Things to do in Virginia
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Aromas
Dark wood, soft lights, vintage posters and crayon-bright paintings make this sandwich bar a good place to chill after a day of time traveling in Williamsburg.
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3rd St Diner
This diner resembles the aftermath of a pink-and-blue explosion. Bring quarters for the (loud) jukebox and lose the attitude because this dive serves it up quick, no frills, 24/7.
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Jewish Mother
Get your nosh on here with packed deli sandwiches, 'penicillin soup' (chicken and matzo ball) and monster-sized pie. Excellent live music staged nightly.
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Great Falls National Park
Fourteen miles upriver from DC’s Georgetown, where the central Piedmont meets the coastal plain, the normally placid Potomac cascades 77ft down a series of beautiful, treacherous rapids known as Great Falls. The Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal was constructed to allow barges to bypass the falls. Today there are parks on both sides of the river providing glorious views of the falls, as well as hiking, cycling and picnicking spots. (The entry fee is good for three days at both parks.) The Maryland side hooks up to Georgetown via the C&O Canal Towpath, which is an excellent route for a cycling trip (it’s not paved). On the Virginia side, the falls lie in the 800-acre Great…
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Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park is easy on the eyes, set against a backdrop of the dreamy Blue Ridge Mountains, ancient granite and metamorphic formations that are more than one billion years old. The park itself is almost 70 years old, founded in 1935 as a retreat for East Coast urban populations. It is an accessible day-trip destination from DC, but stay longer if you can. The 500 miles of hiking trails, 75 scenic overlooks, 30 fishing streams, seven picnic areas and four campgrounds are sure to keep you entertained. Skyline Drive is the breathtaking road that follows the main ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains and winds 105 miles through the center of the park. It begins in…
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Mount Vernon
A visit to George Washington’s Virginia home, Mount Vernon, is an easy escape from the city – one that the president himself enjoyed. It’s also a journey through history: the country estate of this quintessential gentleman has been meticulously restored and affords a glimpse of rural gentility from a time long gone. On the Potomac banks, the 19-room mansion displays George and Martha’s colonial tastes, while the outbuildings and slave quarters show what was needed for the functioning of the estate. George and Martha are both buried here, as requested by the first president in his will. The modern Ford Orientation Center is a must-see on the grounds. It features a 20-mi…
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Loft Mountain
The landscape of Loft Mountain ranges from bucolic grassland to challenging hills and is home to a variety of wildlife, especially deer and bears. Here you'll find a wayside, camp store, gas station, picnic area and campground that's much less crowded and more secluded than Big Meadows. A 4.4km (2.7mi) nature hike loops around the northeast summit of Loft Mountain and makes for an enjoyable family excursion.
Getting to the trailhead takes a bit of doing, however. Park at the Loft Mountain wayside lot and walk north on Skyline Drive. After passing the Patterson Ridge Trail on the left, look for a dirt road on the right. Take that road past the PATC maintenance building to …
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Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
This 17,000-acre refuge, 20 miles south of Easton, contains tidal marshes protected for migrating waterfowl. It has large populations of bald eagles, snow geese, peregrine falcons, blue herons, ospreys and 20 species of duck. October through December is prime bird-watching time. You may also spot woodland creatures such as red foxes, fox squirrels and white-tailed deer. A 5-mile nature drive cuts through the refuge; there are also four hiking trails, ranging in length from 0.3 miles to 2.7 miles. This is also a great spot for cyclists and kayakers to explore: biking and paddling maps are available at the Blackwater Refuge Visitors Center. Take Rte 50 south to Cambridge…
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation opens around 40 authentic 17th- and 18th-century buildings to ticket holders in the restored historic district, staffed with all the friendly townsfolk you'd expect to meet back then, all sharing the tricks of their various trades and breaking character only long enough to snap a family photo for you.
Walking around the historic district and patronizing the shops and taverns is free, but entry to the building tours is restricted to ticket holders. Expect crowds, lines and petulant children, (particularly in summer) and plenty of three-cornered hats.
To park and purchase tickets, follow signs to the visitor center (btwn Hwy 132 & Coloni…
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Pope-Leighey House
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House is a 1940s Usonian dwelling of cypress, brick and glass. Originally intended as low-cost housing for the middle class, Wright’s Usonian dwellings featured aesthetically elegant designs made from durable, inexpensive materials. It was moved to the grounds of Woodlawn Plantation in 1964 from Falls Church to rescue it from destruction. Furnished with Wright pieces, the house is utilitarian in structure, but quite beautiful. Combination tickets to visit both Woodlawn Plantation and the Pope-Leighey House are available (adult/child $15/5).
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Woodlawn Plantation
In the town of Mount Vernon, Woodlawn Plantation has two very different houses that are both splendid examples of their architectural times. The plantation home itself once belonged to Eleanor ‘Nelly’ Custis, granddaughter of Martha Washington, and her husband, Major Lawrence Lewis, George Washington’s nephew. The house contains period antiques and a stunning rose garden. Combination tickets to visit both Woodlawn Plantation and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House (located on the grounds) are available (adult/child $15/5).
