10 Places To Visit In Virginia | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

10 Places To Visit In Virginia

Virginia is for history and adventure.

47
10 Places To Visit In Virginia
Pinterest

Virginia, home of the first colony, named after England's "Virgin Queen" Elizabeth. Known as the birthplace of a nation, it is home of many historical facts and people. With that being said -- Virginia is home of some amazing sites, some built and some natural. It has a beautiful coast and majestic valleys and mountains.

1. Colonial Williamsburg

It recreates the setting for the period of the American Revolution as well as Williamsburg, the original 18th-century buildings are either stand or have been faithfully reproduced on their original foundations. You can stand where Patrick Henry gave his speech, walk the same streets as Thomas Jefferson, and eat where George Washington enjoyed seafood dinners. Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1705 and throughout the Revolution; the final battle of war was fought nearby.

2. 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. It is home to many waterparks and museums. The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Museum explores the climate, sea floor, and fauna of the coast. At the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge you can find walking and hiking trails and picnic facilities at the visitor center. You can visit the 1791 Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, which opened the Chesapeake Bay area to safe navigation, and the nearby New Lighthouse built in 1881. You can pass through security at the Fort Story Military Base. Between Virginia Beach and Norfolk is the entrance to the 20-mile-long engineering marvel Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which spans the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, connecting the mainland to Virginia's Eastern Shore.

3. Monticello and Charlottesville

Home to one of the most visited presidential homes, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is a Palladian-style mansion that he designed himself. It was inspired by a villa outside Vicenza, Italy. The rear of the house has extensive historic gardens, and below is the family cemetery with an obelisk marking Jefferson's grave.

4. Mount Vernon

George Washington's home from 1754 until his death, Mount Vernon was a work in progress under Washington's supervisor. The grounds and garden overlook views of the Potomac River.

5. Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive

Located in the center of Virginia, Shenandoah National Park protects portions of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which range in height between 2,00 and 4,000 feet. Running the length of the park is the Skyline Drive, the northern continuation of the Blue Ridge Parkway, with stopping points to enjoy views and attractions, which include President Hoover's summer residence and the old Cave Cemetery below Dark Hollow Falls. Only a short drive west from Skyline Drive on U.S. 211 are Luray Caverns, containing magnificent formations of stalactites and stalagmites. One of the cave's highlights is the world's only stalactite organ, where the stalactites resonate when struck with rubber mallets.

6. Arlington National Cemetery

Spread across 600 acres overlooking Washington, D.C., Arlington National Cemetery is where some of the most famous people in the United States are buried.

7. Jamestown and Yorktown


Jamestown is the oldest British settlement on North American soil, established in 1607 by Captain John Smith.

8. Richmond

In Virginia's modern capital city, the imposing State Capitol was built in 1785 by Thomas Jefferson.

9. Chincoteague and Assateague Islands

The entire island of Assateague is protected as a wildlife sanctuary. The southern end of Chincoteague is protected by a National Wildlife Refuge with 14,000 acres of shoreline, fresh and saltwater marshes, wetlands, and forest habitat. The two islands' most famous residents are the wild ponies.

10. Natural Bridge of Virginia

More than 215 feet high and 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. It was formed by the collapse of a cavern through which the Cedar Creek flowed. Nearby are the Natural Bridge Caverns, where you can go 34 stories underground to see the Colossal Dome room, Mirror Lake, and the stalactites and stalagmites.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

179056
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

6240
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

451794
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22907
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments