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A wonderland for history buffs, Virginia has an incredible past that's still on display. It's possible to visit the Virginia of George Washington or Thomas Jefferson (their historic homes are here), skip through Colonial times in Williamsburg, or absorb the power of the Civil War in Manassas. But don't miss the appeal of modern Virginia, from its wineries to its beaches.
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Top Destinations
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Central and Western Virginia
Eastern Virginia's coastal plains start rolling into the gently undulating Piedmont west of I-95. Charlottesville, 71 mi northwest of Richmond...
Williamsburg and Hampton Roads
Perhaps no other region in Virginia contains more variety and options for the traveler than its southeastern coastline. Colonial Williamsburg...
Richmond, Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck
A host of patriots and presidents have lived and worked in the heart of the Old Dominion, an area that takes in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Petersburg...
Northern Virginia
Although D.C. gets all the recognition for its place in the nation's history, visitors to the region might be surprised by the richness of Northern...
Richmond
Centered on the fall line of the James River, about 75 mi upriver from the Chesapeake Bay, Richmond completes the transition from Tidewater...
Williamsburg
Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, after Jamestown and before Richmond. Williamsburg hasn't been politically important...
Alexandria
A lively mix of historic homes, taverns, restaurants, and shops, Alexandria seems to exist in two or three centuries at once. Founded in 1749...
Fredericksburg
Halfway between Richmond and Washington, near the falls of the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg is a popular destination for history buffs...
Charlottesville
Charlottesville is still Jefferson's city, focused on Monticello and the University of Virginia. The downtown pedestrian mall, a brick-paved...
Arlington
Arlington has evolved since the end of World War I from a farming community into one of sprawling homes, large-scale retailing, and office buildings...
Virginia Beach
The heart of Virginia Beach—a stretch of the Atlantic shore from Cape Henry south to Rudee Inlet—has been a popular summertime destination for...
Roanoke
They once called this city "Big Lick." But today Roanoke, with a population of 95,000, is Virginia's largest city west of Richmond, the largest...
Norfolk
Like many other old Southern towns, Norfolk has undergone a renaissance, one that's especially visible in the charming shops and cafés in the...
Virginia's Eastern Shore
The appeal of Virginia's Eastern Shore is out of sight from the highway, among its barrier islands in the Atlantic to the east and along its...
Blacksburg and the New River Valley
Despite its name, derived from being "new" to explorers when it was first discovered, the New River is actually one of the oldest rivers in...
Newport News
Newport News stretches for almost 35 miles along the James River from near Williamsburg to Hampton Roads. Known mostly for its coal shipping...
Lynchburg
Lynchburg was founded by John Lynch, a Quaker pacifist, and Thomas Jefferson visited often when he was vacationing at his nearby retreat, Poplar...
Staunton
Staunton (pronounced stan -ton) was once the seat of government of the vast Augusta County, which formed in 1738 and encompassed present-day...
Lexington
Two deeply traditional Virginia colleges sit side by side in this town, each with a memorial to a soldier who was also a man of peace. ...
Chincoteague
The island resort town of Chincoteague (pronounced shin -coh-teeg), which means "large stream or inlet"—also known as Chincoteague Island—exudes...
Abingdon
Abingdon, near the Tennessee border, is a cultural crossroads in the wilderness: the town of nearly 7,000 draws tens of thousands of people...
Petersburg
Historic Petersburg, 20 mi south of Richmond on I–95, lies along the Appomattox River. During the Civil War, the city was under siege for...
Shenandoah National Park
...
Hampton
Founded in 1610, Hampton is the oldest continuously existing English-speaking settlement in the United States—having celebrated 400 years in...
Middleburg
Attractive boutiques and restaurants line U.S. 50, the main street of this charming country town. Now a hub of Loudoun County's wine and horse...
Bath County
Bath County, known as the Allegheny Highlands, is where Virginia's rugged outdoors and refined elegance intermingle delightfully. Amid its steep...
Winchester
The historic town of Winchester is widely known as the birthplace of one of country music's most beloved stars, Patsy Cline. Cline hit it big...
Harrisonburg
Settled in 1739, Harrisonburg is a stronghold of Mennonites, spotted around town driving horse-drawn buggies. The 10-block historic downtown...
Yorktown
It was at Yorktown that the combined American and French forces surrounded Lord Cornwallis's British troops in 1781; this was the end to the...
Woodlawn
...
Tysons Corner
Centered around two major shopping centers, Tysons Corner has become a highly developed commercial area of office buildings, hotels, and an...
Charles City County
Colonists founded Charles City County in 1616. This tiny county is unique, being the only U.S. county to have a native president (William Harrison...
Reedville
This small town at the eastern tip of the Northern Neck was the home of wealthy fishermen and businessmen who made their fortunes from the menhaden...
Leesburg
Leesburg is one of the oldest towns in Northern Virginia. In an early sign of changing allegiances, "George Town" changed its name to Leesburg...
