The state of Virginia SVG is often referred to as “little Ireland in the United States”, meaning not only the ethnic composition of the local population, but also the vast areas of green meadows and hills, many quiet rivers and a large number of quiet villages among the hills, where all life bears the imprint of the era of settlement of the mainland Europeans. Virginia SVG stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Blue Mountain Ridge and the Allegan Ridge. It is one of the most historical states of the country, the capital of the Confederation, a place where many events take place and, as Americans themselves believe, a place where the nation is born as such.
The state is also known as the birthplace of the presidents. This is where George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and five other American presidents were born.
The state capital is Richmond, and the state’s major tourist destinations include Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Alexandria.
Sightseeing attractions in Virginia include Shenandoa National Park and Arlington National Cemetery. Also of interest to tourists may be Bush Gardens, John Washington Manor and Wolf Trap Farm. Be sure to visit the complex of various bridges and tunnels across Chesapeake Bay, walk the amazingly beautiful Skyline Drive, take the motorway along the Blue Ridge Ridge and, of course, if you travel in the summer, sunbathe on Virginia Beach, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest beach in the world.
There are famous and, of course, interesting historical monuments on the territory of the state. These are, first of all, restored and reconstructed buildings, one way or another, dating back to the colonial period. In particular, the house of George Washington (Mount Vernon), the house of Thomas Jefferson (Monticello) and other Virginia residents who glorified their name during the American Revolution and Civil War. It’s undeniable that you should start your acquaintance with Virginia SVG from its capital.
Richmond
The small town of Richmond is the former capital of the Confederation. The best cultural centres of the city include the Valentine Historical Centre, the Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Richmond-Symphony Complex, founded in 1957 by the Richmond Ballet and operating since 1974, and the Bird Theatre in Caritown, a classic cinema of the 1920s, The Science Museum on Broad Street and the adjacent Children’s Museum, the Confederation Museum near the Capitol and the White House of the Confederation, the Civil War National Battle Park and the historic ironworks of Tredegar-Airon-Vorks near the waterfront.
Richmond is home to a famous art community and a large number of museums, and its University School of Art is considered one of the most important in the United States.
Richmond is a small town with a large number of green spaces (40 parks with a total area of over 610 hectares), the most popular of which are Monroe Park near the university campus, James River Park and Forest Hill Park, Joseph Brian Park’s azaleum garden, Bell Il on the island of the same name and Brown Island with outdoor concert halls, as well as the nearby Maimont-Park with its small museum, gardens, nature centre, carriage collection and children’s farm.
Historical sights
The so-called Historical Triangle, where the vast majority of the first wave of migration to the New World is concentrated between the three ancient towns, includes Jamestown on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay, Williamsburg, the largest restored historic city in the United States, and Yorktown, the battlefield of the final battle of the War of Independence. And just an hour west of Richmond, at the foot of Blue Range Mountain, lies the historic centre of Thomas Jefferson-Charlottesville, famous for its restored historic buildings.
Now the old James Fort is a historic Jamestown Park that reproduces the life of the first English settlers, a favorite place for photo shoots.
Natural attractions
Rich history and magnificent nature have made Virginia SVG one of the main tourist destinations in the country. Huge areas of forests, descending from the mountains to the valley in the west and occupying almost all the rest of the space to the beaches of the Atlantic coast, generously endowed not only with fresh mountain air and singing birds, but also with wild flowers and berries, a huge number of squirrels, possums, foxes, deer, which will be especially appreciated by avid hunters. The state’s rivers and lakes literally abound in a variety of fish species, delighting fishermen from all over the world.