The Lexington & Rockbridge Area Tourism Development office provides assistance to working media by filling requests for information and materials. The online press room provides easy access to information about the Lexington and Rockbridge area. If you need additional assistance, please contact L&RATD.

Media inquiries should be directed to:
Beth Homicz, Director of Marketing
Lexington & the Rockbridge Area Tourism Development
106 East Washington Street, Lexington, VA 24450
Telephone: (540) 463-3777
Fax Line: (540) 463-1105
E-mail: marketing@lexingtonvirginia.com


The Lexington & Rockbridge Area Tourism Development office would be glad to help you develop your story. Here are a few ideas to get you started.


April 2013: House and Garden Tour to be Held in Lexington in Celebration of Historic Garden Week

This year marks the 80th Historic Garden Week in Virginia. For one week each April, the Garden Club of Virginia invites local, national and international guests to visit more than 250 of the Commonwealth's most picturesque private houses and gardens.

Lexington and Rockbridge County will celebrate Historic Garden Week in Virginia on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Blue Ridge Garden Club as a part of the Garden Club of Virginia will present its house and garden tour: "Around the World in Lexington: No Passport Required." Mrs. William F. Luton, Jr. serves as this year's local chair and Ms. Cecile West-Settle, as the co-chair.

The tour features five charming properties. All sited in the Lexington area, these properties nevertheless transport us around the globe. While Colle Verde on Buckland Drive whisks the visitor to Italy, the neighboring property, Red Oak Hall, suggests an English country-style home. Nara, an Asian retreat on Turnpike Road, carries us to the Far East and Pennoke on Enfield Road represents a love of all things French.Sunnyside House, a Federal-style brick farmhouse at Kendal, brings us home.

Free refreshments will be served at Sunnyside House between 11:00a.m. and 4 p.m. Special activities scheduled for each location feature dancers from the Halestone Dance Company, Washington and Lee students who will discuss the Japanese tea ceremony, high schools students who will offer recitations of Shakespeare, and commentaries on the various gardens provided by Rockbridge Master Gardeners and members of the Valley of Virginia Herb Guild.

Advance tickets are $20 and may be purchased between March 1 and April 26 at the Lexington Visitor Center, 106 East Washington Street and Hamilton Robbins, 21 South Main Street, both in Lexington. Advance tickets are also available on-line by accessing www.vagardenweek.org. To purchase tickets by mail please send a check and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Mrs. Rex M Lamb III, 93 Riverbend, Lexington, Va. 24450. E-mail kwlamb@embarqmail.com.

On the day of the tour, tickets may be purchased for $25 (students, $15) at any of the homes or at the Lexington Visitor Center, 106 E. Washington Street. Single-site tickets are not available. Brochures are available at many Lexington downtown sites or from any member of the Blue Ridge Garden Club. Each brochure contains a map to assist visitors to the properties. All proceeds support preservation and restoration of historic gardens in Virginia.



Local Photographers Featured in 2013 Visitors Guide

LEXINGTON, VA. (January 25, 2013) -- Lexington and Rockbridge Area Tourism is pleased to announce the release of the Official Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County 2013 Visitor Guide, and to congratulate eight local photographers on having their images included in this new 2013 edition of the guide. These eight talented photographers received the honor as a result of their participation in the 2012 “Focus In” Tourism Photo Contest.

The eight local photographers whose work appears in the 2013 Visitor Guide are Linda Best, Sherwin Dillard, Rachel King, Lisa Lariviere, Gail McLeod, Steven Shires, Dennis Slifer, and Cyndy Szarzynski. Photos by four of these contest entrants (Linda Best, Sherwin Dillard, Rachel King, and Steven Shires) were the top winners in the 2012 Tourism Photography Contest. The stunning images submitted by all the 2012 contest entrants show just how abundant creative talent is right here in the Rockbridge area.

Two of the front cover images this year were taken by Dennis Slifer of Raphine and Steven Shires of Lexington. Dennis Slifer’s image features the Cyrus McCormick Farm in Raphine, and Steven Shires features a couple taking a leisurely stroll down Lexington’s Main Street. Buena Vista is also featured on the cover, as is an image of the Stonewall Jackson statue at Virginia Military Institute, with the American flag as a backdrop, portraying Lexington’s unique historical significance.

