Jump To


	Williamsburg and Jamestown Attractions
	Virginia Coastal Attractions
	Norfolk
	Richmond
	Blue Ridge Mountains & Shenandoah National Park
	Old Town Alexandria
	Natural Bridge
	Mount Vernon Estate-Virginia
	Charlottesville / Monticello
	Arlington National Cemetery -Virginia

E-Maps (Showing all Attractions & Hotels)

Top Attractions in Virginia

From the beautiful beaches and coastline of Virginia Beach to the legendary historic sites of Colonial Williamsburg to the natural splendor of Shenandoah National Park to the estates of Washington and Jefferson, Virginia is a land of immense history, beauty and legacy. Explore the first American Colonies, hike the Appalachian Trail through the Blue Ridge Mountains, travel one of the seven engineering wonders of the modern world, kayak the raging rapids of the James River, brave the coasters and rides at Bush Gardens, and touch the sparkling waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean gently lap against miles of sandy beaches. It’s all in Virginia - a place for lovers of life!

Williamsburg and Jamestown Attractions

Williamsburg and Jamestown attractions include: Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg Winery, Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown Battlefield, Bush Gardens and Water Country USA.

Visit the historic triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, sites that played important roles in English colonial America. Williamsburg was the thriving capital of Virginia when the dream of American independence was taking shape and the colony was a powerful land. From 1699 to 1780, Colonial Williamsburg was the political and cultural center of the most influential of the American colonies. Step back in time to experience the dreams of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson on the eve of the American Revolution. Learn about America's origins at Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center. Through artifact-filled galleries, film and living history, these museums engage you in two centuries of our nation's history - from America's first permanent English settlement in 1607 to the Revolutionary War victory in 1781 and implementation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Relive the adventure of 1607 when 104 Englishmen dropped anchor on the banks of the James River and built America’s first English colony in Jamestown. Explore life at the dawn of the 17th century inside the recreated colonial fort at Jamestown Settlement. Learn the story of the people who founded Jamestown and the Indians they encountered through film, gallery exhibits and living history. Take a guided tour of Yorktown Battlefield, site of the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War, which secured independence for America. For fun adventure head to Virginia’s ultimate theme parks, Bush Gardens and Water Country USA, or enjoy wine tasting at Williamsburg Winery, Virginia’s largest winery with 50 acres of lush vineyards.

Virginia Coastal Attractions

Virginia coastal attractions include: Virginia Beach, Virginia Science Museum, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and Oceana Naval Air Station.

With 35 miles of beautiful waterfront, Virginia Beach is a classic American beach resort with three peaceful beaches - Chesapeake Bay Beach, Virginia Beach Resort and Sandbridge - where you can play in the soft golden sands and sparkling ocean. Enjoy swimming, surfing, boating, sailing, kayaking, fishing, cycling, running and rollerblading along this stellar stretch of Virginia’s Coast. Check out exciting attractions such as Virginia Science Museum, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Oceana Naval Air Station, Mariners Museum and Cape Henry Lighthouses. Tee off on 198 holes of golf, hop aboard a sport fishing charter boat, witness the humpback whales feed on Chesapeake Bay, experience summer beach concerts, and enjoy a diversity of shopping and dining adventures.

Explore Virginia Beach’s beautiful parks, such as First Landing State Park and False Cape, a mile wide barrier between the Ocean and Back Bay with 6 miles of pristine beach and 9 miles of hiking and biking trails. Drive across one of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. A modern engineering phenomena crossing over and under waters where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, the Bridge-Tunnel is a direct passage between Southeastern Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula. Situated on a thin barrier island off the Virginia coastline, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge contains over 9,000 acres of beach, dunes, woodland, farm fields, marshlands and scenic hiking trails. The refuge provides habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including threatened and endangered species such as loggerhead sea turtles, piping plovers, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles, as well as 10,000 snow geese and ducks.

