40 Best Stops Between Virginia Beach and Dayton (2024)

12 lists

Absolutely photo worthy, as well as having a low tide as opposed to other beaches in Eastern shores.

The Northampton bay beach is very pleasant. The view in the evening during the sunset is amazing. This is a must see beach if visiting Virginia Beach where there is not too many people. Parking is free, you can get into the beach and get into the water. The waters are not too deep, you can visit with family and friends. You can get some best pictures at the beach and the only downside is finding a restroom open at sometimes.

First time ever to go to Cape Charles, really liked it and will come back.

Arrive 15 minutes before sunset to get the most breathtaking photos. Or just hang out all day and soak up the rays. It's up to you, you'll enjoy yourself no matter what.

We went here our first time yesterday. The tide was out with 70 yards of knee-high water before any depth. Interesting beach experience. Very kid friendly though we have none. Overall, will not return simply due to wanting a more swimming experience however its not becasue the area or beach itself were not very pleasant.

Lovely beach with nice sand and water. In the water is flat for quite a ways - no steep drop off. Bathrooms are available.

Clean laid back beaches. Lots of room to spread out and at low tide you can walk 100s of yard out into the crystal clear water. There is a fishing pier you can fish and crab from as well. The shanty dock bar is a short walk away and there were ice cream trucks along the street.

Loved it!!!! I parked on the side of the road for free and walked right over to the beach. I felt like I were at a private beach. The sand was so white and dense. The beach was convenient to restaurants and parking. I will definitely come back again.

I think this has become my new favorite beach!!I don't have a dog, but noticed how super dog friendly this area is.The waves were shallow and the beach experience is awesome!Super cute retro nostalgic down town, walkable distance from the beach.Huge fishing ramp - great for wheelchair users.

What a hidden little gem of a place! We stopped off here on our way home from Ocean City and I really wished we had stayed for a few days in Cape Charles. Beautiful beach with no waves which makes it easy for this water neurotic mama to relax while there with kids. Every mom knows the terror that comes with bringing kids to the beach!The town itself is idyllic and picturesque dotted with quaint little boutiques and restaurants.If I could move here I would!

Perfect beach to come and enjoy the day with the sun, salt, sea and shops! So many friendly people here. Definitely worth the time to explore this area.

Nice clear water, and the tide sits low early in the day. You can walk out a 100yrds and still be kneecap high if you're there early enough

Our family’s favorite beach! The water is calm, warm and clean. This is a family friendly beach with many great local restaurants and shops.Just be mindful that there is no boardwalk, so make sure to pack food and drinks. Shops nearby are lovely privately own and as far as I know they don’t offer delivery service to the beach.

A fairly clean and fun beach! Definitely worth a visit if you can get there early in the day and find a spot!

Great beach for families with small children. This is the Chesapeake Bay, not the Atlantic Ocean so the waves are very small; no bodyboarding or surfing- SUP and skimboards work well though. There is also the occasional oyster shell sticking out of the sand so be sure to wear surf shoes or sandals if you’re down at the beach. Dogs aren’t allowed on the beach during the day (9am-9pm). Lots of restaurants and storefronts. Rent a golf cart for ease of transportation.

So beautiful! One of my absolute favorite spots! I actually took the time to take a few pictures this time. From the drive out there to the actual area itself, it’s just absolutely worth it!

4.7

(527)

4.5

(477)

4 Bay Ave, Cape Charles, VA 23310, USA

+70 other lists

Went to the Dominion Energy Garden of Lights last night at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. It was basically the drive through light show, but walking.Everything looked amazing! I think the experience was a little more immersive walking compared to driving.You can tell very clearly that there is a lot of work that goes into putting this light show together. Kudos to whoever was involved in making this happen!You can also bring your dog(s)!There are snacks, hot cocoa, and other things to purchase, but we didn’t end up getting any.

We visited the gardens around 5pm (closing time posted was 7pm). This was enough time for a leisurely stroll around most of the gardens without stopping. Unfortunately, it was not enough time for us to go all the way around the enchanted forest. Highly recommend allowing more than 2 hours for more time in each garden, plus the enchanted forest. The guard at the gate was very friendly, and made recommendations for the Japanese garden and the wildflower garden, which were both very beautiful. There were a lot of light displays set up, but I didn't see any signage for when they would be turned on. The website recommended buying timed entrance tickets in advance, but we were able to get in on a Tuesday, late afternoon, with no problems. This is a family friendly place that everyone can enjoy.

Loved this place! I was visiting from out of town and decided to check it out. For those who are deathly afraid of snakes, you MAY see one. I did not, thankfully. It was super chill, people were very friendly, and it was peacefully quiet. I wish I could see the flowers in full bloom, I bet the sight is something else. Definitely recommend 👌

12/22/23 - I am writing a review based on the Christmas lights. I went with my family and there was 8 of us. It's nice they have food and drinks right before you start your walk. We got a donuts from duck donuts which were delicious. The lights were great! The walk seemed kind of short though. Also the crowds were a bit annoying. Taking photos you had to wait for people to pass or have them wait for you to finish taking your photo. Overall though it was very enjoyable and very pretty. I think we took about an hour to walk through it but felt quick. I would still recommend to go see the lights!

I’ve had the pleasure of officiating many weddings at The Norfolk Botanical Garden, and each experience has been truly wonderful. The natural beauty of the gardens creates the perfect backdrop for any ceremony, and the peaceful atmosphere adds an extra touch of magic. It’s always a great experience, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion!

Lovely experience, it's the beginning of spring and there are already plants that have tons on flowers on them. The flowering trees and shrubs are in their mid to full bloom stages and it's definitely a sight to behold🥰 visited the children's garden for the first time and my son loved it lol

I teach my children about nature and recycling as well as history. Pictures scenery that is great for photos. Great place for picnics. All around educational and fun with the ability to get some light exercise. The yearly membership is better than paying the entrance fee each time. They also have a splash pad that the kids love! The splash pad is open all summer long.

Lots of beautiful gardens of flowers on their 12 mile trail path. It makes you feel good to be out in nature. So peaceful and serene. Did not get to see everything yet but we will be coming back a lot. We just both a year of family membership. Will plan to bring bicycles next time, to cover more areas.

While visiting Virginia Beach, we ended up going to botanical gardens, and it was the best attraction while we were there. We went on the tram ride and the boat ride: both were spectacular. There was loads to do and we couldn't finish the whole tour. Which is okay, because the next time we return we will go there again to finish the things that we were unable to do.I will be remissed if I did not get a strong shout out to Scarlett and Ian, the both of them was excellent. They made the tour that much better. Grab them for a tour guide if you canHighly recommend a place to visit!!

I had a great time here even on off season when most flowers were not in bloom. Rich history and plenty to do/explore. If you don’t know where to start there are periodic tram tours which take about 20-30mins, highly recommend. I hope to come back one day and discover the secret gardens (the small gardens that are not posted on the map).If you are interested in their main events (holiday light up events) I suggest buying tickets in advance online or by phone since you might be able to get better deals, but just for a day trip on a weekend or weekday there is no need!Great place to just walk around and take pictures for a few hours!

Such a delight! It's a lot bigger than you think and 2 hours wasn't nearly enough time to find all of the beautiful spots nestled away in this secret garden.There was a beautiful Bonsai exhibit with Japanese fountains and trees. Little pathways brought you to clearing with art installations, pools, little rivers and a lake. Shaded gazebos with benches were located throughout. I was really impressed at how expansive and beautiful these outdoor gardens were.Cultivated paths meandered around trees, water fixtures, statues and meadows with wild flowers. I took a lot of photos. It's truly picturesque!

This was a nice experience overall, but slightly lackluster. It's a very large park with very well maintained trails and such, but there's not too many interesting things to see. There are some flowers and some natural beauties but nothing really stood out too much. It's a nice place for a low key date or place to walk around and be in nature.Note, you can buy tickers at the door or ahead of time. I don't think they sell out too often.Our favorite spots were the butterfly house and the giant chess board in the enchanted forest area.

Great place! Very serene and relaxing place. Great for walking, running or biking. Beautiful Japanese garden, the healing garden that has different herbs (although it could have a bit more) and many other gardens. The boat ride is very relaxing and the tour guide lady provided an excellent service. The boat tour cost a little on top of your admission but it is well worth it, in my opinion.I can highly recommend this place if you are looking for some peace and comfort from nature.

The Garden hosted an event for parents of children that have been murdered. They gave us a narrated tram tour of the gardens. Beautiful place to explore & relax. So peaceful. The new part that is under construction is going to be great!

Really loved the gardens here. The botanical gardens are huge but they are very well maintained and have a nice flow, it's clearly a labor of love. I greatly enjoyed the 30 minute tram ride around the facilities, they gave some history and talked about the gardens, stopping every so often so people could hop off. Tickets are a out 18$ as of August 2024, worth a visit if you have the money and time. Staff is also super receptive and kind, great place to visit.

The botanical gardens are beautiful! We spent 3 hours walking around and easily could have spent another 1-2 hours. There is a wide variety of things to see. We love walking, but they do have a tram ride or boat ride option as well. You will definitely want to have a map to help guide you through everything. The employees we interacted with were fantastic!

We absolutely love it here!! It is beautiful and perfect for a picnic, adventure, or a little date night. We travel 8 hours annually for this place, it's so magical. Worth the trip! Don't forget a plant cutting in the way out- they are near the entrance!

I really enjoyed the place. I went on a rainy day so it was empty. I had enough time to walk the whole garden, and I enjoyed the silence, peace and communion with nature. I sat by the crystal lake for about 30 minutes, and it was very relaxing. There were not so many flowers in bloom, but that is due to the season.

Very refreshing, be physically readynits a long walk and a good exercise too. Very good scenery is relaxing. You gonna have peace of mind here. Are you gonna hear birds sound very cool. I love it. It's so amazing that I got to experience this once in a lifetime. They also have a butterfly garden, which is my favorite. It feels like you're in paradise. Maybe next year it will be more beautiful as they were still ongoing construction . I like the flowers. Gotta smell it. Its real

4.8

(8038)

4.5

(1133)

6700 Azalea Garden Rd, Norfolk, VA 23518, USA

18 lists

The USS Wisconsin is a must-see! It was an amazing and educational experience, walking through this massive battleship and learning about its incredible history.It’s awe-inspiring to think about how the brave Marines lived and served under such tough conditions, all in the name of bringing peace and protecting our freedom.The exhibits were well-presented, and it felt like stepping back in time.The staff was knowledgeable and added so much to the visit.Whether you're into naval history or just want to explore something unique, this place is fantastic. Highly recommend!"

