Northern VirginiaThe region of Northern Virginia has historic ties to both the Revolutionary and Civil War eras and is also the State’s horse and wine country, where visitors enjoy steeplechase, polo events and wine tasting in the rolling countryside.
Well-known attractions include Arlington National Cemetery, where an eternal flame burns at the gravesite of John F Kennedy; the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial; George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Robert E Lee’s Arlington House; and historic plantations such as Oatlands, Morven Park, Kenmore, Gunston Hall and Woodlawn.
Carlyle House, Christ Church and Gadsby’s Tavern are well-preserved public buildings in Old Town Alexandria. Potomac River cruises afford scenic views of Alexandria, Washington, DC and the Mount Vernon Estate. The Newseum in Rosslyn is dedicated to US and international newsmakers. Wolf Trap Farm Park is America’s only national park for the performing arts.
Central/SouthsideRichmond is the State capital and was also the Capital of the Confederacy. This compact city is ideal for walking tours of historic districts and is ringed by Civil War battlegrounds. Among its numerous restored homes and museums are the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the intriguing Edgar Allan Poe Museum, the Science Museum and Universe Planetarium, the White House of the Confederation, the Virginia Historical Society and Paramount’s Kings Dominion theme park.
Many of the nation’s greatest founders lived in Central Virginia. Thomas Jefferson’s beloved Monticello, the graceful, domed mansion he lived in for 40 years, can be visited at Charlottesville. Minutes away is Ash Lawn, the 535-acre plantation which belonged to President James Monroe. The mansion and grounds of Montpelier, where James Madison, ‘Father of the US Constitution’, lived with his wife, Dolly, can be found in Orange County.
Shenandoah ValleyHere, travelers will find glorious mountains, a spectacular valley and some of the most beautiful scenery in America. Skyline Drive runs through Shenandoah National Park and travels across the crests of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A wide range of outdoor activities, from hiking and canoeing to horseback riding and special naturalist programs, are on offer in and around the park. In Roanoke, Shenandoah’s largest city, there is a zoological park, the Transportation Museum of Virginia and one of Virginia’s finest farmers’ markets. Several museums, a planetarium, and a theater can be found at the ‘Center in the Square’. Explore Park recreates Native American settlements and portrays life in pioneer days.
At the northern end of the valley, Winchester, ‘Apple Capital of the Nation’, plays host each year to the
Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. In Staunton, a recreation of Shakespeare’s Blackfriar’s Theater is a popular draw, as is the Frontier Culture Museum, with its reconstructions of early farmsteads. The wonders of nature are visible everywhere in this region, from the 65m- (215ft-) high vaulted Cathedral of Stone outside Lexington at Natural Bridge, to the seven castle-like rock towers of the Natural Chimneys, west of Harrisonburg. The largest of the five limestone caverns open for tours is at Luray. Harrisonburg also boasts the new Court Square Theater.
Refined Barboursville is another favorite destination, with the focus on fine wine and international cuisine and events including visiting chef programs and an opera season.
SouthwestThe Allegheny, Blue Ridge and Cumberland mountains offer many country roads, hiking trails, clear creeks, cascading waterfalls, well-maintained parkland and picnic areas. On the border with Kentucky are two breathtaking parks: Breaks Interstate Park, with its 480m- (1600ft-) deep Grand Canyon of the South and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Here, the adventurous Daniel Boone traveled the famous pass to the west.
Bristol is home to the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Museum, a good introduction to the rich musical heritage of this region heard in local barns and rural music sheds such as the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons. The Blue Ridge Parkway, one of America’s most scenic roadways, takes visitors through lush farmland. Wytheville is home to Wolf Creek Indian Village, while Abingdon has a thriving local arts scene. Mount Rogers, 32km (20 miles) to the east, is the highest peak in Virginia.
Tidewater & Hamption RoadsThis is the oldest part of America and features historic cities, unspoilt beaches and colonial taverns. At the Colonial National Historical Park and archaeological dig at Jamestown, visitors will see the remains of the first permanent English settlement, established in 1607. At nearby Jamestown Settlement, a full-scale replica of James Fort is on display, along with reproductions of three 17th-century ships that brought the English settlers to Virginia. In Hampton, the Virginia Air and Space Center houses full-size air- and spacecraft. Formerly the State capital, Williamsburg is the largest restored 18th-century town in America and is home to William and Mary, the second-oldest college in the USA. In Norfolk, visitors will find the Chrysler Museum, Nauticus, the National Maritime Center and the upscale MacArthur Center. To the north, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel leads to Virginia’s Eastern Shore, a 112km- (70 mile-) long peninsula that is bordered by the Atlantic on one side and Chesapeake Bay on the other.
East of Norfolk, Virginia Beach is a popular seaside town offering a range of attractions and facilities. The First Landing/Seashore State Park has miles of seashore, picnic areas, camping and a beautiful biking trail. Other attractions in Virginia Beach include the Cape Henry Lighthouses, Old Coastguard Station (built in 1903 and now a museum), the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia and the Virginia Marine Science Museum (featuring an 800,000-gallon aquarium). Two annual festivals offer fresh oysters, steamed clams, crabs and seafood chowder.
Further south, the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge has a 7700-acre beach and is a refuge for a large variety of migratory birds. The nearby False Cape State Park is an ocean-to-freshwater bay habitat, accessible only by boat or an 8km (5 mile) bike ride, and offering excellent opportunities for walking and camping.
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