Arlington, Richmond, Virginia Beach (Tourism) (Norfolk, Chesapeake: best cities, hotels, home)

[adelashk]

Hi all,
I am doing the Blue Ridge Pkwy drive and will get out of my way for places worth visiting in VA. Are any of these cities worth the detour? I did not read good reviews about Chesapeake/Norfolk/Suffolk.

I will spend a maximum of 5 days in VA and would rather not visit them all (so a preference list would help)

Thanks!

[Pandoras]

Each of those cities are unique. Virginia Beach is best if you want to get some sun, see the ocean, go on a dolphin cruise, or visit the local Virginia Marine Science Museum. If you are interested in military history, Arlington, includes of course Arlington Cemetary, Iwo Jima Memorial, 9-11 Pentagon Memorial, and the Air Force Memorial. And you are across the Potomac from DC. There is more to Arlington than that but I wanted to give you an idea of what you can visit. I am not so familar with Richmond.

[roanoker 4]

If you are driving the Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia, remember it is a very slow, leisurely drive. It will take you longer to get to your destination than travelling on an interstate. Virginia Beach is over a 5 hour drive from the BR Pkwy so if you only have 5 days to see Virginia it would seem you will be
spending plenty of time in your car driving. In my opinion, if you are interested in the ocean, Williamsburg, Richmond and Washington DC area spend the 5 days there sightseeing as there is much to see! Save the Blue Ridge Parkway for another trip when you have more time to relax and enjoy the waterfalls, overlooks, lodges, folklife festivals. You have to experience the Parkway instead of just rushing through it in my opinion.

[adelashk]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

If you are driving the Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia, remember it is a very slow, leisurely drive. It will take you longer to get to your destination than travelling on an interstate. Virginia Beach is over a 5 hour drive from the BR Pkwy so if you only have 5 days to see Virginia it would seem you will be
spending plenty of time in your car driving. In my opinion, if you are interested in the ocean, Williamsburg, Richmond and Washington DC area spend the 5 days there sightseeing as there is much to see! Save the Blue Ridge Parkway for another trip when you have more time to relax and enjoy the waterfalls, overlooks, lodges, folklife festivals. You have to experience the Parkway instead of just rushing through it in my opinion.

That sounds reasonable. If I were to extend my trip or do a separate trip what would be worth visiting in VA as a must see place?

[GeorgiaTransplant]

Colonial Williamsburg.

[Anders15]

It depends on what you are into.. Richmond can be an overall eyesore unless you have a certain agenda in mind.

[slowlane]

Some major sights in western VA, closer to the Blue Ridge Parkway, include
(1) Luray Caverns (the best of several caverns in VA)
(2) the sophisticated city of Charlottesville which is near the top of many rankings of the best cities in USA to live in, or retire to, and includes Thos. Jefferson's mountaintop home "Monticello"
(3) the Museum of American Frontier Culture, outdooors in Staunton, VA

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