Fun Friday
Good Morning we have made it through another week and now it's time to go on our weekly Friday adventure.
Can you guess where we are going this week? We are going to the beautiful state of Virginia
1.) Arlington National Cemetery hours of operation are 8am-5pm Veterans of every American war from the Revolution to the country's most recent conflicts are buried at Arlington, which was officially declared a military cemetery in 1864. Among the more than 260,000 dead are three unidentified service members, buried at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and John F. Kennedy, whose gravesite is marked by an eternal flame.
While in town, check out the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial Commonly called the "Iwo Jima Memorial," the statue is a depiction of the famous raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima and is dedicated to all Marines who have given their lives defending that flag.
2.) Colonial Williamsburg hours of operation are 9-5pm Colonial Williamsburg, a 301-acre living history museum, brings travelers back in time to colonial Virginia through immersive experiences, historical reenactments, museums, and events. Prominent landmarks like the Raleigh Tavern, the Capitol, and the Governor’s Palace have been lovingly reconstructed, and travelers can walk through the entire historic area free of charge—although there are also ticketed attractions to enjoy, such as carriage rides around the historical center.
3.) Historic Jamestowne hours of operation are 9-4:30pm Historic Jamestowne is the original site of the first permanent English settlement in America. Ongoing archaeology at the site of James Fort has changed our understanding of the struggles and triumphs of early 1600s life in Virginia. Living history programs and an archaeology museum tell the story of this dramatic rediscovery. The site is jointly administered by the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia.
4.) Monticello located in Charlottesville Monticello and its many historical rooms, gadgets, furniture, buildings, and artifacts tell us a lot about Thomas Jefferson, the president who built it and lived there.
5.) Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center located in Chantilly hours of operation are 10-5:30pmHundreds of aircraft and spacecraft are on display in two massive hangers, including a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, and the Space Shuttle Discovery.
6.) Luray Caverns hours of operation are 9-4pm This spectacular natural formation features enormous chambers filled with towering stalactite columns, shimmering travertine draperies, and crystal-clear pools. Explore the caves through its well-lit, paved walkways and you’ll find yourself in magnificent cathedral-sized rooms with 10-story-high ceilings. Listen out for the haunting sounds of the “singing” rocks, thanks to the world’s largest musical instrument the Great Stalacpipe Organ, which plays the stalactites. Learn how this organ works and other cool facts on a guided tour of the caves.
7.) Virginia Beach Boardwalk Hit Virginia Beach’s three-mile-long oceanfront promenade to people-watch, shop, and eat in a relaxed ambience. The boardwalk features a separate bike path—perfect for cycling and rollerblading. There's also a bronze statue of King Neptune which you can spot from miles away. When hungry, head over to the restaurants at the neighboring Pacific Avenue. Virginia Beach is also worthy of visiting during winter when Christmas lights turn the boardwalk into a stunning spot.
8.) George Washington's Mount Vernon hours of operation are 9am-4pm price of admission is roughly $28. Come share the fascinating moments of America’s first family with yours at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Explore the beautiful mansion and grounds and get to know the man, the ideas and the values that founded a nation. Dive into history through action-packed theaters, fascinating exhibits and meet characters from Washington’s world. Admire the view of the peaceful Potomac, or hop on board a sightseeing cruise. It’s a place where history truly comes to life.
9.) Skyline Drive located in the Shenandoah National Park 105-mile Scenic Drive Built In The 1930's Goes Through The Entire Length Of The Park.
10.) Maymont located in Richmond hours of operation are 10-7pm Maymont is a 100-acre American estate, an extraordinary gift given to the community by James and Sallie Dooley who lived there from 1893 to 1925. Whether strolling in the gardens, touring the mansion, watching a river otter at play, or petting a goat, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
11.) Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge located on Chincoteague Island hours of operation are 6-6pm Uncrowded wildlife refuge managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. When you visit, drive slow and pull over often! There are so many different animals to see you will want to come and take your time.
12.) Virginia Safari Park located in Natural Bridge hours of operation The Virginia Safari Park, Virginia’s only drive-thru safari park, is located on 180-acres in the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains. Home to more than 1000 animals, there is no shortage in animal diversity, including Giraffes, White Rhinos, Cheetahs, African Penguins, Zebras, Bengal Tigers, and more. The Safari drive-thru portion offers visitors the opportunity to see and feed animals up-close from their vehicles. Guests can also interact with animals in the Village Walkthrough or up close during a memorable encounter with sloths, rhinos, or penguins. Guests can also view Africa’s rarest cat, the King Cheetah, only at the Virginia Safari Park. We're located in the Shenandoah Valley, a short day trip from Roanoke, Lynchburg, Staunton, Charlottesville, Richmond, Maryland and DC.
