Historic Jamestowne – Original 1607 English settlement featuring archaeological sites, ruins, visitor exhibits.
Jamestown Beach Event Park – Waterfront beach park just beside Jamestown Settlement with swimming, fishing, picnic areas, observation piers.
Jamestown Settlement – Living-history museum with recreated 1607 ships, fort, and Native American village.
Jamestown Island Drive & Nature Loop – Scenic 3–5 mile loop through marshlands, forest, and riverbank with wildlife views.
Williamsburg, VA
Bruton Parish Church – Built in the early 1700s; National Historic Landmark where many founding patriots worshipped.
Colonial Williamsburg & Governor’s Palace – Massive living-history museum including the restored Governor’s Palace and historic district.
DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum – Extensive 18th–19th century artifact collections tied to colonial Williamsburg.
Freedom Park & Williamsburg Botanical Garden – 600+ acre wooded park with trails, interpretive exhibits, botanical and herb gardens.
Merchants Square – A colonial-style retail village adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary.
Muscarelle Museum of Art – Art museum on William & Mary campus with American and European works from 17th to 21st centuries.
Peyton Randolph House – Historic colonial residence (c.1715), now a museum offering guided tours.
Powhatan Creek Park – Natural wetlands park ideal for kayaking, wildlife observation, fishing, hiking.
Waller Mill Park – Scenic reservoir park with trails, kayak/canoe rentals, picnic areas, disc golf.
Wren Building (William & Mary) – Oldest academic building in the U.S., dating to the late 1600s.
Yorktown, VA
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown – Premier museum and outdoor encampment re-creating Continental Army life.
Old Custom House – Colonial-era customs house (c.1721), now a DAR-run museum.
Riverwalk Landing & Waterfront – Historic riverfront district with strolling paths, shops, café views and tall-ship cruises.
Thomas Nelson House – Restored Georgian mansion where Declaration signer Thomas Nelson Jr. lived and negotiated British surrender.
York River State Park – Riverside nature park featuring fossil beaches, hiking, kayaking, and birdwatching.
Yorktown Battlefield & Visitor Center – Site of the 1781 British surrender with earthworks, Cornwallis’ Cave, monuments, and ranger tours.
Quirky:
Smithfield, VA
Porcine Parade – Life-sized, whimsically decorated pig statues placed around town celebrating Smithfield’s pork heritage.
World’s Oldest Ham & Peanut (Isle of Wight Museum) – A famously preserved 1902 ham and antique peanut—odd, beloved, and proudly displayed.
Suffolk, VA
Planters Peanut Center – Vintage peanut shop filled with snacks and Mr. Peanut memorabilia; a salty slice of nostalgia.
Virginia Beach, VA
Hunt Club Farm (Seasonal Attractions) – Known for its Halloween events: haunted hayrides, mazes, and costumed fun.
Military Aviation Museum – Home to restored vintage aircraft—plus dinosaur statues and quirky, themed family days.
Witch of Pungo Statue – Honors Grace Sherwood, the so-called “Witch of Pungo” who was tried by water in 1706.
Williamsburg, VA
President Heads – Towering, decaying busts of U.S. presidents hidden on private land—haunting and surreal.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! – Oddities museum with shrunken heads, strange exhibits, and hands-on illusions.
Touring/Regional
Dinosaur Kingdom II (near Natural Bridge) – Bizarre roadside attraction where Civil War soldiers fight dinosaurs in absurd dioramas. (~90 miles from Williamsburg)
Foamhenge (Touring) – A life-sized Stonehenge replica made entirely of foam—created by artist Mark Cline and occasionally installed at festivals or attractions across Virginia.
Shenandoah & Central Virginia
Front Royal
Shenandoah National Park & Skyline Drive (Natural/Historical) – Scenic drive with overlooks, hiking trails, and historic sites.
Shenandoah River State Park (Natural) – Riverfront park with trails, fishing, and water access.
Skyline Caverns (Natural/Quirky) – Colorfully lit caves with unique formations and funhouse features.
Luray
Luray Caverns (Natural/Historical) – Virginia’s largest cave system with towering formations.
Luray Valley Museum & Heritage Village (Historical) – Outdoor museum with 19th-century buildings and artifacts.
Car & Carriage Caravan Museum (Historical) – Display of historic vehicles and transportation history.
Mount Jackson / Edinburg
Edinburg Mill Museum (Historical) – Civil War-era mill with exhibits on Valley culture and history.
Historic Courthouse Museum (Historical) – Civil War graffiti and local artifacts in a preserved courthouse.
Meem’s Bottom Covered Bridge (Natural/Historical) – Drivable 19th-century covered bridge over the Shenandoah River.
New Market / Grottoes
New Market Battlefield (Historical) – Civil War site where VMI cadets fought.
Grand Caverns (Natural/Historical) – Oldest show cave in the U.S. with rare rock formations.
Johnny Appleseed Statue (Quirky) – Oversized, whimsical statue honoring a folk legend.
Staunton
Blackfriars Playhouse (Historical) – Replica of Shakespeare’s indoor theater with live shows.
