From Appalachia to the Potomac River, Virginia is diverse as it is rich with history. Revolutionary and Civil War battlegrounds rub shoulders with thriving urban centers and peaceful outdoor sanctuaries. Richmond, Virginia Beach and Arlington are the main points of entry, as well as the northeast neighbors of Washington D.C. and Maryland.
Virginia in the Books
Virginia is also certain to brush up your United States history, as eight Presidents were born here including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Mount Vernon was the home and plantation of George Washington, located on the Potomac River just south of Arlington and Washington D.C. Enjoy the expansive grounds, oceanfront walking paths and stables as well as a new giftshop and quaint colonial restaurant serving traditional food as well as some of George and Martha’s favorites. In Richmond, the Virginia State Capitol Building was designed by Thomas Jefferson and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville was founded by the former President as well.
You will also encounter more Revolutionary battlefields in Virginia than any other state. The Yorktown peninsula is the site of the famous battle that ended the Revolutionary War. During the Civil War, Richmond was not only the capital of Virginia but also of the Confederated States. Become surrounded by one of the great moments in United States history at the Appomattox Court House, the site of the Confederate surrender to the Union that ended the Civil War. Travel to Virginia’s northeast county of Arlington to pay respects to some of the great heroes of the nation at Arlington National Cemetery, including the Challenger Space Shuttle Mission, numerous Supreme Court Justices, the Kennedy family and even the mast of the sunken USS Maine from the Spanish-American War.
Voyage Beyond the Virginian Veneer
Once you’ve had your fill of history, get outdoors into some of the most breathtaking scenery on the Eastern Seaboard. The resort city of Virginia Beach is one of the most popular destinations along Chesapeake Bay. At your own leisurely pace, discover the many wildlife refuges, wildflowers, aquariums and seafood restaurants along the stretches of beach. Check out the First Landing Cross as well, the point where English settlers landed in 1607.
Spanning west across the Piedmont region, you will finally come to the Appalachian ranges, cooler temperatures and forested hillsides. The Shenandoah Valley plunges gloriously between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains and offers unlimited outdoor adventure as well as endless Civil War stories. Discover why Virginia is truly for lovers… of everything!
