With its mild climate and diverse terrain, Virginia lends itself to many outdoor activities. Hiking trails run through the mountains and vary in difficulty from simple nature walks to the Appalachian Trail. Visitors centers have maps of trails, and there are several books with hiking information. Also visit http://www.hikingupward.com.
Virginia Beach is the most well-known of the coastal resorts in the commonwealth. But for something a bit more remote, just south of Virginia Beach is Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park. Swimming isn't allowed on Back Bay, but it's a great place to walk along the beach, go bird-watching and canoe through the marshes. False Cape allows swimming. Access is by hiking, biking or electric tram only. http://www.dcr.state.va.us/parks/falscape.htm.
The Virginia portion of the Delmarva Peninsula is flanked by the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the coastal area is undeveloped. Perhaps the best place for swimming, hiking and bird-watching is Chincoteague Island National Wildlife Refuge. The town has lodging and restaurants.
With more than 2,800 mi/4,508 km of trout streams, hundreds of lakes, the bay and the ocean, Virginia is a mecca for fishermen of all sorts. Information on licenses, types of fish and regulations can be found at http://www.dgif.state.va.us/fishing.
Shopping
Visitors will find a wide variety of shopping in Virginia, from one-of-a-kind craft shops to large factory outlets. With its colonial past, Virginia is a treasure trove of colonial-era antiques such as tankards, furniture, books and even clothing. Antiques imported from Europe are especially common along the coast. Shop for arts and crafts in southwestern Virginia. Because so much of the Civil War was fought on Virginia soil, you can find such Civil War items as antique buttons, bullets, uniforms and knives. Bookstores offer an incredible number of biographies on everybody and anybody who lived in colonial Virginia or fought in the Civil War. Virginia's importance politically (it produced eight U.S. presidents) means you can also find political memorabilia. In Williamsburg, there are dozens of craft shops offering reproductions of items made in 18th-century Williamsburg. (Look for soap, candles, pottery, brass and pewter items, textiles and furniture.) Virginia wine and Virginia peanuts make great gifts.
Day By Day
Virginia's combination of scenic beauty and historic importance makes it a must-see for any visitor to the mid-Atlantic region. Our itinerary assumes you will fly into the nation's capital, rent a car and tour Virginia. If you have less time, pick either the Washington, D.C./Arlington/Alexandria area or visit Richmond, Appomattox Court House, Charlottesville and Fredericksburg. Scenic stops along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park or a beach vacation on the Eastern Shore are other good options.
Day 1—Arrive in the Washington, D.C., area. Overnight in Alexandria.
Day 2—Tour Old Town Alexandria and have lunch there. Then take Jefferson Davis Highway to Arlington National Cemetery. After your visit there, head out of Arlington on Interstate 66 to Front Royal. Overnight.
Day 3—Spend the day following Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park to Waynesboro. Be sure to take full advantage of the lookout spots, hiking trails and attractions along the way. At Waynesboro, head east to Charlottesville on I-64. Overnight there.
Day 4—See some of the University of Virginia in the morning, then head out Highway 20 South to Highway 53 East to Monticello. Afterward, continue to Richmond via I-64 (return to Charlottesville to pick it up, or continue on 53 to Highway 15 North). Those who prefer secondary roads might want to make their way to Richmond on Highway 250, which runs parallel to I-64. Overnight in Richmond.
Day 5—Spend the day in Richmond. Overnight in the city.
Day 6—See some of the Richmond National Battlefield Park complex as you head out of town. Then make your way to Highway 5, stopping at the Shirley Plantation (off Highway 608) or the Berkeley Plantation. Continue on Highway 5 to Williamsburg. Head for the visitors center to orient yourself and buy tickets. Spend the night in Williamsburg.
Day 7—Tour Colonial Williamsburg and overnight in the area. History buffs will want to spend additional time at Jamestown and/or Yorktown.
Day 8—Take I-64 West to I-95 north to Fredericksburg. Tour Fredericksburg and overnight there.
Day 9—Head north on Highway 1 toward Alexandria. Turn off on Highway 235 to Mount Vernon. Tour Mount Vernon and head into Alexandria on the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway (along the Potomac River).
Day 10—Depart Virginia.