What a great experience for all ages. You visit the WWII Battleship after touring the naval history museum. There's a kid section in the museum that is informative and educational. They offer a guided tour (additional fee) or just walk the ship on your own.Cost of entrance to museum and battleship: $17.95/adult plus tax is $19.25.They did a wonderful job preserving this piece of history and documentation. They describe the ship and life aboard it quite accurately.Wear comfortable foot wear as the ship is huge and lots of walking.I highly recommend this visit as it details a part of the US military history!

Our tour of the USS Wisconsin battleship will always be a memorable moment during our visit to VA. We learned so much touring the ship, the time it took to go through everything was well worth it! So many interesting rooms and so much to see. I am happy that my fiancé who is in the Navy took us here and educated us about this ship as our children who are 9 and 7 years old will never forget this experience as well. The museum as well was very nice! I would revisit here many more times as this is a great place to visit and well worth the cost!

Awesome place to go, so much to learn, free to explore so much for a couple of hours, very reasonably priced entrance fee and very kind sailors aboard that give information about the ship! A must see if you are passing by the city! ⚓🏙️ 🚢

Very interesting experience, you can do a self guided tour of the ship and the small museum. There's a gift shop. Great for history lovers and military.

I've never been on a Navy ship. It was so cool and massive. I definitely want to do it again when it's not so hot. The ship in certain places was hot. This ship is massive while walking around on the different floors.

The Wisconsin is an amazing ship! Downtown Norfolk, it looks like it just idled up to the city!This ship saw service from the 1940s - 1990s. Was redone, retrofitted and reconfigured for modern warfare. It’s big!Well kept and maintained, good tours and a really neat experience. Worth a visit.

Great experience. Massive ship and lots to explore. So huge you can loose weight walking through it for an hour. Great place, also be sure to check out the gift shop. Definetly recommend going here

we were on the ship for a college graduation. Really beautiful ship, very aesthetic and has great views. You can definitely tell that there’s a lot of history behind this ship.

They let you go on an unguided tour of the ship. There were people working there to explain things if you had questions. The ship was beyond impressive. Except for the bridge and gun turrets you can see pretty much everything else. Well worth a visit.

Very cool big boat. Also extra cool it’s named after our fav state. Some interesting history through its service. Seeing it up close really makes you think about all the awesome people who served on it. They allow you to see a few internal decks. But a lot is off limits, which is unfortunate. I really wanted to see the bridge and engine room and that was not possible. Also banged my noggin a few times, but I’m over 6 ft so if you’re tall be careful.

This was an amazing experience for me and my family. We spent 2.5 hours exploring every level of this amazing battleship and learning about its history and the BRAVE service men and women who dedicate their lives to this beautiful nation and the protection of our people. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES!

Great place to visit. There is a lot to see. Very educational. Just be mindful that it is a lot of walking and going up and down stairs. The stairs are narrow and a steep walk down/ up the stairs. Also, in the hallways going through the doors, you do need to step up to go through. Some areas have AC, but many areas do not. It's definitely a great outing. You won't regret it! There is no on street parking you will have to park in the garage,which is very close to the entrance.

The Naval Museum and the USS Wisconsin are a good way for families to learn about the US Navy from the Revolution to Desert Storm. The third floor has a science area for kids to enjoy. We were disappointed they don’t validate parking n the deck you’d need to park in to visit.

A great place to visit and learn history of the BB-64 battle ship as well and me and my best friend Todd took the kids here in 2018 as well a few other friends to which we all had a blast seeing the ship and the museum as well.

A Monument to Naval MightMy tour of the USS Wisconsin was an unforgettable experience. This iconic battleship, a testament to American engineering and naval prowess, transported me back in time. From the imposing exterior to the intricate details of the interior, every aspect of the ship was a marvel.The guided tour was informative and engaging. Our knowledgeable guide brought the history of the Wisconsin to life, sharing fascinating stories of its wartime service and the men who served aboard. Exploring the ship's various compartments, from the engine room to the bridge, provided a unique glimpse into the daily life of sailors.The Wisconsin is more than just a museum piece; it's a living history lesson. Stepping onto its decks, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and respect for the ship and its crew. If you're a history buff, a naval enthusiast, or simply looking for a unique and memorable experience, I highly recommend visiting the USS Wisconsin.

Always amazing to see such a formidable ship right here downtown. I highly recommend the Nauticus museum to learn more about the history. The inside of the ship is as awesome as the outside.

This is the 3rd Iowa class Battleship I've visited. The ship is in great shape and the staff are very helpful and knowledgeable. The highlight of today's your was getting to meet a gentleman (who turns 89 next week!) that served on The Wisconsin in the early 50s. He is a true treasure chest full of stories and experiences with this awesome bit of engineering. I should note there is no onsite parking (Google lies) but there are two parking garages literally across the street.

We loved visiting this place! Going through that ship is remarkable, and trying to understand what sailors go through to live on a ship, they have to be remarkable people to live a life, such as that. I can’t walk through this place without thinking all those that have served to protect me and my country, and you are greatly appreciated! I’m thankful for museum such as this to help us understand more about our history and those that have fought for us to be able to continue to have history!

4.8

(5786)

4.5

(1688)

1 Waterside Dr, Norfolk, VA 23510, USA

25 lists

We enjoyed our visit to this place. It was a nice change of pace from the larger places we also hit (Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center and Virginia Zoo). Although I think it was our least favorite, it was still great! Our four year old was able to touch some stuff in the tank, watch numerous fish get fed, and see a wide variety of animals! He really enjoyed the dinosaur discovery trail and the otter! He was also able to play inside at the vet center. It was a great way to spend a few hours! We would come back.

This was an interesting little zoo/museum. Focusing mostly on the Virginia and Chesapeake Bay, they also have facts about history of the area. They have some dinosaur exhibits and interesting outdoor walkways. I didn't get to do the planetarium and was a little bummed about that. They do have special events. Worth checking out if your in the area. They aren't really large and certainly geared towards younger kids around 4 to 7.

This was totally awesome. It's a mix between a museum and a zoo. It was a great adventure. We didn't get to try the Cafe because it was closed mid day but we got some things from the gift shop and that was nice. The animals were fabulous and the setup was perfect.

Really fabulous museum. My 8 year old had a blast exploring all of the different areas and exhibits. We will definitely be returning

What a hidden gem. We were driving through the area and needed a place to stop to stretch our legs. We were blown away by all that the Living Museum had to offer. Everything was thoughtfully laid out and easy to navigate. The boardwalks led from the main building to little pockets of activities.Having high sensory seeking kids, the indoor and outdoor spaces were very sensory and neuro-diverent friendly. Nothing was loud or overstimulating. They let nature take the main stage, and it was wonderful. We will definitely be back in the future.Being a part of the Museums for All initiative an added bonus as well.

They were doing construction but in the areas that were up and running, a lot of the animals weren't in the exhibit. Also, the space for the animals were very small. The flying squirrels were inside in (what looked to be) a closed in 3 by 2 space. No room to really fly! The staff was very friendly. I only saw staff at the front desk so there wasn't anyone walking around to assist with anything and if you use your WIC card, the price goes down from $25+ to $3. Overall, it was a good place to go just to get out of the house with small kids but I wouldn't say it was a trip to go out of your way for or pay the $25+.

Went with my 19 month old daughter and she had a blast, perfect place for younger children. It was not busy at all which made the experience overall better for us. The best part was going outside on the outdoor trail underneath the trees towards the dinosaurs. My daughter loves dinosaurs so it was definitely a treat for her.

This is a great place to spend a day with your children. Tickets start at $16.95, where 2 and under are admitted free. This place is highly educational with plenty of interactive exhibits focused on local floral and fauna. The overall property is mobile friendly and easy to navigate. Some of the exhibits were closed, as well as the back part of the park, where they house the bobcat. Some of the animals were not visible, such as the otters and raccoons. The outside trail is covered under a beautiful canopy of local trees. The museum is feeling a little dated. The dinosaur trail is definitely a hit with the kids. I did pay $6 for a ticket to see the Virginia Skies at the Abbitt planetarium. It was an enjoyable live interactive projected show. There's plenty of picnic tables thru out the property. I'm sure this is a popular school field trip option for the local kids. At the entrance, there is a fun gift shop with plenty of items for sale. The only food option is a hot dog food truck, at least on Sunday when we visited.

Wow! Part zoo, part museum, ALL fun! We had our 6-, 4 ½- and 3-year-old grandkiddos with us, and they all had a blast... and so did we!Aviary was good - Children's Garden was fantastic - especially the hobbit house.Beavers, wrestling otters & foxes were the faves.One of the zookeepers let the kids help her feed the catfish, and they were thrilled!

Our kids range in age from 10 to 14, and our adults spanned from 40s to 70s - we all had a great time at the Virginia Living History Museum. This place had just the right mix of hands-on attractions, fascinating Virginia animals and fish, an engaging outdoor walking experience, and lovely planetarium. We went to Williamsburg for colonial fun, but I am so glad we set aside a day to come here and learn so many new things about our state. Such a relaxing, pleasant, and educational experience!

This place is absolutely amazing, I highly recommend coming here if you are interested in wildlife! It's like a small zoo and an aquarium without all of the people. Great place for children as there are plenty of activity areas. They even have a zoo-like dinosaur exhibit!

If you are an adult and go, please remember your sense of play! Great place to spend the day with kids, or even without!

We love this educational zoo! They're always doing fun, new things that change with holidays or the seasons so no matter when we go there's something new to see. The membership price is well worth it. Photo of the 2023 Halloween event.

I'm a local and very biased. As someone who helped set up the original reptile weekend and display we are lifetime members. Small private museum with very nice displays of local habits habitat and wildlife. While I would always like to see more coastal Newport News wildlife this museum has several examples of the areas natives before development ate the peninsula. Lots of kid friendly activities. A good outdoor and indoor viewing areas. Aquariums are always well set up. Happy to have the living museum in the area.

My kids loved this place! The experience was amazing for them and myself! It was clean and the kids loved every moment!

it was very cute and they have tons of interactive activities. even with some areas being blocked off for renovating, there’s still quite a bit to do there. they even have a small area at the entrance that’s a kids activity room, but my boyfriend and i (23 and 21 year olds) also enjoyed that room and had fun playing animal themed tic tac toe, drawing animals, and playing animal themed connect 4!

