More than 1,200 Round Room, LLC stores nationwide are participating in a backpack giveaway this weekend, including several in the Richmond-Petersburg area. (See list)
🏛️ Brian Himmelsteib of Fairfax County worked for the US State Department for over 20 years before he got fired by the Trump administration last July. He recently joined other fired federal workers at the US Capitol to talk about what happened and how they are fighting for accountability. (Watch here)
🚂 Big Boy No. 4014 is chugga chugga choo chooing farther away from the Virginia border on its East Coast tour. How far would you travel to see the world’s largest operating steam locomotive? We’ve got a map with distances from Gore—see the train in action before it reaches Cheyenne, Wyoming, on July 29. (See map)
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Would you share this newsletter with a friend?
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition includes stories from Aila Boyd and Michael O’Connor. It was edited by Paula Solis.
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