A luxury travel guide to Virginia
Rewrite the meaning of luxury travel with a visit to Virginia, where the diverse landscapes, incredible cuisine and immersive experiences provide your premium ticket for a truly indulgent holiday...
Stretching between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia’s scenic byways are perfect for enriching and luxurious travel moments.
From languid vineyards and gorgeous hotels to more curious experiences like ethereal hot air balloon rides high above sunlit valleys, here’s just a taste of premium Virginia...
Indulge yourself in Virginia's...
Scenic road trips
Virginia Mountains
With the stunning Appalachian Mountains flanking Virginia’s western half, the state is blessed with some of America’s most cinematic road trips.
Skyline Drive snakes through Shenandoah National Park’s sigh-drawing scenery, with its thick foliage and low-hanging mist painting evocative vignettes with plenty of outlooks to stop and take in the views.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is equally sublime, and its meandering trails pass by rocky summits, wooded hollows, cascading waterfalls and bubbling streams, often soundtracked only by birdsong.
Visit during the bright red and rust orange colour explosions of fall for some of Virginia’s most spectacular driving moments.
Historic scenery
Few states offer a wider window into American heritage than Virginia, so begin by following the Potomac River’s south bank on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, past the cobbled streets of Old Town Alexandria and Arlington Ridge Park, with its moving Iwo Jima Memorial, on the way to George Washington’s Mount Vernon home. The very fact this historic landmark marks the southern end of the Parkway, makes this time-frozen mansion and museum an essential stop to finish your road trip.
The Colonial Parkway is just 37km long, but this forested drive spans the birth of a nation in 1607 at Jamestown, the revolutionary city, Colonial Williamsburg, and the riverside surrender of the British at Yorktown.
Considered the Birthplace of Country Music, The Crooked Road is a journey into Appalachia’s deep connection with country music, with mournful ballads and bouncing rhythms echoing across the region's yawning valleys. Make sure you stop off at the Carter Family Fold, a hallowed venue of country and folk music that cherishes the legacy of the Carter Family, themselves pioneers of American country music in the 1920s. Time your visit with one of the Saturday night performances from a bluegrass or gospel band and you’ll have endless playlist inspiration for the rest of your road trip.
Viniculture
Charlottesville, Virginia, was named Wine Region of the Year in Wine Enthusiast's 2023 Wine Star Awards
Gold Medal Wine Trail
Virginia is home to over 300 wineries, many of which sit in the rolling sunlit foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The Gold Medal Wine Trail is a journey through the yearly award-winning wineries as judged in the Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition, the state’s most stringent wine competition. The real beauty of the trail is that it shifts on an annual basis to reflect the competition’s latest prize winners, so you’re always assured of seeing the state’s best wineries.
Virginia's wine country is surprising, illuminating and produces bottles of exceptional quality. And with such fine scenery to enjoy while exploring, consider staying overnight at one of these luxurious abodes to truly appreciate Virginia’s landscape, history and, of course, award-winning wine.
1804 Inn at Barboursville Vineyards
From the vast white deck of 1804 Inn’s Octagon Suite, slanting shadows fall lazily across sloping pastures, with the handsome vineyards hidden behind lush foliage. Inside its historic walls, the grandiose rooms are filled with golden gilded mirrors, noble portraits, mahogany desks and huge patterned rugs.
It’s an extraordinary place to stay, and the Italian-esque Barboursville Vineyards also produce some extraordinary wines, notably their award-winning Octagon red.
Experience the best of their 18th-century estate by booking a tasting underneath old oak beams at the Discovery Tasting Room or by sampling Chef Michael Clough’s revolving Trattoria-style menu at their magnificent Italian-inspired restaurant Palladio.
Jefferson Vineyards
Amid pastoral scenes just south of Charlottesville, Thomas Jefferson and Phillip Mazzei planted America’s first commercial vineyards in 1774.
These days, the family-owned winery uses the 3rd President’s name and bottles their award-winning Viognier, Meritage, Estate Reserve and Virginia’s first Petit Verdot. Come and see the birthplace of American wine first-hand by booking a tasting session at the estate’s charming garden patio or elevated deck, overlooking a rich and pioneering landscape. While you can't stay on the estate itself, a variety of nearby accommodation make for easy winery access. Book a room at Boar's Head Resort for the ideal active, yet luxurious, getaway.
Veritas Vineyards
Nudging up against the Blue Ridge Mountains, Veritas Vineyards are emblematic of Virginia’s splendid terroir.
