Top 15 Things To Do in Virginia, Virginia

Virginia's Atlantic shoreline is a study in contrasts: long, sandy beach breaks that pick up ocean swell and a friendly, accessible surf culture centered on Virginia Beach and the quieter stretches of the Eastern Shore. This guide focuses on surf spots, seasonal swells, lessons and rentals, and the planning details you need to turn a weekend by the Atlantic into a true surf adventure.

Virginia offers a compact tapestry of fisheries: tidal flats and estuaries that churn with striped bass and bluefish, broad reservoirs that hold trophy largemouth, and cool mountain creeks where wild trout still rise to mayflies. This guide threads together day trips, saltwater charters, backcountry wading, and family-friendly pier fishing—each entry chosen to surface the sensory detail and the practical know-how you need to plan a successful day on the water.

Virginia stitches together coastline, tidal estuaries, slow-moving rivers and mountain-fed rapids—an unusually diverse playground for kayakers. Paddle from glassy tidal creeks where ospreys hunt, to riffled mountain stretches that test edging and ferry skills. This guide distills the best day trips and multi-day routes for paddlers who want accessible launches, scenic wildlife viewing, and the occasional technical run.

Virginia unfurls as a layered wildlife stage where tidal estuaries, oak-studded ridgelines, and marshy backwaters host a startling variety of creatures. From migratory shorebirds that turn sandbars into bustling pit stops to black bears edging into ridgetop forests and the secretive rails of tidal marshes, this guide focuses on the state's best wildlife-viewing experiences—short walks, guided boat trips, and paddles that put you at eye-level with animals and ecosystems rather than in a screen-fed snapshot.

Virginia’s coastline reads like a sailor’s atlas: broad tide-swept estuaries, sheltered oyster bars, marsh-fringed rivers, and an open Atlantic edge that tests both skill and spirit. From gentle afternoon reaches across the Chesapeake to tidal runs past Cape Charles and night passages around the mouth of the bay, sailing here is equal parts cultural history and coastal seamanship. This guide focuses on what makes sailing in Virginia distinctive—how the tides steer your day, where to find hidden coves and working-waterfront towns, and how to plan trips that fit every comfort level, whether you’re after a sunset cruise, a weeklong island hop, or a challenging coastal transit.

Virginia folds together tidal estuaries, slow meandering rivers, and abrupt coastal edges into a paddleable playground. From flat, glassy mornings on sheltered creeks to wind-touched afternoons on the Bay where an experienced rider reads tide and fetch, SUP in Virginia is as much about place as it is about pace. This guide focuses on standup paddleboarding options across the state: calm family-friendly bayside floats, bird-rich marsh runs, technical river touring, and the occasional surf session for riders chasing a standing wave. Expect a mix of cultural landmarks and natural history—oyster beds, colonial ports, and migratory bird corridors—along routes that are accessible to new paddlers while still offering challenges for those pushing distance or conditions.

Float above farmed valleys, river corridors, and patchwork vineyard slopes: ballooning in Virginia pairs slow, panoramic flight with an immediate sense of place. Sunrise and early-morning launches stitch the landscape into a moving tapestry—orchards, ridgelines, and historic fields pass beneath the wicker basket while pilots read the layers of wind that carry the craft. This guide focuses on the practical magic of ballooning here: how to time a flight, what to pack, terrain and weather quirks to expect, and how balloon trips pair with wine tasting, hiking, and regional festivals.

City tours in Virginia offer a layered way to know place: a footstep past a colonial façade, a detour through a revitalized warehouse district, or a slow glide along a harbor that reveals the city’s maritime past. Whether you prefer guided walks, self-led audio tours, bike routes, or boat cruises, the best urban explorations balance history, food, and local culture with accessible terrain and practical planning.

Virginia’s layered landscapes—from tidal creeks and oyster grounds to upland forests and mountain foothills—make it an unusually diverse canvas for eco touring. Expect small-group boat trips, guided kayak excursions, birding walks, and hands-on conservation experiences that focus on learning, low-impact travel, and connecting with local stewardship efforts.

Sightseeing in Virginia is an invitation to move slowly and see plenty: tidy historic streets and waterfront promenades, low rolling ridgelines framed by farm fields, and coastal marshes that catch the light at dusk. This guide focuses on curated sightseeing tour experiences—walking, driving, and small-boat options—that introduce the place through architecture, landscape, foodways, and local stories.

Virginia's walking tours distill the city's layered personality into hours on foot: brick alleys that whisper of industry, riverfront stretches that catch the light at golden hour, and cultural corridors where food, music, and craft converge. Whether you prefer self-guided rambles, themed history walks, or guided culinary routes, these approachable tours reveal the city at a human pace—one storefront, mural, and stoop at a time.

Dolphin encounters along Virginia’s coastline are a lesson in timing, tide, and patience. From the sheltered mouths of tidal creeks in the Chesapeake Bay to the open Atlantic just off Virginia Beach, bottlenose dolphins surface in playful pods, feeding in shallow flats and riding bow waves. This guide focuses on how to find them ethically—by kayak, small-boat eco-tour, or shore-based watching—what the experience feels like when the water erupts with curving backs and spray, and how to plan for the weather, tides, and marine regulations that shape every outing.