Virginia Travel Guide

GALLERY

A wonderland for history buffs, Virginia has an incredible past that's still on display. It's possible to visit the Virginia of George Washington or Thomas Jefferson (their historic homes are here), skip through Colonial times in Williamsburg, or absorb the power of the Civil War in Manassas. But don't miss the appeal of modern Virginia, from its wineries to its beaches.

Guidebooks for Every Journey

Fodor's Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA: All 63 parks from Maine to American Samoa

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Fodor's Washington, D.C.: with Mount Vernon and Alexandria

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Fodor's Best Weekend Road Trips

Easy Planning
Local Writers
Itineraries
Helpful Maps

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Find a Hotel

Guidebooks for Every Journey

Fodor's Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA: All 63 parks from Maine to American Samoa

Buy Now See All Guideboks

Fodor's Washington, D.C.: with Mount Vernon and Alexandria

Buy Now See All Guideboks

Fodor's Best Weekend Road Trips

Easy Planning
Local Writers
Itineraries
Helpful Maps

Buy Now See All Guideboks

Top Destinations

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Central and Western Virginia

Eastern Virginia's coastal plains start rolling into the gently undulating Piedmont west of I-95. Charlottesville, 71 mi northwest of Richmond, epitomizes the refined elegance of...

Williamsburg and Hampton Roads

Perhaps no other region in Virginia contains more variety and options for the traveler than its southeastern coastline. Colonial Williamsburg has evoked the days of...

Northern Virginia

Although D.C. gets all the recognition for its place in the nation's history, visitors to the region might be surprised by the richness of Northern...

Richmond, Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck

A host of patriots and presidents have lived and worked in the heart of the Old Dominion, an area that takes in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Petersburg...

Richmond

Centered on the fall line of the James River, about 75 mi upriver from the Chesapeake Bay, Richmond completes the transition from Tidewater Virginia into...

Williamsburg

Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, after Jamestown and before Richmond. Williamsburg hasn't been politically important for a long time, but...

Arlington

Arlington has evolved since the end of World War I from a farming community into one of sprawling homes, large-scale retailing, and office buildings small...

Charlottesville

Charlottesville is still Jefferson's city, focused on Monticello and the University of Virginia. The downtown pedestrian mall, a brick-paved street of restored buildings that stretches...

Norfolk

Like many other old Southern towns, Norfolk has undergone a renaissance, one that's especially visible in the charming shops and cafés in the historic village...

Virginia's Eastern Shore

The appeal of Virginia's Eastern Shore is out of sight from the highway, among its barrier islands in the Atlantic to the east and along...

Roanoke

They once called this city "Big Lick." But today Roanoke, with a population of 95,000, is Virginia's largest city west of Richmond, the largest city...

Winchester

The historic town of Winchester is widely known as the birthplace of one of country music's most beloved stars, Patsy Cline. Cline hit it big...

Leesburg

Leesburg is one of the oldest towns in Northern Virginia. In an early sign of changing allegiances, "George Town" changed its name to Leesburg in...

Middleburg

Attractive boutiques and restaurants line U.S. 50, the main street of this charming country town. Now a hub of Loudoun County's wine and horse culture...

Blue Ridge Parkway

...

Mount Vernon

Set on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River, George Washington's plantation estate is one of the most visited sites in Northern Virginia...

Shenandoah National Park

...

Cape Charles

The town holds one of the largest concentrations of late-Victorian and turn-of-the-20th-century buildings in the region. Clean, uncrowded public beaches beckon, as do a marina...

Warsaw

The county seat of Richmond County, Warsaw is a pleasant town of 7,000 that's shaded by large oak trees. Near the U.S. 360 bridge over...

Harrisonburg

Settled in 1739, Harrisonburg is a stronghold of Mennonites, spotted around town driving horse-drawn buggies. The 10-block historic downtown, listed on the National Register of...

Petersburg

Historic Petersburg, 20 mi south of Richmond on I–95, lies along the Appomattox River. During the Civil War, the city was under siege for 292...

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

...

Portsmouth

Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk, has a well-maintained historic area called Olde Towne, which has handsome buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries...