The sun-dappled brick patio is the perfect spot to sample Veritas’s superb Reserve Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, while their Tasting Room menu is an indulgent smorgasbord of bold cheese and charcuterie, including Campo de Montalbán, Bleu d'Affinois and silky sweet cuts of coppa.
Almost 200 years old, The Farmhouse at Veritas is a sumptuous spot to pass a night, and the rooms’ silk drapes and four-poster beds add to the historic atmosphere. The complimentary bottle of wine placed in the room on arrival is a fine welcome.
Greenhill Vineyards
A working farm since 1762, this bucolic American landscape has evolved into a state-of-the-art vineyard and its proximity to Washington Dulles International Airport (a 30-minute drive) is ideal for visitors flying into Virginia.
Sample Greenhill’s finest selection of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Chardonnay Reserve inside their barrel-lined warehouse, or outdoors with a view of the shimmering lake and rolling hills beyond.
Don’t forget that this is also hunt country, so perhaps pair up a visit to Greenhill with a languid equestrian experience alongside visits to charming hamlets like Middleburg, Aldie, Upperville, Purcellville, and Hillsboro. While you can't stay onsite at Greenhill, only mere minutes away luxury stays like Salamander Middleburg and the Goodstone Inn are just a couple of dreamy boltholes to choose from.
Delicious food
Fancy farm-to-table offerings
Virginia Beach’s restaurants serve up wonderfully succulent local oysters, but for a more authentic experience then join one of Chris Ludford’s unique boat tours. Ludford is a gregarious but hugely knowledgeable character, and his Pleasure House Oyster tours on the Lynnhaven River culminate with a magnificent riverbank tasting session.
The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm northwest of Washington D.C. also uses its surrounding nature as a canvas and pantry, the highlight being a delicate venison dish while dining underneath the stars in a glass conservatory overlooking the Potomac River.
Soak up seasonal dishes in rustic surroundings at Goodstone Inn & Restaurant, before sitting in awe at Patrick O’Connell’s phenomenal three-Michelin star cuisine at his legendary The Inn at Little Washington.
Taste your way around Richmond’s culinary scene
Spend time in Richmond to find out why so many top chefs are moving here from New York and beyond.
L’opossum’s eclectic spin on French cuisine is courtesy of chef David Shannon, and his Fabergé egg “bedazzled” with caviar and dill-cured salmon is a colourfully local menu highlight.
In the Fan District, chef Ben Burakoff’s flounder ceviche and cumin okra is one of many sublime dishes at Celladora Wines, where there are only four tables but a mesmerising amount of wine pairings.
But soul food is never far away here either, and James Beard Award-nominated Mama J's Kitchen serves up delightful crispy fried catfish just before their legendary peach cobbler.
Hop around its distilleries
The first batch of American whiskey was distilled in Virginia in 1620, so honour that proud legacy by visiting some of the state’s beautiful distilleries.
The imposing brick warehouse at Fredericksburg’s A. Smith Bowman Distillery showcases several fabulous whiskies on its tours, including its award-winning port-finished bourbon. Over at Catoctin Creek in charming Purcellville, they’re focused on the great rye rebirth in American distilling and their Roundstone Rye is Virginia's most-awarded whiskey.
For something a little more unique, head to the Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club and step downstairs into Tarnished Truth Distilling Company’s underground distillery inside the 5-star hotel’s old laundry facility. A tasting here is like nowhere else.
Fine art
A stroll through downtown Richmond showcases a city splashed by street art, with over 300 murals popping with vivid colour. Private walking tours from the Richmond Tour Guys are not only a granular exploration of the city’s artistic flair but also its wider heritage.
Fronted by the epic and thought-provoking Rumors of War sculpture, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts kicks off in striking fashion and is home to several unique collections inside its bright airy walls, including the largest public collection of sparkling Fabergé eggs outside of Russia.
More contemporary and modern art can be found inside the distinct angular glass and titanium-zinc frame of the Institute for Contemporary Art, where an ever-changing slate of exhibitions, performances, films, and special programmes translate our world into every medium.
…in Alexandria
Old Town Alexandria was originally laid out in 1749, and its quaint cobblestoned streets lead down toward the Potomac River where the Torpedo Factory Arts Center proudly sits.
Home to America’s largest collection of working artists' open studios under one roof, you’ll find everything from artists firing glass onto metal at the Enamelists Gallery to regularly revolving exhibits from local and international artists.
Also in Old Town, Intertribal Creatives is a free gallery showcasing the artistic and creative spirit of Indigenous artists across North America, while the oil paintings hanging from Principle Gallery’s brick walls in the Contemporary Realism style shows the diversity of Alexandria’s arts scene.