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Riprap Trail
A most enjoyable 2-day obstacle course to scamper along. There's no chance of encountering lions and tigers here, but bears? Absolutely. Along with the Riprap Trail, hikers will trek along a portion of the Applachian Trail, as well as the Wildcat Ridge Trail. If you have two cars, you might want to leave one at the Wildcat Ridge parking area in order to shorten the hike.
This trail could be tackled in one day, but if you had to choose just one overnight adventure in Shenandoah, this hike is the one. Pull those backpack straps tight and hold on.
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George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill
Three miles south of his estate Mount Vernon, on Rte 235, you’ll find George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill, which was also part of the president’s estate. Although Washington’s leadership skills were well known, his prowess at farming and making whiskey were less discussed. He also patented a milling system – and you can purchase stone-ground cornmeal from the shop. The museum has exhibits, a film on Washington’s whiskey, and actors in period costume demonstrating how it all worked.
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Gunston Hall
Southwest of Mount Vernon, on a bend in the Potomac River, is the 1775 brick mansion Gunston Hall, which belonged to a statesman and contemporary of George Washington, George Mason. Mason penned the lines ‘all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights’ – words adapted by Thomas Jefferson for the Declaration of Independence. Dating from 1755, the mansion is an architectural masterpiece, with elegantly carved wooden interiors and meticulously kept formal gardens.
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Fort Story
Fort Story, an active army base at Cape Henry, is home to several attractions including the First Landing Site, where 1607 colonists first touched land after their voyage from London, and the 1791 Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, offering spectacular views of the surrounding area from its observation deck. All adults must have a photo ID to enter the base.
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Yorktown Battlefield
Yorktown Battlefield, run by the NPS, is the site of the last major battle of the American Revolution. Start your tour at the visitor center and check out the orientation film and the display of Washington's original tent. The 7-mile Battlefield Rd Tour takes you past the major highlights. Don't miss a walk through the last British defensive sites, Redoubts 9 and 10.
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Tarara Vineyard
On a bluff overlooking the Potomac, this 475-acre estate provides guided tours showing the grape’s journey from vine to glass. The winery is located in a 6000-sq-ft cave, and visitors can pick fruit in the orchard or hike the 6 miles of trails through rolling countryside. Tarara also hosts summertime Saturday evening concerts and three major wine festivals.
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Lee's Retreat
Follow Lee's retreat on a winding 25-stop tour that starts in Petersburg at Southside Railroad Station (River St and Cockade Alley) and cuts through some of the most attractive countryside in Virginia. Best take a detailed road map, as the trail is not always clearly marked.You will finish at 1300 acre Appoma Court House National Historic Park.
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Siege Museum
About 25 miles south of Richmond, the little town of Petersburg played a big role in the Civil War. It was a major railway junction, providing Confederate troops and supplies. Union troops laid a 10-month siege of Petersburg in 1864-65, the longest on American soil. The Siege Museum relates the plight of civilians during the siege.
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Chowning's
At Colonial Williamburg, four historic district taverns serve 'ye old vittles and grog' from costumed waitstaff. It's fun once. Reservations can be made through the visitor center or by calling 757-229-2141. Chowning's, next to Market Sq, is the best and most casual of the bunch. Attached is Gambol's, which is the post-17:00 merrymaking spot.
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Museum & White House of the Confederacy
Museum & White House of the Confederacy traces the history of the Confederate States of America with the country's largest collection of Confederate civilian and military artifacts. It's a must-see for any history and Civil War buff. The adjacent 1818 White House mansion was the home of CSA President Jefferson Davis.
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Ocean Breeze Waterpark
Kids will go nuts at the Ocean Breeze Waterpark. It has 16 long, brightly coloured waterslides, all called things like 'Grape Escape', 'Toucan Tunnel' and 'Bahama Mamma'. Some rides are slower and more gentle, others promise 'shut-your-eyes excitement'. If the kids haven't had enough there's also a '1 million-gallon' wave pool.
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Floyd Country Store
Life explodes on Friday nights at the Floyd Country Store. Every Friday starting at 6:30pm, $4 gets you four bluegrass bands in four hours and the chance to watch happy crowds nod along to regional heritage. No smokin', no drinkin', but plenty of dancin' (of the jig-and-tap style) is the order of the day.
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Shirley
Shirley, situated picturesquely on the river, is Virginia's oldest plantation (1613) and is perhaps the best example of how a British-model plantation actually appeared, with its tidy row of brick service and trade houses - tool barn, ice house, laundry etc - leading up to the big house.
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Nauticus National Maritime Center
Nauticus is the biggest attraction here, overshadowed only by the USS Wisconsin battleship (a 'Desert Storm' veteran) docked alongside. This comprehensive naval museum has ingenious interactive exhibits and entertaining shows, including submarine rides, multimedia naval battles and flight simulators.
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