Hopewell

City Point, the oldest part of Hopewell, was established in 1613 by Sir Thomas Dale. Across from Charles City County via the Route 106 Benjamin...

Great Falls Park

Great Falls, a favorite getaway spot for Virginians and D.C. residents alike, is where the Potomac River builds up speed and crashes over steep rocks...

Chantilly

Located in western Fairfax County, Chantilly is home to Dulles International Airport as well as the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy...

Orange County

Orange is a fertile agricultural area bearing reminders of the Civil War. Among the many estates dotting the countryside is the home of our nation's...

Alexandria

A lively mix of historic homes, taverns, restaurants, and shops, Alexandria seems to exist in two or three centuries at once. Founded in 1749 by...

Wintergreen Resort

...

Tangier Island

Crab traps stacked 10 feet high, watermen's shanties on the water, and a landscape virtually devoid of modern commercialization characterize this Virginia island fishing community...

Gunston Hall

Set near the shores of the Potomac south of Mount Vernon, George Mason's 18th century mansion celebrates the life and work of one of the...

Charles City County

Colonists founded Charles City County in 1616. This tiny county is unique, being the only U.S. county to have a native president (William Harrison) and...

New Market

Founded primarily by German settlers of the Mennonite and Lutheran faiths, the town's first foray into industry was printing. New Market's Historic District is on...

Newport News

Newport News stretches for almost 35 miles along the James River from near Williamsburg to Hampton Roads. Known mostly for its coal shipping and huge...

Manassas

The county seat of Prince William County (though officially an independent city), Manassas was considered a strategic crossroads during the Civil War, which is why...

Staunton

Staunton (pronounced stan-ton) was once the seat of government of the vast Augusta County, which formed in 1738 and encompassed present-day West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio...

Middletown

Middletown has one of the area's loveliest historic homes. The section of Route 11 that makes up this small town's main street contains a few...

Irvington

Although much older than the resort, the lovely town of Irvington has been associated with the Tides Inn for more than 50 years...

Lynchburg

Lynchburg was founded by John Lynch, a Quaker pacifist, and Thomas Jefferson visited often when he was vacationing at his nearby retreat, Poplar Forest. The...

Reedville

This small town at the eastern tip of the Northern Neck was the home of wealthy fishermen and businessmen who made their fortunes from the...

Abingdon

Abingdon, near the Tennessee border, is a cultural crossroads in the wilderness: the town of nearly 7,000 draws tens of thousands of people each year...

Stratford Hall Plantation

...

Tysons Corner

Centered around two major shopping centers, Tysons Corner has become a highly developed commercial area of office buildings, hotels, and an expanding array of restaurants...

Dayton

Dayton is best known for its large Mennonite population, whose black horse-drawn buggies share the road with latter-day SUVs, and for its extensive farmers' market...

Waterford

...

Chincoteague

The island resort town of Chincoteague (pronounced shin-coh-teeg), which means "large stream or inlet"—also known as Chincoteague Island—exudes a pleasant aura of seclusion. Small, but...

Wolf Trap

This tiny community, just northwest of Tysons Corner, is best known as home to the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts...

Blacksburg and the New River Valley

Despite its name, derived from being "new" to explorers when it was first discovered, the New River is actually one of the oldest rivers in...

Woodbridge

Set on the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers, suburban Woodbridge is home to many Washington commuters. It's also a destination for bargain shoppers, boasting one of...

Hampton

Founded in 1610, Hampton is the oldest continuously existing English-speaking settlement in the United States—having celebrated 400 years in 2010. It also holds the country's...

Woodlawn

...

Jamestown

The desperate strivings of Englishmen to stay alive and establish a foothold in the New World become evident when visiting Jamestown, the beginning of English...

Lexington

Two deeply traditional Virginia colleges sit side by side in this town, each with a memorial to a soldier who was also a man of...

Bath County

Bath County, known as the Allegheny Highlands, is where Virginia's rugged outdoors and refined elegance intermingle delightfully. Amid its steep ridges and dense forests is...

Fredericksburg

Halfway between Richmond and Washington, near the falls of the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg is a popular destination for history buffs. The town's 40-block National Historic...

