Fun Things to Do in VA After You Move to a New Neighborhood

Virginia is known for a lot of things from sandy beaches to where many a president was born, but it's also a wonderful place to relocate.

Known as the Old Dominion State there are plenty of fun things to do in VA after you move to a new neighborhood here.

Here are some things to whet your appetite.

Virginia Beach

Various beaches stretch across the span of 14 miles, providing sand, surf, and boardwalk galore in Virginia Beach.

Even if you’re not a beach lover, the boardwalk offers all sorts of things to do from cycling, and skating, to simply walking. See shops, statues, and many an eatery to try a new culinary delight or two.

Virginia Beach has more than beaches as it’s a coastal resort city that offers boat tours, water sports, amusement rides, golfing areas, and nightlife.

Address: Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA

The Natural Bridge of Virginia

The Natural Bridge of Virginia is a gigantic carved limestone arch and is located near Cedar Creek.

It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state, and its natural status adds to its value as a wonder of the world. It’s the largest natural bridge on land at 215 feet in length.

In 1750, George Washington came to the site and surveyed it as a young man and carved his initials into it.

Later, in 1774, Thomas Jefferson purchased a large amount of land that included the Natural Bridge from King George III.

But before American colonists had it, the bridge was considered sacred by a tribe living in the area. Since 2016, the Natural Bridge is its own State Park.

Address: 6477 S Lee Hwy, Natural Bridge, VA

Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center

The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center have more than 700 distinct species of animals and a total of more than 12,000 individual animals of all kinds living across various habitats and 800,000 gallons’ worth of exhibits.

Other popular offerings here are the Chesapeake Bay Aquarium, the Chesapeake Light Tower Aquarium, the Marsh Pavilion, the Red Sea, the Flores Island (of Indonesia), the Restless Planet, the Peat Swamp (of Malaysia), and more.

An aviary of half an acre sits in the middle of the venue, an outdoor nature trail has more to see, and there are feedings of the rare sea turtle, and a small fee will let you swim with seals.

Address: 717 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA

Luray Caverns

The Luray Caverns are one of the most beautiful places in Virginia to see. These caverns were founded by four men from Luray in 1878 and are now the biggest cave system of commercial variety in America.

The Luray Caverns are a National Natural Landmark, situated 164 feet underground with beautiful features that make it one of the top places to stop and see while in Virginia.

The Luray Caverns also include flowstones, draperies, stalagmites, stalactites, and mirror pools, and the entire system has a 54-degree Fahrenheit temperature throughout the year.

If you opt to take a tour through the extensive cave system, it will take between 45 and 60 minutes and is a 1.5-mile journey.

Address: 101 Cave Hill Rd, Luray, VA

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is thought to be one of the state’s greatest museums. Before it opened in the early 1900s, the state had received multiple art-related gifts, including ones from famous donors. These works would become viewable by the public when the VFMA opened in 1936.

It houses famous works by talented artists such as Picasso and a wide range of other works from around the world, making the museum even larger in 2010. Also, an expansion project made the VFMA 545,000 square feet.

Among the various galleries, it has American art as well as Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Don't miss the Sculpture Garden of Lora Robins and visit the Library of Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman.

If you need to rest your feet, stop by for a meal at one of the VFMA’s two dining establishments or sit in a relaxing area outside.

Address: 200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery was first built on Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s wife’s estate — Mary Anna Curtis Lee, the great-granddaughter of Martha Washington.

Arlington National Cemetery covers 624 acres of ground and has been the final resting place of many who lost their lives in national (and international) conflicts since the year 1864.

It’s a military cemetery where veterans, military staff, war heroes, and where others have been laid to rest since the Civil War. Among them are George C. Marshall, President John F. Kennedy, and Admiral Grace Hopper.

There are several interesting spots to visit in the Virginia cemetery such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, which is the final resting place for soldiers whose identities are unknown that lost their lives during the Korean, Vietnam, and world wars.

It is guarded non-stop, 24/7 and other places to stop by in this cemetery are:

The graves of Robert E. Lee’s Garden, which were laid there to prevent Lee from reclaiming that part of the land.

The James Parks Grave, belonging to the slave who dug the first graves on the property.

Address: Entrance at Arlington Memorial Bridge, Arlington, VA

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most famous Virginia attractions, especially for sightseeing. It is America’s longest linear park and spans 469 miles of road, meant to join the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park.

As part of the Appalachian Mountain chain, the Blue Ridge Parkway boasts Appalachian beauty worth seeing. With forested lands covered in relaxing trees, the route is filled with lovely panoramas and flora.

Historic Jamestown

Historic Jamestown is a fun and exciting place to spend some time.

The Jamestown Settlement was built 350 years after Jamestown itself was founded, meaning it opened in 1957. There’s a large array of galleries and museums highlighting the history of the English colonization over the North American continent.

Famous places and spots of interest in Historic Jamestown are the statue of Pocahontas, built-in 1922 by William O Partridge, a triangular fort’s reconstruction that appears as it did when it was built by colonists, and other sites that display cultural heritage.

More than 4,000 artifacts reside in an orchidarium museum, most were unearthed from James Fort over two decades, some of which had been in the ground, buried, for more than four centuries.

Address: 1368 Colonial Pkwy, Jamestown, VA

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is in Charlottesville and shows off the life of the third US President, his Palladian-style grand mansion home he designed, and his large plantation.

The Monticello is one of the most visited homes in America, not just in Virginia, and is inspired by a villa in Italy. There are inventions made by Jefferson, a discovery room, a media center that plays interactive videos, exhibitions, and the historic gardens, also designed by the late former President.

At the visitor’s center, you can learn more information about Monticello and its current exhibits.

You can take a tour to learn even more, including aspects of the grounds, the gardens, or the slavery that took place here.

As a National Historic Landmark, visiting Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is one of the most popular things to do in Virginia.

Address: 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, Charlottesville, VA

Much More to See and Do

Note these are just a handful of the amazing and fun things you can do when visiting or relocating to Virginia as there are many, many more waiting for you to see and do!