13.) Military Aviation Museum located in Virginia Beach hours of operation are 9-5pm Fun for the whole family!! The Military Aviation Museum is home to one of the largest flying collections of World War I and World War II era military aircraft in the world. More than 80,000 guests travel from around the world to see our rare aircraft every year, especially during our major events and air shows. Come see why the Military Aviation Museum is one of the top attractions in all of Virginia Beach - rain or shine! Have you imagined yourself in the open-air cockpit of a WWII biplane, with the wind in your face and the roar of the engine in your ears? At the Military Aviation Museum, you can turn your daydreams into reality!
14.) Battleship Wisconsin at Nauticus located in Norfolk hours of operation are 10-5pm Berthed at Nauticus, the Battleship Wisconsin is one of the largest and last battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy. Access to the Battleship Wisconsin is included in Nauticus admission. Explore its deck through a self-guided tour or, with an additional charge, one of our guided tours that will take you back in time to experience this majestic ship that earned five battle stars during WW II.
15.) Great Falls Park located in McLean An 800 acre park located just off the Potomac river.There are three overlooks. The first one was very rocky but closer to the falls while the second two were much easier to get to. However, all three had good views. Several walking trails are available of varying difficulties.
16.) Natural Bridge State Park Once owned by Thomas Jefferson and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 215-foot tall Natural Bridge is a limestone gorge carved out by Cedar Creek. The park is more than just the bridge; beautiful forests and rolling meadows showcase the area’s karst terrain, and vistas of surrounding mountains and the James River valley display nature’s splendor. Access these via 6 miles of hiking trails, including the accessible Cedar Creek Trail that leads from the bridge to the Monacan Indian Village and Lace Falls with its 30-foot cascade. Living history programs connect you to the past and cover how people once used the area’s resources for survival and inspiration. Start at the visitor center where you will find exhibits and a gift shop. A shuttle from the visitor center to the bridge trail is available for those not wishing to take the stairs.
17.) National Museum of the Marine Corps located in Triangle hours of operation are 9-5pm The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines--past, present, and future. Situated on a 135-acre site adjacent to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, and under the command of Marine Corps University, the Museum's soaring design evokes the image of the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima and beckons visitors to this 120,000-square-foot structure. World-class interactive exhibits using the most innovative technology surround visitors with irreplaceable artifacts and immerse them in the sights and sounds of Marines in action. Admission and parking are always free.
18.) National D-Day Memorial located in Bedford hours of operation are 10-5pm The National D-Day Memorial is located in Bedford, Virginia - the community suffering the highest per capita D-Day losses in the nation. The Memorial honors the Allied forces that participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 during World War II. With its stylized English Garden, haunting invasion tableau, and striking Victory Plaza, the Memorial stands as a powerful permanent tribute to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of D-Day participants. The Memorial is encompassed by the names of the 4,413 Allied soldiers who died in the invasion, the most complete list of its kind anywhere in the world. Visitors can expect both an educational experience as well as an emotional one, as they walk the grounds at the Memorial and leave with a clear understanding of the scale and sacrifices made during the largest amphibious landing the world has ever seen. On June 6, 1944, 150,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which "we will accept nothing less than full victory." More than 5,000 ships and 11,000 aircraft supported the invasion, and by day's end, the Allies gained a foot-hold in France. The D-Day cost was high with more than 9,000 Allied soldiers killed or wounded as the march across Europe to defeat Hitler began.
19.) Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center located in Virginia Beach hours of operation are 9-5pm A 300,000-gallon tank with sharks, rays, and other aquatic species, is the main attraction at this popular aquarium, along with a walk through tunnel featuring sharks, rays, and more. Featuring thousands of animals representing hundreds of species.
20.) Grand Caverns located in Grottoes hours of operation are 9-5pm America’s oldest continuously operated show cave, voted #2 in America by Parade magazine, and a National Natural Landmark, Grand Caverns is a prime example of history and beauty. With our abundance of rare shield formations and history around every turn, come see for yourself why we are ‘Grand’.
21.) The Mariners' Museum and Park located in NewPort News hours of operation are 9-5pm Curate your Mariners’ Experience!
From inspiring stories of mariners who risked it all for freedom to true tales of man conquering the wild seas, our indoor galleries will spark curiosity, wonder, and an appreciation for our shared maritime heritage. Explore over 90,000 square feet of gallery space and discover your connection to our shared maritime heritage. Admission to the Museum is only $1 per person. Add some outdoor adventure to your day in our 550-acre Park which offers visitors a quiet and serene place to walk, hike or run amongst rolling woodlands. Our Park features the award-winning five-mile Noland Trail that surrounds the 167-acre Mariners’ Lake. The Park is free and open to the public.
22.) James Madison's Montpelier hours of operation are 9-4pm Montpelier Station is the lifelong home of James Madison, fourth President of the United States, Father of the Constitution, and Architect of the Bill of Rights; and his wife, Dolley, America's first "First Lady." Montpelier was also home to six generations of enslaved individuals.