Norfolk

Norfolk is a charming port city on the Virginia coast with 400 years of history. From its colorful maritime history to its riveting performing arts, Norfolk is the cultural lifeblood of the Commonwealth. Discover beautiful beaches, slip along the river aboard a tall ship, dance and dine on a dinner cruise, savor regional cuisine at fantastic local restaurants, take a Norfolk cruise along the Mid-Atlantic coast, tour Civil War trails, and enjoy exciting attractions and museums. From the majesty of a battleship to the children's garden, Norfolk is filled with attractions such as Virginia Zoo, Nauticus National Maritime Center, Chrysler Museum of Art, Naval Station Norfolk, Spirit of Norfolk, and Battleship Wisconsin. The Chrysler Museum showcases 5,000 years of art history and a world-class collection of over 30,000 artworks. With neighborhood antique stores, national retailers such as Nordstrom and Dillard's, and shopping centers like Waterside Mall, Norfolk is a shopper’s playground. Explore Norfolk’s natural splendor at Town Point Park, a 7-acre waterfront park tucked between Nauticus - downtown’s waterfront interactive science and technology center exploring the power of the sea - and Waterside Festival Marketplace. Enjoy beautiful views of the Elizabeth River and Town Point Jazz and Blues Festival. Visit www.norfolkcvb.com/.

Richmond

Boasting a great collection of shops, sports, history, culture, cuisine and entertainment, Richmond is a wonderful destination on the James River, with more than 60 attractions, 11 malls, 100 beautiful parks, numerous historic sites, and a river with class IV rapids. Discover over 400 years of history in Richmond, the second successful English settlement, the site of Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death" speech and the former capital of the Confederacy. Tour the Virginia State Capitol, the seat of state government in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Tuckahoe Plantation, Thomas Jefferson's boyhood home, Maymont, a 100-acre Victorian estate, Civil War battlefields, and Museum and White House of the Confederacy, first museum to interweave the Union, Confederate and African American stories of the Civil War.

Stroll along Monument Avenue, a National Historic Landmark, experience heart-pumping NASCAR racing at Southside Speedway, or enjoy cultural diversions at the Richmond Ballet, Richmond Symphony and Virginia Opera. Kayak, canoe or raft through downtown Richmond on the James River’s Class IV rapids. Tee off on 20 public courses, including Royal New Kent, that rank in the top 100 public courses by Golf Digest. A 20 mile drive from Richmond, Paramount’s King Dominion is a 400-acre adventure park with the ultimate family entertainment, hair-raising thrill rides, a wet ‘n wild water park, sizzling stage shows, 13 wild coasters and family rides, shows, restaurants and events. Splash down at WaterWorks, a water park with 20 acres of water slides, rides and attractions.

Blue Ridge Mountains & Shenandoah National Park

Situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, 75 miles from Washington, DC, Shenandoah National Park is a magnificent mountain park for outdoor recreation, exploration and history. With 196,000 acres of backcountry, the park is a haven for bird watching, camping, wild life viewing, fishing, hiking, cycling, canoeing/kayaking and embracing the natural world. Gaze across the horizon from the majestic Blue Ridge peaks, or hike and backpack along the park’s 500 miles of oak-shaded trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and through the wonder of the lush wilderness.

Travel Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway through the park for 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, through woods and past spectacular vistas, discover the stories from Shenandoah’s past and visit Groundhog Mountain Observation tower and Craggy Gardens. Take a tour of Luray Caverns in the northern Shenandoah Valley, the largest caverns in the Eastern US. Wind along lighted walkways through massive chambers to explore cathedral-sized rooms with soaring ceilings, towering columns, breathtaking stalactites, and mirror-perfect pools. Hear stories about the caverns' discovery and the science behind its natural wonders and see the world's only “Stalacpipe” organ that plays hauntingly beautiful music on natural formations.

Old Town Alexandria

Founded in 1749 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Alexandria is recognized for its abundance of 18th- and 19th-century architecture, cobblestone streets, historic attractions, award-winning restaurants, and eclectic shopping. Located on the fun side of the Potomac, Alexandria is the perfect diversion from Greater Washington. Step back in time at historic attractions such as The Athenaeum, The Lyceum, Carlyle House, Christ Church and George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Explore the land that George Washington once called home on rustic biking and hiking trails with breathtaking views of the Potomac River. Stroll through art galleries, hear the acclaimed professional orchestra, and catch a show at the Birchmere music hall. Learn about the history, personalities and ghosts of Alexandria on one of the city’s water, land, walking and horse-drawn carriage tours. Visit http://visitalexandriava.com.

