legacy. Taking an eco-cruise with Captain Charlie Birch is a great way to spot the horses, see less-visited stretches of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and to learn about the region’s clamming and oystering plus enjoy two hours of boating.

There are many quotes about adventure and adventure living, crazy and interesting, thought provoking and inspiring; here are some of my all-time favorites.

List of ideas and items to use as a basis for a scavenger hunt on your next trip to the zoo.

A former railroad headquarters, Roanoke, the largest city in Virginia’s southwest, moves with a new energy. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Roanoke offers a weekend getaway that combines interesting shopping and good food.

Boomers have always been the first to embrace new things aimed at the betterment of body and soul. Spas aimed at Boomers, from luxury retreats to affordable getaways, incorporate mediation, yoga, energy balancing, color and cold therapies and, increasingly, Medi-Spa treatments.

For those who consider shopping a trip essential, China is magic. The vendors at Shanghai’s and Beijing’s markets hawk everything—tea pots, Buddhas, pearl necklaces, scarves, jade bracelets, cheap watches, "designer bags," silk shawls and more. But you need to know where to look and how to shop.

For sand and surf lovers, Virginia Beach is a good bet. We like the area because its 35 miles of coastline including 20 miles of sandy shores gives us options: a bustling, boardwalk fronted ocean beach, quiet shores for strolling, as well as calm waters for kayaking on the Chesapeake Bay.

We came to Richmond, VA, to learn more about the Civil War. In addition to battle strategies, we wanted details about the lives of those engulfed by the conflict. Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865, didn’t disappoint us.

At the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort’s spa, we experienced something rare: a session with a Native American healer. After the treatment, a combination of light touch, Native American ritual and centering techniques, we felt so good that next year, we returned to the spa with our adult children.

Home to the world’s largest naval installation, Norfolk is also the site of Nauticus, a unique museum that showcases the nation’s maritime history through hands-on exhibits plus a real, battleship.