There was a lot of schools and kids here when we came but just tried to avoid them and we did fine. Nice setup two floors stuff on each side of the building plus the outside.

This was a great place to go with a 2.5 year old, but it was also quite enjoyable for the adults. The cafe was not open, so I would suggest bringing snacks and drinks. You can't eat them inside, but there is quite a lot of outdoor space. I wouldn't mind visiting again.

It was an afternoon date day. Had a great time felt like a big kid there. Saw so many exciting things. Even played in the glitter sand box. Seen a red wolf who looked very hot and needed water. Went on a 98 degree day. Make sure to have a bottle of water it will get hot walking outside on the trails.

4.7

(4467)

4.5

(767)

524 J Clyde Morris Blvd, Newport News, VA 23601, USA

22 lists

We visited as a family (kids ages 7-13) and had an incredible time. The exhibits were very informative. We really loved the replicas of the ironclad ship the Monitor.We were given scavenger hunts for the kids when we paid the $1 admission. These really kept our kids engaged throughout the whole museum. We spent about 2 hours in total, but it would still be worth it to go back.

Stunning natural beauty. Stopped by on a whim. Took a short walk on the Norton Trail. Came to the bridge and stopped there. Absolutely the most peaceful place. Then I looked down over the water and saw the 🐢 🐢 🐢 turtles. Wow...beautiful creatures. These aren't the loggerheads by the sea, these are Snapping turtles of various sizes. Amazing sight. Do not feed any wild life in any park. But especially here. These turtles can snap a finger in a minute. I watched them from the bridge. Safe distance...next time I'll go further. Loved it💜

This museum is beyond exceptional! We had an amazing visit. The entire USS Monitor exhibit is so well done and interactive and incredible. All in a museum that only costs $1 per person, I literally cannot recommend this museum more!

If you've never heard or seen this place you should definitely come and check it out. The ticket price per person is only $1.00. My son really enjoyed it and wants to go again sometime.

I have been to museums all around the world and this place is absolutely amazing.There is so much to learn about history here, and the artifacts are absolutely wonderful to see this is a must go if you are anywhere in the area. If you love history and museums, I 100% guarantee you will absolutely love this place, and the admission is only $1, and it should be more... I added photos, so check them out.

I was in town on a business trip and stopped here to kill some time before my flight home and was pleasantly surprised. Upon entering, I was greeted by the docents who were very knowledgeable and provided tips on how to best navigate the museum and exhibits.The highlights of the museum are the artifacts from the USS Monitor. You definitely want to watch the movie on the Battle of Hampton Roads between the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia. There's also the International Small Craft Center located in a separate building and an informative exhibit on the America's Cup yacht. But my favorite exhibit was the Miniature Ship Models of August Crabtree.

My interest in visiting this museum wasn't very high, but once inside, that all changed. I ended up spending almost 3 hours here and had to leave because it was getting close to closing time. There is so much history here, and you get to see actual pieces of the Monitor. It was very interesting, to say the least. There was also an exhibit of miniature ships made by August Crabtree. Absolutely a worthwhile visit. This is a great place to visit for both children and adults. Just make sure you leave enough time to enjoy it properly. Admission is only $1, so if you run out of time, you can always come back.

Museum is a great historical masterpiece that is well maintained. Educational, too (solid learning outlet). Beautiful Noland Trail for walking, jogging, sightseeing. Wildlife (deer, raccoons, squirrels, owls, woodpeckers, heron, ducks, turtles) is plentiful but steer clear of humans. Trails have tree roots, wood steps, and wood bridges (uneven terrain). Trails could use maintenance.

We once think this is a museum of telling history, but after we visited, we agree this is the museum for education, better to visit with your children. The most exhibits are modern ship models, and they will show how this model was made. Maybe the story behind the model will insist many people to learn.

We had an amazing experience at The Mariners' Museum and Park in VA! There is ample parking. Restrooms are cleans. The exhibits were captivating, providing a fascinating journey through maritime history. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, adding depth to the visit. The park surrounding the museum is picturesque, offering a serene escape. A must-visit for history enthusiasts and anyone looking for an enjoyable day out.Ohh Yaa! Guess the entrance fee. It’s $1.00, yap you heard it right. entrance fee is just a buck.

Loved it!! I'm visiting from GA and didn't really know much about it. The Battle Theater movie is a MUST and it was very educative on what happened between the two ironclads. The rest of the exhibits made a lot more sense once I watched that.The life size Monitor was fun to walk on, and the small part of the replica CSS Virginia that you can go inside was fun too.The scavenger hunt for kids kept everyone super attentive and involved and because it's basically just a checklist, kids of most ages can participate.We had a wonderful time!! I highly recommend it if you're in the area. Plus, it's only $1!!

I cannot believe it is only a dollar to get in. The exhibits are phenomenal and the collection is comprehensive. I cannot wait to go back. The Monitor display is so cool. Make sure to watch the film in the gallery to understand why it is so important.

So much to see and read. They also had interactive screens with videos. It took us 3 1/2 hrs to go through because we like to read the info and watch all of the videos. The garden is pretty too. The Cafe wasn't open because it was a Monday, I guess. They also have a reasonably priced gift shop. The people are very friendly. I can't believe it cost just $1 per person.

Amazing! If you are in the VA Beach area, definitely go see the museum. $1 admission which means basically free!

Enjoyed the walk around the museum and the museum itself. Would definitely come back and visit again

Wonderful museum. Only a dollar a person to get in. Great exhibits and helpful and knowledgeable staff. A hidden gem in museums.

8.15.2024 me and my son went here and it is a very nice history. Nice place to see if you're near this area. I recommend going in here and having a look at all the history that there is here to see and to learn about.

The best dollar you will ever spend! We spent hours here. Our entire family had an absolute blast! Very interactive and the scavenger hunt was challenging enough to keep us occupied for a while.

oh my God if you love those this place is for you! They have hundreds of thousands of boats and models and anything that has to do with nautical theme!!! I’ve never seen so many boats in one day!!

4.8

(3017)

5.0

(968)

100 Museum Dr, Newport News, VA 23606, USA

4 lists

This has been and remains hands-down, the most beautiful theme park we have been to in North America. The grounds are well-maintained, clean, and curated to fully enhance the entire experience of the European theme. The rides are also well-maintained and at this point, the most fun, thrilling, and smoothest of most coasters on the east coast (InvadR excluded). The food is good and while not cheap, is on par with most theme park fare. On our most recent visit, the crowds were not too bad which makes all the difference. We do not visit or will not stay if there are too many people. This park has developed an issue with a lot of younger people in group harassing people and getting into fights with one another. They have instituted a Chaperone Policy but it remains to be seen if it will be effective. The parking still remains extremely expensive ($32 as of October 2024). There appears to always be at least 1-2 coasters down for every visit, especially Pantheon. In all, this is a must-see for theme park and coaster enthusiasts. Just be aware that your experience can be greatly impacted by the size of crowds.

Always a great place to take the whole family to. They have many ways to get around the park to include a train. They also shuttle to and from the Germany, Italy, and Ireland parking lotsIf you’re a single rider like my self the have a lane for that for most of the roller coasters.Food and drinks are also affordable, but I’d recommend buying a food pass.

Visited on a Sunday, and there was a special on park entrance tickets. They were half off. Parking made up the difference as it is now $32.00 for regular stalls and $64 for up front.Shuttle was convenient and quite a few, so the wait wasn't bad.The entrance to the park was fast and easy.Great food and entertainment (park shows). This visit was in mid-October, so they had their Halloween decorations as well as the characters walking around and scaring visitors.The rides were good but a bit disappointed as a few 3 - 4 roller coasters were not running.All bathrooms were nasty.

This place was absolutely incredible. The attention to detail and the theme of the rides was great... Some of the best roller coasters I've ever been on. My only complaint was we went in June and it was the hottest I've probably ever been and I'm from Florida. Prepare for that if you go in the summer months.

I'm giving this place 5 stars for a few reasons. This was the highlight of our vacation and the best theme park I've ever been to as of yet. The rides were very well built (especially the coasters) and SO MUCH FUN! There was plenty of shade, lots of fans, the lines weren't long at all (no need to buy the speedy pass).The all day dining was absolutely worth every penny as well! They hand out free water if you need it in case you don't want to buy the pass. We only ate once all day. You get a tray with meat, sides, a drink and dessert, but you can grab drinks of your choice every 90 minutes. The different countries all around the park was very cool and the park is absolutely stunning. It was a little difficult to find some of the rides though. The park is so vast but set up a little confusing. It was a great time though & We will definitely be back!

It took quite a while to get to a parking spot and about 30 minutes to even get into the park, and it was around 12:30. I did also wish that there were more shaded areas for the hot days, like the day we went. There were a lot of options for food and souvenirs, but of course it was quite expensive. We watched the Celtic show there and it was very enjoyable. The rides we went on were fun, but my favorite part was hands down the Lorikeets! We spent at least 20-30 minutes with them. They were so cute and friendly. The staff did let us know how to approach them. I would come back just to see the birds.

It's so easy to see why Busch Gardens has repeatedly (33 years?) been voted 'most beautiful amusement park.' Many years ago, the Loch Ness Monster was the first (big) roller coaster that I ever rode. I'm proud to say that the exact same sentiment now applies to my 8-year-old daughter. We went straight to it upon entering the park and absolutely loved it. Her second ride was front seat!The park is beautiful and clean. The variety of rides, games, and attractions are plentiful and very fun. The roller coasters are great; Pantheon is my favorite. For the younger ones, Elmo Land is also really nice with rides and water features.All staff that we encountered were professional and courteous, including Guest Services.It was a great Father's Day (and the next day, too!). We look forward to returning again soon!

Had a wonderful family trip to this beautiful park. Was a pleasure to spend the day walking and exploring the well designed, and elegant park layout. It was a hot day, but so many trees helped to easily find shade when needed. The lines for attractions moved quickly and the staff were friendly and attentive. Was much too big to see everything in one day. Will need a couple of days to really do the whole park.

