Virginia Travel Guide - Virginia Travel Guide 2026
What to See in Every Season
2025-11-22 09:57:37
WONDER IN ALL FOUR SEASONS
FIND YOUR FAVORITE
Every season brings a new reason to fall in love with the Commonwealth. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, feel-good festivals, or peaceful moments, there’s something special to experience year-round.
SPRING
Learn How Deep Daffodil Roots Run
The Gloucester Daffodil Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary in late March 2026, honoring the town’s heritage and spring spirit. (The daffodil has grown here since 1651!) This event features a colorful parade, arts and crafts, local foods, and thousands of blooming daffodils, bringing the community and visitors together.
Catch the National Cherry Blossom Festival
In Northern Virginia, including Alexandria and Arlington, the National Cherry Blossom Festival paints the region in soft pink hues. The monthlong event celebrates the mayor of Tokyo’s gift of cherry trees to Washington, D.C., in 1912. Stroll riverside parks, attend lively events, and snap postcard-worthy photos during this cherished springtime celebration.
Kayak the Marshlands & Meet Wild Ponies
Paddle through the scenic marshlands and calm back bays of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge or Assateague Island National Seashore. Spring is ideal for a kayak tour while the weather is pleasantly warm and nature is in full swing. Keep an eye out for eagles soaring above or wild ponies roaming free along the shoreline.
SUMMER
Soak Up the Sun in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach heats up with summer fun. Ride the waves, sample local seafood, or simply relax on golden sand beaches. Get your daily steps in by perusing the 3-mile boardwalk, walking the fishing pier, or strolling to 31st Street Park to catch a concert or outdoor movie. Long, sunny days make this the season for classic coastal memories.
Beat the Heat at Melrose Caverns
When temperatures climb, head underground. Melrose Caverns in Harrisonburg offers a naturally cool retreat, where you can explore stunning rock formations and hidden rooms filled with history dating back to Civil War times. A cavern tour includes a captivating walk through the very places where Union soldiers camped over 150 years ago.
Ride the Rapids on the James River
Whitewater rafting through the heart of downtown Richmond is an adrenaline-pumping way to cool off. Navigate the exciting rapids of the Lower James and enjoy riverfront city views on one of the only urban whitewater routes in the country. For those looking for a more relaxing float, grab an inner tube and hop in the Upper James.
Cool Off in Clarksville
Buggs Island Lake makes Clarksville a go-to for boating, paddleboarding, fishing, swimming, and sunbathing on sandy beaches. It culminates in mid-July with live music, food, fireworks, and hot air balloons at the Virginia Lake Festival. When you’re ready to get your land legs back, hit up Buggs Island Brewing or stroll on Virginia Avenue.
FALL
Chase Fall Foliage in the Highlands
The first signs of fall can be seen at the highest altitudes of Virginia’s Highlands. Bursting with red-orange leaves, head to the Blue Ridge Mountains and areas like Shenandoah Valley and Alleghany Highlands. Cruise the Mount Rogers Scenic Byway or hike through George Washington & Jefferson National Forests for dreamy vistas and crisp mountain air.
Pick Apples at Local Farms
Pick apples, sip cider, and indulge in apple cider donuts at Showalter’s Orchard & Greenhouse in Timberville. With apple treats and hard ciders made on-site, a visit to the orchard is an ideal way to ring in fall.
Spot Elk at Breaks Interstate Park
Grab your camera and binoculars to join an elk-viewing tour at Breaks Interstate Park. Fall is prime season to hear their echoing bugles and witness these majestic animals in a stunning mountain setting.
Walk Through a Sea of Sunflowers
In late summer, the Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival blooms brightly across 20 acres of black oil sunflower fields. With over 700,000 flowers in bloom, enjoy golden-hour photo shoots, sunset yoga, hayrides, and plenty of farm-fresh family fun during this sunny seasonal celebration.
WINTER
Hit the Slopes at Mountain Resorts
When snow falls, Virginia’s ski resorts shine. Traverse the trails at Wintergreen Resort in Nellysford or grab a lift ticket at Massanutten Resort for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. You can also count on winter thrills of all degrees at Bryce Resort in Basye and Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs.
Experience a Colonial Christmas at Mount Vernon
Travel back in time to George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, where candlelight tours and 18th-century decorations bring the magic of a Colonial Christmas to life. Shop the winter market of handmade goods by Colonial artisans before topping your year off with stunning holiday fireworks over the Potomac River.
Ride a Chairlift Through Christmas Lights
Tucked into a massive naturally formed cave, Natural Tunnel State Park lights up the holidays with thousands of sparkling, animated Christmas displays. Grab a hot chocolate and take a chairlift ride for a one-of-a-kind aerial view of this dazzling winter wonderland.
Step Into a Dickens Play in Roanoke
Downtown Roanoke transforms into Victorian-era London each December during Dickens of a Christmas. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, marshmallow roasting, festive carolers, and a full lineup of holiday cheer straight from the pages of “A Christmas Carol.”
©Virginia. View All Articles.