FOUR VIRGINIA DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS CREATE MARKETING ALLIANCE TO ATTRACT MORE RAIL VISITORS

VIRGINIA – Discover Prince William & Manassas, Fredericksburg Regional Tourism Partnership, Richmond Region Tourism and VisitNorfolk, along with the Virginia Tourism Corporation, are proud to partner to create Virginia By Rail – a new tourism marketing alliance designed to attract leisure and group visitors to their respective destinations. Each destination is accessible via Amtrak® rail and feature a plethora of historical sites and tourist friendly attractions for those young and young at heart. Virginia By Rail began outreach to tour operators in 2015.

The alliance will encourage those traveling by rail to uncover America's rich history, savor Virginia's fine wines, craft breweries and distilleries, shop and dine in a mix of some of the country's premier shopping malls and outlet centers, and explore iconic Civil War museums, sites and historic downtowns.

“As baby boomers enter retirement in droves, we foresee a boon to travel and tourism on the rail lines of America and created this marketing alliance to showcase our destinations to attract more visitors to our attractions, businesses and hotels,” stated Mark Kowalewski, Director of Sales for Discover Prince William & Manassas. “Where some travelers may prefer to fly or drive to a destination, we, along with the Virginia Tourism Corporation, believe train ridership and hotel stays in our respective destinations will be increasing exponentially in the future and are very pleased with the initial response,” he added.   

Sample Virginia By Rail itineraries include:

DISCOVER PRINCE WILLIAM & MANASSSAS | DiscoverPWM.com

• Just 30 miles outside of Washington, D.C., begin your rail journey in Historic Downtown Manassas, an American town steeped in history and tradition. Stroll among quaint shops and a variety of restaurants prior to visiting the Manassas Museum to uncover the area's storied past through artifacts, photographs and commemorative events. After taking in the town, take a short cab ride to the Manassas National Battlefield Park and stand in the footsteps of “Stonewall Jackson” while honoring the tens of thousands of soldiers who died during two of the bloodiest American Civil War Battles. Then head over to one of our many craft breweries before finishing an evening with an exciting summer concert at Jiffy Lube Live, a 25,000 seat outdoor music pavilion located minutes from Historic Downtown Manassas.

For details on this itinerary or other Discover Prince William & Manassas rail oriented attractions, please contact Mark Kowalewski, Director of Sales, at 703-396-7130 or at Mark@DiscoverPWM.com.

FREDERICKSBURG REGIONAL TOURISM PARTNERSHIP | VisitFred.com

• Located midway between Washington, D. C. and Richmond, VA, sits the charming town of Fredericksburg where your journey continues as you step off the train two blocks from the Fredericksburg Visitor Center. The area features a variety of chef-owned restaurants, numerous art galleries, a wide range of specialty shops and one of America's most authentic, historic downtowns. Witness multiple eras of history, see art in new ways or be an adventurous foodie.   The homes of George Washington's mother, sister and brother await your visit. The famous Stone Wall at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center is a must stop for those learning about the four Civil War battles that brought bloodshed and destruction. Don't want to walk – then hop aboard the trolley or after dinner, enjoy a leisurely horse and carriage ride. For additional information on the Fredericksburg region or for help planning your rail itinerary, please contact Lura Hill, Manager of Tourism Sales, at 540-372-1216 or at lhill@fredericksburgva.gov.

RICHMOND REGION TOURISM | VisitRichmondVA.com

• Continue south to Richmond, the Capital of Virginia. Explore any of our 80+ attractions, many located within walking distance of the center of the city and our rail station. Visit our Virginia State Capitol that was designed by Thomas Jefferson, the American Civil War Museum that houses the most comprehensive collection of artifacts from the American Civil War, our Virginia Museum of Fine Arts that offers a remarkable permanent collection of 33,000 works of art from almost every major world culture and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden that was Powhatan Indian hunting ground, a stage coach trail, bicycle club and now an award-winning garden. Rent a bike and explore the city or ride the 52 mile Capital Trail that connects Richmond to two former capitals. Spend your evenings taking in a show or concert at one of Richmond's many theaters, enjoying drinks at any of our 4 wineries or 20 craft breweries, and savoring the acclaimed cuisine of our top culinary dining establishments.
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For details on this itinerary or other Richmond Region's rail oriented attractions, please contact Janie Lawson, Tourism Sales Manager, at 804-783-7409 or at Jlawson@visitrichmondva.com

VISITNORFOLK | VisitNorfolkToday.com

• Norfolk, Virginia offers vibrant entertainment and culture, delicious cuisine and 144 miles of shoreline waiting to be explored! With the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean and countless rivers in our backyard, you are never far from the water; you can experience intense watersports, leisurely sails, or simply enjoy the view from your hotel room. Take a tour of the Elizabeth River harbor on a majestic tall ship, sip on some of the best wines around at Mermaid Winery, Virginia's very first urban winery, or watch world-renowned artists blow glass at the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio. If history is your thing, sign up for a boat or land tour of the world's largest Naval Base, stop by the MacArthur Memorial, or walk the Cannonball Trail. Jam out to some of the nation's best music at the NorVA, named “Venue that Rocks” the hardest by Rolling Stone magazine.  There are antique shops, coffee houses & breweries galore in the hip, historic Ghent district just a few minutes from downtown.

For additional information on the Norfolk, Virginia for help planning your rail itinerary, please contact Melissa Hopper, Associate Director of Tour and Travel, at 800-368-3097 or at mhopper@visitnorfolktday.com

About Discover Prince William & Manassas:

Discover Prince William & Manassas is the Convention and Visitors Bureau marketing Prince William County and Manassas, Virginia as a destination for leisure and business travelers, group tours, weddings, conferences, meetings and events. For more information on Discover Prince William & Manassas, visit DiscoverPWM.com or follow on Twitter @DiscoverPWM.

About Fredericksburg Regional Tourism Partnership

Fredericksburg Regional Tourism promotes the Counties of Spotsylvania and Stafford and the City of Fredericksburg to the leisure, group tour, meeting, conference, wedding and reunion markets. For more information on Fredericksburg Timeless, visit VisitFred.com or follow on Twitter@VisitFred.

About Richmond Region Tourism

Richmond Region Tourism, the official destination marketing and tourism organization for the Richmond Region, is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Region to meeting, convention and sports event planners, tour operators and leisure travelers. Richmond Region Tourism operates three Visitor Centers located at the Greater Richmond Convention Center downtown, the Richmond International Airport and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Hanover County, and a Mobile Visitor Center. More than 7 million people visit the Richmond Region annually, contributing more than $2 billion to the local economy. Tourism generates nearly 22,000 jobs in the Richmond Region. For more information, visit VisitRichmondVA.com.

About VisitNorfolk

Considered the heart of Virginia's waterfront, Norfolk attracts thousands of travelers each year to enjoy its lively downtown waterfront and 144 miles of coastline. Offering a vibrant blend of history and heritage with contemporary attractions, outdoor adventure and some of the Commonwealth's most revered cultural institutions, Norfolk is an exciting destination. Here, where the Elizabeth River meets the Chesapeake Bay, visitors will find an easily walkable downtown that offers eclectic dining options, a rich arts scene, high-end shopping and year-round special events. For more information about Norfolk, visit the city on the Web at VisitNorfolkToday.com, or call toll free at 800-368-3097.

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