Things to Do in Virginia

The entire family will love a visit to explore the natural geological formations in Shenandoah Caverns. The mile-long collection of caves and tunnels goes through seventeen connecting chambers with different formations such as the Rainbow Lake, the Diamond Cascade, the Grotto of the Gods, the Capitol Dome, and the Oriental Tea Garden.

The caverns will intrigue visitors young and old as they gain a sense of adventure and explore the many hidden passageways found underground.

The guided tour is approximately an hour long, and visitors learn fun facts about the history of the land, how the caves were discovered, and the creation of the formations.

261 Caverns Rd, Quicksburg, VA 22847, Phone: 540-477-3115

An iconic American landmark, George Washington's Mount Vernon is a historic reminder of the legacy and life of the Father of Our Country. In the 18th century, Mount Vernon was a vibrant plantation. It is now one of the most beloved historic sites in the nation.

Visitors can explore the estate and the reconstructions that give form to 18th-century plantation life mixed with modern-day functionality and features.

Each of the 18th century homes have been constructed to authentic form, and visitors can explore them and the surrounding lush gardens and grounds, as well as the intriguing museum galleries that are filled with exhibits and immersive programs honoring George Washington’s legacy.

3200 Mount Vernon Hwy, Mt Vernon, VA 22121, Phone: 703-780-2000

Open all year round, the Norfolk Botanical Garden has a lovely indoor exhibit in the Baker Hall Visitor Center, including rotating exhibits of photography, painting, and other art.

There’s different things to do for visitors of all ages; the younger ones will enjoy the Children’s Adventure Garden or the Bristow Butterfly Garden, while adult visitors might prefer touring the land on one of the daily evening bike rides.

Some of the themed gardens include desert plants, a Japanese garden, rose garden, and the Annette Kagan Healing Garden, which is filled with medicinal plants and streams.

There’s a guide-driven tram that starts from the Baker Hall Visitor Center and goes in a circle around the garden while stopping in various locations as well as a boat ride that goes out into Lake Whitehurst.

6700 Azalea Garden road, Norfolk, VA 23518, Phone: 757-441-5830 , (website link)

A part of the Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.’s National Mall, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center has thousands of aviation and space artifacts on display in their two large hangars – the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar and the Boeing Aviation Hangar.

The items on display include the Space Shuttle Discovery and a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird alongside various aircraft, spacecraft, engines, uniforms, models, and other objects on display.

Visitors of all ages will enjoy watching interactive videos at the Airbus IMAX® Theater or stunning 360-degree bird’s eye views of planes taking off and landing at Washington Dulles International Airport from the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower.

Other activities at the Udvar-Hazy Center include watching specialists reconstruct and repair rare artifacts at the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar, participating in an educational Learning Lab program or in a science demonstration, or getting their own flight experience in a jet simulator!

14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, Virginia 20151, Phone: 703-572-4118

The Edith J. Carrier Arboretum is located in the Shenandoah Valley on the James Madison University campus and is the only arboretum and botanical garden located on the campus of a Virginia state university.

Visitors are invited to discover the intricate trail system that takes them through various exhibits in the 125 acres the attraction takes up. Lined with mature Oak-Hickory Forrest, visitors will also come across a variety of flowers, trees, and plants, ranging from daffodils in the April Walk Daffodil Garden to New York fern in Fern Valley.

There is also an herb garden, a wetlands garden, and an experimental planting area with hybrid azaleas.

780 University Blvd, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, Phone: 540-568-3194

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is a Charlottesville attraction that educates its visitors by getting an up close and personal look at the 3rd President of the United States and his beautiful home. There are multiple tours of the house and grounds daily, a state-of-the-art visitor center, dedicated exhibitions, a discovery room, museum shop, and a media center that plays interactive videos for visitors.

The tours are focused and guide visitors on specific aspects of the house, the gardens and grounds, or on slavery at Monticello.

Designated a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Monticello takes back to one of our nation’s most historic times while exploring Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.

931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, Charlottesville, VA 22902, Phone: 434-984-9800

Watching a video, walking through a site, or exploring artifacts can definitely take visitors back in time and give them a better understanding of the nation’s history, but none give a more memorable experience than the world’s largest living history museum, Colonial Williamsburg. The 301-acre historic area is a true-to-life replication of Britain’s 18th century capital and includes everything from restored and reconstructed buildings, replicated products, and costumed interpreters that bring the decades before the American Revolution back to life.

The different perspectives of history, whether it be Native American, black, or white, slave, indentured, or free, are all bought together for visitors to appreciate in Colonial Williamsburg.

101 Visitor Center Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185, Phone: 757-229-1000

The Mariners' Museum & Park in Newport News is one of the largest maritime museums in North America. Similarly, the Mariner’s Museum Library, which is located on the Christopher Newport University campus, has the largest maritime history collection in the west.

Congress designated it as America’s National Maritime Museum, and visitors are welcome to explore everything the museums offers.

This ranges from over 32,000 artifacts with everything from maritime paintings, carved figureheads, and miniature ship models to working steam engines and the only known Kratz-built steam calliope to exist in the world.

Since it was founded in 1930, the museum has also gathered a large collection of drawings and paintings by marine artists Antonio Jacobsen and James Bard.

100 Museum Dr, Newport News, VA 23606, Phone: 757-596-2222

What better place to explore and understand the nation’s history than at the site of the first permanent English settlement in America, Historic Jamestowne. Visitors are fully immersed in the 17th century, as the cultural heritage site brings history to life. There are over 4,000 artifacts that come together to tell the story of Historic Jamestown in the award-winning archaearium museum.

Visitors will not only be able to see items that have been unearthed from the site of James Fort in 20+ years of excavation, but they’ll also be able to see how the precious artifacts are preserved after being in the ground for over 400 years. Guided tours are held at various times throughout the day, and tickets can be purchased online or at the Visitor Center.

Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center, 1368 Colonial Pkwy, Jamestown, VA 23081, Phone: 757-856-1250

The Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach has one of the largest collections of warbirds (in flying condition) in the world and is a treat for anyone and everyone who can make it out there when vacationing in Virginia.

The complete collection has preserved and restored aircraft from 1910 to the 1950s, including from both World War I and World War II, and models from Japan, Germany, Japan, the UK, and Russia.

Most of the aircraft are in flying condition, and visitors can get a glimpse of their capabilities twice a year at major airshows hosted in the spring and fall.

1341 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23457, Phone: 757-721-7767