This Park is beautiful. We went the first week of June on a weekday, and there was absolutely no crowd whatsoever. Just walked on to every ride. The drawback to this "off season" week is that almost no food places are open, and most of all the small drink stations are closed. The park is also very large and spread out. It is difficult to figure out which way to go to get to a particular attraction. If it is crowded, I doubt you would be able to explore the entire park in one day. The only reason for 4 stars is the parking. First, they have what appears to be 10 stations to pay for parking when you fist pull in, but there is only 1 person handling 2 alternating lanes, so it takes forever to pay. Also, the parking lot lines are completely worn off, so it is hard to see where to park, and there is only 1 person guiding you. The exit from the parking lot is also not well marked. The whole parking thing needs to be changed to be more efficient.

My first visit to this park and I had a great time. I had never been to Busch Gardens before and I am a native Virginian. I would definitely visit again. The lines weren't to long for rides, there was plenty of shade, and it a great atmosphere. The food was good and the prices was fairly reasonable. If you are looking for a friendly atmosphere and great time.. Busch Gardens is a great place to visit.

As proud season pass holders at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, we can't say enough about the endless enjoyment and value this park provides. The inclusion of parking with the season pass is a major plus, making our visits even more hassle-free and enjoyable.Busch Gardens Williamsburg goes above and beyond in their support for the military community. They offer free day passes annually to military personnel and three of their family members, showcasing their gratitude and commitment to those who serve. Additionally, their free preschool (ages 3-5) passes ensure that even the youngest members of the family can join in the fun without any extra cost.The park is renowned for its incredible shows and events, providing entertainment for all ages. One event that stands out for us is their Christmas celebration. The park transforms into a festive wonderland with stunning light displays, joyous music, and holiday-themed attractions, creating a magical atmosphere that's perfect for the holiday season.Overall, Busch Gardens Williamsburg offers a remarkable blend of thrilling rides, top-notch entertainment, and exceptional customer service. Our season passes have been an excellent investment, granting us unlimited access to all the fun and excitement this park has to offer. We highly recommend Busch Gardens Williamsburg for unforgettable family memories and year-round entertainment.

Surprisingly not crowded on Father's Day so it was enjoyable to walk around and get on not-so-long lines for the rides. I'd say their roller coaster rides are impressive. And they do have a few rides and animals that toddlers could enjoy.. I will say that they did not have that much rides for 5-8 yr olds who might be too scared for the bigger rides but also too big for the toddler rides. Other than that, I still say it was enjoyable today. And we also truly appreciate the annual free military tickets plus up to 3 more free tickets for dependents.

We were part of a large group, 180+ people. It went very well. The children loved it. The provided lunch was good, not great. The employees were very good. The park could use better signage and way-finding. The park app did not help much. The giant fans were refreshing on a hot day!

Great place for entertainment for all ages! Toddler park is filled with everything the littles love to do. Rides for dare devils and rides for those who don't like all the twists and drops like the bumper cars, pirate ship, and tea cups. Games that will run your pockets but I have seen many winners. The park is now cashless so bring your card. They even offer free ice water at the drink shops. Wear comfortable shoes because you will get your steps in.

Went on a Friday; (8.1.2024) low or no wait times for all rides, longest wait all day 45min for DarkCoaster. Quick Pass cost was $100 per person on the date of our visit (more than our 3day passes per person) and so we opted not to buy them & take our chances. As it turns out we didn’t need them ! Clean, beautiful Amusement park with lots of really fun rides! Beautiful wildlife exhibits, shows, tons of food options for every taste pallet, multiple displays of public art and enhanced landscaping everywhere!! Massive compliments to the staff & the park for offering free ice water everywhere!! Definitely recommend visiting on a weekday vs. weekend just for crowds & wait time advantages. I recommend highly to Buy your tickets online prior to your visit avoid the big lines at guest services upon entry ; also watch for discounts regularly; they change. We will return for sure! 👍 👍👍 (Family of 6 all over age 18)

We had a great time for two reasons. The weather was perfect and it was not crowded. That said, this park just kept finding ways throughout the day to disappoint. First, I would strongly suggest BG invest some money into software to improve the customer experience. The app is a piece of crap. It is super glitchy and constantly closes.$30 for parking is really steep. It just is. Not having a good, detailed map available is absolutely inexcusable. If you are not going to provide a paper map that people can very quickly look at see where they've been, see where they need to go, mark off their must-do items... then at least put a good map on your app. That is, after you fix the app so that it actually works. It would be really great to be able to make a list of your top priority items , and then be able to see them on the map, and remove them as you do them.. anything at all that allows your user to plan their day, literally, anything. Food was okay but line wait times are crazy, I can only imagine how it is on a busy day.

We had a good experience here! There are a lot of big roller coasters and unique rides! I think the layout of the park was a little confusing and needed some more signs. But overall, it was a great amusement park and I highly recommend it all ages. My favorite ride was the Pantheon roller coaster.

This place is awesome! I only give it 4 stars because the operations left a bit to be desired in my opinion (some rides closed kind of early) and the food could have been better for the prices. I assume some of that is staff issues, as pretty much everywhere has right now. I was very impressed that they had Alpengeist back up and running within 2 hours of our arrival! Overall, we had an excellent time and we will be back, definitely worth the 4 hour trip! 🤘

Great theme park with friendly staff! Enjoyed my time there with my wife! Lots of fun coasters and other rides... We also enjoyed the jukebox show! We used the free military admission tickets and didn't need the quick queue pass to enjoy rides with relatively short wait times! We also enjoyed the aviary and seeing the rescued animals throughout the park.

4.5

(38593)

4.5

(9225)

1 Busch Gardens Blvd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

+58 other lists

It is completely our fault for realizing not a lot is open this time of year and NOTHING is open after 5pm. Fortunately, we had not yet bought tickets. So we bought the self-guided audio walking tour from Action Tour Guide. I loved it. The 12 year old was bored and the 16 year was nostalgic from when she came with grandparents when she was younger. Not a criticism, just a heads-up.

Colonial Williamsburg exceeded expectations by far. I thought it was just going to be a tourist trap, but it wasn’t. Even the service at the ticket counter was super nice. The tickets are expensive but worth it if you spend the entire day. We walked over on the path from the welcome center, but there is also a shuttle. Our first stop was the governors palace. We attended a talk by Patrick Henry, and then we did a tour of the governors palace. Christine did a fantastic job. Everyone was extremely knowledgeable and nice to my kids. There are places to eat right offsite or in “town.” You can find the open exhibits because they have a flag outside. You cannot do everything in one day, so prioritize what you want to see.

Amazing and beautiful! Our family loves Williamsburg. An awesome opportunity to teach your littles a piece of history or maybe learn a little more yourself! You don’t need to purchase tickets to walk around but if you want to tour the insides or certain buildings you will need to purchase tickets online or at the visitor center. You can walk to the colonial town from the merchant square or if you start at the visitor center you walk over the bridge and start from there. There are shuttles as well that can take you to and from the historic area. Definitely worth the visit if you enjoy history!

Efficient handling of visitors with friendly, cheerful staff. Wonderful treatment of Veterans, including annual pass for the price of a single visit (one multi-day pass).Bright and comfortable environment.

A place every American should visit. A town restored to the 1700’s which has amazing architecture, gardens, and history. Quite peaceful when we went. I came here as a child and wanted to get my kids here now. The living historians were excellent. Recommend the carriage ride and ghost tour if you have time. Learn the history of the country and of our founding fathers. Places like this need our support or we will lose them forever.

Peaceful atmosphere, great customer service, amazing food. I love the colonial houses with the wreath's and Christmas decorations. Photos taken Dec. 31, 2021. (Blue light started appearing in my pictures when I started taking pictures at the beautiful church)

Informative and fun place to visit. Be sure to get at least the one day pass in order to get the full effect of the many docents and role players throughout the site. You can park and walk for free, but you need a pass to enter most of the historic buildings. See artisans at work: printers, blacksmiths, carpenters, bakers, homeowners, etc etc. You also get to ride the shuttle buses with a paid ticket. You can expect to do a lot of walking. NOTE: MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS are the days off for all of the main restaurants and some of the historic homes. You can take the shuttle or walk to the market area which is technically outside the historic district, and find some restaurants open. Also, if you are active, retired or a military vet, you will get discounts on admission and in any of the merchant stores. There's also a USO style building with free coffee and drinks. If you have a challenge coin, bring it and they will trade it for one of theirs. There's a wall full of ones that vets have brought in. All of this will be explained by the friendly ticket agents at the welcome center. You can avoid waiting in line by buying tickets online, but we had a lot more information from the live folks. All of the period costumed staff throughout the site are more than willing to assist with any questions you might have.

I went with my husband to see if I would enjoy it for a second time 25 years later. It did not disappoint. If you want to go on any tours such as a carriage ride or night ghost tour you need to book them in advance, they were sold out when we got there for the day. We did the guided tours watched Thomas Jefferson on the stage and enjoyed walking the town. We didn't pay attention to time and missed the taverns open hours so we picked up a few snacks from the bakery.

As annual pass holders and yearly donors to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, it is always a real privilege to come out and spend a week in Colonial Williamsburg. The historical interpreters, the hosts and guides through out the town, and the services provided each day create a very engaging and unique trip back in time. We have been coming for decades (both during the summer for Revolutionary weeks and at Christmastime), and there are new stories and discoveries every time we visit. Williamsburg does a fantastic job at paying homage to the founding generation, analyzing the complexities of the era in which they lived, and providing experiences with all facets of colonial life. Paying a visit to CW also provides great day trips to Yorktown, Jamestown, Richmond, and Monticello…history in every footstep for the avid historian to the novice family and student. Highly recommend a multi-day visit for any family (day one for the cornerstone buildings and tours like the Capitol and Governors Palace, day two for the interpretations and audiences with the national builders, and day three for the trades and shops). Fantastic evening experiences highly recommend include Cry Witch, Ghosts of Williamsburg, and Musical Concerts and Dances. Complete the week with a dinner at a tavern for the full experience. Most importantly, always great time for a relaxing stroll through the gardens, take in a farmers market, embark on a carriage ride, and swap stories with travellers from around the country…Williamsburg has it all. We thoroughly enjoyed Revolutionary week and the 4th of July festivities. Can’t wait to get back for Christmastime in December.

My experience here was incredible. It's a kid friendly tourist attraction because of how much space you have for strollers, etc...the tickets were 50$ a person at the time of our visit but we actually didn't purchase them and still we enjoyed walking around Williamsburg because of how beautiful it was. Sure, we couldn't get into many of the nice buildings and enjoy the reenactments & history lessons but we still saw a great deal of reenactments outside with folks making it seem like you were walking 200 + years ago. This place is incredibly beautiful and worth your visit and ticket money to walk into buildings (from what I've heard), yet if you want to go cheap, just to walk around is a true treat.

