Virginia is an Atlantic state and the birthplace of eight presidents. It is bordered on the west by Kentucky and West Virginia, with the latter also stretching its territory onto Virginia’s northern border with Maryland. The coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the inlet of the Chesapeake Bay on its east coast is also shared with Maryland whilst its southern border is shared with Tennessee to the southwest and North Carolina to the southeast. The capital of Virginia is Richmond.

On the southeast coast of Virginia two of the most popular tourist attractions are Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Furthest east is Virginia Beach which has over 35 miles of beaches stretched over the resorts of Chesapeake Bay Beach, Virginia Beach Resort and Sandbridge. The summers here are hot and humid and the winter stays relatively mild. The sun-blessed beaches are free with unrestricted access, lifeguards and plenty of local amenities. The lapping ocean spans to a distant panorama of swimmers, surfers and also boats that can take you out to see the humpback whales that frequent Chesapeake Bay.

Other activities here also include the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and the famous Oceana Naval Air Station where visitors can enjoy some of the United States Navy’s warships and planes. Norfolk has the Chrysler Museum that hosts over 30,000 artworks as well as Virginia Zoo. There is an interactive Science Museum and the recreational water feasts of Water Country USA, that boasts the world’s latest state-of-the-art water rides and attractions that take the theme of the early 50’s and 60’s. Visitors can also take a cruise from Norfolk up through James River where they will come across the island of Jamestown.

The Island of Jamestown is the first permanent settlement of the English in the Americas. It is where a statue of the famed Pocahontas, a Virginia Indian who saved the life of an Englishman John Smith back in 1607 when he was about to be executed by her father. She later became Lady Rebecca Rolfe when she married another Englishman. A replica of this statue also lies in Gravesend in England where she moved to with her husband and later died. Also on the island there is the Jamestown Visitor Centre and Museum that has early exhibits of that 17th century settlement period with toys, furnishing, tools and weapons. The Jamestown Riverfront Discovery Area and Ships has three vessels the Susan Constant, the Godspeed and the Discovery docked there and there are frequent demonstrations of the skills needed to manage and maintain these magnificent craft with piloting, cargo handling and sail making and a host of other crafts too. The colonial history also travels northward to Williamsburg and besides the early 17th century history there are things for all the family including Busch Gardens that hosts lots of roller coasters at its large European based theme park.

There is plenty of self-catering vacation rental accommodation in Virginia from condos, apartments and vacation houses in the urban areas to chalets near the coast and cabins in the rural areas.

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