The Ultimate Virginia Travel Bucket List — Things to See, Do & Eat in Virginia

A nuanced dual-perspective look at the Civil War exploring both Union and Confederate viewpoints with powerful exhibits.

• Historical significance

Where General Lee surrendered to General Grant effectively ending the Civil War — a deeply moving and essential American historical site.

• Historical significance

One of America’s most sacred burial sites — walk the hallowed grounds and witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

• Historical significance

A pristine barrier island roamed freely by wild ponies — one of Virginia’s most magical and unexpected natural experiences.

• Nature

The longest-running professional Equity theater in the U.S. with roots going back to 1933 — a true piece of living Appalachian cultural history.

• Cultural value

A stunning Jeffersonian plantation that served as Union General Sheridan’s headquarters during the pivotal 1864 Battle of Cedar Creek in the Shenandoah Valley — one of Virginia’s most beautiful and historically layered sites.

• Historical significance

A gem along the James River popular for hiking rugged trails and in summer kayaking and tubing through the city rapids.

• Nature

One of America’s most iconic scenic drives winding through rolling Appalachian highlands with pastoral views and hiking access.

• Natural or built beauty

Legendary slow-smoked BBQ that Richmond locals swear by — a true and authentic taste of Virginia pit cooking.

• Culinary

A legendary no-frills music venue in the Appalachian coalfields — the birthplace of country music featuring live performances every Saturday night.

• Cultural value

Richmond’s most eclectic neighborhood — perfect for a stroll through local shops and a meal at one of many beloved independent restaurants.

• Culinary

A gorgeous 4-mile out-and-back hike through a forested gorge leading to a dramatic 66-foot waterfall — one of Virginia’s best hikes.

• Nature

Site of General Lee’s most brilliant tactical victory in May 1863 — walk the trails past the spot where Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men in a defining and tragic moment of the war.

• Historical significance

A lively walkable pedestrian mall surrounded by excellent independent restaurants cafés bookshops and live music venues.

• Culinary

Famous for the annual wild pony swim but beautiful year-round for birding wildlife photography and quiet unspoiled beach walks.

• Nature

A world-class collection including a stunning glass gallery that rivals any major city museum — free admission makes it an unmissable Norfolk stop.

• Cultural value

Scene of one of the most devastating Union assaults of the war in June 1864 — Grant’s forces suffered enormous casualties in a matter of minutes. A sobering and deeply moving place to walk.

• Historical significance

A living history museum unlike any other — costumed interpreters breathe life into 18th-century colonial Virginia across an entire restored city.

• Historical significance

Located in the George Washington National Forest in Nelson County just off Virginia State Route 56 Bill On The Road, Crabtree Falls is probably Virginia’s best-known waterfall hike. Agoda A series of five major cascades with a total drop of approximately 1,000 feet, the tallest single cascade plunges about 400 feet — giving Crabtree Falls the distinction of the tallest vertical-drop waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Bill On The Road The first overlook is just a few hundred feet from the parking lot along a gentle paved trail, making it accessible for visitors of all ages and abilities. Atlas Obscura More adventurous hikers can continue along the 3.2-mile out-and-back trail with 1,076 feet of elevation gain Tripadvisor to reach the top, where a wooden bridge and overlook reward you with spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Rockfish Valley. Virginia Located just six miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 27 Atlas Obscura, it makes a perfect and memorable stop on any Parkway road trip. A small daily parking fee applies.

• Nature

What began in 1929 as a refurbished railroad dining car along a dusty southeastern Virginia highway has grown into one of the most beloved and iconic restaurants in the Commonwealth. Atlas Obscura Established in the heart of Virginia peanut country, it was only natural that Virginia peanuts ended up at the center of the menu Atlas Obscura — and they never left. The Virginia Diner has since become a destination for classic Southern cooking, with standout dishes including collard greens, Virginia-style spoonbread, country ham biscuits, and the legendary peanut pie. Tripadvisor No two visits are exactly alike thanks to a rotating list of seasonal specials Virginia, and the diner has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives cementing its place on the national food map. Bill On The Road Located halfway between Petersburg and Suffolk on US Route 460 — just a short drive from Williamsburg, Jamestown, and plantation country U.S. News & World Report — it makes a perfect and deeply satisfying stop on any southeastern Virginia road trip.

