9 Perfect Destinations for a Long Weekend in Virginia
In Virginia, the possibilities for long-weekend destinations are endless. Vacationers can choose from historic towns in the Shenandoah Valley with brick-lined streets like Lexington, or head out to Virginia’s eastern coast and relax by the calm waters of the Chesapeake Bay in Cape Charles. Beautiful scenery, historic sites, and welcoming people are par for the course. This article highlights 9 perfect destinations for a long weekend in Virginia.
Lexington
The Georges is a boutique hotel occupying five different buildings on the brick-paved sidewalks of downtown Lexington. Although all different, each room is decorated with custom furnishings and original artwork, as well as spa bathrooms. The George Washington Building is one of the oldest in Lexington. It houses Haywood’s Piano Bar and Grill, an upscale restaurant serving oysters, ribeye steaks, and fine wine to the sounds of live piano jazz. History buffs may enjoy touring the Stonewall Jackson House, the former home of Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.
Take advantage of Lexington’s location and venture out into the Shenandoah Valley and the surrounding Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Among the dense forests and rolling meadows of Natural Bridge State Park, visitors will be in awe of the 200-foot-tall natural rock bridge at the top of a carved-out limestone canyon. This is just one of many opportunities for memorable hikes in the area.
Williamsburg
Since opening in 1937, the Williamsburg Inn has impressed visitors to Williamsburg with its Regency-style décor and new amenities that are hard to find anywhere else. Colonial Williamsburg, the largest living history museum in the world, is adjacent to the Williamsburg Inn. It functions as a 301-acre city that recreates what late 18th-century colonial Virginia would look like. Visitors will find 89 original buildings, over 20 historic trades, over 30 landscaped gardens, and will be able to interact with historical interpreters and see period military drills.
Shield’s Tavern was first opened in 1709, when taverns were a key part of life, where travelers and locals gathered to eat and sleep. Today, guests receive historically accurate service and a dining experience reminiscent of 18th-century tavern hospitality.
Staunton
Hotel 24 South stands out as one of the tallest structures in Staunton and the only full-service hotel. It opened in 1924 and has preserved its exterior red neon sign and its marble floors and lobby chandeliers. Facilities include a heated indoor pool, fitness center, and modernized rooms with a vintage 1924 flair. Hotel 24 South is centrally located, making it convenient for exploring Staunton’s historic district.
The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum showcases the life of Woodrow Wilson through galleries documenting his early years, displays about his presidency, and exhibits about World War I. Mill Street Grill is housed in a 19th-century flour mill and specializes in comfort food.
If you're in the mood to explore nature, check out Natural Chimneys Park, which is full of towering limestone formations, some as tall as 120 feet, rising from the pastoral terrain of the Shenandoah Valley.
Luray
Luray Caverns are among the largest and most popular caverns in the eastern United States. The caverns have been compared to cathedrals, with towering stone formations rising from their floors.
The historic Mimslyn Inn is suitable for any long weekend, with 45 rooms and suites in the main inn, as well as a manor house and historic cottages on the grounds. The inn is highlighted by pools, fire pits, walking paths, and a hammock garden for maximum comfort. It is also easy to reach downtown restaurants from the inn, such as PORCH+VINE, a farm-to-table dining experience featuring dishes inspired by seasonal ingredients.
The main building of the Luray Valley Museum showcases decorative arts items, clothing, early toys, and artifacts of daily life in the Shenandoah Valley from the 1750s to the 1920s. Its exterior grounds maintain a collection of historic buildings that represent a small 19th-century farming community.
Wytheville
In Wytheville, the Trinkle Mansion Bed and Breakfast offers guests an unforgettable long weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Southern charm of the building’s 12-foot high foyer ceilings, sparkling chandeliers, and staircase balcony will remain a memorable experience after your long weekend is over. Wake up in the morning and indulge in a three-course breakfast beside a fireplace.
Wytheville has enough to keep you busy over a long weekend, like the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum, the only First Lady birthplace museum in Virginia. The museum’s exhibits include one that explains her role during World War I. The Log House Restaurant was originally a cabin built in 1776 and today operates as a popular restaurant furnished with early American décor. Green space downtown is found in Withers Park, a public park with walking paths, outdoor seating, and playground equipment.
Damascus
Damascus is the best place to start the Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34-mile multi-use trail that runs through town from Abingdon to Whitetop. The trail winds through the National Forest and crosses numerous trestles. In Damascus, it also intersects with many other notable trails, including the Appalachian Trail. The Damascus Old Mill Inn is adjacent to the Creeper Trail. It features 17 historic rooms, a full-service restaurant, and three outdoor decks overlooking the mill waterfall.
The Damascus Diner is just steps off the Appalachian Trail and open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is a favored dining spot by locals, hikers, and general travelers. Mount Rogers National Recreation Area is at the edge of town, comprising 200,000 acres and over 500 miles of trails, some of which lead to the highest point in Virginia, Mount Rogers.
Blacksburg
As a university town, Blacksburg has many good nightlife options for a long weekend, like 504 Social, an all-inclusive venue with a lively bar serving food and beverages, and hosting arcade games and axe-throwing. Stay at Main Street Inn, a 34-suite hotel in the heart of Blacksburg’s historic downtown. Rooms and suites are available; only suites have spacious sitting rooms with in-room dining facilities such as a coffee maker, fridge, and bar.
The Smithfield Plantation was the home of Revolutionary War patriot Colonel William Preston. It was built in 1774 and is near the Virginia Tech campus. The house is open to the public, who can access the kitchen and garden and listen to costumed interpreters. On campus grounds, visitors can explore the Hahn Horticulture Garden, which features perennial borders, water gardens, shade gardens, a meadow garden, and the Peggy Lee Hahn Garden Pavilion.
Bristol
Bristol straddles the Virginia-Tennessee border and is regarded as one of the birthplaces of country music. See and hear the proof for yourself at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Through interactive displays, text, and artifacts, the museum showcases the evolution of country music and its ongoing impact. The Corner pairs elevated pub fare and handcrafted cocktails while live music plays in the background.
The Bristol Hotel is a 65-room boutique hotel crowned with a rooftop bar that has views of the Appalachian Mountains opening up on the horizon around town. Cumberland Square Park is conveniently located downtown, with a music pavilion, picnic benches, and a veteran’s war memorial.
Cape Charles
Cape Charles sits right on Chesapeake Bay, with calm, shallow water that makes its beach a safe and popular spot for families in town for a long weekend. Stay right on the water and take in harbor and bay views as soon as you open the curtains in the morning at the Northampton Inn. Alternatively, guests can unwind on swings on the inn’s expansive porch.
The Cape Charles Museum and Visitors Center preserves the town’s railroad and maritime heritage through collections of photographs and models of sailing vessels, barges, and ferries. The Shanty delivers on fresh seafood enjoyed on their outdoor patio with a view of the sunset.
A Long Weekend in Virginia
These are some of the most versatile options for a long weekend in Virginia. Towns like Damascus are ideal for outdoor lovers, with trail access in the Appalachian Mountains, whereas maritime towns like Cape Charles are ideal for families with children to paddle around in safety. Whatever your agenda may be, Virginia has a place for you.
