Natives of the Commonwealth State of Virginia on America's east
coast are enormously proud of their local history and have put a
great deal of effort into preserving their historical landmarks,
homes and public buildings. The bountiful land of Virginia is where
America's first permanent English colonists put down roots,
founding the town of Jamestown in 1607. They stepped ashore
originally on a sandy beach at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, a large
estuary that became their gateway to the scenic hinterland.
Following the rivers inland, the early pioneers found rolling
hills and then the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains towering over
fertile valleys in the western part of the state. Today, 400 years
later, a great deal of Virginia's wilderness areas remain in their
untouched pristine condition, making it the perfect destination for
lovers of the outdoors as well as for those intent on discovering
some living history.
Virginia has not just preserved its historic relics, it actually
uses them as settings for living history displays. Historic parks
and even whole towns, like Williamsburg, act as time machines to
transport visitors to a bygone age, where bewigged gentlemen stroll
the streets and craftsmen ply their trades along cobblestone
streets.
The State has also preserved numerous battlefields and monuments
associated with the Civil War, in which Virginia played a central
role, with its capital, Richmond, being the seat of the
Confederacy. Many of Virginia's sons have played a vital role in
politics during the centuries: the state has produced eight United
States presidents, including George Washington and Thomas
Jefferson, whose homes are national treasures and open to the
public.
Even Virginia's popular seaside resort city of Virginia Beach is
steeped in history, so visitors who come simply to enjoy the
State's many miles of Atlantic Coast sandy beaches cannot help but
absorb some of the region's historic importance along with their
suntans.
Virginia's worth as an enjoyable destination can be proven by
the fact that tourism is a main source of state revenue, employing
more than 200,000 people and bringing in about $15-billion each
year.
Time Zones
Climate Info
The Virginia climate is a coastal one, mild and humid, with the
four seasons experienced slightly differently in the different
regions. The Tidewater regions, where Virginia's major rivers drain
into the Chesapeake, are low-lying and experience more moderate
temperatures - with warm to hot summers and mild winters. As one
moves westward and altitudes increase, temperatures tend to drop
and particularly in the more mountainous regions and the
northeastern areas winters tend to be far colder, with heavy
snowfall in the Appalachians. Summers, however, tend to also be
mild and pleasant, and the average summer temperature statewide is
close to 80°F (about 26-27°C). Winter temperatures in January,
usually the coldest month, are usually about 30°F (-1°C).
The airport is situated seven miles (11km) southeast of
Richmond.
Time Difference:
GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to
November).
Contacts:
Tel: +1 804 226 3000.
Getting to the city:
Taxi and limousine services are available outside the baggage
reclaim area. The Greater Richmond Transit Company offers public
buses to the Richmond terminal and to the city, as well as other
greater Richmond locations.
Car rental:
Desks for rental car agencies are situated on the lower level of
the terminal building. Represented are Avis, Budget, Enterprise,
National, Dollar, Thrifty and Hertz.
Airport Facilities:
A bank located in the main lobby on the ground floor offers full
service banking including foreign currency exchange. ATMs are
located in the Upper Level of the terminal and in the lobby of the
parking garages. There are several bars, cafes and restaurants
throughout the airport. Shops are situated in the atrium area of
the second level of the terminal building. The airport also has
teleconferencing with free Internet Ethernet LAN connections for
laptop computers and meeting rooms for hire. A free Wireless
Internet Service is also available for laptops on the airport's
upper level. A Visitor's Information Center is located on the upper
level near the escalators.
Car Parking:
There is daily, hourly, valet, handicapped and economy parking
available. Free courtesy shuttles run every 10 minutes between the
Economy parking lots and the Terminal building.
Richmond's Capitol Square is a glorious oasis of old trees and
green lawns in the heart of the downtown area, perched on a
hilltop. The magnificent centrepiece is the neo-classical State
Capitol building, designed by Thomas Jefferson, which has been in
continuous use since 1788. In the Capitol's Ro....
Richmond's Capitol Square is a glorious oasis of old trees and
green lawns in the heart of the downtown area, perched on a
hilltop. The magnificent centrepiece is the neo-classical State
Capitol building, designed by Thomas Jefferson, which has been in
continuous use since 1788. In the Capitol's Rotunda stands
Virginia's most treasured artwork, the life-sized statue of George
Washington sculpted by Jean Antoine Houdon, for whom Washington
posed. Another highlight of the square is the Governor's Mansion,
home of Virginia governors since 1813. The mansion, which has been
restored but boasts its original woodwork, plaster cornices and
ornamental ceilings, is open for tours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays (first floor only). Another historic building in the
square is the old Bell Tower, dating from 1824, which houses a
visitor centre providing tourist information about Virginia.
Address:Main entrance on Bank Street, between 9th and 10th
Streets
Civil War buffs flock to the Museum of the Confederacy, which
houses the most comprehensive collection of Confederate artefacts,
personal memorabilia and art to be found anywhere in the United
States. The exhibits include 550 battle flags, 215 uniforms,
including those of well-known officers, and 1....