Montpelier features the Madisons' historic home, formal gardens, "The Mere Distinction of Colour Exhibition," and 8+ miles of walking trails. Guided tours are offered daily and the Museum Shop is currently open 10 AM-4:30 PM. Please visit Montpelier.org for all current prices and event offerings. Montpelier is a 501 (C)(3) Nonprofit administered by The Montpelier Foundation and is a National Trust for Historic Preservation Site. Montpelier is a monument to James Madison and the Enslaved Community, a museum of American history, and a center for constitutional education that engages the public with the enduring legacy of Madison's most powerful idea: government by the people.
23.) American Revolution Museum at Yorktown hours of operation are 9-5pm Museum where you can find all types of displays regarding the momentous events and activities during Revolutionary times.
24.) Appomattox Court House National Historical Park hours of operation are 9-5pm This historic place has been well-preserved/rebuilt and creates the atmosphere at the end of the Civil War. The film in the visitor's center is very good, and stepping into the buildings is engaging. If you can get the guided tour someone escorts you roleplaying a 19th century war reporter it was the best thing ever.
25.) Manassas National Battlefield Park A 5,000-acre park that was the scene of two major Civil War battles. Great visitors center with a very informative 45 minute short film to watch before embarking to the Battlefield. This place is rich with history and fascinating stories. Trails are well marked and clean from debris. Recommend taking the 5 1/2 mile "First Battle" Trail.
26.) Frontier Culture Museum located in Staunton hours of operation are 9-5pm The Frontier Culture Museum is the biggest open-air living history museum in the Shenandoah Valley, as well as one of the highest rated family-friendly attractions and one of the top tourist destinations in Virginia. Costumed historical interpreters show the life and customs of the indigenous Native American tribes in Virginia, the arrival of the German, English and Irish settlers along the Great Wagon Road, and the painful journey of the enslaved Africans to the first permanent British colony in North America. Visitors also get to interact with a blacksmith at an Irish Forge, woodworkers, tailors, and yarn spinners, and learn how the early settlers of America cooked and worked the land. The American journey starts here, with these early pioneers that inhabited America's First Frontier, the Blue Ridge Mountains, prior to the Westward Expansion of the 19th Century. The outdoor museum is located on 200 acres of land in Staunton, Virginia, one of the South's Best Mountain Towns.
27.) Virginia Living Museum located in Newport News hours of operation are 9-5pm admission is roughly $23 View endangered red wolves. Get up close to a loggerhead turtle and moon jellies. See fish with no eyes and frogs that change colors. Touch live spider crabs and fossilized dinosaur tracks. It's all at the Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, where living exhibits depict Virginia's natural heritage from the mountains to the sea. Experience a steamy cypress swamp and cool mountain cove. Explore the underwater world of the Chesapeake Bay and the underground realm of a limestone cave. See flying squirrels, stingrays and other creatures of the night. Touch famous Bay creatures. Kids will especially enjoy the Touch Tank with its sea stars and horseshoe crabs. Enjoy hands-on activities. See spectacular views of the sun from the observatory and travel the universe in the state-of-the-art digital planetarium. Outdoors, stroll the boardwalk to view coastal birds, beavers, otters, coyotes, endangered red wolves and other animals in naturalized habitats. Butterfly Garden, Virginia Garden and landscape plantings display one of the most extensive displays of native plants in Virginia. Learn how to live, build and garden green in the Conservation Garden and Green Living House.
28.) Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park The area is well marked but make sure you do the walking tour on your smartphone. Adds a lot of depth to the experience. The movie and exhibits afterwards in the park's building is educational as well.
29.) Virginia Museum of Transportation located in Roanoke hours of operation are 10-5pm Antique automobiles and trucks, electric and diesel locomotives, and vintage steam, are all part of the nostalgic show at this historic freight station that doubles as a museum .
30.) The Birthplace of Country Music Museum located in Bristol hours of operation are 10-6pm An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the award-winning Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Historic Downtown Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia tells the story of the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions – the event in history scholars refer to as the “big bang” of country music – and their lasting impact on the music of today.
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum explores how evolving sound technology shaped the success of the 1927 Bristol Sessions and highlights how this rich musical heritage still thrives in the Appalachian region and beyond. Through multiple theater experiences, interactive and stationary displays – along with a variety of educational programs, music performances, and community events – the exciting story of these recording sessions and their far-reaching influence comes alive. Rotating exhibitions from guest curators and other institutions, including the Smithsonian, are featured throughout the year in the Special Exhibits Gallery.
This state is so full of history and so many amazing things to see and do and with over 1100 different things you really can find something around every corner and regardless of what season you visit in.
I hope that you have enjoyed this week's tour and come back next week for another amazing adventure. Remember to always be kind as it costs nothing and if you see someone without a smile stop and give them yours a smile is contagious.
Written by: BeautifulChaos318
