Virginia truly was at the front of the line when they were handing out amazing natural landscapes. From the Chesapeake shores to the Blue Ridge peaks, the birthplace of the United States harbors some of the nation’s top historical sites, up-and-coming cities, romantic valleys, pre-Revolutionary villages and road trips through wine country.
You can slurp fresh oysters, learn about famous figures in US history, hike to incredible 360° views, or simply relax on a stunning beach. How do you tackle a state like Virginia, with its abundance of remarkable sights? Don’t worry, we’ve done the hard work – these are the best places to visit in Virginia.
1. Shenandoah Valley
Best for lazy weekends
An Indigenous legend describes the Shenandoah Valley as a place where “the morning stars placed the brightest jewels from their crowns in the river,” and it’s truly a sight to behold. The 140-mile-long valley, cradled between the rumpled peaks of the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies, is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream.
Roaming is the best way to experience this mystical realm. Soak in scenic drives and sample Virginia’s abundant outdoor activities, including hiking, cycling, camping, fishing, horseback riding, kayaking and canoeing. The area is also home to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, the Virginia Quilt Museum and the wacky American Celebration on Parade in Shenandoah Caverns, where parade floats go to die.
Planning tip: It often gets eclipsed by bigger names but Shenandoah Valley produces some of the best wines in the US. Take a road trip and discover what the region has to offer on the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail. If wine isn’t your thing, why not explore the local craft beer scene along the Beerwerks Trail.
2. Richmond
Best for vibrant neighborhoods
Advertisement
Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been around a long time. Thomas Jefferson designed the Capitol building and Patrick Henry delivered his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech at St John’s Church. You can’t throw a history book here without hitting a monument or museum (not that that’s a bad thing).
Today this southern city is making waves as an up-and-coming hub. Its neighborhoods are bursting with gastropubs, homegrown breweries and local boutiques, and outdoor adventures are thriving on the James River. Henrico County has 600 local restaurants and scores of shops, hotels and historic sites. Good times also await in Scott’s Addition, the city’s craft alcohol neighborhood, where you’ll find 13 breweries, cideries, meaderies, wineries and distilleries within walking distance of one another.
The historic African-American neighborhood of Jackson Ward, home to dancing legend Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, has art galleries, the Black History Museum & Cultural Center and tons of local shops and restaurants.
Planning tip: Richmond is a great base for exploring the wider state on a serious of fun day trips.
3. The Colonial Triangle
Best for history buffs
Few destinations offer such a wide array of places important to US history as the Colonial Triangle, where three major sites – Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown – reveal stories of the nation’s earliest days of European colonization. The historic trio are connected by the Colonial Parkway, a tree-shaded roadway ideal for biking and scenic driving.
Visit Historic Jamestowne, where the desperate English struggled to survive after arriving in 1607 while eking out a living. The original site’s ruins are currently under archaeological excavation. There’s also the adjacent Jamestown Settlement, a living-history museum consisting of the reconstructed 1607 James Fort, a Native American Village and reproductions of the ships that transported colonists.
Nearby is the award-winning, 300-acre Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum that takes you back to the days when Williamsburg reigned as Colonial Virginia’s capital. Historical shops, restaurants, and government buildings line reconstructed streets, and there are several excellent galleries and museums to explore.
If that’s not enough history, nearby you also have Yorktown, where the Revolutionary War ended. The immersive American Revolution Museum at Yorktown has artifact-filled galleries and a recreated Continental Army encampment out back. And, of course, you’ll learn all about October 20, 1781, the day British and German soldiers surrendered.
4. Shenandoah National Park
Best for jaw-dropping views
Shenandoah National Park harbors dark forests, fluttery mountain laurel and cascading waterfalls. You can drive its length along the 105-mile Skyline Drive but the best way to experience this national park is on foot. It has 500 miles of hiking trails, including a 104-mile section of the famed Appalachian Trail. Favorites include White Oak Canyon (4.6 miles), Dark Hollow Falls (1.4 miles), and the 4-mile hike to Rapidan Camp, with President Herbert Hoover’s restored summer White House as the focal point.
Challenge your thigh muscles with some trails climbing to 360-degree views (they’re worth the effort), such as the treks up Hawksbill Mountain and Stony Man. You can also camp backcountry or at several campgrounds, or stay overnight at one of the park lodges.
5. Chincoteague
Best for wild horses and wildlife
The eponymous main town on this Eastern Shore island, Chincoteague (pronounced “shin-co-teeg”) has salty, summery charm, with seafood restaurants, ice cream shops, B&Bs and beaches. But the major reason people flock here is to see the wild horses, which live on nearby Assateague Island.
No one knows exactly where they came from – some say they escaped a sinking Spanish galleon in the 17th century, others claim they descend from horses that 17th-century colonists released on the island to avoid taxation. Whatever the case, every July for the past 90-plus years, “saltwater cowboys” have gathered to round up the foals for the swim across the channel from Assateague to Chincoteague. It’s an event made famous by Marguerite Henry in her 1947 children’s book, Misty of Chincoteague, and always fun to watch.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge occupies the southern portion of Assateague, and you can see the wild horses there firsthand (keep a respectful distance). Cycle or walk along the 3.2-mile wildlife loop (it’s closed to cars until 3pm), and keep an eye out for migratory birds along the way. There’s a lovely beach and many visitors consider it one of the prettiest places to visit in Virginia.
6. Virginia Beach
Best for fun in the sun
Sometimes there’s just nothing better than a day on the sand with the sun beaming down and you can’t ask for much better than beautiful Virginia Beach, offering not one but two coasts: the Atlantic and the Chesapeake. Expect golden sands, lapping blue waters and plenty of room to sunbathe, play volleyball and splash in the waves. Among its best spots are secluded Sandbridge, family-friendly Chesapeake Bay and Croatan, which is popular with surfers.
Advertisement
When the sun starts to sink below the horizon, the 3-mile Virginia Beach Boardwalk awaits, lined with casual restaurants, four oceanfront stages and vendors offering bike and surrey rentals. A separate path is great for strolling, rollerblading and biking.
Planning tip: Year-round events add to the fun, including the East Coast She-Crab Soup Classic in April, the East Coast Surfing Championship in August and the Holiday Parade at the Beach in December.
7. Arlington National Cemetery
Best for paying your respects
More than 400,000 stark-white tombstones form lines along Arlington’s hillsides, the burial place of veterans from the Revolutionary War to present-day conflicts. Originally the land belonged to Robert E Lee, but it became a Union cemetery after he fled to fight for the South in 1864, never to return. Today, more than three million tourists pass through Arlington National Cemetery every year.
A tour begins at the visitor center, where you can pick up a map and catch a tram to visit the cemetery’s sites (or you can walk – be warned, it’s hilly!). Just up the hill is the gravesite of John F Kennedy Jr, where the 35th president lies beside his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, and his two brothers Robert and Edward; an eternal flame flickers 24/7. Nearby, soldiers stand guard by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with the changing of the guard taking place around the clock in an elaborate ceremony.
All presidents are eligible to be buried here, though there are only two: JFK and William Taft. Other prominent Americans include Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, heavyweight champ Joe Louis and astronaut and senator John Glenn. In Section 27, almost 4000 formerly enslaved individuals are buried on land that was once known as Freedman’s Village, Arlington’s first free neighborhood.
Detour: On the hill above looms Lee’s former home, Arlington House. It’s been reinterpreted to tell the fuller story of the Lees and the enslaved people who built the residence and worked here.
8. Blue Ridge Parkway
Best for scenic drives
Smoky mist billows over the timeworn peaks of the Blue Ridge, an ancient range meandering from Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The sinewy, two-lane Blue Ridge Parkway ambles 469 miles along its length – nearly 200 miles of which are in Virginia.
Highlights include Peaks of Otter at milepost 85.6, where three shadowy peaks overlook Abbott Lake and its lodge, restaurant and historic farm; Roanoke Star atop Mill Mountain, a fun hike just off milepost 120; and historic Mabry Mill at milepost 176, a photographer’s delight. Along the way, discover a bygone world of trail-laced forests, forgotten farms and stupendous vistas.
9. Manassas National Battlefield
Best for Civil War history
As the capital of the Confederacy, located near the capital of the Union, Virginia tussled its way through more than 2000 “military events” – more than any other state in the country.
Some of the biggest battlefields are here and one of the major sites is Manassas National Battlefield Park (aka Bull Run), where two major battles unfolded in 1861 and again in 1862 – both Confederate wins. But it’s perhaps best known for the Washingtonians who jumped in their carriages on the eve of Manassas I and brought picnics to watch the skirmish – they expected a slam-dunk victory, but ended up witnessing the first major engagement in the long four-year struggle. Today the battlefield is an undulating green landscape, with hiking trails, historic sites and tours.
Planning tip: Begin at the Henry Hill Visitor Center, where you can watch an orientation film and gather info. Take a self-guided walking or driving tour from here; guided tours are also available.
10. The villages of Northern Neck
Best for foodies
Virginia oysters are fast becoming a national obsession. Get a taste of them at their point of origin all along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline, where eight dedicated routes extol the beloved mollusks. That said, the best place to experience oysters is the Northern Neck, a peninsula east of Fredericksburg. Here, latter-day oystering villages – including Irvington and Kilmarnock – are sprinkled across the stream-crossed landscape. While oysters still support the economy, these villages also buzz with art galleries, trendy restaurants and freshly painted inns.
