THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504280070
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STEPHEN HARRIMAN
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
ABOUT 3,500 re-enactors will be re-fighting the Civil War again May 20-21 at historic Long Branch plantation near Millwood in Clarke County, Northern Virginia.
They'll be replaying the Battle of Kernstown, fought nearby on March 23, 1862. It was Stonewall Jackson's first battle as an independent Confederate commander and resulted in a stinging defeat for the stern and eccentric general.
The tactical loss, however, provided a significant strategic success for the Confederacy.
Union leadership, startled by Jackson's bold attack against far superior numbers, committed 35,000 additional troops to deal with him, denying them to Federal Gen. George B. McClelan in his drive toward Richmond.
The weekend activities will include a cattle stock drive and four battle re-enactments, two by cavalry units.
On Saturday, there will be a cavalry engagement at noon and an infantry assault at 3 p.m.; on Sunday, the cavalry will again go at it at noon, followed by a full battle at 1:30 p.m.
Advance tickets are $6 (for age 9 years and up) and may be purchased by phone, using major credit cards: (800) 928-1863. Tickets are $9 at the gate. Proceeds from the event benefit Long Branch, a non-profit historic mansion offering educational tours from April through October. It was begun in 1811 by Robert Carter Burwell (pronounced Bur'l) following designs suggested by U.S. Capitol architect Benjamin Latrobe.
Long Branch is on Virginia Route 624 off U.S. Route 50, about 60 miles west of Washington and 5 miles east of Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 340 near Winchester. Long Branch info: (703) 837-1856. BARGAINS ON THE RIVER
Valentine Riverside, Richmond's new history park on the James River at the site of the old Tredegar Iron Works, has a new a la carte admission pricing structure, allowing visitors to sample just what they wish.
Basic admission is $5 (age 3 and up). This includes access to all exhibitions, hands-on displays and artifacts, optional guided walking tours of the site and Belle Island, two hours of bicycle use and the outdoor sound-and-lights show after sunset.
Visitors may take a motor tour for an additional $5; flat-water raft rides on the James are an additional $5 for adults, $4 for children 12 and under (must be 3 feet tall); wHitewater rafting is an additional $18.
Info: (804) 649-0711. GOOD MORNING, AUSTRIA
Austria's imperial cities and the surrounding countryside will be featured in two segments of ABC-TV's ``Good Morning, America'' programs Monday and Tuesday from 7 to 9 a.m.
The Monday segment will present Vienna and the countryside around Salzburg; the Tuesday segment will focus on Graz and Innsbruck. Don't expect a travelogue or the insights of a Rick Steves. But you should get an idea of what the country looks like. DOES THIS GRAB YOU?
The Big Red Boat will host a ``World Championship Wrestling'' theme cruise to the Bahamas May 12-15. On board will be The Nasty Boys, Flyin' Brian, Johnny B. Badd, Sting and Alex Wright. Can you stand it! Ship will depart from and return to Port Canaveral, Fla., stopping in Nassau and Port Lucaya. $299 per person/double occupancy. Info: (800) 327-7113. VACATION HELP
For a free guide to vacations in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, call (800) 446-6262.
The Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association offers a free guide to 40 ranches, each with its own brand of Western hospitality. For a copy, write to CDGRA, P.O. Box 300, Tabernash, Colo. 80478; or telephone (303) 724-3653.
For information on visiting America's oldest city, St. Augustine, Fla., call (800) 653-2489.
Finding out what is going on in America, especially ``MidAmerica'' - Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Kansas - is getting easier. By simply calling (800) 878-6439, you can get information on these states, from festivals to discounts. ALASKA FOR DISABLED
Having a disability is no reason not to consider touring Alaska. Alaska Snail Trails is a company that specializes in tours for the disabled, using specially equipped vans and overnight accommodations with facilities for the disabled. For information, write to Alaska Snail Trails, P.O. Box 210894, Anchorage, Alaska 99521; (800) 348-4532.
``Accessible Alaska,'' a guidebook for travelers with disabilities, is a publication of Alaska Welcomes You, another service to provide opportunities for the physically challenged. For information on the book or tours, write to AWY, P.O. Box 91333, Anchorage, Alaska 99509; (800) 349-6301. MEMO: Travel-wise is compiled from wire-service reports, news releases, trade
journals, books, magazines and the deepest recesses of the writer's
mind. Send comments and questions to Travel-wise, The
Virginian-Pilot/The Ledger-Star, Norfolk, Va. 23501-0449; phone (804)
446-2904. by CNB