Welcome to Virginia

The Old Dominion State is many things: the birthplace of America, the state with the most Civil War battlefields and home of the famed Appalachian Trail. Whether you come for the historic sites or outdoor thrills, Virginia is sure to exceed your vacation expectations with its immersive museums, diverse landscapes and lively cities.

State Bird: Cardinal. Getty Images

History Lessons in the City

Arlington’s roster of famous landmarks rivals those in Washington, D.C. Visit the final resting place of John F. Kennedy and the Tomb of the Unknowns at the Arlington National Cemetery. You can even take a guided tour of the Pentagon as long as you book in advance.

Loving Liberty

The Liberty Trail is one of the biggest draws to Richmond. Follow the self-guided walking path to historic sites including the Virginia State Capitol, Edgar Allan Poe Museum, Hollywood Cemetery and the oldest church in town. Don’t leave without seeing funky street art in the Carytown neighborhood and smelling the roses in the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Animal Encounters

Say hello to a variety of wildlife in Assateague Island National Seashore. Situated in both Maryland and Virginia, this 37-mile barrier island lets you come face-to-face with shorebirds, dolphins, whales and wild ponies. Beyond the resident creatures, you’ll find sandy beaches and maritime forests to roam. Other popular activities here include horseback riding, crabbing and kayaking.

Guiding Light

Virginia Beach keeps the oceanfront adventures coming. Paddle down peaceful waterways, sail the high seas and stop by the Cape Henry Lighthouse resting just outside First Landing State Park. Finish your day with a leisurely stroll on Virginia Beach’s 3-mile-long boardwalk and capture a photo with the bronze King Neptune statue along the way.

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Relive America’s Beginnings

Two of English North America’s most significant sites are located in Colonial National Historical Park. Wander around Jamestown, the first permanent British colony in the New World, to view a recreated fort, Powhatan village and replica ships. The park also encompasses the Yorktown Battlefield where the last major American Revolution battle was fought.

Adventures Above and Below Ground

Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park is a slice of natural heaven with its cascading waterfalls, rolling peaks and panoramic vistas. Experience all the park has to offer by cruising along the scenic Skyline Drive or trekking 101 miles of the legendary Appalachian Trail. A bird’s-eye view of the entire landscape can be enjoyed at Marys Rock and at the top of Hawksbill Mountain, the park’s highest peak at 4,050 feet. The largest caverns in the eastern United States are just west of Skyline Drive. The Luray Caverns offers guided tours so you can go deep beneath the surface and enter cathedral-sized rooms overflowing with stalactites and stalagmites.