Go to the source at Rappahannock Oyster Company, a mom-and-pop shop in Topping that ships its oysters nationwide. You can visit the oyster nursery, where babies (known as “spat”) grow in buckets, and dine al fresco at Merroir restaurant, serving up the sweetest varieties of the local specialty. Or try them at Hope and Glory Inn’s oyster bar in Irvington, which specializes in wine-and-oyster pairings.
Explore the use of oysters in custom-designed jewelry in Kilmarnock and historic workboats at the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum including the skipjack Claud W Somers, once used for oyster dreading in the bay and now offering sails June through October. In Weems, you can even see the shells mixed with the plaster covering the entire vaulted interior of Historic Christ Church, dating from 1735.
Planning tip: The main event is the Wine and Oyster Festival, which brings the whole community together and takes place in Stratford Hall, typically in the fall, and features a score of local oyster growers (and chances to sample).
11. Old Town Alexandria
Best for pre-Revolutionary War vibes
Virginia does pre-Revolutionary towns exceedingly well, and Old Town Alexandria, founded in 1749, is hard to beat. Centuries ago, George Washington wandered these streets, discussing revolutionary thoughts with Thomas Jefferson and John Adams at Gadsby’s Tavern (now a restaurant and museum) and attending services at the still-active Christ Church.
More than 200 buildings from the town’s earliest days edge its tree-shaded streets, with historic houses providing glimpses of bygone days. French and Indian War strategies were hashed out at Carlyle House; the Freedom House Museum relates stories of enslaved individuals who passed through the nation’s second-largest location for the trade of enslaved people; and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum has a whimsical potions-mixing attic.
Experience Old Town Alexandria’s modern-day vibe at its trendy restaurants and boutiques along humming King Street. At the foot of King, the Potomac waterfront offers buskers, waterside restaurants, pathways and parks, plus the Torpedo Factory Art Center, an actual former torpedo factory now housing 82 artist studios.
12. Middleburg
Best for a posh getaway
A genteel country town centered on horses and wine, Middleburg is a weekender’s delight. Established in 1787, its one main street has historic buildings shoulder-to-shoulder, holding restaurants, cafes, boutiques, antique shops, galleries and the esteemed Red Fox Inn and Tavern. The rest of town comprises a few side streets that are fun to investigate as well.
Many famous figures have found their way here, including Jackie Kennedy, who rode horses and kept a home on the outskirts of town. The Middleburg Spring Races draw thousands, as does Christmas in Middleburg, with a parade and the Middleburg Hunt & Hounds Review.
Detour: Two noted wineries are located nearby – Chrysalis Vineyards and Greenhill Winery. Both have wine-tasting in farm winery settings. If wine isn’t your thing, pop into Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery or Lost Barrel Brewing instead.
13. Tangier Island
Best for getting away from it all
The only way to visit Tangier Island is by seasonal ferry from Reedville or Orancock (or Crisfield, Maryland). You’ll arrive at a lost-in-time isle, where prim New England–style cottages with white-picket fences dot the flat, marshy landscape, and the one pedestrian road is traveled by bike, golf cart or on foot.
For centuries, locals have eked out a living oystering and crabbing, and you’ll discover fishers’ shanties on the water, as well as crab traps, one grocery store and two restaurants. No movie theaters, fast-food joints or, well, anything modern, including mobile phone service. You can spend the day or overnight at one of the few B&Bs – check before traveling as they usually operate seasonally.
14. Mount Vernon
Best for family-friendly activities with an educational twist
Virginia is famous as the home of the first English settlement in what would later become the United States of America. And only a short drive from Old Town Alexandria is Mount Vernon, the former residence and final resting place of George and Martha Washington that is now a popular museum.
Guests can explore unique artifacts at one the country’s most historic estates while learning about life in Colonial America. The expansive Northern Virginia property consists of a mansion, a working farm, Washington’s tomb, 25 visitor galleries and a distillery (open seasonally from April to October). Next door, the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant serves Southern staples.
Planning tip: Tours at Mount Vernon are timed and require a reservation in advance, either online or at the gate. Booking in advance is recommended to avoid long waits during busy times.
15. Luray Caverns
Best for natural parks
Luray Caverns is easily one of the most unique places you can visit in Virginia. The cave system is the largest of its kind in the eastern United States and visitors have flocked to see these spectacular natural formations since its discovery in 1878.
Well-lit walkways and flat, clearly marked paths make the caves easy to navigate for people of all ages and abilities. The self-guided tour will bring you through mesmerizing 10-story-high spaces adorned with stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, mud flows and mirrored pool formations. Guided tours happen once a day for an additional fee and your host will go through the history and formation of the spaces.
When you come back up into the daylight, use your ticket to visit the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum, Shenandoah Heritage Village and Toy Town Junction – they’re all included in the cover price.
