The same abundant natural resources and exquisite beauty that drew the first English settlers to Jamestown in 1607 now draw visitors from around the world to this great Commonwealth. The spectacular natural beauty, unique historical sites and outstanding recreation opportunities are just the beginning of what Virginia has to offer. From the bright beaches of the Atlantic Ocean and the tranquil waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the majesty and grandeur of the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains, Virginia is exceptionally rich in natural beauty. And the number, age and variety of historic sites in the Old Dominion are unrivaled in the nation. Whether interested in camping, sporting events and other outdoor activities, learning more about the founding of our great nation, or frolicking on the beach or at one of our award-winning theme parks, you are sure to enjoy your visit here.

Climate
Virginia's climate is a diverse one, with temperature and precipitation that varies significantly throughout the state. In the eastern portion of the state, where the ocean tends to keep the climate relatively mild, the weather is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, with very little snow. The northern and western portions of the state tend to have winters that are colder with significant snowfalls, while the central and southern areas stay relatively mild. Average annual rainfall is 42 inches (106cm); average snowfall is 20 inches (50cm). Temperature average is 57° Fahrenheit (18° Celsius) with temperatures reaching the 80s (34° C) during the summer and dropping to the 40s (10° C) during the winter.

Beaches Abound
There's enormous variety in Virginia's beaches—from the action-packed shores of Virginia Beach's boardwalk to the uninhabited sands of Assateague Island and the terrific hideaways of Virginia's tidal rivers. Despite their remarkable differences, all Virginia beaches are pristine havens that cater to family fun. In addition to the best-known beaches in Virginia Beach and on Assateague Island, visitors explore popular beaches at Kiptopeke, Norfolk, Hampton, Yorktown, in Surry County and Virginia's Chesapeake Bay region.

Golf
Virginia's reputation for great golf grows with each player's discovery of top golf resorts, such as The Homestead, Wintergreen, Colonial Williamsburg, or Kingsmill. Virginia's four distinct seasons offer golf year-round in most parts of the state. In a landscape marked by mountains and ocean, bay and countryside, spectacular golfing is par for the course in every corner of Virginia. Whether you're looking for a golf vacation at one of Virginia's luxurious resorts or a great game at the many new daily fee courses built by top designers, Virginia offers diversity, affordability and Southern hospitality for golfers.

Theme Parks
Get dazzled and drenched with summer fun at Virginia’s theme parks. Paramount’s Kings Dominion, Williamsburg’s Busch Gardens and Water Country USA offer fun for the whole family. Virginia’s television-themed entertainment park, Paramount’s Kings Dominion, boasts 10 roller coasters—more coasters than any other park on the East Coast. Voted America’s "Most Beautiful Theme Park" for eight straight years, Busch Gardens is Virginia’s European-themed park offering shows, rides and roller coasters. Enjoy the musical entertainment and specialty foods in the German, French and Italian villages. Relax indoors at a Broadway-style show. To cool off from the summer heat, ride the waves on more than 30 water coasters at Water Country USA. As the mid-Atlantic’s largest water park, Water Country USA soaks its visitors in its Aquazoid, the world’s largest special effects family ride.

Colonial Williamsburg
Experience what it was like to be alive on the eve of the American Revolution. You feel the atmosphere of revolution the moment you set foot in the town. In homes and taverns and streets, prominent citizens speak of royalty, taxation, religion, and slavery. Of course, you can take a break from the 18th century whenever you wish. Colonial Williamsburg is, after all, one of the country's premier destination resorts. Excellent dining establishments, shopping, hotels, and award-winning golf courses are all within walking distance.

Jamestown Settlement
Relive the adventure of 1607 when 104 Englishmen dropped anchor and began to build America's first permanent English colony in Jamestown, Virginia. Explore life at the dawn of the 17th century inside the palisade of a re-created colonial fort. Discover the world of Pocahontas in the Powhatan Indian village, and experience the four-month passage to the New World on board re-creations of the three ships that brought the settlers to Virginia. Extensive indoor galleries tell the compelling stories of Jamestown, from its beginnings in England through its often-turbulent first century, and of Virginia's Powhatan Indians.

