In eastern Virginia three peninsulas extend between tidal rivers into the Chesapeake Bay, the Virginia Peninsula around Williamsburg in the south, the Middle Peninsula, and the Northern Neck just south of Maryland. The Northern Neck was one of the first areas of English settlement in the American colonies and was birthplace of three of the first five American presidents. The peninsula is now a lightly populated backwater and very rural with small crossroads towns between the farms and fishing villages harvesting both the riches of riches of the seafood in the Chesapeake and the weekend visitors from Washington seeking relaxation. Beyond a service station here and a trailer there there's not much of standardized cookie-cutter America on the Northern Neck, which is what makes it a rather interesting place.

George Washington’s birthplace is part of the National Park System as a National Monument . Washington didn’t live there very long after his birth, but his American-deceased ancestors are buried there and there’s a recreated farm around his recreated childhood home which was later determined through archaeological study to have actually been about 50 meters away. The sight isn’t all that exciting, but a visit is a tribute to a true national hero. Many myths about Washington were perpetuated in the early years of the Republic, but historical evidence is strong that he was dedicated and selfless in his commitment to the country through his life.

Stratford Hall is the ancestral home of Lee Family, best known as birthplace of Confederate general and Commander Robert E. Lee, but four generations of the Lee family lived there from its construction around 1740 onwards. I honestly didn’t recall from history classes the prominence of Lee family in Revolutionary cause and the development of the American Constitution, how several were among our "Founding Fathers" . The house is still under renovation and not as opulently decorated as some other Georgian plantation homes of the era. My tour guide was an absolute hoot and claimed to be a direct descendent of slaves on the plantation.

Virginia is either the 5^th or 6^th state in the U.S. in terms of wine production, maybe or maybe not ahead of Texas depending on who you listen too. The state claims nearly 300 wineries nowadays, including enough in Northern Neck that it has its own regional wine trail designation. Most, though, are only open for visitation in the latter part of the week, and I was there on a sleepy Monday. I went to Ingleside Winery, which I have to say had some very tasty wines, at least compared to the stuff I buy most of the time. In the $15 to $25 price range, though, they’re good as gifts but don’t fit into my evening nightcap budget. Sorry, Virginia, I love you…..but….