Welcome to Virginia

Awash with history and home to a diverse array of landscapes, Virginia makes for one of the most rewarding places to stop, set up camp and go exploring.

Most visitors find themselves huddled along the state’s scenic coastal lowlands, where the likes of Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake offer a perfect balance of big city amenities, seaside charm and family-friendly attractions. Highlights include the vibrant and bustling Virginia Beach Boardwalk, the historic Cape Henry Lighthouse, the Virginia Zoo and the USS Wisconsin.

Further inland, you’ll find Richmond, one of the oldest cities in the country and Virginia’s state capital. Known for its history (this was where Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech in 1775), Richmond is home to highlights like the Monument Avenue Statues and the Canal Walk.

To the far north, Arlington sits just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Highlights include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, John F. Kennedy’s grave site at Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, the Air Force Memorial and the Pentagon Memorial.

Adventure

The geography of Virginia is varied and diverse, so no matter what type of outdoor adventure you’re on the prowl for, you’ll find it within the borders of Old Dominion.

Along the state’s eastern Atlantic coast, you’ll find swampy tidal marshes and inland swamps, as well as long ribbons of beaches, including Virginia Beach, Cape Charles Beach, Ocean View Beach and Buckroe Beach. Further inland, the sloping plains of the Piedmont begin their gradual rise westward toward the Blue Ridge Mountains, where a world of steep peaks, slumbering valleys and limestone caverns stretch all the way to the Appalachian Plateau.

On the coast, First Landing National Park is a popular spot for hiking, biking, swimming, fishing and boating.

For more rugged adventurers, there’s the sprawling George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, which stretch along the state’s western border. Combined, the forests are home to 325 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, three different National Scenic Byways and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.

Entertainment

If you’re visiting Virginia in spring, you might be able to catch one of the state’s most renowned events, the Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk. Don’t be thrown by the word tattoo, though—this acclaimed festival isn’t about inked skin. It derives its name from the term “military tattoo,” which refers to a musical or theatrical performance.

As the weather starts to make a turn for the better in early June, the Norfolk Harborfest kicks off a full summer slate of family-friendly festivities.

Heritage

Virginia played a major role in American history. It was here, in 1607, that the first permanent settlement in the New World was established at Jamestown. It also is the birthplace of eight United States Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor and Woodrow Wilson.

Don’t miss visiting Historic Jamestowne and the Jamestown Settlement. The former is the site of the original 1607 settlement and features a number of ongoing archeological excavations. The latter, meanwhile, is located nearby and offers visitors a number of living history museums that recreate what life was like for the 1607 colony.

The American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar is a must-visit for military history buffs. Other historic highlights around the state include Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg, George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria.