| Virginia - named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, | | | | remember and honor the nation's war heroes. In the |
| who was known as the Virgin Queen - resides in the | | | | Visitors Center you'll find maps, guidebooks, exhibits, |
| southern part of United States with greatly varying | | | | and information services that include grave locations. |
| geography. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the | | | | Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown (the birthplace |
| Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. It is one of the | | | | of the USA) are three of Virginia's most historic sites, |
| country's most scenic States. From the amazing Blue | | | | don't miss them if you are interested in American |
| Ridge Mountains to the sandy beaches on the coast | | | | history. |
| to the vivid activity in its cities, Virginia has much to | | | | Shenandoah National Park lies high above the classic |
| offer. It is a great place to live, the state has a growing | | | | American panorama, 300 square miles stretched out |
| real estate market. | | | | along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a precious |
| Richmond, Virginia's capitol, was founded in 1607 and is | | | | reminder of the great hardwood forest that once |
| located centrally - a convenient distance from many of | | | | blanketed the northeastern United States. This area is |
| the Commonwealth's sites. The Richmond metropolitan | | | | full of trails for biking and hiking or even a nice drive |
| area is home to approximately one million citizens and | | | | along the Blue Ridge mountains. |
| is described by Style Magazine as "a beautiful and | | | | The oceanfront of Virginia Beach has many things to |
| graceful southern city, that it is hopelessly mired in | | | | do and discover. The hotels are directly on the beach |
| tradition, that it is a vibrant center of commerce and | | | | here, and all of the junk shops are set back on the |
| arts." Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy in the | | | | street. This leaves pleasant views directly from many |
| Civil War, has numerous fine old buildings and cultural | | | | of the hotels on the beach. There are some nice |
| options. | | | | beaches nearby that are much less crowded. There |
| Virginia is perhaps the most historic of all the 50 states. | | | | are also a lot of great restaurants and stores at the |
| Some of the most important events in American | | | | oceanfront. |
| history took place here. It was one of the first places | | | | Don't forget to visit the East Coast's pretty beach: |
| to have live history reenactments. In Northern Virginia, | | | | Virginia Beach. Touted by the Guiness Book of World |
| you can visit the homes of George Washington, | | | | Records as the "Longest Pleasure Beach," Virginia |
| Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, Robert E. Lee, | | | | Beach is a family-friendly travel destination, it offers the |
| James Monroe, and many other prominent figures in | | | | classic beach vacation. The Virginia Aquarium & |
| American history. If you go to Arlington National | | | | Marine Science Center is the state's largest and one |
| Cemetery, you'll walk among headstones that chronicle | | | | of the most-visited aquariums in the nation, it should not |
| American history and you have opportunity to | | | | be missed. |