Virginia

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 38 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

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What’s New in Virginia

Virginia’s Blue Ridge has been designated a Silver-Level Ride Center™ by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), making it America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital. 

Journey along the Salty Southern Route in the southeast part of the state, passing through towns such as Smithfield, Sussex and Suffolk, getting your fill of famed peanuts and salt-cured hams.

The tall ship Providence is now docked at Alexandria City Marina. The ship, featured in movies such as two of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, offers visitors a taste of life aboard an 18th-century sailing vessel.

Encompassing more than 1,000 acres with trails, river access and tent camping, the new Seven Bends State Park near Woodstock is a beautiful respite in the Shenandoah Valley.

Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery reopens in early 2020 with enhancements to better tell the stories of the mansion’s enslaved people.

Sixty years in the making, Lynchburg’s Historic Academy of Music Theatre has reopened, providing a space to enjoy live performances, films and concerts.

Just in time for the 100th anniversary of the amendment guaranteeing women’s right to vote, the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial will open in Lorton in 2020.

To explore the rest of the Capital Region, visit our Washington, DC and Maryland pages.