It never ceases to amaze me at the number of people who live where I do and have never been to nearby places that tourists travel days to visit. I meet people who have never been to the boardwalk at Virginia Beach or to the summit of McAfee Knob. They've never driven on the Blue Ridge Parkway or seen the magnificent fall foliage in the mountains near Roanoke. They've not even made the short drive to Appomattox Court House. They've spent a lifetime becoming aware of these treasures but have never made the effort to see them firsthand. It would be like visiting London without taking in the British Museum, or Paris and not visiting the Louvre, or Rome and missing the Sistine Chapel.
When it comes to historic sites, few states can match the Old Dominion. Think Historic Jamestown or Monticello or the Arlington National Cemetery or Mount Vernon or the Richmond National Battlefield or Fort Monroe or the Manassas National Battlefield or the Fredericksburg National Military Park or Colonial Williamsburg. I can say from ample experience that there's something magical in learning about the rich history of a place while standing inside it. The experience often upends what we thought we knew about the past. At a Civil War Battlefield like Gettysburg, historians and visitors alike can see with their own eyes how a slight rise in the topography could mean the difference between victory and defeat, or how one division of troops can be decimated while another survived unscathed. The continuing existence of the "old places" fosters a deeper understanding of who we are as Americans. The places we choose to visit -- or not -- reflect our identity as a people.
Wherever you live, don't miss out on a rich travel experience. Invariably you'll discover something about a place or the people who inhabited it and then be able to share your experience with others. Visiting historic sites is similar to another favorite pastime of mine -- reading. Both travel and literature help me feel a deeper connection with the past. History allows me to feel like I'm part of something much bigger than me -- the unfolding of God's providence throughout the history of the world.
"The world is a book," said Augustine, "and those who do not travel read only one page." I'll add: once a year, make sure you go to a place you've never visited before. You'll be so glad you did.