Virginia Beach

The heart of Virginia Beach—a stretch of the Atlantic shore from Cape Henry south to Rudee Inlet—has been a popular summertime destination for decades. With...

Washington

Known as Little Washington to differentiate it from its big sister about 60 mi away, this tiny town packs in antiques shops, galleries, custom jewelry...

Yorktown

It was at Yorktown that the combined American and French forces surrounded Lord Cornwallis's British troops in 1781; this was the end to the Revolutionary...

Occoquan

...

Central and Western Virginia

Eastern Virginia's coastal plains start rolling into the gently undulating Piedmont west of I-95. Charlottesville, 71 mi northwest of Richmond, epitomizes the refined elegance of...

Williamsburg and Hampton Roads

Perhaps no other region in Virginia contains more variety and options for the traveler than its southeastern coastline. Colonial Williamsburg has evoked the days of...

Northern Virginia

Although D.C. gets all the recognition for its place in the nation's history, visitors to the region might be surprised by the richness of Northern...

Richmond, Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck

A host of patriots and presidents have lived and worked in the heart of the Old Dominion, an area that takes in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Petersburg...

Richmond

Centered on the fall line of the James River, about 75 mi upriver from the Chesapeake Bay, Richmond completes the transition from Tidewater Virginia into...

Williamsburg

Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, after Jamestown and before Richmond. Williamsburg hasn't been politically important for a long time, but...

Arlington

Arlington has evolved since the end of World War I from a farming community into one of sprawling homes, large-scale retailing, and office buildings small...

Charlottesville

Charlottesville is still Jefferson's city, focused on Monticello and the University of Virginia. The downtown pedestrian mall, a brick-paved street of restored buildings that stretches...

Norfolk

Like many other old Southern towns, Norfolk has undergone a renaissance, one that's especially visible in the charming shops and cafés in the historic village...

Virginia's Eastern Shore

The appeal of Virginia's Eastern Shore is out of sight from the highway, among its barrier islands in the Atlantic to the east and along...

Roanoke

They once called this city "Big Lick." But today Roanoke, with a population of 95,000, is Virginia's largest city west of Richmond, the largest city...

Winchester

The historic town of Winchester is widely known as the birthplace of one of country music's most beloved stars, Patsy Cline. Cline hit it big...

Leesburg

Leesburg is one of the oldest towns in Northern Virginia. In an early sign of changing allegiances, "George Town" changed its name to Leesburg in...

Middleburg

Attractive boutiques and restaurants line U.S. 50, the main street of this charming country town. Now a hub of Loudoun County's wine and horse culture...

Blue Ridge Parkway

...

Mount Vernon

Set on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River, George Washington's plantation estate is one of the most visited sites in Northern Virginia...

Shenandoah National Park

...

Cape Charles

The town holds one of the largest concentrations of late-Victorian and turn-of-the-20th-century buildings in the region. Clean, uncrowded public beaches beckon, as do a marina...

Warsaw

The county seat of Richmond County, Warsaw is a pleasant town of 7,000 that's shaded by large oak trees. Near the U.S. 360 bridge over...

Harrisonburg

Settled in 1739, Harrisonburg is a stronghold of Mennonites, spotted around town driving horse-drawn buggies. The 10-block historic downtown, listed on the National Register of...

Petersburg

Historic Petersburg, 20 mi south of Richmond on I–95, lies along the Appomattox River. During the Civil War, the city was under siege for 292...

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

...

Portsmouth

Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk, has a well-maintained historic area called Olde Towne, which has handsome buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries...

Hopewell

City Point, the oldest part of Hopewell, was established in 1613 by Sir Thomas Dale. Across from Charles City County via the Route 106 Benjamin...

Great Falls Park

Great Falls, a favorite getaway spot for Virginians and D.C. residents alike, is where the Potomac River builds up speed and crashes over steep rocks...

Chantilly

Located in western Fairfax County, Chantilly is home to Dulles International Airport as well as the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy...

Orange County

Orange is a fertile agricultural area bearing reminders of the Civil War. Among the many estates dotting the countryside is the home of our nation's...

Alexandria

A lively mix of historic homes, taverns, restaurants, and shops, Alexandria seems to exist in two or three centuries at once. Founded in 1749 by...

