As the United States gears up for the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016, Virginia’s parks are already celebrating this summer following a new scientific accolade and the arrival of a host of legendary musical performers.
See Kelly Clarkson and Lenny Kravitz at Virginia’s hottest open-air concert venue
Virginia is giving Las Vegas a run for its money this summer. Music fans looking for an alternative take on the summer festival season can watch a host of big name performers take centre stage in one of the most unique settings in Virginia – Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. It stands out from the crowd as it is the only National Park in America that is dedicated to supporting the Performing Arts. Located near Vienna, Virginia, it features the Filene Center, a historic outdoor amphitheatre that has previously welcomed iconic acts such as B.B. King and Elvis Costello. Now, during summer 2015, over 100 performances are scheduled to take place within the National Park. These include Kelly Clarkson, Lenny Kravitz, The Beach Boys, Culture Club, Santana, The Gipsy Kings, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and Wicked’s, Kristin Chenoweth.
For more information, visit www.wolftrap.org
Go Stargazing in Virginia’s First International Dark Sky Park
East of the Mississippi River, it is notoriously difficult to find natural night-time darkness. However, following the recognition of Staunton River State Park in early July as Virginia’s First International Dark Sky Park, this is beginning to change. This is a huge accolade for Virginia as there are just 25 International Dark Sky Parks in the world. Located in Halifax County in the south of the state, Staunton River State Park is the perfect itinerary stop for outdoor enthusiasts keen to add a spot of stargazing to their itinerary this summer. Accommodation choices range from a pitch in the campgrounds to historic cabins that date back to the 1930s. Preserving dark skies in America’s parks is crucial to ensuring the wellbeing of wildlife and is also the only way to protect the accessibility of starry skies for future generations – and Virginia is proud to be able to play a part in this.
For more information, visit www.darksky.org
To find out more the Capital Region USA, visit www.CapitalRegionUSA.co.uk