…in Charlottesville
Historic Charlottesville sits in the shadow of the Appalachians, and its thriving arts scene can be experienced in a variety of unique fashions.
Ix Art Park is a free outdoor art park that houses thought-provoking sculptures and vivid murals, as well as the Looking Glass, Virginia’s first immersive art exhibit.
Charlottesville’s groundbreaking galleries don’t stop there, as Kluge Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum is the only museum dedicated to Indigenous Australian art in the USA and the small gallery showcases around 2000 works. And don't forget to drop into the Art Bar, a black-owned arts and crafts bar.
...in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach’s oceanfront is a relaxing sun-kissed spot. But just behind those golden beaches is the dynamic ViBe Creative District where the city’s art scene flourishes, from the neon murals of Mediterranean Avenue to the buzzing Old Beach Art and Eco Market events.
ViBe’s vigorous vision continues just north in the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, where endlessly revolving exhibitions from local and international artists are displayed. And if you’re staying at one of the city’s luxurious beachfront resorts during October, then look out for the Annual Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show.
Unique experiences
Hot air balloon rides
Drifting above lush tree tops with only the sound of nature below for company, hot air balloon rides are one of Virginia's more extraordinary experiences, and silently gliding above the bucolic countryside of Albemarle County or the rising hills of the Shenandoah Valley is a sensory experience to remember forever.
Based out of the quaint town of Bridgewater, Star Ballooning offer exclusive private flights of around 60 minutes that finish in decadent fashion with a shared bottle of champagne to celebrate. Rides are also at sunrise and sunset, so the rolling scenery is bathed in shafts of golden light as you climb into the sky.
Kayaking with a difference
Gliding through Virginia’s bays and rivers can be exhilarating, but there are also ways to put a cool spin on traditional kayaking experiences here.
Add a touch of sophistication by paddling with SouthEast Expeditions through Church Creek where a wine tasting at the picturesque Chatham Vineyards will be waiting. Indulge in local cheese and seafood too, before grabbing a complimentary bottle of Church Creek wine and paddling back home as the sun sets.
Virginia is also home to spectacular pods of dolphins and the Surf & Adventure Company’s Dolphin Tour gets you up close to these amazing creatures near the shores of the southern Chesapeake Bay.
The Virginia Scenic Railway
The Virginia Scenic Railway is the state’s only sightseeing train which winds its way through the stunning Shenandoah Valley. And from its wonderfully modernised 1940s cars, passengers can soak up some of Virginia’s most picturesque views while relaxing with a fine meal and good company.
Departing from charming Staunton, the Alleghany Special powers through pastoral scenes and by the gently unfolding Alleghany Mountains, while the Blue Ridge Flyer snakes around craggy rock formations near the misty Blue Ridge Mountains. Sit back in comfort with a glass of wine and enjoy some of Virginia’s most evocative views.
Luxury lie-ins
The Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club
Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and President Jimmy Carter are among the glitterati who have stayed at the Cavalier Hotel since opening in 1927. Situated moments from Virginia Beach’s sun-kissed boardwalk, jazz piano drifts across the marble hall as you enter and the Cavalier’s 85 exceptional rooms and suites signify timeless luxury.
Salamander Middleburg
A majestic resort in the heart of Virginia wine country, Salamander Middleburg features a wonderful spa alongside a wealth of outdoor activities, including tennis courts, putting greens, croquet and a full equestrian centre. With both the hotel and spa rated five stars by Forbes, expect the rooms to be spacious and plush, with each one boasting a patio or balcony for unwinding under the sun, while the on-site spa offers a true respite from worldly cares.
Keswick Hall
Completed in 1912, this opulent hotel in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville is all splendour. With a magnificent golf course, an ethereal horizon pool, a serene spa and the exceptional Marigold restaurant by celebrated French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Keswick Hall is a glorious vacation choice.
Williamsburg Inn
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. built this beautiful 62-suite hotel in 1937 and its refined Colonial Revival elegance fits in perfectly with the rest of historic Williamsburg. The 19th-century Regency-style rooms are sublime but the Inn also boasts a premium spa, a heated outdoor pool, a fine restaurant and a stunning golf course.
The Jefferson
The Jefferson Hotel’s grand stone facade has soared up into downtown Richmond’s sky since 1895, while inside visitors are met by a marble statue of Thomas Jefferson himself. There are 181 opulent guestrooms and suites, while downstairs offers the fine American restaurant Lemaire, a palm-lined indoor pool and even a museum.
Feeling inspired?
It’s time to start planning your own luxury escape to Virginia and the team at North America Travel Service are the experts to make it happen.
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