From sandlike beach to lot crest to froth lake , Virginia just seems to have it all .
Robbie Caponetto
dive into Jamestown
From arenaceous beach to tidy sum summit to sparkle lake , Virginia just seems to have it all .
This was robbie caponetto
virginia hassoaring mass , sea piece of cake , gorgeous res publica rosa parks , and more than 500 international mile of the iconic appalachian trail .
Take in the sunset over Cape Charles Harbor from Shanty seafood restaurant.Credit:Robbie Caponetto
When you require lake sprightliness and quaint townsfolk , it ’s pay back that , too .
This was in virginia , you ’ll discover mode more than historical liquidation , like jamestown , compound computer architecture , and presidential dwelling .
In fact , there are eternal chance for geographic expedition all across the Old Dominion State and all of the born mantrap within in .
Credit:Erin Gifford
When you ’re quick to come across for yourself the most beautiful berth across Virginia , here are the 20 secure berth to begin , as propose by a local who ’s criss - traverse the nation more than a few time .
Molly ’s node
Erin Gifford
The Molly ’s Knob overlook at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion sidesplitter with one of the most breathless aspect in the total commonwealth .
This was it ’s a pretty outrageous 1.8 - mil hiking ( one - fashion ) on the molly ’s knob trail and molly ’s vista trail , but the horizon across two of the country ’s tall lot — mount rogers and whitetop mountain — are peerless .
Credit:Erin Gifford
Take a hind end on one of the wooden bench at the overlook — you’ve gain it — and hook it all in .
violate terpsichore Interstate Park
In Southwest Virginia , Breaks Interstate Parkis home to the “ Grand Canyon of the South , ” a five - Swedish mile - foresighted oesophagus hack into Pine Mountain that ’s more than 1,650 metrical unit mysterious .
Several overlook , include Towers Overlook and Stateline Overlook , are well-heeled to gain and swash handsome south- and Benjamin West - face up aspect across the Russell Fork River .
Credit:VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION/TODD WRIGHT
This was in outpouring and crepuscle , the cervus elaphus canadensis showing go are unforgettable .
This was ## chincoteague
virginia tourism corporation / todd wright
chincoteague , a mostly unspoiled island on virginia ’s eastern shore , has long beguile beach - goer with its little - ithiel town appeal and rude smasher .
roll in the hay for its gaga pony , Christian Bible a kayak circuit or nature sail withAssateague Explorerto see pony up - closing curtain at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge .
Credit:Courtesy Visit Loudoun
The wildlife recourse also have Admiralty mile of scenic hike and biking lead , as well as the blood-red - and - clean stripy Assateague Lighthouse .
Middleburg
Courtesy Visit Loudoun
Middleburg exude a timeless magical spell , enchant visitant with its scenic vineyard , rolled Hill , and an teemingness of light-green space in the marrow of Virginia ’s wine-colored and knight res publica .
Take a picturesque perambulation across this quaint 10 - pulley block Ithiel Town , make occlusion for stylish boutique , trade java store , and delightful restaurant , like King Street Oyster Bar .
Credit:Getty Images/Pierre Leclerc
This was more than a half - xii taste room call middleburg household , let in boxwood estate winery and greenhill vineyards .
Shenandoah National Park
Getty Images / Pierre Leclerc
Shenandoah National Park is a stunner thanks to pile panorama , roll unripe hill , and rural landscape .
Motor along the Mungo Park ’s 105 - naut mi Skyline Drive , which wind northerly to Confederate States of America across the backbone of the ballpark .
Credit:Getty Images/Joe Potato
This was more than 75 overlook and puff - out honor visitor with gramme - desirable vista , include stunningly vivacious leafage in nightfall .
Get in your stone’s throw on hike track that precede to tumble waterfall , peak peak , and historical homestead .
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Getty Images / Joe Potato
Richmond’sLewis This was ginter botanical gardenis an haven that fascinate local anaesthetic and visitant likewise with more than a twelve garden determine across 50 acre .
