Though many vacationers flock to Coastal Virginia to soak up the sun, stick their toes in the sand and hit the waves, there’s much to be seen past Hampton Roads’ many shorelines and plenty to do all seasons of the year.
Norfolk, a modern port city nestled where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, is vibrantly bursting with culture found in the lush parks which host festivals year-round, the quality museums, the incredible entertainment venues and the impeccable culinary scene.
Just a short ferry ride away, Portsmouth is the place to go to scope out local art, peruse historic neighborhoods and spend a day with the kids at the largest children’s museum in the state. Outdoor lovers will find their solitude in Chesapeake along 22 miles of fresh and salt waterways. The Dismal Swamp Canal is a perfect place for kayaking or canoeing or simply spotting rare bird species.
Relive history in the Historic Triangle, made up of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown. Visit the places that helped our nation to take root and the places that shaped it into what it is today. Colonial Williamsburg is known as the world’s largest living history museum, and neighboring Jamestown features replicas of the original fort and ships that were used to root the English colonists here in 1607. Not all of the area is steeped in history; visit Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA to feel like you’ve traveled to other lands or simply to make a big splash.
Of course a trip here wouldn’t quite be complete without a peek at the Atlantic Ocean. Virginia Beach is the ultimate place for surfing, festivals, family fun and so much more, so take a stroll down the 3-mile boardwalk, play a round of putt-putt, and stick your toes deep into the sand.