In America's hectic work culture, 50-60+ hours a week are not unusual, and many people end up leaving vacation days on the table because of pressure to produce nonstop results at their job. Americans leave 768 million days of vacation days unused each year. The biggest problem seems to be planning, with 55% of people that plan their vacations actually using all their time off, while only 36% of non-planners take their entitled vacation time.
To combat this problem, the U.S. Travel Association has set aside January 25th as National Plan Your Vacation Day, and we have created a few Virginia travel ideas to help you plan. Whether you enjoy hiking to scenic views or visiting historic sites, planning a trip to the following Virginia destinations will help you get the most out of your annual vacation days.
FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
There are plenty of ways to stay busy outside in Virginia. Check out some ideas below for an epic outdoor getaway.
Photo Credit: Sam Dean, @sdeanphotos
Spend an afternoon biking on popular routes around Roanoke such as Carvins Cove, the trails on Mill Mountain or the Roanoke Valley Greenways. Bike rentals and guided tours with Roanoke Mountain Adventures and UnderDog Bikes.
Check out one of the many beautiful hikes in the area:
Photo Credit: Nate Dennison
McAfee Knob, one of the most photographed spots on the Appalachian Trail, or to the beautiful Roaring Run Falls in Botetourt County. For the extra-adventurous, check-out the nearby Dragon's Tooth hike.
Photo Credit: Shannon Terry
Spend the day on the water with a kayaking, canoeing, or rafting adventure with Twin River Outfitters in Botetourt County.
For the golf-enthusiast, there are plenty of golf-courses nearby: Hanging Rock or Westlake Golf and Country Club.
Photo Credit: Kristina Love, @kristinalovephotography
Enjoy the outdoors from a different perspective by taking a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Floyd, an eclectic town with a funky arts, cultural and food scene.
Photo Credit: Bill Crabtree Jr.
After a long day outdoors, check out the local beer scene at Parkway Brewing Company. For dinner, Roanoke has many options. Try The River and Rail for local and seasonal cuisine. Stay at the historic Hotel Roanoke located downtown and close to many local attractions.
FOR FOOD + BEER LOVERS
There are so many ways to experience the amazing food and beer scene in Richmond! Here are just a few options to start planning your epic foodie getaway.
Photo Credit: Brian Lewis
Start off with coffee and a croissant at Sub Rosa, a wood-fired Bakery located in historic Church Hill or if you are more of a biscuit-person, don’t miss the two biscuit places in the Fan- Early Bird Biscuit Company and the Fancy Biscuit.
Photo Credit: Hannah Armstrong, @hannahelizarmstrong
Spend the afternoon touring and tasting on a food tour with Real Richmond Food tours before dining at one of the many local restaurants; Rappahannock for “farm-to-table” Virginia oysters, the Roosevelt for top-notch cocktails and southern food, Peter Chang’s China Café for Sichuan-style Chinese food. Plan a visit during Fire Flour & Fork, a four-day culinary gathering to sample the best culinary experiences that Richmond has to offer.
Photo Credit: Ryan Kelly
Quench your thirst with more than 20 craft breweries in the area. Tour the Richmond Beer Trail and sample brews from Ardent Craft Ales, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, the Veil Brewing Co., Buskey Cider and Blue Bee Cider.
Todd Wright, @toddwrightphoto
Stay at The Quirk Hotel and enjoy rooftop drinks followed by dinner at the restaurant located in the lobby, Maple and Pine.
FOR HISTORY LOVERS
There’s so much history to see in Virginia, it’s hard to choose where to start. If you are visiting DC, Northern Virginia is and a great historic getaway.
Photo Credit: Cameron Davidson
Mount Vernon- George Washington’s historic estate. Only 15 miles from D.C., you can tour a host of colonial era buildings, beautiful gardens, a working distillery and gristmill, and the museum and education center. For the adventurous, you can even bike to Mount Vernon on the Mount Vernon Trail.
Photo Credit: Keith Lanpher
Arlington National Cemetery is both a national treasure and an active cemetery. It is the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty service members, veterans and their families.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to the U.S. Marine Corps. Visitor’s learn about the history of the Marines through interactive exhibits.