Portsmouth
Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk, has a well-maintained historic area called Olde Towne, which has handsome buildings from...
New Market
Founded primarily by German settlers of the Mennonite and Lutheran faiths, the town's first foray into industry was printing. New Market's Historic...
Orange County
Orange is a fertile agricultural area bearing reminders of the Civil War. Among the many estates dotting the countryside is the home of our...
Blue Ridge Parkway
...
Irvington
Although much older than the resort, the lovely town of Irvington has been associated with the Tides Inn for more than 50 years. ...
Great Falls Park
Great Falls, a favorite getaway spot for Virginians and D.C. residents alike, is where the Potomac River builds up speed and crashes over steep...
Jamestown
The desperate strivings of Englishmen to stay alive and establish a foothold in the New World become evident when visiting Jamestown, the beginning...
Mount Vernon
Set on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River, George Washington's plantation estate is one of the most visited sites in Northern Virginia. ...
Hopewell
City Point, the oldest part of Hopewell, was established in 1613 by Sir Thomas Dale. Across from Charles City County via the Route 106 Benjamin...
Manassas
The county seat of Prince William County (though officially an independent city), Manassas was considered a strategic crossroads during the...
Woodbridge
Set on the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers, suburban Woodbridge is home to many Washington commuters. It's also a destination for bargain shoppers...
Middletown
Middletown has one of the area's loveliest historic homes. The section of Route 11 that makes up this small town's main street contains a few...
Cape Charles
The town holds one of the largest concentrations of late-Victorian and turn-of-the-20th-century buildings in the region. Clean, uncrowded public...
Warsaw
The county seat of Richmond County, Warsaw is a pleasant town of 7,000 that's shaded by large oak trees. Near the U.S. 360 bridge over the...
Stratford Hall Plantation
...
Dayton
Dayton is best known for its large Mennonite population, whose black horse-drawn buggies share the road with latter-day SUVs, and for its extensive...
Wolf Trap
This tiny community, just northwest of Tysons Corner, is best known as home to the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. ...
Washington
Known as Little Washington to differentiate it from its big sister about 60 mi away, this tiny town packs in antiques shops, galleries, custom...
George Washington Birthplace National Monument
...
Chantilly
Located in western Fairfax County, Chantilly is home to Dulles International Airport as well as the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum...
Gunston Hall
Set near the shores of the Potomac south of Mount Vernon, George Mason's 18th century mansion celebrates the life and work of one of the nation...
Tangier Island
Crab traps stacked 10 feet high, watermen's shanties on the water, and a landscape virtually devoid of modern commercialization characterize...
Occoquan
...
Waterford
...
Wintergreen Resort
...
Richmond
Centered on the fall line of the James River, about 75 mi upriver from the Chesapeake Bay, Richmond completes the transition from Tidewater...
Williamsburg
Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, after Jamestown and before Richmond. Williamsburg hasn't been politically important...
Alexandria
A lively mix of historic homes, taverns, restaurants, and shops, Alexandria seems to exist in two or three centuries at once. Founded in 1749...
Fredericksburg
Halfway between Richmond and Washington, near the falls of the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg is a popular destination for history buffs...
Charlottesville
Charlottesville is still Jefferson's city, focused on Monticello and the University of Virginia. The downtown pedestrian mall, a brick-paved...
Arlington
Arlington has evolved since the end of World War I from a farming community into one of sprawling homes, large-scale retailing, and office buildings...
Virginia Beach
The heart of Virginia Beach—a stretch of the Atlantic shore from Cape Henry south to Rudee Inlet—has been a popular summertime destination for...
Norfolk
Like many other old Southern towns, Norfolk has undergone a renaissance, one that's especially visible in the charming shops and cafés in the...
Roanoke
They once called this city "Big Lick." But today Roanoke, with a population of 95,000, is Virginia's largest city west of Richmond, the largest...
Blacksburg and the New River Valley
Despite its name, derived from being "new" to explorers when it was first discovered, the New River is actually one of the oldest rivers in...
Newport News
Newport News stretches for almost 35 miles along the James River from near Williamsburg to Hampton Roads. Known mostly for its coal shipping...
Lynchburg
Lynchburg was founded by John Lynch, a Quaker pacifist, and Thomas Jefferson visited often when he was vacationing at his nearby retreat, Poplar...
Staunton
Staunton (pronounced stan -ton) was once the seat of government of the vast Augusta County, which formed in 1738 and encompassed present-day...
Lexington
Two deeply traditional Virginia colleges sit side by side in this town, each with a memorial to a soldier who was also a man of peace. ...
Abingdon
Abingdon, near the Tennessee border, is a cultural crossroads in the wilderness: the town of nearly 7,000 draws tens of thousands of people...
Chincoteague
The island resort town of Chincoteague (pronounced shin -coh-teeg), which means "large stream or inlet"—also known as Chincoteague Island—exudes...