Wintergreen Resort

...

Tangier Island

Crab traps stacked 10 feet high, watermen's shanties on the water, and a landscape virtually devoid of modern commercialization characterize this Virginia island fishing community...

Gunston Hall

Set near the shores of the Potomac south of Mount Vernon, George Mason's 18th century mansion celebrates the life and work of one of the...

Charles City County

Colonists founded Charles City County in 1616. This tiny county is unique, being the only U.S. county to have a native president (William Harrison) and...

New Market

Founded primarily by German settlers of the Mennonite and Lutheran faiths, the town's first foray into industry was printing. New Market's Historic District is on...

Newport News

Newport News stretches for almost 35 miles along the James River from near Williamsburg to Hampton Roads. Known mostly for its coal shipping and huge...

Manassas

The county seat of Prince William County (though officially an independent city), Manassas was considered a strategic crossroads during the Civil War, which is why...

Staunton

Staunton (pronounced stan-ton) was once the seat of government of the vast Augusta County, which formed in 1738 and encompassed present-day West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio...

Middletown

Middletown has one of the area's loveliest historic homes. The section of Route 11 that makes up this small town's main street contains a few...

Irvington

Although much older than the resort, the lovely town of Irvington has been associated with the Tides Inn for more than 50 years...

Lynchburg

Lynchburg was founded by John Lynch, a Quaker pacifist, and Thomas Jefferson visited often when he was vacationing at his nearby retreat, Poplar Forest. The...

Reedville

This small town at the eastern tip of the Northern Neck was the home of wealthy fishermen and businessmen who made their fortunes from the...

Abingdon

Abingdon, near the Tennessee border, is a cultural crossroads in the wilderness: the town of nearly 7,000 draws tens of thousands of people each year...

Stratford Hall Plantation

...

Tysons Corner

Centered around two major shopping centers, Tysons Corner has become a highly developed commercial area of office buildings, hotels, and an expanding array of restaurants...

Dayton

Dayton is best known for its large Mennonite population, whose black horse-drawn buggies share the road with latter-day SUVs, and for its extensive farmers' market...

Waterford

...

Chincoteague

The island resort town of Chincoteague (pronounced shin-coh-teeg), which means "large stream or inlet"—also known as Chincoteague Island—exudes a pleasant aura of seclusion. Small, but...

Wolf Trap

This tiny community, just northwest of Tysons Corner, is best known as home to the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts...

Blacksburg and the New River Valley

Despite its name, derived from being "new" to explorers when it was first discovered, the New River is actually one of the oldest rivers in...

Woodbridge

Set on the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers, suburban Woodbridge is home to many Washington commuters. It's also a destination for bargain shoppers, boasting one of...

Hampton

Founded in 1610, Hampton is the oldest continuously existing English-speaking settlement in the United States—having celebrated 400 years in 2010. It also holds the country's...

Woodlawn

...

Jamestown

The desperate strivings of Englishmen to stay alive and establish a foothold in the New World become evident when visiting Jamestown, the beginning of English...

Lexington

Two deeply traditional Virginia colleges sit side by side in this town, each with a memorial to a soldier who was also a man of...

Bath County

Bath County, known as the Allegheny Highlands, is where Virginia's rugged outdoors and refined elegance intermingle delightfully. Amid its steep ridges and dense forests is...

Fredericksburg

Halfway between Richmond and Washington, near the falls of the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg is a popular destination for history buffs. The town's 40-block National Historic...

Virginia Beach

The heart of Virginia Beach—a stretch of the Atlantic shore from Cape Henry south to Rudee Inlet—has been a popular summertime destination for decades. With...

Washington

Known as Little Washington to differentiate it from its big sister about 60 mi away, this tiny town packs in antiques shops, galleries, custom jewelry...

Yorktown

It was at Yorktown that the combined American and French forces surrounded Lord Cornwallis's British troops in 1781; this was the end to the Revolutionary...

Occoquan

...

Richmond

Centered on the fall line of the James River, about 75 mi upriver from the Chesapeake Bay, Richmond completes the transition from Tidewater Virginia into...

Williamsburg

Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, after Jamestown and before Richmond. Williamsburg hasn't been politically important for a long time, but...