Natural Bridge

One of the 7 natural wonders of the world and a Virginia Historical Landmark, Natural Bridge is a live geological formation in the mountains of Shenandoah Valley, in which Cedar Creek carved out a gorge in the mountainous limestone terrain, forming an arch 215 feet high and 90 feet wide. This natural wonder of horizontal limestone strata is the remains of the roof of a cave or tunnel through which the creek once flowed. Walk along U.S. Highway 11 which crosses the bridge and see where it was intitalized by George Washington. Take the one-mile hike along scenic Cedar Creek Trail and discover Lost River and Saltpeter Cave. Explore the spectacular landscape of Natural Bridge Caverns, the deepest on the East Coast, as you descend on a journey 34 stories into the earth, and learn how this striking underground world was carved and still grows. Step back in time at the Native American Village, visit the Toy Museum, or experience the night lighting and music spectacle of Drama of Creation, when the night transforms Natural Bridge into a marvel of living stone. The Natural Bridge was a sacred native site of the Monacan Indians. Visit www.naturalbridgeva.com.

Mount Vernon Estate-Virginia

The most popular historic estate in America, the 500-acre estate, gardens and farm of Mount Vernon is preserved 16 miles south of Washington, D.C., on the Potomac River. Tour the beautiful home and gardens of our nation’s first president and see 20 historic structures and 50 acres of gardens as they existed in 1799. Visit the farm where George Washington and his family lived, called the "Mansion House Farm,” and get a glimpse of his environment over 200 years ago. The breathtaking grounds of Mount Vernon is a landscape of rolling meadows, serpentine walkways, magnificent gardens, groves of flowering cherry trees, and century-old boxwood hedges - evidence of Washington’s passion for gardening. The estate features a museum and the tombs of George and Martha Washington. Visit www.mountvernon.org.

Charlottesville / Monticello

Home to President Thomas Jefferson, Historic Charlottesville, Virginia is rich in culture, history and beauty. Whether you love history, arts, or the great outdoors, Charlottesville is an alluring vacation destination with magical scenery and many historic sites, such as the University of Virginia, which Jefferson founded and designed, Jefferson’s Monticello, James Madison’s Montpelier, and James Monroe’s Ash Lawn-Highland. Charlottesville boasts over 200 restaurants and 21 wineries, including the beautiful Monticello Wine Trail, scenic hiking and biking trails, outdoor festivals, golf courses and shopping. Just outside Charlottesville, Monticello was the mountain estate of Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence.

Explore the magnificent house, gardens, and plantation of Jefferson’s Monticello, an architectural masterpiece and a World Heritage Site. The 5,000-acre plantation was a center of agriculture and industry, and home to the Jefferson family and workers. The gardens at Monticello were a botanic showpiece, a source of food, and an experimental laboratory of plants from around the world. Jefferson and his family are buried at Monticello, and his grave is marked by an obelisk inscribed with his own epitaph. Tour of the house and terraces, the Dependencies, Mulberry Row and the breathtaking gardens and vineyards - Jefferson’s true passion. Drive or cycle along Thomas Jefferson Parkway and enjoy the scenic road to Monticello.

Arlington National Cemetery -Virginia

Tour America’s most sacred burial ground, Arlington National Cemetery, a hallowed resting place to more than 300, 000 of our nation’s honored dead and is a cherished chronicle of our country’s history and character - from the Civil War to conflicts we fight today. Among thousands of white headstones of our nation’s heroes are the graves of remembered Americans including President John F. Kennedy, President William Taft, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Joe Louis, and the infamous Tomb of the Unknowns. Visit www.arlingtoncemetery.org.

Virginia & West Virginia Hotels

With contemporary and comfortable lodging across Virginia, Ramada Hotels deliver impressive hospitality just minutes from Virginia’s most legendary attractions and historic sites. Discover the land of Washington and Jefferson. Relive the history of the first colonies and the American Revolution. Explore breathtaking ocean and bay beaches, and hike through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Whatever you choose to explore and experience, Ramada Hotels offer an oasis of hospitality in the historic Commonwealth of Virginia.