DATE: Sunday, May 4, 1997                   TAG: 9705020054

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: TRAVELWISE

SOURCE: STEPHEN HARRIMAN

                                            LENGTH:  109 lines

GOVERNOR'S WIFE IS STATE TOURISM BOOSTER

MAY IS MY FAVORITE time of the year,'' Susan Allen was saying the other day at a ``Celebrate Virginia'' luncheon at the Executive Mansion. Look at the schedule of the governor's lovely wife and you begin to see what she is talking about.

Perhaps no one has done more to promote tourism in Virginia than the first lady has done since husband George became the commonwealth's 67th governor three years ago.

Susan Allen will make 16 tourism-related appearances throughout Virginia during May, from Hampton Roads to the Allegheny Highlands. She was in Portsmouth on Friday; she will be in Norfolk on Monday for the Southeastern Virginia Tourism Summit.

``Last year we focused on Virginia's heritage and cultural activities and on eco-tourism,'' she said. ``This year we want to focus on everything, incorporate everything that Virginia has to offer.''

With that in mind, she introduced a new ``Celebrate Virginia'' brochure, with a May calendar of events and featuring the Allen Family's Top 28 ways why Virginia Is for Lovers (this is the 28th anniversary of the introduction of that famous slogan). You can get a free copy by calling (800) 932-5827.

Clearly one of Susan's favorite activities is cycling. There's a picture of her on her bike on the back cover of the brochure.

``Last year,'' she said, ``I challenged the first lady of Tennessee to a bike ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail down in Abingdon. It was a way to promote regional tourism, since it's so close to Tennessee.''

This year she's going to bike the same trail, an old, abandoned railroad recycled for multiple uses. ``This time we're going from Whitetop Mountain to Damascus, and this time I'm taking George with me,'' she said.

Why does the first lady do all this?

Several reasons. One is to help remind you Virginians, and others, how much there is to see and do across this commonwealth. Another is that it is good business.

According to the Travel Industry Association of America, states plan to spend a combined $434 million for travel and tourism development and promotion in the 1996-97 fiscal year.

The average annual budget for state travel offices is $8.7 million. Virginia's current tourism budget is $17.4 million. Only four states have more budgeted.

What do we get in return? Tourism attractions opening in Virginia this year represent an investment of more than $422 million into the commonwealth's economy. About 4,600 permanent and temporary jobs will be created as a result of these projects.

MAY IN VIRGINIA

OPENING

The Virginia Holocaust Museum at Temple Beth-El, 213 Roseneath Road, in Richmond's West End, opened Thursday as a tribute to the state's survivors of Hitler's demented genocide programs.

Horsing around

Saturday - Camptown Races, horse racing, tailgating and doo-dah, doo-dah in a natural amphitheater, Graymont Park north of Ashland. (804) 752-6678.

May 17 - Races at Marengo, the closest steeplechase racing comes to Hampton Roads, run in a plantation setting, New Kent County. (804) 343-7223.

Historical salutes

Saturday - Jamestown Landing Day, the 390th anniversary of the founding of America's first permanent English-speaking colony, Jamestown Settlement Park. (757) 253-4114. Also, May 10-11 - Jamestown Weekend at the site of the first settlement, Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown. (757) 898-3400.

May 17-18 - Re-enactment of the Battle of New Market, New Market. (540) 740-3212. Also, on May 15, the actual day of the battle is commemorated by VMI cadets with dress parade in Lexington honoring the cadets who died in the 1864 battle. (540) 464-7207.

YOU MIGHT WIN

The Travel Channel Online has a consumer sweepstakes contest going on its Web site: http://www.travelchannel.com. It's sponsored by St. Maarten Tourism and runs through next Sunday. You could win a trip for two to St. Maarten that includes air travel to the island and a seven-night, eight-day vacation at the luxurious Oyster Bay Resort.

YOUR MONEY'S WORTH

Domestic

Headed to Washington? You can save $20-$40 per night at 75 D.C. hotels, 10 percent off all Grey Line Tours and 10 percent off Budget car rentals in the Washington-Baltimore regions by calling Capitol Reservations (800) VISIT-DC.

New York City? The Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Club (as of May 16, Marines' to be added), at 283 Lexington Ave. (between 36th & 37th Sts.), offers servicemen and servicewomen of our Armed Forces, active, retired, veterans, reservists, military cadets and their families accommodations for $25 to $35 pp/night. Kids under 3, free; 4-12, $15/night; over 13, adult rate. Info: (800) 676-8443.

Abroad

Auto Europe offers a free week's economy-car rental with an American Airlines ticket to London; rates begin at $389 round trip from New York. For $20 more, travelers can upgrade to a compact car; midsize is $35; full-size $65. Cars come with manual shift and unlimited mileage. Taxes are extra. Tickets must be bought seven days before departure, travel completed by June 15. Info: Your local travel agent or (800) 223-5555.

Icelandair is offering a round-trip ticket to Luxembourg - with a short stopover in Iceland - for $499 from Baltimore, New York and Boston. The fare - which includes a free rental car with unlimited mileage for three days - requires a Saturday night stay but no advance purchase and is good for travel through May 31. Info: Your local travel agent or Icelandair (800) 223-5500.

Madrid is a bargain at prices beginning at $819 per person, double occupancy, including air from New York, transfers, six nights' accommodations, breakfast, service charges, assistance by local representative. Through May 31. Call Spanish Heritage Tours (800) 456-5050. MEMO: Travelwise 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 Travelwise, The

Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va. 23501-0449; phone (757) 446-2904.

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