Arlington

Arlington has evolved since the end of World War I from a farming community into one of sprawling homes, large-scale retailing, and office buildings small...

Charlottesville

Charlottesville is still Jefferson's city, focused on Monticello and the University of Virginia. The downtown pedestrian mall, a brick-paved street of restored buildings that stretches...

Norfolk

Like many other old Southern towns, Norfolk has undergone a renaissance, one that's especially visible in the charming shops and cafés in the historic village...

Roanoke

They once called this city "Big Lick." But today Roanoke, with a population of 95,000, is Virginia's largest city west of Richmond, the largest city...

Winchester

The historic town of Winchester is widely known as the birthplace of one of country music's most beloved stars, Patsy Cline. Cline hit it big...

Leesburg

Leesburg is one of the oldest towns in Northern Virginia. In an early sign of changing allegiances, "George Town" changed its name to Leesburg in...

Middleburg

Attractive boutiques and restaurants line U.S. 50, the main street of this charming country town. Now a hub of Loudoun County's wine and horse culture...

Blue Ridge Parkway

...

Mount Vernon

Set on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River, George Washington's plantation estate is one of the most visited sites in Northern Virginia...

Hopewell

City Point, the oldest part of Hopewell, was established in 1613 by Sir Thomas Dale. Across from Charles City County via the Route 106 Benjamin...

Cape Charles

The town holds one of the largest concentrations of late-Victorian and turn-of-the-20th-century buildings in the region. Clean, uncrowded public beaches beckon, as do a marina...

Charles City County

Colonists founded Charles City County in 1616. This tiny county is unique, being the only U.S. county to have a native president (William Harrison) and...

Petersburg

Historic Petersburg, 20 mi south of Richmond on I–95, lies along the Appomattox River. During the Civil War, the city was under siege for 292...

Dayton

Dayton is best known for its large Mennonite population, whose black horse-drawn buggies share the road with latter-day SUVs, and for its extensive farmers' market...

New Market

Founded primarily by German settlers of the Mennonite and Lutheran faiths, the town's first foray into industry was printing. New Market's Historic District is on...

Fredericksburg

Halfway between Richmond and Washington, near the falls of the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg is a popular destination for history buffs. The town's 40-block National Historic...

Chantilly

Located in western Fairfax County, Chantilly is home to Dulles International Airport as well as the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy...

Great Falls Park

Great Falls, a favorite getaway spot for Virginians and D.C. residents alike, is where the Potomac River builds up speed and crashes over steep rocks...

Alexandria

A lively mix of historic homes, taverns, restaurants, and shops, Alexandria seems to exist in two or three centuries at once. Founded in 1749 by...

Lynchburg

Lynchburg was founded by John Lynch, a Quaker pacifist, and Thomas Jefferson visited often when he was vacationing at his nearby retreat, Poplar Forest. The...

Middletown

Middletown has one of the area's loveliest historic homes. The section of Route 11 that makes up this small town's main street contains a few...

Washington

Known as Little Washington to differentiate it from its big sister about 60 mi away, this tiny town packs in antiques shops, galleries, custom jewelry...

Staunton

Staunton (pronounced stan-ton) was once the seat of government of the vast Augusta County, which formed in 1738 and encompassed present-day West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio...

Newport News

Newport News stretches for almost 35 miles along the James River from near Williamsburg to Hampton Roads. Known mostly for its coal shipping and huge...

Gunston Hall

Set near the shores of the Potomac south of Mount Vernon, George Mason's 18th century mansion celebrates the life and work of one of the...

Portsmouth

Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk, has a well-maintained historic area called Olde Towne, which has handsome buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries...

Lexington

Two deeply traditional Virginia colleges sit side by side in this town, each with a memorial to a soldier who was also a man of...

Woodlawn

...

Manassas

The county seat of Prince William County (though officially an independent city), Manassas was considered a strategic crossroads during the Civil War, which is why...

Irvington

Although much older than the resort, the lovely town of Irvington has been associated with the Tides Inn for more than 50 years...

Harrisonburg

Settled in 1739, Harrisonburg is a stronghold of Mennonites, spotted around town driving horse-drawn buggies. The 10-block historic downtown, listed on the National Register of...