Colonial Williamsburg is one of my favorite places to visit when I’m in Virginia. Everything has been accurately restored and is amazing to explore both inside and out. The actors stay in character and are very knowledgeable. The food and drink selection within can be hard to find, however, every store has items for purchase. There’s also a tavern and restaurant on the grounds for paid visitors. North on Duke of Glouster Street, going towards the College of William and Mary, you can find more food and drink selections plus other shopping choices. I would recommend setting aside an entire day or more to properly visit and experience everything Colonial Williamsburg has to offer. Also, consider donating to this phenomenal institution as it relies heavily on donations for its operation and upkeep. It’s well worth the money!!

We loved it BUT. . .We went on Juneteenth when admissions free to colonial Williamsburg and the attractions. We loved the history, the tours, and the atmosphere BUT. . . There are really NO kids eating options besides Raleigh Tavern Bakery which had 2 options a salad or sandwich for a main and cookie or brownies for a dessert; they also had drinks and that was about it. All other dining was a bit fancy and expensive, if you want kid options you either have to bring your own lunch or go all the way back to the Market Square. The other issue we had was the BUSES!!! OMG. PLEASE FIX THE WAY THEY LOAD THEM. If you are at some of the last bus stops you won't be able to get on a bus they are always full, people were waiting hours before they could get on so if u don't want to wait hours you will have to walk all the way back to the parking lot!!I loved the experience but the food options and bus situation are making us hesitant to go back.

This place will be whatever you make it out to be. There are so many people in costume and with so much knowledge and they w a by you to engage with them. If you do, your experience will be richer. This place is interesting in that it’s both tremendously important historically and also a bit of a tourist trap. It’s definitely worth coming to and you won’t see it all in one day.

Huge, but nicely done center. The main building was impressive outside and inside both. Friendly, knowledgeable staff were on hand to assist with information, questions, and purchases.Two large gift shops with just-about-everything items and gifts you could imagine as pertinent to the history and area. Great movie facility with a surprisingly enjoyable movie to help with understanding the sociopolitical climate of that time. Large, clean bathrooms, ample seating about, and lots of ticket kiosks.

Worth a visit from anywhere. It's great to be able to visit the homes and workshops, where folks act like 18th century villagers. The tree lined streets and air conditioned buildings made it pleasant even on a hot July day.

Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center is a very nice area. In the building they have two gift shops, plenty of separate counters for admission tickets, etc. Most of the employees seem very nice and helpful. The grounds of the visitor center is also very well maintained. The only negative that we have is - I am a veteran so we asked for the veteran discount and it wasn’t much of a discount. We were surprised, due to the military significance of Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Without the US Military there wouldn’t be very much positive history in this area. We still recommend.

You can easily spend three days here, there is so much to explore and learn! I’ve never been to a place like this, where you’re taken back to the 1700, fully immersed! It was fun for the family to walk down the roads, view all the historic buildings, talk to the cast (who have amazing knowledge about that era), and truly feel we were part of that small town from way back when.

4.6

(9224)

4.5

(12871)

101 Visitor Center Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

4 lists

If you are coming to Jamestown, you should absolutely go see the original spot where the colonists landed. They had active archaeological digging to test water levels in the soil to monitor the preservation of artifacts, which was a really neat thing to see.They had a fantastic museum that really gave me a true perspective on some of the harsh realities that the colonists experienced when they first landed.The greatest part about purchasing the tickets to come see historic Jamestown is that you can also use those tickets to go over to the York Battlefield and enjoy that, too. And once purchased the tickets are good for the whole week so even if you don't have the time to see everything in one day you can always come back throughout your stay

This is an awesome place just to walk the grounds to see everything restored and preserved from over 400 years ago. The view of the James River is beautiful, and it must have been very interesting starting the first permanent English settlement in North America back in 1607.

So amazing to see an active archaeological site, to hear about the history, and to learn about the process of discovering and preserving the artifacts and building remains. Any time that we can stand in the same place people did centuries ago, and learn a bit about what their lives were like, it's pretty fascinating.I also did the 'In the Vault' tour which was easily the highlight of my trip to this area. On this tour, we saw some of how they preserve the artifacts found here, the projects some of the archaeologists are currently working on, and learned fascinating details about some recent discoveries and the processes used by the conservators and curators. If you're at all interested in archaeology, this is an amazing opportunity to go behind the scenes and see things most people don't. I think this tour only happens once a month, so check the schedule if you're interested, and definitely buy tickets in advance.

It was cool. Where comfy shoes, not saddles bc it is quite a walk to see all the exhibits and lots of gravel pathways. I appreciate how much available seating sprinkled about so when you get tired from walking and need a break, a bench isn't far away.You can tell they took care and time setting up the exhibits. It is easy to understand the history that took place here.

This was my second visit as I was here in 2011 with my husband and children. This time I was with husband and parents. My dad has done genealogy and has found our ancestor was Abraham Piercy so a little different visit knowing this enjoyed the tour guides enjoyed the museums it was a great visit barring the fact hurricane Helene was upon us

This place is absolutely awesome! It was like walking through history. We don’t even have time to see everything it was so big! There’s a museum and a whole outdoor exhibit.

Unique experience of visiting this very first permanent British settlement in North America, right beside the James River. Between the waves of visitors to the site, you can have some quality alone time feeling the cool blowing wind from the river side and mind-conversing with the remains left by the small community that once lived and struggled here to prosper. The site is still be excavated by archaeologists and volunteers.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!! This is a MUST for schools whether local, or even out of state!! The knowledge found here for children and adults is beyond comprehension! This information is HISTORY IN THE MAKING!! To have visited today and having met a few of the archaeological team currently digging to continuously unearth artifacts dating back some 400+ years to earlier settlers of the Colonial Era when John Smith uprooted the Fort there at Jamestown, and well, … it quite breathtaking for a historian such as I to be standing in a place where the first democracy took shape. There are absolutely no words to express the surrealism of standing in this place. But then to turn and see the name of your ancestors on the wall or yet the very root of your family’s last name and thus your heritage, right there … it’s astounding!! When visiting Williamsburg, VA I recommend staying at Aldrich Bed & Breakfast where you have the opportunity of selecting several personal guided tours from Mr. Tom Patton, he and his wife Sue Patton are the Innkeepers. Mr. Patton is a Licensed Tour Guide. You have the opportunity of selecting a tour of Jamestown Island, Colonial Williamsburg, and/or Yorktown with Mr. Tom Patton. Feel free to visit their website aldrichhouse dot com. Mr. Patton has a knack for making the history of Williamsburg come alive as you tour, ITS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. You literally feel as though you are there during that period!

I came here 40 years ago and took my family. Great learning experience on American history. Well done. Great park rangers.

The location of the original fort was new to me. It was amazing to see the footprint where the English colonizers landed. The indigenous people and culture is important and there were artifacts in the new museum near the old fort. The artifacts are amazing! There is a cafe on site. The active archeological digs are informative. Walk the boardwalk trail to the old fort and pay the entrance fee there and it's only $15 if you don't have a lot of time and want to see one Jamestown thing in a few hours. The old fort is the best.

Very interesting historical place. Our guide Mark was phenomenal. We actually stayed all day to hear his afternoon tour

I haven't been back here for 30 years since I was a child, and I returned today with my kid and got to relive my childhood. Place looks so much better than what I remember as far as the museum areas go, and I'm happy they got as much going on as they do as this is an excellent place to preserve. Would highly recommend and I'm more than likely to come back with the family to tour the grounds a little more slowly. Had a wonderful time!

Highly recommend this historic area that contains both National site with interpretive signs and remaining/restored ruins along with past and ongoing Jamestown Rediscovery (VA) efforts which continues to bring stories to life. Take time in the museum to see the unearthed treasures (and then go back to where they were found!). Tasty sandwiches at the cafe. Archeological staff eagerly shared their recent finds and educated us about the phases and their ongoing efforts. SO glad we chose this over Jamestown Settlement as we were looking for actual historic sites.

This historical site has many interesting stories of the past. The walking areas are self guided tours. One tour guide is available in the old church. The kids enjoyed learning about the role of archeologists in the Ed Shed. The one drawback is that you will need to pay twice once for the initial Jamestown area and one for the bay area/church/barracks.

The site itself is pretty cool, albeit presented without much fanfare. Favorite part is definitely the archaeological museum that they have, whose staff are top notch knowledgeable and very interesting to listen to - in particular one Native speaker, I believe his name was also Daniel, gave one of the most in depth looks into the history of the first peoples here I'd ever heard.

This is the original Jamestown settlement. There is the US National Park and the Preservation Virginia area. There are two separate admissions. The Preservation Virginia side host the Archaearium Archaeology Museum, the Memorial Church, statues of John Smith and Pocahontas, and a fort replica. The National Park side has an obelisk monument and the grounds of the new Jamestown Settlement.

I would give it 5 stars but they have fenced off the best parts of the historic areas requiring a separate $15.00 entry fee. I was told this started in October 2023. Sort of a shame what the powers to be did here.

If you enjoy history and archaeology, you'll love this place! We were so surprised how amazing it was to see a place literally where the country began. The whole Pocahontas story is definitely real and this is where it happened! Ruins from early houses, old weapons and told, it's all here and actual archaeological digs are being done currently. The staff is top notch if you take time to go on a short tour but if you just walk to to an archaeologist doing the work, they're happy to talk to you. Highly recommend this stop on your itinerary!

The NPS has done a lot of archaeological digging in the last 30 years and recreated the fort and a couple of buildings in their original location. It was amazing to walk exactly where my ancestors spent time 325 years ago.

4.7

(4034)

4.5

(5576)

1368 Colonial Nat'l Historical Pkwy, Jamestown, VA 23081, USA

2 lists

We finally made it to Jamestown settlement on this trip. There's a lot to look at and experience for the price, which was surprising. They do have discounts at counter if you qualify, but even $20 is still a good price (I think lower price for kids). There's a big museum, bunch of walk- through areas, a fort, the grounds, the ships (however the Susan Constant is away for renovations) - there's still two others to board, an Indian town....... just plenty to see. There's also a resting station out on the grounds including restrooms, drink vending machines, ice cream cart and shade covered areas. There's a lot to see and learn, definitely recommend. Make sure to have water and dress for the warm/ hot weather.

