Top 13 tourist attractions in Virginia: caves, museums, and battlefields
What makes Virginia so attractive to travelers that it is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world each year? First of all, there is history everywhere. These interesting places in VA, former possession of the English crown, witnessed many battles of the Civil War and the events of the Revolution. Four of the first five U.S. presidents were from Virginia. History buffs should check out iconic tourist locations in Virginia such as Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, and Monticello.
The second reason for the state's popularity is its tourism slogan, "Virginia for Lovers. Whether you love the mountains, romance, scenery, food and drink, sports, hiking, and beach activities, you're sure to find something to fall in love with. This state is intoxicating in its charm, beauty and uniqueness.
Check out our top tourist attractions in Virginia based on relevance, accessibility, and traveler reviews to make your trip perfect.
1. Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive
The park is located in northern Virginia along the ridge of the Blue Mountains and encompasses over 200,000 acres. These tourist places in Virginia are home to populations of white-tailed deer, salamanders, black bears, and many other animals. Local mountain scenery, beautiful hiking trails, and the opportunity to observe animals in the wild attract thousands of tourists, climbers, and birdwatchers at all times of the year. The views here are especially delightful in the spring and summer during bush blossoms, but the most memorable park is made most memorable by the fall colors.
The park's main natural attraction is the 105-mile Skyline Drive along the ridge. It allows you to fully enjoy the gorgeous scenery and also includes a visit to President Hoover's residence and the old cemetery below the Falls.
2. Colonial Williamsburg
The Unique Living History Museum is a great place for family fun, combining adventure, educational mission and excitement. Take a step back in time and explore the city during the American Revolution - on your own or on a costumed guided tour.
The famous sightseeing in Virginia is here at every turn. Among the original buildings of the 18th century or restored from the original structure, you can visit the places where Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson George Washington lived and made history. Art lovers will appreciate Williamsburg's art museums. There are also the usual tourist spots - stores, restaurants, spas, and other attractions.
3. Virginia Beach
It's the largest city in the state and home to many of the best tourist attractions in Virginia. There are cool aquariums and zoos, historic sites, gourmet restaurants, and of course endless expanses of golden sandy beaches with plenty of activities and water sports.
Picturesque hiking trails and picnic areas can be found in the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which includes more than 9,000 acres of shoreline. These tourist sites in Virginia are popular with birdwatchers, as more than 10,000 birds visit them each year.
The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, built in 1791, and the New Lighthouse, built in 1881, are also worth a visit, but you must go through inspection at Fort Stroy military base to get there.
4. Arlington National Cemetery
This historic military cemetery covers over 600 acres. These Virginia famous places are a must-see for history buffs. Many prominent and famous people rest here. You can visit the graves of famous writers, artists, war veterans, scientists, and even presidents and their families.
Visit Arlington Cemetery with a guided tour to delve into its rich history. The most visited sites here are the graves of President John F. Kennedy and the Unknown Soldier. Third on that list is the Iwo Jima Marine Corps War Memorial. Also worth visiting are the Arlington House mansion, which serves as a memorial to Robert E. Lee, the U.S. Women in Military Service Memorial, and the mast of the battleship Maine, included in the memorial to the victims of the shipwreck.
5. Mount Vernon
Many Virginia state tourist attractions are associated with U.S. presidents. One such place is Mount Vernon Manor on the banks of the Potomac River. It was once home to the first American president George Washington and his wife Martha.
The estate was created under the direction of Washington himself. He was personally involved in planning the grounds around the mansion, choosing a more natural garden plan with native species of trees and shrubs. The 21-room mansion houses many of the president and his wife's personal effects, family portraits and coats of arms.
There are also interactive activities like a tea party with Martha Washington or reenactments of military battles.
6. Monticello and Charlottesville
Another of Virginia's "presidential" sightseeing attractions are located in the Charlottesville area. First, visit the Monticello Mansion, the home of the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, which he himself designed and improved for 40 years. Here you can tour the mansion itself and the gardens and plantations around it. The house is designed in the Palladian style and preserves several of Jefferson's inventions inside. Behind the garden is the family cemetery.
But Charlottesville has the mansion of another president, James Monroe, with amazing antique gardens. The city is also home to the University of Virginia, founded by Jefferson in 1819. Visit it to see the Edgar Allan Poe Room in the West Wing, the rotunda, and the art museum.
7. Jamestown and Yorktown
These popular tourist destinations in Virginia are chosen by travelers looking for a glimpse into America's past. The first permanent English settlement in the New World, Jamestown is now a National Historic Landmark. Must-see sites include the former site of Fort James, Jamestown Church, statues of Pocahontas and John Smith, Governor Harvey's house, and the Tercentori Monument. Also see the recreated Pocahontas Village and replicas of the three English settler ships Discovery, Godspit and Susan Constant.
The English army led by Lord Cornwallis surrendered in Yorktown County, giving way to American independence. Tours here allow you to virtually visit the sites of the battles through displays and dioramas. Also worth seeing are Nelson's house with a cannonball stuck in its wall and Grace Episcopal Church, active since 1697.
8. Maymont
Surrounded by a gorgeous park with lush landscaping and an exotic garden, it's hard to imagine that these 100 acres were once pastures and dairy farms. Today, it's a well-known tourist spot in Virginia.
