What should we do in virginia

Today, the estate attracts huge numbers of tourists and visitors who head here to explore the mansion and surroundings as well as to learn more about its history and about the late, great Washington. You will find plenty to explore when you visit Mount Vernon including the iconic and stunning mansion, the beautiful landscaped gardens, and the tombs of the former president and his wife. Visitors can also step back in time with a visit to the museum, where you can learn more about Washington and explore a wide variety of Mount Vernon artifacts and exhibits.

Accomodation: Where to stay near Mount Vernon. Forming part of the famous Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Shenandoah National Park provides some wonderful views and scenery including views of the Shenandoah River, the valley, lush greenery, and areas of wilderness. Around 40 percent of the land here has been designated as wilderness and is therefore protected.

One of the things that draws many people to this park is the Skyline Drive, which runs through the whole length of the park and is now known as a National Scenic Byway. This is a wonderful scenic drive that enables you to enjoy breathtaking surroundings.

Millions of people head here each year, particularly in the fall when the scenery is particularly beautiful. Accomodation: Where to stay near Shenandoah National Park.

Those who enjoy history, walking, and scenery will find that the Richmond Canal Walk in Virginia is a great way to combine all of these interests. You can enjoy taking in the various monuments and exhibits that line the walk while also enjoying the natural beauty of the waterways that you pass by as part of the walk including the Haxall Canal. Accomodation: Where to stay in Richmond. Virginia has many cave systems, but Luray Caverns is by far the most popular to visit.

Luray Caverns is the largest cave in the region. It hosts an abundance of columns and other interesting cave formations. Visitors can explore the cave via hour-long tours from expert guides — the trail extends for 1. Great Stalacpipe Organ is a unique feature that plays musical notes by tapping different stalactites. Over half-million visitors come to the cave attractions every year. The site also has activities such as a rope course, maze, and three museums.

Accomodation: Where to stay in Luray. Chincoteague and Assateague Islands are a pair of islands off the coast of Virginia — Chincoteague is an island town with several attractions; Assateague is a barrier island best for outdoor recreation. Explore the town of Chincoteague to find local restaurants, scenic beaches, golf courses, campgrounds, and other accommodations.

Assateague Island offers more of an island experience with beaches, kayaking, horseback riding, and backcountry areas for camping. The island duo is a popular visitor destination, with many people opting to explore both. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is a shared experience between the islands for seeing some of the local wildlife.

The islands host an annual Pony Swim when you can watch the ponies swim between them. The islands have excellent water conditions in the bay. Boating is a fun way to explore the marine area, and fishing is also permitted. Address: Assateague Island, VA. The attraction first opened in in Virginia Beach, which offers a variety of exhibitions and experiences for the entire family.

Virginia Aquarium is home to over 12, animals, with approximately different species. The freshwater and saltwater exhibitions showcase local marine life and themed exhibits to represent ecosystems from the Red Sea, Coastal Sahara Desert, the Malaysian Swamp, and more. Some of the favorite marine creatures to see at the aquarium are multiple shark species, sea turtles, stingrays, seahorses, and Komodo Dragons.

Its extensive gardens include an arboretum and acre park with a carriage collection. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Richmond. Towering more than feet high with a span of 90 feet, the Natural Bridge is one of America's oldest tourist attractions and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was one of the two most popular sights for European visitors, ranking with Niagara Falls. It was formed by the collapse of a cavern through which the Cedar Creek flowed. The legend that George Washington surveyed the bridge for Lord Fairfax gained credence when a rock with his initials and survey mark was discovered in Thomas Jefferson owned the land for some time, building a log cabin here as a retreat.

In , Natural Bridge became a state park. US Route 11 runs over the top of the bridge. Nearby are Natural Bridge Caverns , where you can go 34 stories underground to see the Colossal Dome room, Mirror Lake, and the stalactites and stalagmites. Natural Bridge Zoo is known for its work in breeding rare and endangered species and for the chance for visitors to interact with some of the animals.

Accommodation: Where to Stay near Natural Bridge. Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. Assateague is a mile-long barrier island to the east of Chincoteague Island, which it protects from the Atlantic Ocean. The entire island of Assateague, which is partly in Maryland and partly in Virginia, is protected as a wildlife sanctuary. The southern end of Chincoteague is protected by a National Wildlife Refuge with 14, acres of shoreline, fresh and saltwater marshes, wetlands, and forest habitat for more than species of shorebirds and waterfowl.

