Virginia Wants Tourists To Go 'Old School' In Rural Towns

As summer approaches, the Virginia Tourism Corporation has launched a campaign that highlights the state's "small town pleasures and quirky roadside wonders." 

This project, dubbed "Go Old School,"  launched at Doumar's Barbeque and Cones in Norfolk, which claims to have invented the ice cream cone. A website accompanies the campaign to help guide visitors through several travel ideas from old school eateries to road trip ideas.

"Many of these destinations are off-the-beaten path spots that have been local favorites for generations,"  Rita McClenny, interim president and CEO and of the Virginia Tourism Corporation said in a statement announcing the campaign. "It's these kinds of places that inspire a sense of nostalgia and help visitors relax and reconnect with loved ones on a visit to Virginia." 

The campaign features Virginia's musical legacy and roadside wonders, including giant rollerskates and supersized frying pans. The effort also highlights the commonwealth's wines, brews and spirits, along with old-fashioned diners and classic drive-ins.