The Dullys bought the place in 1886, and then built a grand mansion. Mrs. Dooley then spent 30 years working with the best landscape designers and gardeners to create the future public park. The Maymont Mansion, formerly the Governor's House, is today a museum. It passed into public ownership after the owner's death. The interior of the house has features of Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival styles and is enhanced by exclusive furniture and collections the couple brought back from their travels.
But the main exhibits of the estate are outside the mansion - the Japanese and Italian gardens with terraces, fountains, stonework and pergolas, as well as the nature center, arboretum and a tribute to the past of these places - a farm with animals.
9. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Travelers looking for the best tourist destinations Virginia related to art will be led to the Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. It houses more than 22,000 works, including several special collections. Its exhibits relate mostly to European art from the early 20th century, American art from 1950 and world art from the 21st century.
Its collections can rival those of museums in larger cities. Visitors will marvel at the largest public collection of Fabergé, including five magnificent eggs, works by Renoir, Degas and Cézanne, and collections of Native American, African, Tibetan and Asian art. In addition to permanent exhibitions, there are a series of temporary exhibitions exploring a wide variety of themes and periods, from black life in Virginia to world religions.
It is impossible to see everything at once. In addition to the indoor exhibits, it is also worth seeing the outside of the museum's sculpture garden and strolling around the grounds. The museum is open every day and the general admission ticket is free. There is a bus stop nearby, and if you are traveling by car, you have to pay $6 for parking. There is also a fee for special exhibitions and events.
10. Luray Caves
Many tourist attractions in Virginia are associated with the extensive network of local cave systems, but the most famous and popular are the Luray Caves. More than half a million tourists visit them every year.
These tourist attractions are located in the Shenandoah Valley area of Lure in Virginia, USA . The caves were discovered back in 1878, and today they are classified as national natural monuments. The largest cave has many columns and cave formations. An hour-long tour with an experienced guide will take you through a mile and a half of different cave rooms, exploring a landscape more reminiscent of alien landscapes. The areas that are open to the public have a lighting system and various attractions. The most important exhibits here are the unique stalactite organ, interior lakes led by the mirrored Lake of Dreams, giant columns and the Saracen's Tent, which resembles a stone drapery.
The entrance ticket to the caves also includes a visit to three museums. The Lurie Valley Museum presents the history of the Shenandoah Valley through the example of a 19th-century village. There are buildings and exhibits reproduced from documentary records as well as authentic artifacts. The Car & Carriage Caravan Museum is dedicated to rarity cars, and the Toy Town Junction Museum lets you explore a vintage train and toys from the 1940s.
11. Busch Gardens
If your destination is Virginia and you don't know which tourist destinations you would like to choose, visit the Busch Gardens theme park. It will give you the opportunity to get into the atmosphere of different corners of the world, indulge in adventures and be charged with positive emotions.
The park is located less than 5 kilometers from Williamsburg. Many of the locations are dedicated to European countries and landmarks. Outwardly, the entertainment areas resemble southern Germany: traditional Bavarian music, dancers in dirndl costumes. You can get a thrill on the water rides or on the roller coaster dedicated to the themes of the Alps, the ruins of Pompeii and the Loch Ness monster.
You may think that staying in one park you are constantly travelling through the world: you just watched a collie herding sheep as if on a picture from a Scottish postcard, and now you can consider exotic birds in an interactive aviary. Busch Gardens is a family-friendly park, so there are plenty of rides and programs for kids. There are also stores and restaurants on site.
12. Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Science and aviation aficionados would definitely put this museum in the top 10 tourist attractions in Virginia. More than a million and a half people visit it every year. The center is located near Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC and is part of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
This museum explores the aviation heritage of the United States and the world, from the first aircraft to spaceships. Hundreds of aircraft - U.S. and foreign military aircraft from World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War, modern military and civilian vessels, and various artifacts and documents are on display in huge hangars. You can see iconic exhibits for the history of aviation and astronautics, such as the space shuttle Discovery, the Air France Concorde airliner or the Gemini 7 space capsule. You can sit inside some of the exhibits, take part in thematic entertainment or even fly in an interactive simulator.
There are free guided tours and an audio guide in the museum, and you can watch films about aviation and astronautics, nature and history in IMAX in the center's movie theater.
13. Natural Bridge
An amazing natural spectacle that is a must in the best tourist places in Virginia is located in Rockbridge County. The natural arch, carved into a limestone mountain, resembles a bridge from a fairy tale or fantasy movie. At 215 feet high and 90 feet wide, this natural bridge was the result of a cave collapse. In the 18th and 19th centuries, this attraction was as popular to travelers from Europe as Niagara Falls.
Today, the natural bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to it, other famous attractions in Virginia are also attracting tourists here. The area around the bridge has been a state park since 2014, where you can hike the Cedar Creek Trail and on the way visit an exhibit on the local Monacan Indian tribe and a mine where saltpeter was mined in the 18th and 19th centuries. Nearby, the Natural Bridge Caves with the Mirror Dome Hall, Mirror Lake, and a visit to 34 stories underground are also worthwhile. At the Natural Bridge Zoo, you can learn more about the work of breeding rare and endangered animals.