Virginia

Virginia’s rich history and spectacular scenery make it a perfect playground for your holiday. Don’t miss its award-winning wines.

From soaring mountains to beach resorts along the Atlantic coast, Virginia is diverse enough to feed every passion. And with more than 300 wineries and nearly 300 craft breweries, it has something for every taste.

Discover outdoor adventures, mouthwatering restaurants and winding wine trails.

And did we mention Virginia was home to historical figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson? This land also saw several hard-fought battles during the Civil War, marked today by historic sites and trails; six National Parks reflect on these events.

Colonial Williamsburg brings 18th-century heritage to life through historical re-enactments, tours and museum collections. Nearby, gain a glimpse into America’s origins at the first permanent English colony — Jamestown — and Yorktown, where the American Revolution was won.

Getting Around

Get a feel for Virginia by viewing the map below, and explore a map of the state here.

A widespread Amtrak network means you can reach cities like Lynchburg, Norfolk, Roanoke and Fredericksburg with relative ease.

Get out and explore Virginia’s 39 state parks, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and winding rivers and tributaries. Shenandoah National Park, near Luray in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a recreational gem covering 200,000 acres of protected lands.

Annual Events

Music Festivals

The Crooked Road, southwest Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, is a destination for traditional music lovers year-round, but even more so during the nine-day Mountains of Music Homecoming, a celebration with concerts and performances across the region.

SOMETHING IN THE WATER, a music and cultural festival hosted by Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams, features a star-studded line-up of artists performing along the Virginia Beach oceanfront in April.

In July, the Red Wing Roots Music Festival brings together national and regional bands in Mount Salon for a family-friendly event that welcomes camper vans and tent camping.

Food & Drink Events

Taste all the different types of seafood Virginia is known for in one place at the annual Chincoteague Seafood Festival in May. Live entertainment and arts and crafts make it a merry experience for the whole family.

Virginia’s River Realm is the perfect setting to experience the oyster-centric Shuckapalooza, whether it’s learning the tools of the trade or partaking in a beach roast.

Fire, Flour & Fork gathers food enthusiasts for dining events, cooking demonstrations, tours and other culinary delights to celebrate the best the Richmond region has to offer.

Cultural Gatherings

Despite its name, the Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk is actually a massive showcase of marching bands, drill teams, dancers and other performers — no ink required.

Experience the unique and fascinating culture of American Indian tribes through song, dance and storytelling during October’s American Indian Intertribal Powwow in Williamsburg.

Known as the Chincoteague Island Pony Swim, wild ponies from Assateague Island are rounded up annually to swim across the channel to Chincoteague Island. A carnival, parade and other festivities complement the event.

Recreation & Outdoor Adventure

For more than 50 years, the East Coast Surfing Championships has made its home on the big waves of Virginia Beach. Lovers of sun and sand celebrate the surf with riding the waves, concerts, paddleboarding, beach volleyball and much more.

Combining sports and music, Richmond’s Dominion Energy Riverrock is an experience like no other, from mud pits and stand-up paddleboarding to dancing under the stars and art scavenger hunts.

What’s New in Virginia

Hear the stories of soldiers and learn the history of the US Army at the National Museum of the United States Army in Fort Belvoir. Explore Alexandria's African American history on one of the city's new self-guided trails.

The Duke Street History Trail focuses on the Old Town district while the African American Waterfront Heritage Trail includes more than 20 stops along the waterfront.

The state’s first fully immersive art space — The Looking Glass — is now open to the public in Charlottesville.

Virginia also continues to be a favourite destination for outdoor enthusiasts. With its recent Silver-Center designation from the International Mountain Biking Association, Virginia’s Blue Ridge is now officially America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg unveiled its newest roller coaster Pantheon, the fastest multi-launch coaster in the world!