Reedville

This small town at the eastern tip of the Northern Neck was the home of wealthy fishermen and businessmen who made their fortunes from the...

Bath County

Bath County, known as the Allegheny Highlands, is where Virginia's rugged outdoors and refined elegance intermingle delightfully. Amid its steep ridges and dense forests is...

Warsaw

The county seat of Richmond County, Warsaw is a pleasant town of 7,000 that's shaded by large oak trees. Near the U.S. 360 bridge over...

Occoquan

...

Chincoteague

The island resort town of Chincoteague (pronounced shin-coh-teeg), which means "large stream or inlet"—also known as Chincoteague Island—exudes a pleasant aura of seclusion. Small, but...

Tysons Corner

Centered around two major shopping centers, Tysons Corner has become a highly developed commercial area of office buildings, hotels, and an expanding array of restaurants...

Hampton

Founded in 1610, Hampton is the oldest continuously existing English-speaking settlement in the United States—having celebrated 400 years in 2010. It also holds the country's...

Waterford

...

Jamestown

The desperate strivings of Englishmen to stay alive and establish a foothold in the New World become evident when visiting Jamestown, the beginning of English...

Wolf Trap

This tiny community, just northwest of Tysons Corner, is best known as home to the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts...

Blacksburg and the New River Valley

Despite its name, derived from being "new" to explorers when it was first discovered, the New River is actually one of the oldest rivers in...

Woodbridge

Set on the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers, suburban Woodbridge is home to many Washington commuters. It's also a destination for bargain shoppers, boasting one of...

Virginia Beach

The heart of Virginia Beach—a stretch of the Atlantic shore from Cape Henry south to Rudee Inlet—has been a popular summertime destination for decades. With...

Orange County

Orange is a fertile agricultural area bearing reminders of the Civil War. Among the many estates dotting the countryside is the home of our nation's...

Yorktown

It was at Yorktown that the combined American and French forces surrounded Lord Cornwallis's British troops in 1781; this was the end to the Revolutionary...

Abingdon

Abingdon, near the Tennessee border, is a cultural crossroads in the wilderness: the town of nearly 7,000 draws tens of thousands of people each year...

Richmond

Centered on the fall line of the James River, about 75 mi upriver from the Chesapeake Bay, Richmond completes the transition from Tidewater Virginia into...

Williamsburg

Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, after Jamestown and before Richmond. Williamsburg hasn't been politically important for a long time, but...

Arlington

Arlington has evolved since the end of World War I from a farming community into one of sprawling homes, large-scale retailing, and office buildings small...

Charlottesville

Charlottesville is still Jefferson's city, focused on Monticello and the University of Virginia. The downtown pedestrian mall, a brick-paved street of restored buildings that stretches...

Norfolk

Like many other old Southern towns, Norfolk has undergone a renaissance, one that's especially visible in the charming shops and cafés in the historic village...

Roanoke

They once called this city "Big Lick." But today Roanoke, with a population of 95,000, is Virginia's largest city west of Richmond, the largest city...

Winchester

The historic town of Winchester is widely known as the birthplace of one of country music's most beloved stars, Patsy Cline. Cline hit it big...

Leesburg

Leesburg is one of the oldest towns in Northern Virginia. In an early sign of changing allegiances, "George Town" changed its name to Leesburg in...

Middleburg

Attractive boutiques and restaurants line U.S. 50, the main street of this charming country town. Now a hub of Loudoun County's wine and horse culture...

Blue Ridge Parkway

...

Mount Vernon

Set on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River, George Washington's plantation estate is one of the most visited sites in Northern Virginia...

Hopewell

City Point, the oldest part of Hopewell, was established in 1613 by Sir Thomas Dale. Across from Charles City County via the Route 106 Benjamin...

Cape Charles

The town holds one of the largest concentrations of late-Victorian and turn-of-the-20th-century buildings in the region. Clean, uncrowded public beaches beckon, as do a marina...

Charles City County

Colonists founded Charles City County in 1616. This tiny county is unique, being the only U.S. county to have a native president (William Harrison) and...

Petersburg

Historic Petersburg, 20 mi south of Richmond on I–95, lies along the Appomattox River. During the Civil War, the city was under siege for 292...

