Planning a Trip

Whether you plan to spend a day, a week, 2 weeks, or longer in Virginia, you will need to make many "where," "when," and "how" choices before you leave home. Here, I provide basic trip-planning information as well as advice based on my own years of traveling the Old Dominion.

The travel industry in Virginia is highly developed and modern, and overall the state is adept at welcoming visitors. As we say, there are no "snakes in the bushes" waiting to bite you, meaning you should encounter few unforeseen difficulties or other surprises if you have carefully planned your trip.

Although our weather can be a tad unpredictable, Virginia is blessed with a mild year-round climate. It's easy to get to and easy to get around, especially if you are driving your own vehicle. Prices are moderate and crime is not a problem in most areas of the state.

We have a wide variety of things to see and do. We are a history-loving people, and many of us also revere our open spaces and natural forests. In addition to old homes and buildings, we also offer many adventures in the great outdoors, from hiking mountain trails to canoeing and kayaking on lazy rivers. And our state government is taking an active role in lessening the impact of tourism on our environment.

A fine old time awaits you here in Ole Virginny, so let's get going!