Frontier Culture Museum (Historical/Natural) – Outdoor museum with re-created pioneer farms and homes.
Folk Art & Whimsical Sculptures (Quirky) – Scattered oversized art pieces add surprise around town.
Winchester
Abram’s Delight House (Historical/Quirky) – Winchester’s oldest home with ghost tales and colonial life exhibits.
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (Historical/Natural) – Art and history museum with gardens and walking trails.
Patsy Cline Historic House (Historical) – Modest childhood home of the country music star.
Richmond & Central-East Virginia
Charlottesville
Daedalus Books (Quirky)- A maze-like used bookstore with over 100,000 volumes—cozy and eccentric.
Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s estate) (Historical/Natural) – UNESCO World Heritage site combining a plantation home, gardens, and Blue Ridge views.
Montpelier (James Madison’s estate) (Historical) – Presidential home with gardens, trails, and exhibits on Madison’s life.
University of Virginia (the Lawn & Rotunda) (Historical/Natural) – Jefferson-designed campus, UNESCO site with architecture and green spaces.
Virginia Wine Trail (e.g. Barboursville, King Family Vineyards) (Natural/Cultural) – Scenic wineries near Charlottesville known for tasting rooms and history.
Farmville / Appomattox
High Bridge Trail State Park (Natural/Historical) – Former railway turned 31-mile trail across historic High Bridge over the Appomattox River.
Appomattox National Historic Park
Lynchburg / Bedford area
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (Historical) – Site of Lee’s surrender ending the Civil War; preserved village and visitor center.
National D‑Day Memorial (Historical) – Monument honoring WWII Allied forces, set in Bedford County with reflective gardens.
Petersburg
Petersburg National Battlefield (Historical) – Key Civil War siege site with trails, earthworks, and interpretive exhibits.
Siege Museum & Blandford Church (Historical) – Museum in the Old Towne district featuring Tiffany glass and civilian stories.
Richmond area
American Civil War Museum & Tredegar Iron Works (Historical) – Civil War exhibits housed in the riverfront ironworks facility, with dual perspectives.
Belle Isle & Brown’s Island (Natural) – Urban islands on the James River with trails, viewpoints, and event spaces.
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site & Jackson Ward (Historical/Cultural) – Preserved home of civil rights pioneer and historic Black business district.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Historical/Cultural) – Art museum with world-class collections and rotating exhibitions.
Virginia State Capitol & Monument Avenue (Historical) – Jefferson‑designed seat of Virginia government and boulevard with historic statues.
Staunton / Waynesboro
Blackfriars Playhouse (Historical/Cultural) – Exact Shakespeare theatre replica hosting live period performances
Frontier Culture Museum (Historical/Natural) – Outdoor living history site with recreated colonial and immigrant homesteads.
Plumb House Museum & Waynesboro Heritage Museum (Historical) – Local artifacts and stories about Waynesboro’s past in historic buildings.
Lexington / Rockbridge County
Natural Bridge State Park (Natural/Historical) – Iconic 215-ft limestone arch and trails set within a National Historic Landmark.
Virginia Safari Park (Quirky) – Drive-through zoo with giraffes, deer, llamas, and camels that interact with visitors.
Pink Cadillac Diner & roadside art (e.g. Muffler Man, giant statues) (Quirky) – Lunch spot with Elvis theme and town adorned with kitschy sculptures and statues.
Natural Chimneys Regional Park (Natural/Historical/Quirky) – Limestone tower formations, historic jousting events, and scenic trails.
Grottoes / New Market
Grand Caverns (Natural/Historical) – America’s oldest publicly operating cave since 1806, with guided tours.
New Market Battlefield & VMI Museum (Historical) – Civil War battlefield where VMI cadets fought, with museum exhibits.
Route 11 Potato Chip Factory (Quirky) – Small-batch chip factory offering tours and tastings along historic Route 11.
Southwest Virginia & the Blue Ridge
Abingdon, VA
The Arts Depot (Quirky/Historical) – Former train depot turned creative gallery showcasing local Appalachian arts.
William King Museum of Art (Historical/Cultural) – Appalachian art and artifacts housed in a restored early‑20th-century school building
Buchanan, VA
Buchanan Swinging Bridge (Natural/Quirky) – Historic pedestrian suspension bridge over the James River on scenic Main Street.
Historic Buchanan Theater (Cultural/Historical) – Restored 19th-century theater hosting live performances in a tiny mountain town
Cedar Bluff, VA
Cedar Bluff Overlook Park (Natural/Historical) – Bluff‑top river views with Civil War interpretive marker and picnic facilities
Draper / New River Valley, VA
New River Trail State Park (Natural/Historical) – 57‑mile rail-trail for hiking, biking, horseback riding along preserved train trestles and tunnels
Draper Mercantile & Blooms Tea Garden (Quirky) – Historic former post office turned tea room, gift shop, and unique local hub.
