One of the best ways to see Virginia is by car: The Old Dominion has some of America's most beautiful scenic drives.
George Washington Memorial Parkway (northern Virginia): Stay away during rush hour, when it becomes a major artery into and out of Washington, D.C. But any other time, the "G.W. Parkway" is a great drive along the Potomac River from I-495 at the Maryland line to Mount Vernon. The views of Washington's monuments are unparalleled.
Skyline Drive (Shenandoah National Park): Few roads anywhere can top the Skyline Drive, which twists and turns 105 miles along the Blue Ridge crest in Shenandoah National Park. The views over the rolling Piedmont to the east and Shenandoah Valley to the west are spectacular, especially during spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom, and in fall, when the leaves change from green to brilliant hues of rust, orange, and yellow.
Lexington to Hot Springs: While I-81 runs down the floor of Virginia's great valleys, other roads offer a different scenic treat by cutting across the mountains. One of these is Va. 39, which runs from Lexington to Hot Springs via the Goshen Pass, a picturesque gorge cut by the Maury River. You can make a loop by continuing north from Hot Springs via U.S. 220 to the beautiful village of Monterey in "Virginia's Switzerland." From Monterey, you can cross the mountains via U.S. 250 to Staunton and I-81.
Blue Ridge Parkway: A continuation of the Skyline Drive, this road continues along the Blue Ridge crest south to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Of the 218 miles in Virginia, the most scenic are north of Roanoke. You'll find it difficult to keep your eyes on the road, as the parkway often runs along the ridgeline, with views down both sides of the mountain.
Colonial Parkway: It's not long, but the Colonial Parkway between Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown has its scenic merits, especially the views of the James River near Jamestown and of the York River near Yorktown. The parkway goes through a tunnel under the heart of Colonial Williamsburg.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel: A man-made wonder, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel runs for 17 miles over -- and under -- the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay between Norfolk and the Eastern Shore. You can barely see land when you're in the middle.