Petersburg
Historic Petersburg, 20 mi south of Richmond on I–95, lies along the Appomattox River. During the Civil War, the city was under siege for...
Hampton
Founded in 1610, Hampton is the oldest continuously existing English-speaking settlement in the United States—having celebrated 400 years in...
Bath County
Bath County, known as the Allegheny Highlands, is where Virginia's rugged outdoors and refined elegance intermingle delightfully. Amid its steep...
Middleburg
Attractive boutiques and restaurants line U.S. 50, the main street of this charming country town. Now a hub of Loudoun County's wine and horse...
Winchester
The historic town of Winchester is widely known as the birthplace of one of country music's most beloved stars, Patsy Cline. Cline hit it big...
Harrisonburg
Settled in 1739, Harrisonburg is a stronghold of Mennonites, spotted around town driving horse-drawn buggies. The 10-block historic downtown...
Yorktown
It was at Yorktown that the combined American and French forces surrounded Lord Cornwallis's British troops in 1781; this was the end to the...
Reedville
This small town at the eastern tip of the Northern Neck was the home of wealthy fishermen and businessmen who made their fortunes from the menhaden...
Woodlawn
...
Tysons Corner
Centered around two major shopping centers, Tysons Corner has become a highly developed commercial area of office buildings, hotels, and an...
Charles City County
Colonists founded Charles City County in 1616. This tiny county is unique, being the only U.S. county to have a native president (William Harrison...
Leesburg
Leesburg is one of the oldest towns in Northern Virginia. In an early sign of changing allegiances, "George Town" changed its name to Leesburg...
Portsmouth
Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk, has a well-maintained historic area called Olde Towne, which has handsome buildings from...
Orange County
Orange is a fertile agricultural area bearing reminders of the Civil War. Among the many estates dotting the countryside is the home of our...
New Market
Founded primarily by German settlers of the Mennonite and Lutheran faiths, the town's first foray into industry was printing. New Market's Historic...
Blue Ridge Parkway
...
Hopewell
City Point, the oldest part of Hopewell, was established in 1613 by Sir Thomas Dale. Across from Charles City County via the Route 106 Benjamin...
Great Falls Park
Great Falls, a favorite getaway spot for Virginians and D.C. residents alike, is where the Potomac River builds up speed and crashes over steep...
Irvington
Although much older than the resort, the lovely town of Irvington has been associated with the Tides Inn for more than 50 years. ...
Jamestown
The desperate strivings of Englishmen to stay alive and establish a foothold in the New World become evident when visiting Jamestown, the beginning...
Mount Vernon
Set on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River, George Washington's plantation estate is one of the most visited sites in Northern Virginia. ...
Cape Charles
The town holds one of the largest concentrations of late-Victorian and turn-of-the-20th-century buildings in the region. Clean, uncrowded public...
Woodbridge
Set on the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers, suburban Woodbridge is home to many Washington commuters. It's also a destination for bargain shoppers...
Warsaw
The county seat of Richmond County, Warsaw is a pleasant town of 7,000 that's shaded by large oak trees. Near the U.S. 360 bridge over the...
Middletown
Middletown has one of the area's loveliest historic homes. The section of Route 11 that makes up this small town's main street contains a few...
Manassas
The county seat of Prince William County (though officially an independent city), Manassas was considered a strategic crossroads during the...
Dayton
Dayton is best known for its large Mennonite population, whose black horse-drawn buggies share the road with latter-day SUVs, and for its extensive...
Wolf Trap
This tiny community, just northwest of Tysons Corner, is best known as home to the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. ...
Chantilly
Located in western Fairfax County, Chantilly is home to Dulles International Airport as well as the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum...
Washington
Known as Little Washington to differentiate it from its big sister about 60 mi away, this tiny town packs in antiques shops, galleries, custom...
Gunston Hall
Set near the shores of the Potomac south of Mount Vernon, George Mason's 18th century mansion celebrates the life and work of one of the nation...
Occoquan
...
Waterford
...
Central and Western Virginia
Eastern Virginia's coastal plains start rolling into the gently undulating Piedmont west of I-95. Charlottesville, 71 mi northwest of Richmond...
Williamsburg and Hampton Roads
Perhaps no other region in Virginia contains more variety and options for the traveler than its southeastern coastline. Colonial Williamsburg...
Richmond, Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck
A host of patriots and presidents have lived and worked in the heart of the Old Dominion, an area that takes in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Petersburg...
Northern Virginia
Although D.C. gets all the recognition for its place in the nation's history, visitors to the region might be surprised by the richness of Northern...
Virginia's Eastern Shore
The appeal of Virginia's Eastern Shore is out of sight from the highway, among its barrier islands in the Atlantic to the east and along its...
Recent Forum Posts
Recent Forum Posts
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Yk+family weeklong American history tour to Virginia, April 2022
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Carolinas,virginia
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Retire to Tidewater region Virginia
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A few autumn days in West Virginia
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