Archive for March, 2012

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12th Annual Virginia Fly Fishing Festival

Mar. 29th 2012

Spring has entered with a fanfare of warm weather and early blooms, and now is the time to once again enjoy outdoor events and festivals. One such festival that is soon to take place in dear old Waynesboro is the 12^th Annual Virginia Fly Fishing Festival: “Want to get started in fly fishing but don’t know where to begin? The Virginia Fly Fishing Festival is the ideal place to get your feet wet in the sport. Are you an avid fly angler looking to take your skills to the next level? The festival is your one-stop shop for gear, expert advice, and even instruction. Be a part of the largest fly angling event in the Old Dominion!” –Visit Waynesboro

On April 21-22, 2012, make your way to Waynesboro’s South River and partake in a host of free lectures and tips. The two-day schedule includes such lectures as “Casting Tactics for Trout in Tight Cover,” “Getting Into Saltwater Fly Fishing,” and “Fishing the Best Waters of the Mid-Atlantic.” If you’re a fly fishing beginner, have no fear. There will be experts available to answer all of your questions and to teach you the how, when, and where of this sport.

Perhaps you are asking yourself, “What if I don’t have a fishing license? Must I rush to buy one in time for this magnificent event so that I can partake in the merriments of my fellow fishermen?” If that is indeed your question, then you will be happy to know that the Fly Fishing Festival will have licenses for sale. (Make sure you have a picture ID and cash or a credit with you in order to purchase your license.)

Fly Fishing Festival Quick Facts:

DATE: April 21-22, 2012

LOCATION: South River, Waynesboro, VA

COST: $20 for a day, $35 for a weekend pass, children ages 16 and under free.

LODGING: The Iris Inn, of course!

 

Posted by Tara Stoll | in Area Attractions, Events and Festivals, Outdoor Activities, Spring | No Comments »

Historic Garden Week in VA, 2012

Mar. 19th 2012

“But each spring…a gardening instinct, sure as the sap rising in the trees, stirs within us. We look about and decide to tame another little bit of ground.” — Lewis Gantt

Nothing proclaims the arrival of spring quite like the sight of budding flowers and the gradual shades of green that seep in the landscape. The Shenandoah Valley is a lovely place to watch spring emerge, and as a result of such an ideal location, there are specific places that commemorate this coming season.

Historic Garden Week in Virginia takes place April 21-28, 2012, and it includes around 250 gardens, historical landmarks, and homes all over the Commonwealth. We at the Iris Inn are lucky enough to be located near several of the Garden Week participants:

Morven Farm, Charlottesville, VA- This beautiful property was open during the first Historic Garden Week in 1929, and “it has been open for every Garden Week since” (Virginia.edu). When you tour Morven Farm, know that you will be experience a piece of history laden with the flora of spring.

Monticello, Charlottesville, VA- Garden Week at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello includes a Revolutionary Garden Tour on April 21 and April 23 as well as a National Book Launch on April 23.

© James Maxwell

Woodrow Wilson Birthplace, Staunton, VA- On April 21, 2012, take a tour of the historic boxwood garden next to the birthplace of former U.S. president Woodrow Wilson. Sponsored by the Augusta Garden Club, the tour also includes both the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace and the Woodrow Wilson Museum.

© Rolfmueller

Posted by Tara Stoll | in Area Attractions, History, Monticello, Outdoor Activities, Spring, Woodrow Wilson Birthplace and Library | No Comments »

2012 Virginia Festival of the Book, Charlottesville, VA

Mar. 8th 2012

If you’re a fan of reading, writing, or literature in general, then mark your calendars for the renowned Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville, VA. For five days, March 21-25, 2012, you can attend book signings, readings, seminars, luncheons, and much more: There are “approximately 125 events on books of many topics, including but not limited to history, mystery, fiction, current affairs, poetry, cooking, photography” (Visit Charlottesville). Not only will this festival celebrate the potency of the written word, but it will also provide an enjoyable gathering of like-minded individuals, people who respect writing for the power that it holds in spite of ever-growing technological advances.

Every year, the festival boasts a myriad of authors, both fiction and non-fiction, as well as poets, publishers, and editors. A few of this year’s many participants include “international number-one bestselling author” Jeffery Deaver, National Geographic writer Jennifer Holland, and Shamus-award winning author Andy Straka.

What are other people saying about the Virginia Festival of the Book?

“Every year the Festival of the Book comes along to dispel the notion that reading has gone the way of the eight-track tape.” –Lisa Province, The Hook

“Mr. Jefferson would be proud to know such things as the Virginia Festival of the Book still occur.” –Festival Attendee 2011

“A five-day nonstop bookish bash with something that caters to every interest.”  –Susan Stevens Huckle, Roanoke Times

(All quotes can be found VaBook.org)

In case you are unfamiliar with the area, Charlottesville, VA is only a quick drive, 25 minutes or so, away from the Iris Inn. Spend a day or two (or all five) at the festival, and know that you have a comfortable place to return to once you have enjoyed your literary ventures!

Posted by Tara Stoll | in Area Attractions, Events and Festivals | No Comments »

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