Dayton

Dayton is best known for its large Mennonite population, whose black horse-drawn buggies share the road with latter-day SUVs, and for its extensive farmers' market...

New Market

Founded primarily by German settlers of the Mennonite and Lutheran faiths, the town's first foray into industry was printing. New Market's Historic District is on...

Fredericksburg

Halfway between Richmond and Washington, near the falls of the Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg is a popular destination for history buffs. The town's 40-block National Historic...

Chantilly

Located in western Fairfax County, Chantilly is home to Dulles International Airport as well as the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy...

Great Falls Park

Great Falls, a favorite getaway spot for Virginians and D.C. residents alike, is where the Potomac River builds up speed and crashes over steep rocks...

Alexandria

A lively mix of historic homes, taverns, restaurants, and shops, Alexandria seems to exist in two or three centuries at once. Founded in 1749 by...

Lynchburg

Lynchburg was founded by John Lynch, a Quaker pacifist, and Thomas Jefferson visited often when he was vacationing at his nearby retreat, Poplar Forest. The...

Middletown

Middletown has one of the area's loveliest historic homes. The section of Route 11 that makes up this small town's main street contains a few...

Washington

Known as Little Washington to differentiate it from its big sister about 60 mi away, this tiny town packs in antiques shops, galleries, custom jewelry...

Staunton

Staunton (pronounced stan-ton) was once the seat of government of the vast Augusta County, which formed in 1738 and encompassed present-day West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio...

Newport News

Newport News stretches for almost 35 miles along the James River from near Williamsburg to Hampton Roads. Known mostly for its coal shipping and huge...

Gunston Hall

Set near the shores of the Potomac south of Mount Vernon, George Mason's 18th century mansion celebrates the life and work of one of the...

Portsmouth

Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk, has a well-maintained historic area called Olde Towne, which has handsome buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries...

Lexington

Two deeply traditional Virginia colleges sit side by side in this town, each with a memorial to a soldier who was also a man of...

Woodlawn

...

Manassas

The county seat of Prince William County (though officially an independent city), Manassas was considered a strategic crossroads during the Civil War, which is why...

Irvington

Although much older than the resort, the lovely town of Irvington has been associated with the Tides Inn for more than 50 years...

Harrisonburg

Settled in 1739, Harrisonburg is a stronghold of Mennonites, spotted around town driving horse-drawn buggies. The 10-block historic downtown, listed on the National Register of...

Reedville

This small town at the eastern tip of the Northern Neck was the home of wealthy fishermen and businessmen who made their fortunes from the...

Bath County

Bath County, known as the Allegheny Highlands, is where Virginia's rugged outdoors and refined elegance intermingle delightfully. Amid its steep ridges and dense forests is...

Warsaw

The county seat of Richmond County, Warsaw is a pleasant town of 7,000 that's shaded by large oak trees. Near the U.S. 360 bridge over...

Occoquan

...

Chincoteague

The island resort town of Chincoteague (pronounced shin-coh-teeg), which means "large stream or inlet"—also known as Chincoteague Island—exudes a pleasant aura of seclusion. Small, but...

Tysons Corner

Centered around two major shopping centers, Tysons Corner has become a highly developed commercial area of office buildings, hotels, and an expanding array of restaurants...

Hampton

Founded in 1610, Hampton is the oldest continuously existing English-speaking settlement in the United States—having celebrated 400 years in 2010. It also holds the country's...

Waterford

...

Jamestown

The desperate strivings of Englishmen to stay alive and establish a foothold in the New World become evident when visiting Jamestown, the beginning of English...

Wolf Trap

This tiny community, just northwest of Tysons Corner, is best known as home to the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts...

Blacksburg and the New River Valley

Despite its name, derived from being "new" to explorers when it was first discovered, the New River is actually one of the oldest rivers in...

Woodbridge

Set on the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers, suburban Woodbridge is home to many Washington commuters. It's also a destination for bargain shoppers, boasting one of...

Virginia Beach

The heart of Virginia Beach—a stretch of the Atlantic shore from Cape Henry south to Rudee Inlet—has been a popular summertime destination for decades. With...