The Torpedo Factory Art Center located in Old Town Alexandria is home to the largest number of publicly accessible working artist studios in the U.S. Founded in 1974 in an old munitions plant, guests can visit 82 artists’ studios (featuring a variety of media from painting to ceramics to stained glass to printmaking), seven galleries, two workshops, and the Alexandria Archaeology Museum.
photo credit: Aniesia Williams, @iamaniesia
Stay in the heart of Old Town Alexandria at Kimpton Lorien Hotel & Spa where during your downtime you can enjoy a relaxing massage or dine at celebrated restaurants BRABO or BRABO Tasting Room.
Grab dinner at Alexandria’s waterfront restaurant, Vola’s Dockside Grill or experience farm-to-table dining at Virtue Feed + Grain. For fine dining, head to Brabo Brasserie and try the three-course menu du jour or their renowned Le Grand Duck Flambe, best suited for groups of 2-4 people.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS
There’s no place in Virginia with more music history than in the Southwestern part of the state. Here’s a few ideas to plan the ultimate music lovers getaway.
Photo Credit: Bill Crabtree Jr.
Start your trip with a tour of the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace, the gateway to Southwest Virginia’s rich cultural and creative economy. Here you will see the work of regional artisans and musicians and learn about the area’s history, heritage, outdoor recreation and scenic beauty.
Photo Credit: Cameron Davidson
Visit the town of Marion, Virginia to see live music at The Lincoln Theatre. Home of the nationally-syndicated “Song of the Mountains” bluegrass television series and an Affiliate Venue of the famous “Crooked Road” Heritage Music Trail, the Lincoln Theatre is one of only three remaining Mayan Revival theatres in America. This Virginia Historic Landmark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and its history harkens back to the romantic heyday of the grand movie palaces of the “Roarin’ Twenties.”
Tour the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Virginia. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, this state of the art museum celebrates the influence of the 1927 Bristol Sessions to today's music and features exhibition space spread over two floors including traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian.
Photo Credit: Cameron Davidson
No trip to Southwest Virginia is complete without a visit to the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia. The Carter Fold is a rustic, 1,000 seat music shed offering traditional music every Saturday night. The Carter Family was discovered in 1927 by Victor Recording Studio in Bristol and recorded 300 songs between 1927 and 1942. Playing traditional Appalachian music, the family has often been credited as forerunners of modern-day country music.
Photo Credit: Cameron Davidson
Visit Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax, a state-of-the-art performing arts facility built to preserve and promote the historic music of Virginia and the Blue Ridge.
photo credit: Brian Camp, @brian_k_camp
Live music at Floyd Country Store, an authentic country store in Floyd, with popular Friday Night Jamboree and Sunday gospel sessions.
FOR BEACH LOVERS
Virginia has many beautiful beaches, plan your trip to visit Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore for the ultimate beach lovers getaway.
Check out the three-mile long boardwalk in Virginia Beach, lined with oceanfront restaurants, hotels, shopping and sandy beaches.
Grab a fresh coffee and a locally-sourced breakfast at Commune, you can even get it to go and take it out on the beach.
photo credit: Brian Camp, @brian_k_camp
For the outdoor lover, visit First Landing State Park for 19 miles of hiking trails or take a relaxing paddleboard tour with Coastal SUP Tours.
Check out the Pleasure House Oyster farm boat tour to cruise the waters of the Lynnhaven River and learn about the legendary Lynnhaven Oyster, then end the day with dinner at Terrapin Restaurant or Esoteric and an overnight stay at Hilton Oceanfronts.
Cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to visit the Eastern Shore.
Photo Credit: Adam Lewis, @adamtlewis
Spend an afternoon in the calm waters at the public beach in Cape Charles.
photo credit: Sam Dean, @sdeanphotos
Take an unforgettable kayak wine tour with Southeast Expeditions to the local winery, Chatham Vineyards.
Enjoy a local seafood dinner at The Shanty in Cape Charles, then stay at the Hotel Cape Charles.
Get the most out of your vacations days in 2022 when you plan to visit one of these amazing Virginia attractions. Where is your favorite place to unwind in the Commonwealth?