Coastal Virginia, St. Augustine and deals on dream trips

Chincoteague's wild ponies.

Coastal Virginia 

How can you go wrong with American history, wild ponies, great seafood and beautiful beaches and bays? You can't so head to Coastal Virginia, which takes in the southern end of Chesapeake Bay. Here's a brief description of destinations to consider.

Eastern Shore.

Tiny towns and welcoming natives, memorable ice cream and seafood, nature preserves and wild ponies, in short, perfect for families. Chincoteague especially. The annual pony swimming, penning and auction attract 40,000 visitors; great if you don't mind mobs.  

This year, the dates are July 29 pony swim, July 30 auction of foals. The carnival dates are July 3-4, 1--11, 17-18, 24-25, 27-August1, 2015. It's all for a good cause, to keep the volunteer fire station in equipment.

Cape Charles has an enticing free beach but it is more for adults, with charming B&Bs and my fave, Hotel St. Charles, a small, very contemporary hotel downtown.
 Note: Find links and more details at www.goodgirlsinthebadlands.blogspot.com

Fort Monroe

Fort Monroe, a National Monument in Hampton, protected this entrance to Chesapeake Bay from 1609 until deactivated in September, 2011. Filled with history, underground rooms and corridors, it and the surrounding houses and cannons have witnessed our country's birth, conflicts and successes. Well worth a half-day. Hampton also houses an historic carousel and the outstanding Virginia Air & Space Center.

Chrysler Museum glass studio.

Norfolk's Chrysler Museum has one of the best collections of glass in the country. Across the street, you can see how it's done during demonstrations at the working glass studio.

Busch Gardens

Colonial Williamsburg

 Between its Busch Gardens and down to the tiniest tankard Colonial town, Williamsburg is a family and adult must-do. Two days are not too many to devote to Colonial Williamsburg, even with kids. Tip: Leave your car at the Visitor Center and  take the the free shuttle buses that take you all around the area. Adults, while there, don't miss the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.

 Note: Find links and more details at www.goodgirlsinthebadlands.blogspot.com.

Jamestown Settlement.

 Jamestown is America's 2nd oldest continuously occupied - and first British - settlement and nearby Yorktown, where scrappy patriots with considerable help from the French defeated the British in the Revolutionary War, sum up America's creation. Don't miss both Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne or the Yorktown Victory Center.

Happy Birthday, St. Augustine.

Speaking of oldest cities, St. Augustine will celebrate its big 4-5-0 Sept. 4-8, 2015. Keep track of all the events at www.staugustine-450.com.
  

  Deals and Specials

Photo courtesy INCA.

Galapagos Islands: INCA, International Nature and Cultural Adventures, a pioneer in cruising these fascinating islands with small ships, offers $1,000 off savings on departures from Sept. 30 to Dec. 10, 2015 (excluding the Thanksgiving holiday).

Example,the 11-day Origin of the Species tour - 2 nights in Quito or Guayaquil, overnight on Santa Cruz Island with a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and 8 days, 7 nights aboard the 141-foot yacht Integrity - is now $5,795 per person, double occupancy.

For details and booking, www.inca1.com.

Two to Tango: In the spirit of the Tango World Cup & Festival, HUB Porteno offers the ultimate package August 20-23, 2015. The inclusive three-night excursion into the dance and its music in Buenos Aires, Argentina, includes Tango lessons, tours, nightclub shows, chat sessions with processional dancers and shopping for $1,779 (plus 21 percent tax) per person, double occupancy in a suite.

Details and booking, http://www.hubporteno.com.