Virginia Travel Guide

Virginia is a state in the South of the United States of America. Bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and the west by the Appalachian mountains, with expanses of farmland in between, Virginia has much to offer to the student of history and scenic landscapes. It is bordered by Maryland, Washington (D.C.), West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Virginia Travel Guide - Regions

* Northern Virginia
* Eastern Virginia
* Central Virginia
* Southwest Virginia
* Shenandoah Valley

Virginia Travel Guide - Cities

* Accomac
* Alexandria
* Arlington
* Blacksburg
* Charlottesville
* Danville
* Falls Church
* Fredericksburg
* Great Falls
* Harrisonburg
* Herndon
* Jamestown
* Leesburg
* Luray
* Lynchburg
* Manassas
* McLean
* Norfolk
* Portsmouth
* Richmond
* Roanoke
* Staunton
* Vienna
* Virginia Beach
* Williamsburg
* Winchester

Virginia Travel Guide - Other Destinations

* Blue Ridge Parkway
* The College of William and Mary
* James Madison University
* Luray Caverns
* Monticello
* Mount Vernon
* Natural Bridge
* Skyline Drive
* University of Virginia
* Virginia Tech
* Yogaville

Virginia Travel Guide - Understand

"Virginia Is For Lovers" is the enigmatic motto of the Virginia tourism council. What makes Virginia particularly suited for amour remains something of a mystery, but the state does have many great features: beaches, forests, some of the oldest towns in North America, and proximity to the Mid-Atlantic and the deeper South.

Virginia is one of the thirteen original colonies, and one of the first states to ratify the Declaration of Independence. Its author, Thomas Jefferson, was a Virginian, as were seven other presidents of the United States.

What is known today as Virginia has been inhabited for many hundreds of years by people of European descent. Jamestown, Virginia (near Williamsburg) is the site of the first lasting British settlement in the New World, dating to 1607. Native American tribes from Virginia, such as the Powhatan, had some of the richest native cultures in the Colonies.

Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861 and has a strong Civil War heritage, as well as a strong sense of Southern pride and feeling of independence that exists in much of the state (especially the capital Richmond) even today.

Virginia Travel Guide - Talk

English is spoken by majority of residents. In rural areas and farther south, you may experience what is commonly known as “southern accent”. This accent generally does not stop fluent English speakers from understanding the person but non fluent English speakers may experience problems. Most people can deliberately speak in non accented English upon request but find it difficult to do so for extended length of time. As with all places, locals may have non standard words to refer to places, actions and people. Locals are generally understanding of tourists not understanding these words and will clarify upon request.

Virginia Travel Guide - Getting There

English is spoken by majority of residents. In rural areas and farther south, you may experience what is commonly known as “southern accent”. This accent generally does not stop fluent English speakers from understanding the person but non fluent English speakers may experience problems. Most people can deliberately speak in non accented English upon request but find it difficult to do so for extended length of time. As with all places, locals may have non standard words to refer to places, actions and people. Locals are generally understanding of tourists not understanding these words and will clarify upon request.

Get in

Virginia like all states in United States can be entered freely by people who are either American Citizens or by other people who have been allowed entry into Untied States. People from other countries should see United States of America article for more information about entering from foreign counties.

Air

Virginia has many major airports servicing its main cities. Northern Virginia (the Washington DC suburbs) is serviced by Washington-Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (or, simply "Washington National" or "Reagan" for short). Washington National airport is by far the best airport in Northern Virginia due to its proximity to the Washington Metro Rail system and lower volume. Washington-Dulles Airport is better for international flights. However, its shuttles which transport passengers between the concourses, called "Mobile Lounges," make moving through the Dulles Airport a major hassle. Some concourses are connected via moving walkways and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is working on an underground rail system to link the concourses.

For Central and Southern Virginia destinations, Richmond International Airport offers flights to and from many major cities East of the Mississippi and in Texas.

For Eastern Virginia, especially the Virginia Beach/Norfolk/Hampton Roads/Portsmouth area, Norfolk International Airport offers flights to and from cities all over the U.S.

Rail

Amtrak offers passenger rail service to many Virginia cities, including Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Richmond, Norfolk, Charlottesville, and Staunton. For destinations in Northern Virginia, the best stops are Union Station in Washington, DC and the Fredericksburg station.

Amtrak offers commuter rail service via the Virginia Railway Express. Major stops are in Manassas, Franconia-Springfield, and Fredericksburg.

Getting into Virginia from Maryland and Washington, DC is very easy via Metro Rail and Metro Bus.