Excellent activity. Ships, fort, and museum are a must visit in this area. The cafeteria food was excellent and reasonably priced for a tourist area. Also offered a veteran’s discount.

The museum was great! There is a few things to see outside, but majority of our time was spent in the museum portion. There is lots of reading so be prepared to use your brain.

Very interesting place to visit if you want to understand the history of the settlers in the United States. It was fascinating seeing how people built and lived in a community before modern technology. This is a nice place to stroll leisurely through history. I highly recommend visiting this historical location and seeing what it took to survive in a transitional period.

Very educational! Everyone was friendly! The reenactors we’re very educational and answered questions. Great. We love the ships! And the Indian reservation.

Excellent place for the family. The Cafe has great options and isn't terribly priced all things considered. The gift shop has so much to offer you may spend longer there than viewing the exhibits.The outdoor area with the village, fort and ships were by far the family favorite. Indoor area are a great relief from the weather. I can't think of any negatives considering I got in for free being a York County resident. Maybe spent too much in the gift shop 🤷‍♂️ 5/5 would definitely recommend

What an awesome place. You can spend the day here at $18 per ticket (kids are less or free). Very nice flow and set up. They have an outdoor area including replica ships and settlements. The staff are nice and friendly. There is a pretty large informative museum, gift shop and cafe. We had more fun here than Williamsburg at less than half the price.

This place was absolutely fantastic! The museum is AMAZING! And the live reenactment museum parts (Native American section, the fort, and the ships) are excellent! We spent like 5 hours here and never got bored. It was so great and the employees (especially the ones doing the reenactments) were very knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. Every few minutes, my wife and I looked at each other, amazed at what a great place it is and a great deal. My kids learned so much from our time here and I would certainly pay to come back in the future. Even the gift shop was the greatest gift shop I've ever been in! All the stuff they sold wasn't complete junk and it was reasonably priced! Everything about this place is 1,000x better than Colonial Williamsburg (we went yesterday and it was disappointing). The ONLY negative thing I could say about this place is the confusion between this place, the "settlement" and the "historic site" which is the National Park.They also currently have an exhibit for Ruth Carter, the award winning costume designer for many films. It was a surprise to find at a Jamestown museum, but we loved it and spent a long time admiring the costumes and her work.

I enjoyed this site the best. Went to Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg. But, would have rather spent more time here.We went mid-week to avoid crowds, but many areas are closed during slower times.So, see it all with a crowd or avoid crowds and see partial.

This visit was a mix of good and bad, but I believe it was a mostly positive experience. We got food first before exploring and it was really good, if we lived in the area, we would visit for the brownie alone. While the indoor part of the experience was nice and informative, the outdoor exhibits were a little uncomfortable. Like some of the more negative reviews people have, the fact that we didn't see any Native American people as reenactors felt a little uncomfortable. I'm not going to speak much on that as I don't have any insight into the situation at the museum.

I'm biased.. I'm not really a history buff..But it was big and air-conditioned . And if your into that stuff you'd enjoy it. They have indoor and outdoor exhibits.

This was alot of fun. We went specifically for the glasshouse which was very cool seeing these skilled seasoned workers create these beautiful pieces. Bring money to buy some of the pieces.

Beautiful places with lots to see. Plenty of indoor and outdoor exhibits. It was really awesome getting on the ships. The staff are friendly and informative. The price is reasonable. Veterans make sure to ask for a discount.

A must visit place. It was a really good experience and learning! Amazing and very dedicated staff. They can talk for hours about history. Good and inexpensive canteen. The stores on site have a very good selection and reasonable prices.

Must see attraction when visiting the area. There is a huge indoor exhibit with wonderful exhibits depicting the establishment of Jamestown.I would allow at least a couple hours to get through the indoor section as there is a lot. I found it a bit hard to navigate through in order, but the displays are great.Outdoor exhibits are well done too. Most of the actors portraying settlers were good, but you could tell some of them didn't want to be there.If you're in the Williamsburg area, take the Colonial highway here. It's a much more scenic drive!

This place was amazing! We spent hours here and couldn’t even cover all of it. The exhibits were incredible and I highly recommend it for the whole family, especially history buffs.

An incredible experience with history; It's like taking a time machine and going back to colonial time. The exhibits are highly illustrative and interactive. I loved the opportunity to listen to a guide explain the entire complicated process of throwing a shot in the times of the first European settlers in the area.

Great museum! Start in galleries at 1607 and continue up to 1690. Then go outside and visit the English settlement, Indian village and 3 ships. Wonderful docents in costumes.

Sure a great experience. They have active demonstrations and craft new tools and such using the old ways while teaching. This is definitely one of the top museums that we have been to from coast to coast.

4.7

(8362)

4.5

(4451)

2110 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

5 lists

One of the best tours I have ever been on. I wish I caught his name. An older black gentleman. He was incredible. He was so full of knowledge and the way he talked to us was just so wonderful. He shared so much about the history of this home and he said he loves history and you can definitely see it. He works directly for the owner of the plantation. I can't say enough about this house if you are interested in plantation life and our country's history and our founding fathers. I would so do this again

Had a great time. The woman in the gift shop was friendly and very knowledgeable. The tour guide was great very friendly knowledgeable. I highly recommend you see this if in the area.

Our tour guide was awesome. She did great job explaining the whole plantation. We had few questions regarding some items and she was able to answer all of them. Glad we got to do this tour! Would definitely do it again !

We did a paranormal ghost hunt so a lot of what we saw was in the dark but the history here is amazing! Shane was so full of information and my husband loved picking his brain. The grounds were beautiful and we now need to go back and see the whole place in the daytime.

Would highly recommend visiting! We had an amazing tour guide who was so knowledgeable & friendly! The plantation is so full of history. I’ve lived in Virginia pretty much my whole life and never knew until today that this is really where the first Thanksgiving took place! Beautiful grounds and full of cardinals! I’ve never seen so many. And King George (the cat) is a very well mannered & handsome little fella! :)

The property and the tour provided us with much information about one of the oldest plantations in the United States. Being the site of the first thanksgiving in 1619 and being the home of Benjamin Harrison V and President William Henry Harrison, one could almost feel the residual historic energy surrounding yourself as you toured the mansion and saw personal belongings and other historic artifacts. Our tour guide maintains a passion for the history of the property, and Berkeley should be proud in preserving such a monument to US History as well as the English Atlantic.

Super guide with lots of historical information shared with enthusiasm.Saw a black snake (ugh) on a tour of the grounds so was thankful the black cat which lives on the property accompanied us on the rest of the tour outdoors.Cool to be onsite where "Taps" was written.

Had a wonderful experience at Berkeley Plantation. Such an historic destination with an unbelievably rich history. Would recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about the origins of this country. The tour guide we had was just awesome.

Beautiful property rich in history. The guided tour was insightful and lasted around thirty minutes. We walked the grounds and went down to the river where the boats would dock to pick up and drop off visitors.

A step back in time, Berkeley Plantation, with an interesting history of changing ownership over the years. We toured the house with Clarence, a fantastic guide, bright-spirited and very knowledgeable. Beautiful house and grounds. Allow an hour to walk around, another hour for the tour. Eye opening family tree - don’t miss it - in the building with bathrooms where a (dated) film runs. The mansion’s entrance hall was used for dancing in the early days, and how I would love to bring my Colonial dance club there!

Beautiful plantation. The tour guide/mgr was terrific! It was too hot to walk around the property but the view was very nice. LOVE that it is still used as a residence sometimes. Thank you(New Jersey).

Loved this plantation. Really enjoyed our guide, I can't quite remember her name but she was really nice, friendly, and informative! She made the tour fun and even had the kids attention the whole time as well. They have a dog there named Chief who roams around the property and he is a super cool friendly loving dog. He toured with us for most of it which was pretty cool.

It was absolutely amazing. I'm really into history so we paid for the tour. I went with my Dad&my 15yr old daughter. Shane was our tour guide&my Dad was beyond impressed. We spent a few hours enjoying the property&walking around. The tour is well worth it.

We went on a rainy afternoon, not sure what we would find. Found the most informative, animated and engaging guide! He brought history to life and was a wealth of information. If it had been sunny, there would have been more people....GO! AMAZING

The guide on our tour was very knowledgeable and made the history of the plantation quite interesting. To see the taps and first Thanksgiving monuments you have to do some walking that is not wheel chair friendly unless you have an "all terrain" chair. Worth the trip.

My husband and I went on a spur-of-the-moment overnight trip to visit Berkeley Plantation which is the home of Benjamin Harrison (one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence) and William Henry Harrison (president with the shortest tenure at 32 days in office). It was also the site of the first English Thanksgiving, which was held on December 4th, 1619.This historic home is a hidden gem for sure! Our tour guide was hilarious and very informative! After a tour of the house, my husband and I had a fun time wandering the grounds.My favorite part of the trip: This friendly void named King George who owns the property and wanders where he pleases. 😄

We walked through the door, to the moment we left this place was awesome. The lady in the front office was very friendly and helpful and also gave us our tour. She was so sweet and even brought the cat George over to see us.The grounds are very clean and well kept. The house is magical! The history is inspiring...There is a monument about taps that will absolutely pull your heart strings.Will be going back

Great experience. Was able to spiritually connect with my ancestors. Could definitely feel their presence.

My wife, cousin, and I visited Berkeley Plantation last Summer. It was a great place to visit. The history of the property is rather remarkable. If you love history, this place is worth visiting. Many Presidents visited this property. I will let the tour guides tell you the rest of the interesting facts.

4.7

(690)

4.5

(510)

12602 Harrison Landing Rd, Charles City, VA 23030, USA

+43 other lists

The staff were genuinely lovely and happy to chat, the grounds were wide-ranging, extensive and easy to get lost in and the house itself was both interesting and well-explained by the audio guide which very, very delicately tried to thread the needle between telling you the history of the house and exquisitely dancing around some of the details of the history of the house, but that's kind of par for the course in this sort of place. Definitely worth visiting if you should happen to be in or around Richmond and looking for a bit of a wander in the open.Just don't trust the guidebook map, because I swear that thing was laughing at me every time I got turned around. ^_^

Maymont is a true gem! Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat in nature or a fun, educational experience, this place has it all. The beautifully maintained gardens are stunning year-round, offering a tranquil space to walk and take in the scenery. The historic mansion is fascinating, providing a glimpse into a bygone era, and the staff is always knowledgeable and friendly. The animal exhibits are also a hit, especially for kids, making it a great family-friendly destination. With so much to explore—gardens, wildlife, and history—Maymont is a perfect day out for everyone. I can’t recommend it enough!

