Discover Virginia: Mountains, Coast and History

Virginia brings together wooded mountain ridges and wildlife with historic sites, coastal landscapes and regional food and drink trails. When planning your trip, it helps to start by asking which experiences you want to shape your stay. If you want to focus on nature and views, history or the coast, you’ll approach your vacation-rental search differently. If your travel group has a mix of interests, choosing a clear focus can help you find the right area for your stay.

Mountains, Views and Trails

Several hundred black bears live in Shenandoah National Park. Skyline Drive runs 105 miles through the park along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with 76 scenic overlooks along the route. This makes it easy to plan a nature-focused stay around a clearly defined ridge-top drive, with the landscape and its overlooks at the heart of your trip.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is designed for leisurely travel at no more than 45 mph. Along the parkway, you’ll find 300 miles of hiking trails, eight campgrounds and 13 picnic areas. You can shape your plans around the drive, hiking or spending time outdoors. Check current conditions and possible road closures before setting out.

Natural Bridge State Park offers a different kind of natural attraction: the 200-foot-high Natural Bridge stands in a limestone gorge carved by Cedar Creek. Virginia is also home to 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail. These details offer different perspectives on Virginia’s landscape, from a striking geological formation to a long-distance hiking trail. For a hiking-focused stay, the trail can be a destination in its own right, while Natural Bridge offers a specific place to visit for nature lovers.

History at Specific Sites

Colonial Williamsburg is an 18th-century town where you can meet people who bring history to life. Its Historic Area includes 89 original buildings from that period. Your admission ticket gives you access to sites, tours and events. Historic Jamestowne is located at the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America. Both places provide a tangible setting for Virginia’s history, while Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville offer another historical perspective: they were added to the World Heritage List in 1987.

At Monticello, the “From Slavery to Freedom” tour explores the legacies of enslavement and freedom. As programs may change, check the tour’s current availability before your visit. The exhibition “The Story of Virginia” at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture explores 16,000 years of the state’s history. The museum also presents “Imagine Virginia,” a 17-minute film about defining moments and scenes from Virginia’s history. The history of the American Civil War can also be experienced firsthand through stories, accounts and reenactments of life at the time.

Coast and Regional Food and Drink Trails

At Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay beaches, fresh and salt water meet, and the coast is defined by diverse wildlife and gentle waves. Virginia’s wine trails offer wines from Albarino to Viognier. The Virginia Oyster Trail is an experience-based, visitor-led discovery program that includes Waterman and Aqua-Artisan sites. These themes offer a different focus from mountains and historic sites: you can shape your trip around the coast, wine or exploring the various stops along the Oyster Trail.

Getting Here and Choosing an Area

Amtrak Virginia’s nine passenger rail routes serve more than 23 stations across the state. Connections to the Northeast Corridor extend as far as Boston. Routes and service levels may change, so check the current schedule when planning specific travel dates. Virginia’s Welcome Centers are staffed seven days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Staff introduce visitors to lodging options, diners and attractions. Hours may change, so check them before your visit.

When searching for a vacation rental, start with the experience you want: views and nature, historic sites, the coast or food and drink trails. Then focus your search on a place that suits that priority.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Albemarle, Suffolk City, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Halifax, Russell, Williamsburg, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Botetourt, Richmond City, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Prince William, Manassas, Fairfax County, Fairfax City, Arlington, Falls Church, Loudoun, Tazewell, Harrisonburg, Prince George, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Henrico, Bath, Page, Alexandria, Chesterfield, Goochland, Stafford, Winchester, Danville, Warren, Montgomery, Danville, Shenandoah Valley, Pittsylvania County, Emporia, Mecklenburg County, Staunton, Wythe County, Northampton County, Nottoway County, Orange County, Washington County, Newport News, Amherst County, Bedford County, Fauquier County, Gloucester County, Isle Of Wight County, Hanover County, Accomack County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Lexington, Waynesboro, Rockingham County, Caroline County, Nelson County, Lancaster County, Galax, Louisa County, Petersburg, Giles County, Patrick County, Salem, Culpeper County, King George, Essex County, Augusta County, Spotsylvania County, Appomattox County, York County, Northumberland County, Greene County, Smyth, Campbell, Prince Edward County, Rockbridge County, Hampton, Clarke County, Brunswick County, Buckingham County, Rappahannock County, Westmoreland County, Madison County, Charles City County, Buchanan County, Amelia County, Franklin County, Martinsville, Stanley, Dinwiddie County, Wise County, Scott County, Alleghany County, King William County, Henry County, Pulaski County, Middlesex County, Dickenson County, Mathews County, Floyd County

For the broader travel overview: USA.