Virginia has three geographic regions. Along the eastern coast, the Tidewater (or flat coastal plain) is dominated by four rivers -- the Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James -- that empty into the Chesapeake Bay, one of the world's largest estuaries. These rivers divide the Tidewater into three peninsulas, or necks. To the south, the Chesapeake meets the Atlantic Ocean at the natural harbor of Hampton Roads.
The rolling hills of the Piedmont run through central Virginia, from Richmond, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg to the Hunt Country and suburban sprawl of northern Virginia. This farm country rises to meet the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Between the Blue Ridge and the Allegheny Mountains to the west, gorgeous valleys -- including the Shenandoah -- extend the length of the state, from the Potomac in the north to the Southwest Highlands near the borders of Tennessee and Kentucky.
Northern Virginia -- The fastest growing, most densely populated, and wealthiest part of the state, northern Virginia is more than a suburban bedroom for workers in Washington, D.C. Areas, such as Tysons Corner, have become unincorporated cities in their own right, with employment in high tech service industries outstripping that of the federal government. Just across the Potomac from the nation's capital, Arlington is best known for its national cemetery. Of more interest to visitors is the historic Old Town district of Alexandria, offering fascinating daytime walks as well as good restaurants. To the south are the Potomac plantations, including George Washington's Mount Vernon. To the west, sightseers can enjoy Virginia's historic inns and fine restaurants in Virginia's Hunt Country, where the first major battle of the Civil War was fought at Manassas.
Fredericksburg & the Northern Neck -- The quaint cobblestone streets and historic houses of Fredericksburg recall America's first heroes -- George Washington, James Monroe, John Paul Jones -- as does the quiet Northern Neck farmland, where Washington and Robert E. Lee were born. Military buffs love to explore Fredericksburg's Civil War battlefields.
Charlottesville -- Located in the rolling Piedmont hills known as "Mr. Jefferson's country," Charlottesville boasts President Thomas Jefferson's magnificent estate, Monticello, as well as the University of Virginia, which he designed. Drives south bring you to Poplar Forest, his beloved retreat; Patrick Henry's final home at Red Hill; and Appomattox Court House, where the Civil War ended when Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant.
The Shenandoah Valley -- Some of Virginia's most striking scenery is along the Skyline Drive, which follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains through magnificent Shenandoah National Park, where you will find a host of hiking paths, including part of the Maine-to-Georgia Appalachian Trail. Down below, charming towns like Winchester, Staunton, and Lexington evoke the Civil War, which flowed over the rolling countryside of the Shenandoah Valley, the South's breadbasket. Across the mountains are the famous mineral waters of Warm Springs and Hot Springs.
The Southwest Highlands -- Beyond the vibrant city of Roanoke rise the highlands of Virginia's southwestern extremity, a land of untouched forests, waterfalls, and streams. The Blue Ridge Parkway wanders along its eastern border. Here sits the state's highest point, Mount Rogers, surrounded by a national recreation area teeming with trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Down in the Great Valley of Virginia, the quaint town of Abingdon features the famous Barter Theatre, begun during the Great Depression when its company traded tickets for hams.
Richmond -- The state capital has few rivals among U.S. cities for its historic associations, among them St. John's Church, where Patrick Henry said, "Give me liberty, or give me death." But it was Richmond's role as the rebel capital during the Civil War that brings visitors to the Museum of the Confederacy and the Richmond and Petersburg battlefields. Fine arts and science museums, cafes, lively concerts, and theater add to Richmond's cosmopolitan ambience, and children can get their kicks at nearby Paramount's Kings Dominion amusement park.
Williamsburg, Yorktown & Jamestown -- Coastal Virginia's "Historic Triangle" is one of the country's most visited areas, and with good reason. Jamestown is where America's first permanent English settlers arrived in 1607, Williamsburg immaculately re-creates Virginia's colonial capital, and Yorktown commemorates the last battle of the American Revolution. Adding to its allure are theme parks and world-class discount shopping. From here it's an easy excursion to one of the nation's premier maritime museums in the shipbuilding city of Newport News and to a modern air and space museum in historic Hampton, the country's oldest continuous English-speaking settlement.
Norfolk, Virginia Beach & the Eastern Shore -- At the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads is home to the resurgent cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth. You can play in the surf on Virginia Beach, whose boardwalk and 20 miles of white-sand beach are lined with hotels, or commune with nature in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and remote False Cape State Park. You can drive across the 17-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel to the Eastern Shore, an unspoiled sanctuary noted for the village of Chincoteague and nearby Assateague Island, whose wildlife refuge and national seashore have protected the famous wild ponies and prevented any development on almost 40 miles of pristine beach.