• Culinary

A charming museum in the oldest surviving building in Richmond celebrating the life and works of the legendary writer.

• Cultural value

A woodland sanctuary on the James Madison University campus, the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum is a public urban garden and forested greenspace that preserves native plant species and promotes knowledge of the botanical and natural world for people of all ages. U.S. News & World Report Sixteen exhibit gardens wind through over 3 miles of trails across 125 acres of mature Oak-Hickory forest PlanetWare, and the grounds shelter rare species including the Betula uber — the federally threatened Round-Leaf Birch — one of the rarest birch trees in the world. Agoda The only public-oriented arboretum at a Virginia university Bill On The Road, it’s open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year, and completely free — making it one of the Shenandoah Valley’s most accessible and rewarding hidden gems.

• Nature

Renowned gathering place for authentic Appalachian and old-time music — beloved by locals and visitors for its Friday Night Jamboree.

• Cultural value

One of the most significant and accessible Civil War sites in America — haunting earthworks and excellent National Park Service interpretation.

• Historial significance
• Political significance

A living history museum showcasing the farmsteads of the settlers who shaped America’s frontier — surprisingly fascinating and immersive.

• Historical significance

A 200-year-old tavern near Monticello serving colonial-era Southern fare — a unique and memorable dining experience steeped in history.

• Historical significance

The site of the first permanent English settlement in America — explore reconstructed ships a fort and Native American villages.

• Historical significance

Wildly inventive maximalist fine dining in a one-of-a-kind setting — one of the most celebrated and unique restaurants in all of Virginia.

• Culinary

One of Virginia’s oldest and most beloved ghost tours Virginia, Haunting Tales takes you on a candlelit walk through one of the South’s most history-drenched small cities. Professional guides lead groups through darkened streets and alleyways and into the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery PlanetWare, weaving together eerie legends and genuine local history. Walk in the footsteps of Generals Lee and Jackson Atlas Obscura as stories of Civil War soldiers, restless spirits, and Victorian-era intrigue unfold at every corner. The 90-minute tour departs from the Lexington Visitor Center on East Washington Street and runs Friday and Saturday nights from May through October Tripadvisor — an atmospheric and entertaining evening that’s equal parts ghost story and history lesson, and one of the most memorable things you can do in the Shenandoah Valley

• Leisure

America’s most visited caverns featuring massive formations and the world’s only stalacpipe organ — a truly underground wonder.

• Natural or built beauty

Walk the fields where two pivotal Civil War battles were fought with excellent interpretive trails and preserved earthworks.

• Historical significance

One of the world’s most extensive collections of operational vintage military aircraft — a must for aviation and history enthusiasts.

• Historical significance

Thomas Jefferson’s architectural masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site — a profound and complex exploration of America’s founding ideals and contradictions.

• Political significance

James Madison’s beautifully restored estate featuring thoughtful tours focused on both the Madison family and the lives of the enslaved people on the property.

• Political significance

George Washington’s beautifully preserved estate overlooking the Potomac River with expansive gardens and a world-class museum.

• Historical significance

A surprisingly wonderful homemade candy shop along the Blue Ridge Parkway — famous locally for exceptional peanut butter cups and handcrafted sweets.

• Culinary

A soaring 215-foot natural limestone arch that Thomas Jefferson once owned — a geological marvel that genuinely inspires awe.

• Natural or built beauty

A massive natural tunnel carved through a mountain by a creek — Daniel Boone reportedly called it the Eighth Wonder of the World.

