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.