But the two islands' most famous residents are the wild ponies. Partly because of these ponies and partly because Assateague Island is lined by one of the most beautiful beaches on the entire Atlantic Coast , these islands get about one-and-a-half million visitors each year.

Along with watching the wild ponies, you can swim, walk nature trails, take wildlife tours by boat or bus, watch birds, visit the famous lighthouse, kayak, go fishing, and collect seashells up to a gallon each day.

Accommodation: Where to Stay near Assateague Island. The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center provides a wide range of exhibits and activities for the entire family and is one of the most popular family attractions in Virginia Beach. Aquarium residents include several varieties of turtle, including Loggerhead Sea Turtles and Green Sea Turtles, water-dwelling reptiles like Komodo dragons and tomistoma, predators including sandbar sharks, and entertaining mammals including harbor seals and otters.

The center also has a variety of educational exhibits and activities for all ages, as well as a six-story theater, which has regular showings of 3-D nature films. For those who want a more interactive experience with nature, there are outdoor recreation options as well, including a six-acre zipline adventure park for ages five and up. All ages can enjoy one of the center's various boat excursions, which spot wildlife including bottlenose dolphins, a variety of whales, and many types of sea birds.

Manassas National Battlefield Park. Two key battles in the Civil War were fought near Manassas, Virginia in and The site has been preserved as Manassas National Battlefield and is described exceptionally well, so visitors can understand and even picture those battles.

The first battle, also known as the Battle of Bull Run, was the first time the two armies clashed, and the second engagement on the plains of Manassas ended in a solid victory for the Confederates and marked the height of their strength in a war that would drag on for three more years.

Today, the park is not only a historic site but an important haven for more than species of resident and migratory birds. Washington, D. In addition to iconic landmarks like the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial, the District of Columbia is home to some of the most legendary museums in the world, the Smithsonian Museums.

This makes the nation's capital one of the most visited family destinations, and tourists can find a wide variety of places to stay in and around D.

Maryland : The small coastal state of Maryland sits on the other side of the District of Columbia, bordering the capital city on three sides and sharing a long border with Virginia. It is home to the city of Baltimore , known for its extensive museums, historic landmarks, and cultural riches.

Nearby, you will also find the smaller but charming Annapolis , which is full of things to see and do, from historic sites to spectacular sailing. Delaware: Also within a reasonable drive from northern Virginia, the tiny state of Delaware provides a refreshing retreat along the Atlantic. Delaware is well known for its maritime history and cultural attractions, but equally popular for its abundance of fine beaches , revered for their calm waters along the protected shores of Delaware Bay.

As a result, the state has become a top summer vacation destination for families and couples, and offers a variety of excellent resorts. Virginia Travel Guide. Virginia Beach King Neptune statue at Virginia Beach Named for the wide expanse of golden sand that stretches from just east of Norfolk, Virginia Beach is a very popular and often crowded resort town with the expected hotels, amusements, and a long boardwalk.

This includes the fourth floor with the George Washington Museum, the Ark of the Covenant replica on the fifth floor, the Memorial Library on the sixth floor, the Temple of Solomon on the seventh floor, and a recreation of the throne room of King Solomon on the ninth floor.

Literature lovers will appreciate the celebration of the grim, gothic author, his works, and his life. His penchant for gambling and drinking means that this is one of the only establishments that honors him, as his reputation prevented the city of Richmond from honoring him wholeheartedly.

Apart from all the intricacies that make this one of the most fun things to do in Virginia, cat lovers will be delighted by Edgar and Pluto, two resident black cats on the property! America has made very little concrete ships in its time, and nine of them make up this collection, slowly decaying in a poetic, whimsical, and somewhat eerie manner off a nondescript fishing pier.

Eventually, the terminal and its ferry shut down in , as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel near to the area. Still, the breakwater is crucial to marine life, providing a home for shellfish, coastal fish, and birds while protecting the pier. Mount Vernon is one of the must-see spots in Virginia, especially if you seek historical points of interest.

It is a place that George Washington himself called his home for a whopping 45 years while he led a revolution army and supervised the construction of the home.

The iconic and much-loved landmark is one of the best ways to get a peek into the life and times of the Washington family. Years later, in , Walter P. Chrysler Jr. The museum was promptly rebranded and is now one of the most influential and important art museums in the southeast of the nation. Today, this museum in Virginia hosts more than 30, different objects from different points of history, some dating back 5, years.

American and European works, sculptures, and more make this one of the most interesting vacation spots for art-lovers. Daily demos for free, workshops, and classes are all held here, and there is an event that happens every third monthly Thursday that provides live performance art.

The U. Marine Corps War Memorial often referred to as the Iwo Jima Memorial is a national monument recognized as one of the most iconic points of interest not just in Virginia, but all over the world. It was designed by an architect named Horace W.

Visit this Virginia site to pay respects to those passed, or simply to bask in its historical relevance. Address: Arlington Blvd. Similar to the U. As part of the acre Marine Corps Heritage Center, it does its part in telling the long-known tale of the marine corps, their bravery, and their contributions. Maymont Park was once a private estate, and it is now a public park spanning acres that is the most visited among Virginia attractions in Richmond.

It is a Victorian estate that formerly belonged to Major James H. Dooley and his wife Sallie Dooley. There is a nature center, an arboretum, a museum housed in the building of the Maymont Mansion, and even a little zoo! The American Shakespeare Center would be among the top spots that fit that description for literature lovers. Years and years ago, the center was merely a troupe from Shenandoah Valley, touring as they could. Over time, they grew in fame, and now they live in the Blackfriars Playhouse, a theater with seats for and countless Shakespeare productions and other plays performed all year round.

The playhouse building is designed to be a perfect replica of the Blackfriars Monastery in London, which is a theater built with the aid of Shakespeare himself. It is a history park that reimagines history through a simple lens: what if the Union Army lost the War but to dinosaurs?

In the woods, this science fiction park sets the stage for an alternate reality version of the Civil War. The story is simple: in , a group of paleontologists from the South was at the Lost Caverns, excavating fossils, when they chanced upon a shocking discovery — a valley, hidden, full of dinosaurs! The Byrd Theatre in Richmond, Virginia has been operating since , with ticket prices of a mere 25 cents.

The top theater was opened at a time when film executives were still unsure of talking films, therefore fitting the Byrd with both a Mighty Wurlitzer organ for silent films and a sound synchronization system for talking ones.

For the most part, the Byrd shows second-run films, with occasional special throwbacks to old classics. Trains cross the area quite often, and usually, you can only get close to the platform by riding the train and zooming by it. This is when the train shuts down and visitors are allowed to trek through the cave, allowing them to walk right on the tracks.

Colonial Williamsburg is the final piece of the historic triangle puzzle. The area spans acres and is a direct representation of the 18th century capital of Britain, complete with restored buildings and items on display.

The house is still decked out in elegant, old-fashioned furniture, and there are displays of weapons, a maze, and even tiered gardens to explore. Lee Chapel is a rather controversial location. When he passed away, his wife chose his final resting spot which is the same as it is now! The site is also a great spot for bird watching and is a retreat for over different species, both native and migratory.

There are rides to suit all ages and levels of daring as well as live entertainment throughout the day. It starts at Thompson Street and stretches all the way to the Boulevard and is home to a wide range of shops and restaurants.

During its lifetime it has hosted works by some of the most famous artists on the planet including Picasso. As well as a large and varied collection, the museum also has two great places to eat and a wonderfully relaxed outdoor seating area. The Boulevard Bridge in Richmond was previously known as the Nickel Bridge due to the five-cent toll charged to cross it.

Church Hill in Richmond offers great views of the downtown area as well as a wide mix of historic buildings and homes. History lovers will love the area but it also has plenty to more to offer and the views of the James River and beyond will appeal to all travelers.

There are over , gallons of exhibits and habitats in the aquarium and, for an extra fee, visitors are able to swim with seals or observe feeding of the rare and elusive sea turtle.

Formerly a private estate, Maymont Park is now a acre public park containing a historic museum in the fully furnished Maymont House. The park, found in Richmond, also has wonderfully themed Italian and Japanese gardens and a small zoo. This natural wonder has consistently drawn visitors from far and wide since its discovery all those years ago. If you only have time to visit one cavern whilst in Virginia, make it this one! This museum in Virginia Beach is home to an astonishing collection of fighting aircraft, which, rather impressively, are still in flying condition.

The collections span the periods of both world wars and is the largest private collection of its kind in the world. The Cape Henry Lighthouse has played an important role during its history due to the high volume of vessels traveling to Chesapeake Bay.