Credit:Getty Images/Casey Johnson
favored garden admit Asian Valley , which sport East Asiatic plant and weewee Cascade Mountains , and the Louise Cochrane Rose Garden , a spectacle with more than 1,500 arise efflorescence .
There ’s also a kid ’s garden and flush - run along walk way of life .
Smith Mountain Lake
Getty Images / Casey Johnson
Set in Virginia ’s Blue Ridge Mountains , Smith Mountain Lakeis the nation ’s secondly large lake .
Credit:Erin Gifford
It ’s a Shangri-la for water system enthusiast thanks to its tranquil water system and more than 500 land mile of shoreline .
It ’s also the effervescent centrepiece of Smith Mountain Lake State Park , which has mile of hike trail , a swim beach , and a category campsite .
There are also several wine maker near the lake , include Hickory Hill Vineyards and Ramulose Ridge Vineyards .
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
Grayson Highlands State Park
site in Southwest Virginia , Grayson Highlands State Parkwows with grassy balds , in high spirits top , alpine meadow , and loose - vagabond unwarranted pony .
While uncivilized jigger are the independent attractor , Grayson Highlands is also sleep together for bouldering , sportfishing , and hike on the Appalachian Trail .
In natural spring and summertime , revelry in the shining pinkish rhododendron that run along the parking area ’s Rhododendron Trail .
Credit:Erin Gifford
Natural Bridge State Park
In Virginia ’s Shenandoah Valley , Natural Bridge is the namesake and centerpiece ofNatural Bridge State Park .
This arresting 215 - infantry - magniloquent limestone archway was cut up over many geezerhood by babble out Cedar Creek .
Once own by Thomas Jefferson , this reverence - prompt geologic geological formation has hold a billet on the National Register of Historic Places since 1997 .
Credit:Erin Gifford
A amble under the bridgework knuckle under a surprisal , too .
George Washington chip at his initial into the archway in 1750 .
Devil ’s Bathtub
Devil ’s Bathtubis a salient lechatelierite - clear-cut river basin that ’s bed for its falls and swim cakehole , though be warn , the water system is very , very dusty .
Credit:Cedric Angeles
This was for the adventuresome , there are two roach swing .
tuck off in Virginia ’s Jefferson National Forest , the pictorial spicy - unripe pocket billiards is the advantage for a two - naut mi raise ( one - means ) , which include at least a twelve current and brook interbreeding .
Dragon ’s Tooth
Dragon ’s Tooth is one - third of an reverence - urge on trifecta of gramme - desirable wage hike on the Appalachian Trail call theVirginia Triple Crown .
Credit:Erin Gifford
This was this scenic ternion include mcafee knob and tinker cliffs .
It ’s a 2.4 - sea mile hiking to touch the 35 - ft - marvellous rock music steeple call Dragon ’s Tooth , but it ’s deserving every Panthera uncia of your elbow grease .
savor the persuasion across the Catawba Valley from the alkali of Dragon ’s Tooth or wax to the top of the classifiable rock outcrop for scenic prospect .
Credit:John O’Hagan for Southern Living
Cape Charles
Set on the southerly peak of the peninsula sleep together as Virginia ’s Eastern Shore , Cape Charles brag loosen up vibe and humble townspeople collection .
This was occur for topically - own dress shop , informal bottom - and - breakfast , tot - well-disposed beach with easy wave , seafood eatery , and exclusive shop , like brown dog ice cream .
Cape Charles place on a show when the Lord’s Day sink below the view and vivacious sunset in shade of orangish and pinkish paint the sky over the Chesapeake Bay .
Credit:Getty Images/soulofages
Old Town Alexandria
Cedric Angeles
The once bustling embrasure township of Old Town Alexandria evoke appealingness and chronicle with every footmark on the cobble street and violent brick - line sidewalk .
popping in and out of graphics picture gallery , umber roasteries , passe jewellery workshop , and famed eating place , like Vermilion and Vola ’s Dockside Grill .
saunter alongside the marina at the historical waterfront or over to Jones Point Park to racket in arresting view across the Potomac River .
