THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 23, 1995 TAG: 9504210070
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TRAVEL-WISE
SOURCE: STEPHEN HARRIMAN
LENGTH: Long : 142 lines
NEXT WEEKEND is a great time to head for Virginia's central Piedmont region. Take your taste for the grape with you.
There's the fifth annual Montpelier Wine Festival, Saturday and Sunday, on the grounds of President James Madison's estate on Va. 20 about four miles southwest of Orange.
In the Charlottesville area, there's the Foxfield Races, a series of steeplechase races, a spring fashion show and open-air fraternity-sorority party, on Saturday, and the Ash Lawn-Highland Wine Festival at the home of President James Monroe on Sunday.
Montpelier is the magnificent, 2,700-acre estate of James and Dolley Madison - later owned by the du Ponts - that is a relative newcomer to the historic tour circuit. It's been open to the public only since 1987, three years after it was deeded to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
After Dolley Madison sold Montpelier in 1844, to retire her son's gambling debts, the house changed hands six times and fell into disrepair. Then, in 1900, the property began its second life, when it was purchased by William and Anna Rogers du Pont.
Under the du Ponts' stewardship, and particularly in the hands of their daughter, Marion du Pont Scott, Montpelier became the quintessential baronial estate with a steeplechase course, racetrack and train station on the grounds.
Tickets for the Montpelier event are $13 for adults and $4 for ages 6-20 at the gate; adult tickets in advance are $8 (Visa or MasterCard; call 800-407-8886). Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
The Foxfield Races begin at 1 p.m. Saturday on the grounds about four miles west of Charlottesville on Barracks Road. Tailgaters get there much earlier. Info: (804) 293-9501.
Tickets for the Ash Lawn-Highland event are $10. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The estate is 2 1/2 miles beyond Monticello on Va. 795. Info: (804) 293-9539. CHOO-CHOO FOR YOU?
Old railroad enthusiasts should plan to head for the Eastern Shore of Virginia June 3, for a ride on the Worcester, Accomack and Northampton Daycoach (WAND) that runs from Parksley to Nassawadox and back. The train leaves Parksley at 10:30 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. Ticket prices are $13 adult and $8 children 4-12. Info: (804) 665-6271.
Allow some time to visit the Eastern Shore Railway Museum in Parksley. The town's spring festival is that day, and it features an autique auto show.
Parksley is three miles west of U.S. 13 on Va. 176, about an hour's drive from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
P.S. - For those who tried unsuccessfully to call for a free Eastern Shore travel guide, here is the correct phone number: (804) 787-2460. INDULGE YOURSELF
Wintergreen Resort, south of Charlottesville in the Blue Ridge Mountains, offers a luxury weekend for women, Friday through next Sunday: massage, facial, hair-color analysis, Saturday dinner, water and low-impact aerobics, accommodations, use of spa. From $218/person. Info/reservations: (800) 325-2200. IN INDY'S FOOTSTEPS
Petra, a city of 3,000-year-old structures sculpted from the sandstone cliffs of the desert, where the final scenes of the Indiana Jones' movie ``The Last Crusade'' were shot, is one of the highlights of an eight-day Classical Jordan tour from Royal Jordanian Airline. Tour attractions include the salt formations of the Dead Sea, the Greco-Roman city of Jerash, crusader forts of medieval times, desert outposts of Lawrence of Arabia and mosques, souks and archeological sites on the kingdom's capital, Amman.
Tour prices start at $1,145 per person/double occupancy, until May 14 ($1,539, May 1-Aug.31), including air fare from New York, six nights' lodgings, breakfast and dinner daily, sightseeing by car and airport transfers. Info: (800) 524-0600 or your travel agent.
Also, in the spirit of Middle East peace, El Al and Royal Jordanian airlines are offering a combo package through General Tours that includes roundtrip on either airline (fly to Israel or Jordan, return from other destination), six nights' lodgings (three in Jerusalem, three in Amman) and transfers. Available through Nov. 3, $999 to $1,537 pp/do, from New York. Optional excursions in both countries cost between $17 and $58. Info: (800) 221-2216 or your travel agent.
A 17-night trip to Jordan and Israel from Smithsonian Odyssey Tours visits revered ancient sites of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, with overnight stays in Amman, Petra and Aqaba in Jordan, and Tiberias, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in Israel. Tours depart on April 24 and Oct. 23. Cost is $3,899 pp/do, including round-trip air from New York, accommodations, services of tour leader and manager, medical and baggage insurance, tips, 16 breakfasts, four lunches and nine dinners. Info: (800) 258-5885 or your travel agent. HOLD THE HORSES
The Preakness Celebration '95 is more than the running of the 120th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. It's going to be a spectacular week of music festivals, concerts, a hot-air balloon festival and other events beginning May 12 and ending May 20 with the famed horse race. ``It will be like Woodstock, Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl all rolled into one,'' said Donna Leonard, executive director of the festival. For information on the festival and a Preakness Passport, which offers reduced admission to Baltimore clubs and other deals, call (410) 837-3030. ANTIQUES IN BRITAIN
Many antiques hunters like to roam the countryside from shop to shop, looking for that special find. You can do the same thing in England with the help of a new guide called ``Lockson's Guide to Antiques in Britain.'' The map/guide shows antique-shopping sites in cities and rural areas, plus information on antiques markets, fairs and auctions. For a free copy, send a self-addressed, business-size envelope with 32 cents postage to BTA, 551 Fifth Ave., Suite 701, New York, N.Y. 10176-0799. AHOY, MATE
Sailing Singles, a club for solo sailors of all ages, offers live-aboard cruising trips to 54 locations with a choice of bareboat, crewed flotillas, luxury charters, learn-to-sail and one-way sails. Membership is a one-time $10. Info: (816) 587-6666. EURO ON A BUDGET
Here's one of the best deals this season: A fly/drive tour to Luxembourg and beyond through Oct. 31 includes airfare on Icelandair and a Kemwel rental car for one week, from $539 per person. Available too are MinOtel vouchers, from $53 per person, per night, for accommodations at more than 600 locally owned and operated hotels. Reserve and pay (7 days minimum, 60 maximum) four weeks prior to departure. Info: (800) 678-0678. A SALUTE OF SORTS
Air France is extending a 30 percent discount on round-trip fares to World War II veterans and their families through Dec. 31, 1995. CALLING NEW YORK
The Big Apple has a new attraction: A toll-free number for visitor information, good from anywhere in the United States and Canada. The 24-hour number - (800) 692-8474 - offers callers several choices, including travel counselors from the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau. Counselors are available to field questions weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern time. MEMO: Travel-wise is compiled from wire-service reports, news releases, trade
journals, books, magazines and the deepest recesses of the writer's
mind. Send comments and questions to Travel-wise, The
Virginian-Pilot/The Ledger-Star, Norfolk, Va. 23501-0449; phone (804)
446-2904. by CNB