Civil War buffs flock to the Museum of the Confederacy, which
houses the most comprehensive collection of Confederate artefacts,
personal memorabilia and art to be found anywhere in the United
States. The exhibits include 550 battle flags, 215 uniforms,
including those of well-known officers, and 1,000 military buttons.
Art works on display include E.B.D. Julio's heroic painting, 'The
Last Meeting of Lee and Jackson'. Beside the museum is the White
House of the Confederacy, the 1818 mansion in which Confederate
President Jefferson Davis and his family lived during the Civil
War. It is still furnished with original items. Visitors have to
join a tour to see the White House. These depart regularly
throughout the day.
Between 1861 and 1865, Union armies repeatedly set out to
capture Richmond, strategic capital of the Confederacy, and end the
Civil War. Three of those campaigns came within a few miles of the
city. The park commemorates 11 different sites associated with
those campaigns, including the battlefields....
Between 1861 and 1865, Union armies repeatedly set out to
capture Richmond, strategic capital of the Confederacy, and end the
Civil War. Three of those campaigns came within a few miles of the
city. The park commemorates 11 different sites associated with
those campaigns, including the battlefields at Gaines' Mill,
Malvern Hill, and Cold Harbor. Established in 1936, the park
protects 763 acres of historic ground. There is a visitor centre in
the Tredegar Irons Works on Richmond Riverfront Canal Walk at the
corner of Tredegar and 5th Streets. Here, visitors can watch a film
depicting the battles around the city and get information about
self-guided tours of the battlefields.
Richmond boasts an exceptional Fine Arts Museum, which presents
a panorama of world art from ancient to modern, including the
largest public Fabergé imperial Easter egg collection outside of
Russia, consisting of roughly 150 jewel-encrusted creations made
for Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II. Th....
Richmond boasts an exceptional Fine Arts Museum, which presents
a panorama of world art from ancient to modern, including the
largest public Fabergé imperial Easter egg collection outside of
Russia, consisting of roughly 150 jewel-encrusted creations made
for Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II. The Museum also boasts a
collection of English silver, one of the world's leading
collections of the art of India, Nepal and Tibet, and six Gobelin
Don Quixote tapestries.
St John's Church has stood on Richmond Hill above the James
River since 1741, and is known for having been the venue for the
second Virginia Convention in 1775, attended by George Washington
and other historic personalities. The church is also where
legendary Pocahontas was baptised and married to ....
St John's Church has stood on Richmond Hill above the James
River since 1741, and is known for having been the venue for the
second Virginia Convention in 1775, attended by George Washington
and other historic personalities. The church is also where
legendary Pocahontas was baptised and married to John Rolfe. The
wooden building still boasts its original pulpit and some exquisite
stained-glass windows. Between May and September living history
performances are given every Sunday recreating the historic Second
Virginia Convention. Informative tours explore the historic
significance of the church building and grounds.
Opening Time:Guided tours Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm (3:30pm
in winter); Sunday 1pm to 4:30pm (3:30pm in winter). Sunday
services at 8:30am and 11am
Admission:Tours: $7 (adults), $5 (children 7-18), Other
concessions available.
The hands-on Virginia Science Museum allows visitors to touch,
feel, observe and explore the impact of science on their lives,
covering everything from astronomy to computers, and crystals to
flight engineering. The museum is housed in a soaring historic
building, the former Broad Street Station de....
The hands-on Virginia Science Museum allows visitors to touch,
feel, observe and explore the impact of science on their lives,
covering everything from astronomy to computers, and crystals to
flight engineering. The museum is housed in a soaring historic
building, the former Broad Street Station designed in 1919 by John
Russell Pope. The fascinating and fun museum is complemented by a
275-seat Ethyl Universe Planetarium and Space Theatre that screens
Omnimax films as well as providing multimedia planetarium
shows.
Following the Blue Ridge Mountains for 100 miles (161km) through
west Virginia, the Shenandoah National Park is a wilderness area
where deer and black bears roam among about 100 species of trees on
the forested slopes. Hiking trails snake through the area from the
azalea-trimmed Skyline Drive, the ....
Following the Blue Ridge Mountains for 100 miles (161km) through
west Virginia, the Shenandoah National Park is a wilderness area
where deer and black bears roam among about 100 species of trees on
the forested slopes. Hiking trails snake through the area from the
azalea-trimmed Skyline Drive, the 105-mile (169km) long road that
runs through the park from the Piedmont Plateau, providing
wonderful vistas of the Shenandoah Valley from its overlooks.
Services and visitor centres are available on the drive, but are
closed during winter. Wildflower weekend is celebrated in May, and
ranger-led tours and programs are offered between April and
October.
Transport:No public transport operates within the park
Opening Time:Open 24-hours daily; some sections of the Skyline
drive are closed between dusk and early morning during the hunting
season, or during bad weather. Visitor facilties operate from March
to late November.
Admission:Individuals: $8 (March to November); $5 (December to
February). Vehicles: $15 (March to November); $10 (December to
February). Tickets are valid for 7 days.
The sedate town of Lexington, 138 miles (222km) west of Richmond
in the Shenandoah Valley, boasts one of the most picturesque
downtown areas in America, its fine old buildings having been
preserved and restored so it appears that the clock stopped here in
the 1800s. Tourists visit the town simply f....