It was beautiful!! It's not very handicap friendly, but I tried to take on the garden. *The garden won. 🤫 I let the girls go. They really enjoyed the beauty of the place. Got a few pictures. It was super nice and cool in the shade. The model was very professional and vibrant!! Our model is wearing a flowing dress and her favorite shoes. I definitely suggest wearing sneakers... and an oxygen tank. A really nice guy in a golf cart gave me a ride back to the entrance because I'm old and fat. I DIDN'T DIE!! I did a lot of praying to make it back to my car. Here's some pictures and my breathtaking model!! Enjoy! I know this review is late because we went on a Saturday. I need time and life-support to recover. They had live music, but that didn't start until 6 pm, and we live in Norfolk!! I'm not driving at night! Trees, sasquatch, and probably aliens come out at night!! Don't act like trees are innocent!! I'll end my rant here. 10 out of 10 will let my husband take the kids back. If I have to go, I'm waiting in the car or near the entrance. GO WILD!

I had a great time visiting Maymont! I recommend doing the audio tour, because the information provided really enhances the experience of walking through the mansion and gardens.The Italian and Japanese gardens are also worth checking out! FYI, there will be a lot of walking down stairs and down hill to get to the Japanese garden, so plan accordingly if you're still recovering from leg day.

Well worth a visit. Has something for just about everyone here. The gardens are immaculately maintained, there's a raptor rescue area, ample walking paths, and a bear enclosure. Great outing for a family.

We spent about $32.00 to walk through the living creature center and the mansion. ($8.00 per adult )… I would totally recommend the mansion was a good hour and half of our time…. The park is so huge and beautiful we petted at the petting zoo. Will return to see all we missed last adventure.

This is easily a must see spot when in Richmond. It’s kid friendly, family friendly, a great place for date and even for book reading! If I went to vcu this would easily be my study place. So much to see and explore here. The farm land is so great for kiddos, they get to feed the furry animals. The Japanese garden is a must see too, with ponds and lily pads and beautiful foliage. If you want to see vibrant flowers head to the Italian garden. There is so much photo ops here! The ultimate plus is this place is free.

The Maymont Garden Glow is beautiful! The lights along the trails are just gorgeous. Food trucks, hot chocolate, and fire pit areas are so good and cozy. Cute things for kids to do and the carriage house was open to view various types of carriages from throughout history.

Beautiful estate. The views and hills are beautiful. However, sadly, the Italian and Japanese gardens were not kept. The pond in the Japanese garden was green, smelled in some areas near the water, and all the koi fish were gone. Italian garden was sad, looking barely any rose bushes. The tomb surrounding grounds had overgrown grass and weeds.

Although the mansion was closed for maintenance when I visited, I enjoyed their gardens so much, as they provide a nice cool breeze by nature, with Japanese and Italian garden styles.

It's a great park to go for a walk! There is plenty of space to walk. Rich, fertile meadows, Japanese garden, wildlife, and much more. An ice-cream truck with treats for summer at a cheap price and friendly folks around. The mansion is getting renovated.

This place is absolutely gorgeous. We were a little bummed we couldn’t go inside, but the property and outside of the house are amazing. We visited the Japanese and Italian gardens and had a great time exploring the area. We saw so many turtles, which was really cool. If we lived here I would definitely do photo shoots here. We saw a lot of photographers doing that! I’m glad we got to visit here and would definitely come back if we came to visit Virginia again!

The park offers a variety of different plants and interesting architecture. Wildlife is present and abundant. And informational plaques offer insight into this communities creative and restoration efforts.

Maymont is one of my favorite places to visit in Richmond. The grounds are just beautiful. Free to walk the grounds, it is a beautiful place to come take photos or enjoy a picnic.

This was beautiful. It was exactly what we needed. It was hot out, but you didn't really notice. A place you could go so many times and not see everything. Looking forward to them reopening the mansion for tour.

This is such a lovely place to go. It was so peaceful to walk thru the different gardens. The house wasn't open, as you have to schedule a tour. But it was still very nice and a lot to see for free.

In March, I’ll give it a 4/5. I’m sure in full spring and summer it is stunning. It’s got a public restroom and huge public parking lot. Many water fountains are not running, and the ponds are drained. Flowers blossomed in the Italian garden. The Japanese garden’s pond awaits maintenance. Great park overall!

Japanese gardens was worth the .5mile hike back up hill. I'll say that much, it's gorgeous perfect first date vibes if you need inspiration for future requests. This is the place! Beautiful 😻

I love this place, I usually go with my grandson he gets to run and climb the trees like we see others doing. There's animals, the Japanese, and Italian gardens to wonder thru, then we find our favorite tree and spread out a blanket, and enjoy a picnic while listening to some music. This will be our forever place to visit. Donations are accepted.

Always a favorite. Walks(exercise) sight seeing, animal sights. If you are craving the zoo, come here, the take donations but it's free. You do have to pay for the indoor aquarium but it's worth it to me. Feed the animals in the children's farm or just walk around and spot the animals along the trails. Fun fr everyone. Sometimes they have vendors here.

The domain is huge. It is a long but great walk to visit all of the property, including the Nature Center. The Nature Center is awesome for kids. The whole visit is worth it. The walk can be challenging if not fit, but there are a lot of benches for breaks. Would love to go back in the spring. Recommend 100%.

Beautiful park in central Richmond. Beautiful grounds, well-kept trails, a petting area for children.A must-see if you're visiting Richmond.In the fall, they have garden light show with beautiful colours.

A beautiful place to walk! The gardens are well kept, so many flowers, a petting zoo, and a nature center.

The area surrounding the mansion is beautiful! There are scenic trails that have beautiful and historic vegetation. You can find plants from the 1800s and check out the different gardens they have. The trees look healthy and there is plenty to see. A great place to take pictures. They do an amazing job keeping it all clean and ask that you do the same during your visit.

Great place for a family day out. Well-kept gardens, small zoo & farm animal area. Donations accepted but no admission fee. Great walks, or just find a nice spot under an ancient tree. Check their website for special holiday events!

4.8

(9434)

4.5

(2104)

1700 Hampton St, Richmond, VA 23220, USA

+94 other lists

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is an absolute gem! The vast collection of artwork spans centuries and cultures, offering something for every art lover. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, showcasing a perfect blend of classic and contemporary pieces. I particularly enjoyed the impressionist section, which is breathtaking. The museum is spacious, well-organized, and admission is free, making it accessible to everyone. The sculpture garden is a peaceful place to relax, and the on-site café offers delicious options. Overall, it’s a cultural experience not to be missed. Highly recommend visiting!

This is one of my favorite museums (and I grew up going to the Smithsonian Museums all the time)! I always visit the Faberge exhibit, it is exquisite! The museum also allows and encourages photography, so have fun taking photos!There is also a nice restaurant and cafe if you need food or a pick-me up. And there's plenty of seating in the cafe, but also outside. The grounds of the museum are also worth visiting on their own. There were plenty of people lounging in the grass, working on their laptops in the shade, etc... It looks like the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Richmond.

The fine art museum was beautiful and covers a wide variety of art - ancient and modern, and across continents. The layout is so thoughtful as though telling a story. It was free when we went there on a Sunday! If you’re in town, it’s a great place to visit

I am a member of the museum. It has excellent facilities, a pleauthra of works of art from all mediums for every age group, and beautiful grounds. There are no entry fees required unless one is a non-member who wishes to view a special exhibition. The current Japanese samurai warriors exhibition was excellent.

Very modern, contemporary museum with art ranging from early centuries and ancient civilizations, through 1700s and Renesaint to today. Some installation were from this year - 2024. It is a fun place for people of all ages.. probably better for kids that are at least 10 years old. They had pieces from famous artists such as Monet, Degas, Van Gough, Faberge and more. They museum has a nice restaurant, which we didn't get to try, because there was 45 min wait time, but we tried the Cafe, which had good and moderately priced food.

Beautiful, stunning, charming, peaceful, relaxing are just a few of the words that come to mind. Great for the family, great for dates, great just to get away. Kid friendly, wheelchair accessible, clean, well kept. If you are in the area go visit. Did I mention that it is free.

I had a wonderful tuna-to-go plate. The bread should've had a warming option. The band that played was so AMAZING! LOVED THEM. The atmosphere and people were so nice and the crowd was fun, fun. We met some amazing people from Ukraine. I couldn't hear the name of the band though.

One of the best museums I've ever been to, definitely the best art museum. They had everything, Fabrige eggs, Tiffany glass, marble sculptures, etc. They had art ranging from the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, to modern time and everything in between.As a special treat, they have a Samurai exhibit that's absolutely amazing! If you have any interest in martial arts or Japanese history, you will NOT be disappointed! Even my 8 year old liked it. I was pleasantly surprised that he had as much fun as I did.Highly recommend, if you are ever in the Richmond area, this is not to be missed.

So much more exciting than I expected! Lots of exhibits, many of which we didn’t get to. Free admission besides the specialty display downstairs. Fine art displays feature world renowned artists and their works. There’s a wide array of sculptures, artifacts, and paintings.

The museum offers a wide range of time periods, at style and locations. You'll get to see a lot of really beautiful pieces from native American, European, Asian and African arts, sculpture, and various antiquities. From 6000 bc to present day. I highly recommend a visit! Admission is free!

Museum has something for everyone. Great way to spend a day in downtown Richmond. The Faberge section was my favorite but also enjoyed the Egyptian items. Fiance is more into art and to see Picasso and Renoit in person is amazing. Gift shop has a lot of age different items to choose from, and Cafe for the munchies so you don't have to leave too soon. Plan to spend about 3 hours if you really want to appreciate it all. Cameras are allowed just without flash. Museum is free but tickets are needed for additional area such as the Samurai armor.