The back cover image was shot by Dennis Slifer and shows a group of festival goers taking in the tunes of a cellist at one of the many fun-filled festivals held at scenic Buena Vista’s Glen Maury Park. Throughout the pages of the 2013 Visitor Guide are photos taken by the other Rockbridge area contest entrants, including: Sherwin Dillard’s image of a warm greeting at Stonewall Jackson House (pg. 4); Rachel King’s rendition of Wade’s Mill in sunlight (pg. 5); Gail McLeod’s inviting Downtown Lexington at twilight shot (pg. 6); Lisa Lariviere’s charming take on Foamhenge (pg. 7); Cyndy Szarzynski’s capturing of artisan broom making (pg. 7); and Linda Best’s appealing action shot of Llama Trekking (pg 10: winner of the 2012 tourism photo contest).

“Strong, evocative imagery, such as the amazing photographs submitted to the “Focus In” Tourism Photo Contest, is imperative to our mission of drawing tourists to the Rockbridge area,” said Jean Clark, Director of Tourism. “These gifted local tourism photo contest participants have provided our region with a whole new set of irresistible images of life and enjoyment in Rockbridge County. We’re grateful to them for their high-quality work and their obvious love of this community.”

The 150,000 copies of the guide printed each year are the primary fulfillment piece at the Buena Vista Visitor Center, Lexington Visitor Center and Natural Bridge Information Desk. They are also available at state, regional and local welcome centers, rest areas along I-81 and businesses within Rockbridge County. In addition, the tourism office publicizes the 2013 Visitor Guide through email blasts to potential visitors, and on social media sites such as Facebook (www.facebook.com/lexingtonva)..

Free print editions of the 2013 Visitor Guide are available at the Lexington Visitor Center, the Buena Vista Visitor Center, and the Natural Bridge Information Desk. The virtual edition is available online at www.lexingtonvirginia.com. The 2013 “Focus In” Tourism Photo Contest is well underway. Detailed information and contest rules are posted at www.lexingtonvirginia.com, and entrants may submit photographs online on or before the March 18, 2013 deadline. All entered images are eligible to win prizes and will be considered for inclusion in the 2014 Visitor Guide and in other tourism-related promotions.

# # #



2013 TOURISM PHOTO CONTEST – “Focus In” on Buena Vista, Lexington and Rockbridge County

Rockbridge Area Tourism is proud to announce the 2013 Tourism Photography Contest. Each year, photographs submitted as part of the contest are considered for inclusion in the Lexington, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County Visitor Guide. The current 2013 Visitor Guide includes photographs from past contest participants: Dennis Slifer, Steven Shires, Sherwin Dillard, Rachel King, Gail McLeod, Lisa Lariviere, Cyndy Szarzynski, and Linda Best.

In addition to possible inclusion in the 2014 Visitor Guide, photographs submitted by each entrant will be on exhibit at both the Buena Vista and Lexington Visitor Centers as well as posted on the tourism website, www.lexingtonvirginia.com. A reception recognizing all contest participants will be held at the Buena Vista Visitor Center and winners will be announced at that time.

The 2013 Tourism Photography Contest rules are as follows:
•Images must be of Lexington, Buena Vista or Rockbridge County.

•All ages and experience levels welcome. Photographs will be judged according to three levels:
1) Student, 2) Amateur Adult, and 3) Professional.

•Photographs must be submitted in one of three categories:
1) “Area Attractions,” 2) “Out and About,” or 3) “Outdoor Recreation.”

•Entrants must grant permission to publish photographs in the Visitor Guide.

•Photos should be submitted as JPEGs and measure between 5x7 and 8x10 inches at 300dpi. Photos should also be in color and should not appear distinctly altered or enhanced. Photos taken with cell phones are not suitable.

•Photos with models are highly desirable.

•A maximum of 10 photographs is allowed per person.

•Deadline for submission is Monday, March 18, 2013.

•Photo submissions and information can be found at,www.LexingtonVirginia.com/PhotoContestInfo.htm.

•Contact photos@lexingtonvirginia.com with questions.



Instructions & Tips

 

  

PRESS ROOM | WEATHER | MAPS | AREA LINKS | SEARCH
 
Copyright © 2007 Lexington and the Rockbridge Area Tourism Development.
 Virginia Web Design by AppNet.com