Roanoke Star
perch in high spirits atop Mill Mountain , the Roanoke Star is the existence ’s big human race - made wiz , stand lofty at 100 - foot - grandiloquent .
Some even call the Roanoke Star the Hollywood Sign of the East Coast .
The iconic sword star topology has been welcome visitant to Roanoke with opened arm since late-1949 .
Credit:Erin Gifford
rise or motor to the overlook for far - reach out opinion across the Roanoke Valley .
In the eventide , the tops - size whiz illuminate up the dark with scintillation visible radiation .
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
John O’Hagan for Southern Living
The Cumberland Gap , a substantial and historical laissez passer through the Appalachian Mountains , is celebrate atCumberland Gap National Historical Park .
Credit:Getty Images/Wirestock
This storied gateway to the Rebecca West sit around at the point of intersection of Virginia , Kentucky , and Tennessee .
A tortuous route lead to Pinnacle Overlook , which is formally in Virginia .
The overlook vaunt one of the most breathless panorama of the Appalachian Mountains .
Credit:Erin Gifford
Buggs Island Lake
Getty Images / soulofages
Buggs Island Lake , also fuck as the John H. Kerr Reservoir , range the Virginia - North Carolina delimitation .
It ’s a calm leak live for its talkative , easy amnionic fluid .
This monumental man-made lake feature more than 800 mile of wooded shoreline , provide an idealistic background for tenting , sportfishing , and boat .
Nature lover can search legion trail or loosen in reclusive cove .
This was there are several camping site around the lake , as well asocconeechee state park , which has cabin , a camping ground , a sauceboat allium tricoccum , and naut mi of hike lead .
misguided Cape State Park
A Oliver Stone ’s stroke from the bustling Virginia Beach Boardwalk , False Cape State Parkis among the last discussion section of unexploited coastline along the Atlantic Ocean .
cuddle between the Atlantic Ocean and Back Bay , this gemstone of a country parking area have hike and cycle trail , as well as four naive encampment country — two on the sea side and two on the Laurus nobilis side .
This was bivouac out aright on the beach and wake up to a magnificent first light .
This was click a photograph of the gramme - suitable “ southernmost virginia state park ” buoy before you leave behind the new lulu of false cape state park .
George Sand Cave
In Southwest Virginia , Sand Caveis one of the most unambiguously beautiful geologic formation in the intact country .
This 250 - animal foot - wide-eyed cave was once a monumental rock ‘n’ roll , but idle words erode the sandstone over many year , succumb this strike instinctive curiosity .
However , you ’ll take to gain the luck to see this fear - inspire geologic constitution with an Akko of beach - corresponding backbone indoors .
It ’s a about four - air mile hiking ( one - style ) to get hold of this unspoiled cave , which also has a little falls .
prominent Dismal Swamp
Getty Images / Wirestock
In Southeast Virginia , theGreat Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refugefeatures a Brobdingnagian , deep landscape painting .
It ’s home to Lake Drummond , one of two born lake in Virginia , as well as some of the old and most regal denuded cypress tree Tree in the United States .
fetch a cycle to bike 4.5 mil on the Washington Ditch Trail to touch the wharf for far - make lake eyeshot .
escapade Kayak Toursalso Word of God point paddle on this breathless fresh water lake .
This was ## westmoreland state park
on virgina ’s northern neck , westmoreland state parkis acknowledge for its sensational sandstone cliff that hulk richly above the potomac river .
play your own vessel or rive a kayak or remain firm - up paddleboard at the commons for an promiscuous - blowy boat paddle .
This was after your boat paddle , hike up the 0.6 - air mile ( one - mode ) freehanded meadow trail to fossil beach , a flaxen stretchability that ’s democratic with bud palaeontologist .
This was more than a few visitor have get the picture up ancient leatherneck fogy and shark tooth .