Floyd County / Independence, VA
Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve (Natural) – Summit hike to rare plant habitat and panoramic vistas at 3,960 ft elevation
Grayson Highlands State Park (Natural/Quirky) – Mountain pastures with free‑roaming wild ponies and Appalachian Trail access
Matthews Living History Farm & Fiddlers’ Convention (Historical/Cultural) – Open-air heritage farm and annual bluegrass celebration in Independence
Meadows of Dan / Floyd area
Primland Resort (Natural/Luxury) – Elevated wellness and adventure destination with mountain views, fly-fishing, and upscale lodging.
Mount Rogers Area / Grayson County
Elk Safari & Breaks Interstate Park (Natural/Historical) – Sunset wildlife tours at Breaks, nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the South,” with elk sightings ★
Birch Knob Tower (Natural/Quirky) – Observation tower atop Dickenson County peak, offering multi-state views for the adventurous traveler
Roanoke / Salem region
Center in the Square (Roanoke) (Cultural/Quirky) – Multi-museum complex including the Pinball Museum, science exhibits, and rooftop views over downtown.
Black Dog Salvage (near Roanoke) (Quirky) – Salvage yard turned quirky antique destination, complete with recovered airplane and giant frying pan installation.
Explore Park (Natural/Adventure) – Blue Ridge Parkway recreation site featuring trails, mountain biking, ziplines, camping, and tubing.
Upper James River Water Trail (Natural) – Scenic kayaking, canoeing, and tubing route north of Roanoke through forested mountain valleys.
Southwest Virginia Scenic Corridor
Blue Ridge Music Center (Galax area) (Cultural/Historical) – Bluegrass amphitheater and Roots of American Music Museum along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Mabry Mill (milepost 176.1) (Historical/Natural) – Iconic Blue Ridge Parkway gristmill with demonstrations and scenic mountain setting.
Tazewell County / Fancy Gap Area
Back of the Dragon (Natural/Quirky) – Spectacular 32‑mile stretch of curvy mountain roads popular with motorcyclists and scenic drivers.
Maybry Mill (Fancy Gap) (Natural/Historical) – Restored water-powered mill with live milling demonstration and interpretive displays on the Parkway.
Wytheville / Bland County
Big Walker Lookout (Natural/Historical/Quirky) – 100-ft historic observation tower with swinging bridge access and panoramic multi-state mountain views.
Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum (Historical) – Childhood home of First Lady Wilson, preserved as a historic museum in the Wytheville region.
Route 11 Corridor / New Market area
Route 11 Potato Chip Factory (Quirky) – Kettle-style chip factory offering tastings and tours along historic Route 11.
Grand Caverns Area (Grottoes/New Market)
Grand Caverns (Natural/Historical) – America’s oldest show cave with guided tours featuring rare shield formations and stalactites.
New Market Battlefield & VMI Museum (Historical) – Historic Civil War site where VMI cadets fought, with museum exhibits and preserved grounds.
Northern Virginia & Washington Area
Alexandria, VA
Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve (Natural) – A serene tidal wetland along the Potomac River, offering boardwalk trails and birdwatching opportunities.
Old Town Alexandria (Historical) – Cobblestone streets lined with 18th-century architecture, boutique shops, and waterfront dining.
Torpedo Factory Art Center (Cultural) – A former munitions plant transformed into an art center with working studios and galleries.
Arlington, VA
Arlington National Cemetery (Historical) – The final resting place of U.S. military personnel, featuring landmarks like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Theodore Roosevelt Island (Natural) – A memorial and nature preserve dedicated to the 26th president, accessible via a footbridge from Rosslyn.
Westover Village (Quirky) – A charming neighborhood with vintage shops, local eateries, and a strong community vibe .
Falls Church, VA
Eden Center (Cultural) – A bustling Vietnamese shopping center offering authentic cuisine, groceries, and cultural goods.
Great Falls, VA
Great Falls Park (Natural) – A National Park showcasing the Potomac River’s dramatic falls and scenic hiking trails.
Loudoun County, VA
The Winery at Bull Run (Cultural) – A winery set on a historic Civil War battlefield, offering tastings and events.
Bear’s Den Overlook (Natural) – A scenic overlook providing panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Manassas, VA
Manassas National Battlefield Park (Historical) – The site of two major Civil War battles, with preserved fields and interpretive trails.
McLean, VA
Great Falls Park (Natural) – A National Park showcasing the Potomac River’s dramatic falls and scenic hiking trails.
Vienna, VA
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (Natural) – A 95-acre garden featuring native plants, Korean Bell Garden, and seasonal exhibits.
Washington, D.C.
The Mansion on O Street (Quirky) – A private club and museum with hidden doors, themed rooms, and eclectic decor .
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum (Natural) – Home to one of the oldest bonsai trees in the U.S., including a tree that survived the Hiroshima bombing.
The Exorcist Stairs (Quirky) – The steep staircase featured in the iconic horror film, now a popular photo spot.
The Joke Phone (Quirky) – A repurposed payphone in Chevy Chase that dispenses jokes and fun facts when used .
The Dupont Underground (Quirky) – Abandoned trolley tunnels beneath Dupont Circle, now used for art installations and performances .
The Albert Einstein Memorial (Cultural) – A larger-than-life statue of Einstein located near the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Capitol Columns (Historical) – Former columns from the U.S. Capitol, now standing in a park near the U.S. Botanic Garden.