Yorktown Victory Center
The drama of the American Revolution and the birth of a great nation come to life at Yorktown Victory Center. In provocative indoor galleries, witness the Revolution through the eyes of those who were there—from soldiers on the battlefields to women on the home front, from American Indians to African Americans. Outdoors, experience the sights and sounds of the Revolutionary War in the re-created Continental Army encampment.

Manassas Battlefield Park
Visit the sight of the Civil War's Battles of First and Second Manassas (also called Bull Run), fought here July 21, 1861 and August 28-30, 1862. The 1861 battle was the first test of Northern and Southern military prowess. Here Confederate Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson acquired his nickname "Stonewall".

Monticello
Monticello is the autobiographical masterpiece of Thomas Jefferson, designed and redesigned and built and rebuilt for more than forty years. Jefferson described the house as his "essay in architecture," but today it is recognized as an international treasure.

Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon was home to George Washington for over 45 years. Here he made his life with his wife Martha and practiced pioneering farming methods; indeed, he left an indelible stamp of his personality and private tastes. Today, over 1 million people a year visit the estate to find the essence of the man known as the "Father of His Country".

Museum of the Confederacy-Richmond
Visit The Museum and The White House of the Confederacy, "perhaps the finest Civil war museum in the country," according to The Chicago Tribune. It is a private, nonprofit institution maintaining the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of military, political and domestic artifacts and art associated with the period of the Confederacy. The Museum complex consists of a modern museum building and the restored historic White House of the Confederacy.

Virginia Historical Society-Richmond
Concerned about the Old Dominion's agricultural, economic, and political decline, a group of prominent citizens met in Richmond in the old House of Delegates in 1831 to found the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society. In 1992, the historical society underwent a complete renovation and expansion that nearly doubled the size of its building. Today the Virginia Historical Society is the commonwealth's museum of state history. The mission of the Virginia Historical Society is to be the center for Virginia history by collecting, preserving, and interpreting the commonwealth's past for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Appomattox National Historical Park
Here, the Beautifully restored village of Appomattox Court House is the highlight. Much is offered including a visitor center in the old courthouse, a bookstore and the reconstructed McLean House, where Lee and Grant met on April 9, 1865. Look for new museum displays, furnished exhibit rooms and interpretive signs recently added.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
Start at the main visitor center on Lafayette Boulevard, located just below the famous stonewalls at Marye's Heights, site of fierce fighting in December 1862. It offers tour information, a film, displays and a bookstore. The park itself covers more than 5,500 acres and encompasses significant areas of the battles of Fredericksburg (1862), Chancellorsville (1863), Wilderness and Spotsylvania. Another visitor center is located on Route 3 on the Chancellorsville battlefield, 10 miles west of Fredericksburg. The park headquarters is situated in Chatham, across the river from downtown Fredericksburg.

Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is studded with famous memorials including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the graves of Robert and John Kennedy. A small section is devoted to the remains of Confederate soldiers. Another section is dedicated to the United States Colored Troops and the residents of the Freedman's Village. Don't miss the self-guided tour of the restored Arlington House, Robert E. Lee's home.

Cumberland Gap National Park-SW Virginia
The story of the first doorway to the west is commemorated at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, located where the borders of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia meet. Carved by wind and water, Cumberland Gap forms a major break in the formidable Appalachian Mountain chain. First used by large game animals in their migratory journeys, followed by Native Americans, the Cumberland Gap was the first and best avenue for the settlement of the interior of this nation.

Area: 42769 sq.mi, Land 39598 sq. mi., Water 3171 sq.mi.

Coastline: 112 mi., Shoreline 3,315 mi.