Orange County

Orange is a fertile agricultural area bearing reminders of the Civil War. Among the many estates dotting the countryside is the home of our nation's...

Yorktown

It was at Yorktown that the combined American and French forces surrounded Lord Cornwallis's British troops in 1781; this was the end to the Revolutionary...

Abingdon

Abingdon, near the Tennessee border, is a cultural crossroads in the wilderness: the town of nearly 7,000 draws tens of thousands of people each year...

Central and Western Virginia

Eastern Virginia's coastal plains start rolling into the gently undulating Piedmont west of I-95. Charlottesville, 71 mi northwest of Richmond, epitomizes the refined elegance of...

Williamsburg and Hampton Roads

Perhaps no other region in Virginia contains more variety and options for the traveler than its southeastern coastline. Colonial Williamsburg has evoked the days of...

Northern Virginia

Although D.C. gets all the recognition for its place in the nation's history, visitors to the region might be surprised by the richness of Northern...

Richmond, Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck

A host of patriots and presidents have lived and worked in the heart of the Old Dominion, an area that takes in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Petersburg...

Virginia's Eastern Shore

The appeal of Virginia's Eastern Shore is out of sight from the highway, among its barrier islands in the Atlantic to the east and along...

Loudoun County

...

Central and Western Virginia

Eastern Virginia's coastal plains start rolling into the gently undulating Piedmont west of I-95. Charlottesville, 71 mi northwest of Richmond, epitomizes the refined elegance of...

Williamsburg and Hampton Roads

Perhaps no other region in Virginia contains more variety and options for the traveler than its southeastern coastline. Colonial Williamsburg has evoked the days of...

Northern Virginia

Although D.C. gets all the recognition for its place in the nation's history, visitors to the region might be surprised by the richness of Northern...

Richmond, Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck

A host of patriots and presidents have lived and worked in the heart of the Old Dominion, an area that takes in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Petersburg...

Virginia's Eastern Shore

The appeal of Virginia's Eastern Shore is out of sight from the highway, among its barrier islands in the Atlantic to the east and along...

Loudoun County

...

Shenandoah National Park

...

Shenandoah National Park

Perched between the majestic Shenandoah Valley and the lush rolling hills of Virginia's Piedmont region, visitors to Shenandoah National Park are transported into breathtaking hollows...

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

...

Shenandoah National Park

...

Shenandoah National Park

Perched between the majestic Shenandoah Valley and the lush rolling hills of Virginia's Piedmont region, visitors to Shenandoah National Park are transported into breathtaking hollows...

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

...

Tangier Island

Crab traps stacked 10 feet high, watermen's shanties on the water, and a landscape virtually devoid of modern commercialization characterize this Virginia island fishing community...

Tangier Island

Crab traps stacked 10 feet high, watermen's shanties on the water, and a landscape virtually devoid of modern commercialization characterize this Virginia island fishing community...

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Central and Western Virginia

Williamsburg and Hampton Roads

Northern Virginia

Richmond, Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck

Richmond

Williamsburg

Arlington

Charlottesville

Norfolk

Virginia's Eastern Shore

Roanoke

Winchester

Leesburg

Middleburg

Blue Ridge Parkway

Mount Vernon

Shenandoah National Park

Cape Charles

Warsaw

Harrisonburg

Petersburg

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

Portsmouth

Hopewell

Great Falls Park

Chantilly

Orange County

Alexandria

Wintergreen Resort

Tangier Island

Gunston Hall

Charles City County

New Market

Newport News

Manassas

Staunton

Middletown

Irvington

Lynchburg

Reedville

Abingdon

Stratford Hall Plantation

Tysons Corner

Dayton

Waterford

Chincoteague

Wolf Trap

Blacksburg and the New River Valley

Woodbridge

Hampton

Woodlawn

Jamestown

Lexington

Bath County

Fredericksburg

Virginia Beach

Washington

Yorktown

Occoquan

Central and Western Virginia

Williamsburg and Hampton Roads

Northern Virginia

Richmond, Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck

Richmond

Williamsburg

Arlington

Charlottesville

Norfolk

Virginia's Eastern Shore

Roanoke

Winchester

Virginia

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