Car

Virginia is connected by secondary roads and Intserstate highways to the surrounding states. Interstate 81 is the main route from Tennessee and continues through Virginia into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Interstate 66 connects Northwestern and Northern Virginia with Washington, DC. Interstate 95 runs north-south through Vrignia connecting Washington, DC to Fredericksburg and Richmond, on to North Carolina. Interstate 495 encircles Washington, DC with part of its route going through Northern Virginia. Where I-95 intersects with I-495 at the southern-most end of I-495, Interstate 395 continues northward into DC while I-95 traces the same route as the eastern half of I-495. Thus, if you are to take I-95 from Richmond to Baltimore, MD, you would merge onto I-495 going East and North until I-95 splits off from I-495 on its north side to reach Baltimore.

Virginia Travel Guide - Things To Do

As one of the original thirteen colonies Virginia offers numerous opportunities for those interested in history:

* Mt. Vernon (George Washington Residence)
* Monticello, Poplar Forrest, and UVA (All dealing with Thomas Jefferson)
* Appomattox Court House (Site of Civil War Surrender)
* Berkeley Plantation (Home of Benjamin Harrison and others)
* Agecroft Hall (1600 style setting Castle)
* Maggie Walker Historical Site (Home to Maggie Walker)

In addition, visitors might choose to go to Theatre IV for some great authentic plays. Byrd Theatre is always the place to see old and modern movies at rates not topping $4.00. Or take a stroll down to Carytown, the "Georgetown of Virginia".

Virginia Travel Guide - Eat

Virginia has numerous restaurant choices that include everything from Ethiopian to Chinese, from French to Cajun.

Virginia Travel Guide - Drink

Tap water is safe to drink.

Virginia law requires you to be 21 to buy alcohol or consume alcohol. Photo ID will be required to prove age.

Beer and other alcoholic drinks are available from most restaurants and bars, with purchase prohibited between 2 and 6 a.m.. Variety of what is available differs from restaurant to restaurant and when in doubt people should check menu or with a waiter to see what is available.

Beer, wine, and malternatives/alcopops are sold at most grocery and convenience stores, but cannot be purchased between midnight and 6 a.m.. Certain counties in Virginia prohibit Sunday sale of alcohol, mainly the south west counties. When in doubt, check with local county police department or simply ask store owner.

Hard Liquor is only allowed to be sold by Virginia ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) stores. More information about these stores and other alcohol related information can be found at their website.

Wineries

Virginia is home to many small-scale wineries.

Virginia Travel Guide - Transportation

Virginia is served by a network of Interstate Highways, arterial highways, several limited-access tollways, railroads, ferries, rapid transit, bridges, tunnels and even bridge-tunnels.

In the Hampton Roads area, there are three bridge-tunnel complexes known as the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Two tunnels and numerous bridges span portions of the Elizabeth River. The James River Bridge, opened in 1928, and rebuilt in the 1970s, spans the James River near its mouth and north of the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.

The Springfield Interchange Project is a major effort to help traffic flow at the Interstate 95, 395, and Capital Beltway (495) interchange south of Washington, D.C. Virginia has Amtrak passenger rail service along several corridors, and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) maintains two commuter lines into Washington, D.C. The Washington Metro rapid transit system serves Northern Virginia as far west as Fairfax County.

The Virginia Department of Transportation operates several free ferries throughout Virginia, the most notable being the Jamestown-Scotland ferry which crosses the James River between historic Jamestown and the community of Scotland in Surry County.

Virginia Travel Guide - Important Cities and Towns

Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the commonwealth, with Norfolk and Chesapeake second and third, respectively. Norfolk forms the urban core of this metropolitan area, which is home to over 1.6 million people. Fairfax County is the most populous county in Virginia with an estimated population in 2005 of slightly over 1 million people.

Under the laws in effect in Virginia, all municipalities incorporated as cities are independent of any county. As of 2006, 39 of the 42 independent cities in the United States are in Virginia. For a complete list of Virginia independent cities, see: List of cities in Virginia.

Some other municipalities are incorporated towns, which are not independent of a county but are located within one of the 95 counties in Virginia. For a complete list of Virginia incorporated towns, see: List of towns in Virginia.

Arlington County, which lies across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., is a completely urbanized community; it is much like a city but remains organized as a county, and has no towns within its borders.

Virginia does not have any political subdivisions, such as villages or townships, for areas of counties that are not within the boundries of incorporated towns.

There are also hundreds of other unincorporated communities (sometimes informally called towns) in Virginia. For a list of important Virginia unincorporated communities, see: List of unincorporated towns in Virginia.

Article Source: Wikipedia