The sedate town of Lexington, 138 miles (222km) west of Richmond
in the Shenandoah Valley, boasts one of the most picturesque
downtown areas in America, its fine old buildings having been
preserved and restored so it appears that the clock stopped here in
the 1800s. Tourists visit the town simply for its ambience, and
perhaps to pay tribute to Civil War General Robert E Lee, who after
the war served as president of the Washington and Lee University
here and was eventually buried in Lexington along with his famous
horse, Traveller. Apart from the University, which has one of the
oldest and most attractive campuses in the country, Lexington is
also home to the Virginia Military Institute, one of whose
graduates was General George C. Marshall, winner of the Nobel Peace
Prize. The Institute has a museum dedicated to his memory.
The three east-Virginian towns of Williamsburg, Jamestown and
Yorktown make up a unique historical attraction where the clock has
been turned back 200 years or more. The first British settlers in
the 'New World' founded Jamestown in 1607. In nearby Yorktown in
1781 Americans won their independence ....
The three east-Virginian towns of Williamsburg, Jamestown and
Yorktown make up a unique historical attraction where the clock has
been turned back 200 years or more. The first British settlers in
the 'New World' founded Jamestown in 1607. In nearby Yorktown in
1781 Americans won their independence during the last major battle
of the Revolution. Visitors can now see what life was like in the
fledgling Virginia during the colonial period by visiting
Williamsburg, where a British flag still flies over the Capitol
building and women are still wearing long dresses and ruffled caps,
with men in powdered wigs populating the taverns. It all adds up to
the greatest historic theme show ever, but it makes Williamsburg
into more than just a recreation of an 18th-century town. Chat to
the locals and you feel you are actually back in those days, as
blacksmiths puff their bellows at the forge and clip-clopping
horses pull carriages along the cobblestone streets. The Colonial
Williamsburg Foundation looks after 88 original buildings in the
town, while 300 others have been reconstructed, including two
taverns, a parish church, the courthouse and capitol building.
Admission:Each attraction charges its own fees. Combo tickets for
Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown are $78.25 adults, $32.75
children and is valid for seven days.
Originally founded in 1933, the Chrysler Museum of Art is
located on the waters of The Hague, in the Ghent district of
Norfolk, and is home to the art collection of Walter P. Chrysler,
Jr. Over time it has increased its collection significantly and is
one of Norfolk's most esteemed attractions. The....
Originally founded in 1933, the Chrysler Museum of Art is
located on the waters of The Hague, in the Ghent district of
Norfolk, and is home to the art collection of Walter P. Chrysler,
Jr. Over time it has increased its collection significantly and is
one of Norfolk's most esteemed attractions. The museum is
family-friendly, and kids will love the Daniel Rozin interactive
installation.
Nauticus is a valuable attraction for both educational and
entertainment purposes. This maritime-themed science centre and
museum now stands where Norfolk's
banana pieronce was and features exhibits, interactive
theatres and touch tanks, as well as a weather station. It is also
home to the USS Wis....
Nauticus is a valuable attraction for both educational and
entertainment purposes. This maritime-themed science centre and
museum now stands where Norfolk's
banana pieronce was and features exhibits, interactive
theatres and touch tanks, as well as a weather station. It is also
home to the USS Wisconsin, an additional interest for mariners and
vacationers alike.
One of Virginia's most popular tourist attractions and the
highlight of any historical Virginia tour, Mount Vernon is the
colonial estate of George Washington. The plantation has been
restored to look just as it did during Washington's era. Consisting
of 500 acres situated on the Potomac River, the....
One of Virginia's most popular tourist attractions and the
highlight of any historical Virginia tour, Mount Vernon is the
colonial estate of George Washington. The plantation has been
restored to look just as it did during Washington's era. Consisting
of 500 acres situated on the Potomac River, the gardens, mansion,
and other buildings are open to the public, and costumed employees
demonstrate life in the 18th century. In 2007, Mount Vernon was
given permission to reopen Washington's distillery, which now
produces its own whiskey, available only at the Mount Vernon Gift
Shop. The estate offers tours of the mansion and grounds,
sightseeing cruises on the Potomac River, and special tours showing
scenes from the movie National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets.
Address:3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon
Opening Time:Open daily April to August 8am-5pm; March, September
and October 9am-5pm; November to February 9am-4pm.
Admission:General admission $15 adults, $7 children 6-17. Other
concessions available. Distillery $4 adults, $2 children 6-17.
Special tours charge separate fees.
Monticello was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, third president
of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence.
The distinctive neoclassical building of the main house was
designed by Jefferson himself, and he continued to improve and add
to it until his death in 1826. Jefferson'....
Monticello was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, third president
of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence.
The distinctive neoclassical building of the main house was
designed by Jefferson himself, and he continued to improve and add
to it until his death in 1826. Jefferson's time at Monticello is
surrounded by controversy regarding his treatment of his slaves,
and particular relationship with one named Sally Hemings. The
house, outbuildings and gardens are all open to the public, and
tours are offered year-round.
Address:Albemarle County, outside of Charlottesville