• Natural or built beauty

Commemorates the 1864 battle where Virginia Military Institute cadets as young as 15 fought alongside Confederate forces — the Hall of Valor Museum and Bushong Farm make this one of Virginia’s most moving battlefield experiences.

• Historical significance

A revitalized waterfront entertainment and dining district — ideal for an evening exploring restaurants bars and live entertainment along the harbor.

• Culinary

Cobblestone streets lined with colonial-era architecture

• Cultural value

Site of the brutal nine-month siege of Petersburg in 1864-65 that ultimately led to the fall of Richmond and the end of the Civil War — miles of preserved trenches and earthworks tell the story.

• Historical significance

Virginia’s finest oyster experience — fresh briny and harvested directly from the Chesapeake Bay waters of the Rappahannock River.

• Culinary

A network of 13 sites across the Richmond area commemorating two massive Union attempts to capture the Confederate capital — includes Cold Harbor the Tredegar Iron Works visitor center and miles of original fort earthworks.

• Historical significance

A cultural hub with art galleries live music the Virginia Museum of Transportation and one of the most striking museum buildings in the South.

• Cultural value

A beloved Shenandoah Valley institution since 1992 — watch small-batch kettle chips being made through large factory windows then sample every flavor for free. A quirky and delicious stop right off I-81.

• Agritourism

The last major battle of the Civil War in Virginia — fought just 72 hours before Lee’s surrender at Appomattox where the Union captured nearly 8000 Confederate soldiers and 8 generals.

• Historical significance

A quieter and more pristine stretch of Virginia Beach coastline — often described as the Outer Banks without the crowds.

• Nature

Some of the most beautiful mountain scenery on the East Coast — hike to stunning waterfalls and sweeping Blue Ridge overlooks.

• Nature

Rolling pastoral meadows with sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains — ideal for a relaxed afternoon hike or picnic.

• Nature

Home to the extremely rare anthodite cave formation found almost nowhere else on Earth — a geological curiosity near the Shenandoah Valley entrance.

• Natural or built beauty

A breathtaking 105-mile scenic road along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains featuring over 70 overlooks and wildlife sightings.

• Natural or built beauty

Where Patrick Henry delivered his famous Give me liberty or give me death speech — an intimate and moving piece of revolutionary history.

• Historical significance

A cult-favorite donut shop with outrageously creative and seasonal flavors that draw lines around the block.

• Culinary

Iconic James River waterfront dining beloved for its fresh seafood and relaxed atmosphere — a Richmond institution.

• Culinary

Patrick O’Connell’s legendary three-Michelin-star restaurant — one of the finest and most celebrated dining experiences in all of America.

• Culinary

The largest free-standing man-made illuminated star in the world with a scenic overlook offering sweeping views of the Roanoke Valley.

• Natural or built beauty

Celebrated intimate farm-to-table dining deeply rooted in the Shenandoah Valley — seasonal menus sourced from local farms.

• Culinary

• Cultural value

Where Grant and Lee first clashed in May 1864 in a terrifying battle fought through dense scrub forest — Ellwood Manor served as Union headquarters and still stands today as a somber and atmospheric visitor stop.

• Historical significance

Home to the Space Shuttle Discovery and thousands of aviation artifacts — one of the best free museums in the region.

• Cultural value

Excellent hands-on aquarium with touch tanks shark exhibits and coastal nature trails along the Owls Creek salt marsh.

• Cultural value

35 miles of Atlantic coastline with a lively boardwalk — great for sunrise walks fresh seafood shacks and classic beach days.

• Leisure

One of the largest art museums in the Southeast with world-class collections spanning 5000 years and free general admission.

• Cultural value

The only U.S. national park dedicated to live performance — check the schedule for world-class outdoor concerts.

• Leisure

Walk the ground where America won its independence in the last major battle of the Revolutionary War — expertly interpreted by the National Park Service.

• Historical significance