What a place. Absolutely incredible collection of art and the galleries are beautiful. You can spend an entire day taking it all in. They have a parking deck for a fee, but I was able to find on street parking. The museum itself is free. Can’t recommend it enough, very cool place

A free good museum, a lot better than expected. They have a little bit of everything. I even found a Corot, I have never seen one before. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. The store is fun. They have several events during the year. Also, they have a section with a pay exhibition, but you do not know to go there to enjoy the rest. Good outdoor spaces to spend time with fresh air

Very cool museum with a lot of art at the very reasonable price of free. The only thing that had a cost was the samurai exhibit but there’s plenty to do otherwise. Enough exhibits of various cultures and times to fill an afternoon. Would be a good field trip. They have a food court. Most of the water fountains don’t work.

The VMFA has an excellent collection of art. The staff is very friendly and the facilities are clean. On Friday evenings during the summer they have a free outdoor event where you can purchase beer/wine from the cafeteria (it’s pretty cheap, too) and enjoy music and people watching in the sculpture garden. The general collection is free, but you do have to purchase tickets to see the advertised exhibits. The tickets are affordable and absolutely worth it.

Incredible museum with a vast array of art. Honestly the museum itself is a work of art. And it's free! Loved seeing a Warhol piece. The historical displays are really amazing. Be sure not to miss the Art Noveau and Art Deco areas on the third floor.. they are amazing.Make sure you reserve some time in your schedule to see everything. There's just so very much to see. I was passing through and didn't get to spend as much time as I would have liked.

I went to the Samuri Exhibit and enjoyed seeing the art and history there. There were plenty of helmets and masks. My favorite was the one that made fun of foreigners - I was not expecting that. I recommend. Enjoy!I do wish there were more swords to look at.

A surprisingly large, well-thought out collection with depth and clear curatorial passion. The museum’s holdings span more times and geographies than you’d expect (certainly more than I expected!) and it’s just really well done. The Faberge collection is lovely as are the Art Deco/Art Nouveau spaces. Well worth a visit.

It is an amazing exhibit following the history of the samurai in japan. I had a wonderful time walking around seeing the different armor and weapons used during that time period. The staff was friendly and helpful and answered any questions that came up outside of the audio tour. A must-see for the whole family.

4.8

(9021)

5.0

(3146)

200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA 23220, USA

+70 other lists

We had a wonderful afternoon at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. The gardens are stunning, with well-labeled plants, trees, and flowers throughout. The trails are gorgeous, making for a pleasant walk while enjoying the scenery. The massive greenhouse was a highlight, featuring an impressive collection of cacti and succulents—and even a small cabin inside! The kids garden was cool and had a massive treehouse. The trees here are some of the most beautiful we’ve seen, and the visit gave us plenty of inspiration for our own garden.

Really like this property. Great place to take pictures. Enough variety to keep you busy for awhile. We go during the holidays when they have the Christmas lights up, and it's dog night. Highly recommend checking this place out.

We just sort of happened othis garden. Absolutely LOVED this place! We could have stayed here all day! Everyone was so kind and helpful. There was soooo much to see! Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the conservatory, but we saw just about everything else. The flowers were amazing. Everything was well manicured. It was just stunning! They even had a plant sale! I highly recommend going!

Stunning facility. The different stops are each breathtaking in their own special way. What a great presentation of biodiversity. The pathways are mostly flat but there are some hilly sections. There are so many beautiful flowers, trees, cacti, succulents, and other types of plants. There is a cost for admission ($17 as of 08/2023) but they offer military discounts. Well worth the visit.

Really great place to learn about plants, gardening, or simply walk around. Great location for photo shoots and in fact we noticed one going on when we were there. Ideal for taking pictures of the plants as well. The gift was actually good with interesting items and not just tacky souvenirs.Highly recommended.

This is one of my happy places. I've been a member for years now, and it's always a peaceful place to recharge my emotional batteries. The staff are always kind and friendly. I head up to the conservatory (not sure if that's the right word) first to look at the orchids, and the butterflies when they're there. Then I do a leisurely lap around the grounds, listening to the water, looking at the flowers and enjoying the turtles and fish that are there.But not the heron. There is a heron that shows up sometimes. He is my nemesis, and he only seems to show up when I don't have my big camera with me.It's nice to be able to sit on the porch of the tea house and just exist for awhile. They also have classes (I've taken one about spices and another about rice) that are amazing. Highly recommend this place.

It is a lovely place no matter the season. It was full of beautiful plants and landscaping. Great place for couples with our without children. Love to see the hydroponic plants growing. There is a children's garden and huge tree house to explore.

Any member of the family can enjoy a leisure and educational day here, even if visiting for only a couple of hours. We visited late in June, and there was so much in bloom even tho it was very hot. The gardens feel more formal overall and are well maintained. It's an excellent choice for a wedding venue. There are well shaded trails, a tropical house (butterfly exhibit is currently closed), a café, a library, a gift shop, and a children's play area. They partner with the American Horticultural Society. So, with my current family affiliated membership at another garden, I was able to visit this location for free. There's a year-round tree house and seasonal splash pad for the children. The café serves fresh, wholesome options at reasonable prices. The majority of the gardens are mobility friendly. There's plenty of free parking. The ladies at the entrance were friendly, welcoming, and helpful.

A visit to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Festival of Lights is a holiday tradition for our family. Enjoy a festive, colorful walk after dark through the garden. This year’s light show is beautiful. The kids love the magical holiday garden. It’s truly a great experience for the whole family. The path is paved and can accommodate strollers and wheelchairs. There are some hills to navigate. Don’t forget to visit the conservatory to see the giant Christmas tree. There is also an awesome indoor toy village with trains running through.

Visited the garden for the holiday lights. The grounds were beautiful and captivating. The process to purchase the tickets and to check in was very easy. There were restrooms upon entry. There was a lot of places to take nice pictures. There was. O food or drink allowed due to having a restaurant. There was apple cider and hot. Chocolate available. But the hot chocolate was so hot my. Holder. Could not drink them h til we got home. So maybe if there was an option to have it cooler that would be good. Otherwise I was pleased.

A garden to walk around and take in nature. Check the weather before heading out. On a scorching day, there's a small water play area for kids to enjoy. Didn't explore the whole place because it was too hot, but it was nice for an hour.

First time visiting. Went on a Thursday a bit after it opened. Did a full loop of the place in less than two hours but could definitely have spent longer it was just too hot to linger outside long. The inside of the brick buildings were nice and air conditioned. It wasn't busy at all. Was disappointed the tea house wasn't open but really don't know what it's hours we're anyway so maybe that's a weekend thing. Anyway, the kids area looked like a lot of fun and wish I had brought my own bathing suit lol

There are hundreds of plants in the very nice botanical garden. In summer, various plants and flowers are in full bloom and are very beautiful

What is not to love? There is something for everyone here. The walk ways are very accessible, plants and trees are often labeled. The butterfly exhibit and orchid greenhouse is peaceful and fantastic. The rose garden is fragrant and the rotating art installations are unique and interesting. The children's play area has recently been redone and overlooks the lake. The Japanese garden is relaxing and the multiple fountains are well maintained. Come any time of the year especially in Sring and for Christmas.

We visited from Maryland. This place is heavenly beautiful. Our daughter loves flowers and she couldn’t stop exploring. Kids area has a tree house and a fun splash pad, games, all very well kept. The visitors center has a nice cafe that is so crucial when you are out and about with a kid.

Came here for the first time during the Christmas light festival. The decorations were beautiful, though initially felt like a sensory overload. Plenty of parking available. Well run event. And the ground had hard top so it was easy for everyone to navigate.Super chilly night and wish I had brought a warm beverage like many others. Now I'm curious to see all the plants inside and definitely will have to come back for a daytime visit.

I had the opportunity to visit the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on 3/26/24. What an amazing place. So peaceful. So beautiful. I went a little crazy with the photos but just couldn’t help myself. Definitely a 5 star location. I’ll certainly be back particularly if I need some grounding.

Our team completed a quick chandelier setup at the Robin Room Patio over the weekend for a wedding. The gardens always live up to the hype, everything was in bloom and so pretty! Despite the heat, we enjoyed getting this event up and can't wait for the next one!

Peaceful spot to get away from the city. The park would do well to be enlarged, and it requires more loving care than it has recently been receiving (it was noticed that many species were needing tending-to during our visit).We were also disappointed that the Kelly Education Center and the Robins Tea House are still closed.My hope is that this garden is in fact being carefully curated and tended to so that it can become a beautiful and respected reason in its own right to visit Richmond.We will definitely continue to visit, financially support, and cheer them on.

4.8

(1617)

4.5

(1642)

1800 Lakeside Ave, Henrico, VA 23228, USA

6 lists

My family loves this park so much we want to move closer to this park and we want to get a year pass. We had a blast! It’s all we talk about now. We are all going to go for Halloween.Check the online deals for tickets! Sometimes they have good deals. Buy a refillable cup for drinks, so much cheaper than paying for drinks all day long.

Great time. Feels very safe and the staff was very helpful. Highly recommend to purchase the meal plan with the tickets. $65 included parking, all rids and food very 90 minutes. Make sure to drink plenty of water….

Great park with a wide variety of rides and coasters! All 14 coasters were good. I especially loved Project 305! We went today (Wednesday) and the park was dead, probably due to the weather forecast. The longest line we stood in was only 5 minutes, which probably isn't typical. All the food we ate was good, the employees were friendly and it was a great day.Ride operations were decent, but could definitely use some work. Some of the rides need a little paint and TLC. Overall everything was great and I would definitely go back.

It was my children's first time here. And even though my youngest sons weren't able to ride several rides because of their height, they still had a blast! They enjoyed the water area and the roller coasters they could experience. My mother and nephew also had a wonderful time. The staff everywhere were extremely helpful and friendly! That is a major positive in addition to any other things we enjoyed as a family.

We had an absolute blast here.The water games were thrilling and perfect for cooling off on a hot day. The other rides were just as exciting, with something for everyone in the family to enjoy. One of the best parts was the unlimited refillable drinks, which kept us hydrated and refreshed throughout the day. Plus, the food included in the tickets was delicious and offered a great variety. Overall, this place provided a fantastic experience with plenty of fun activities, making it a perfect day out for all ages. Highly recommended!

Amazing place to visit, I’ll recommend to get the fast lane bands, it’s a little bit pricey but worth it, most of the rides are complete thrills but there are a lot for kids too, fun stuff for kids, adult, family, 55+ and so onPrices for beverages and snacks are a little bit high, no smoking area ( couple years ago there was about 5 designated smoking areas)It’s probably impossible to win a big toy prize at games but medium and small size is manageableA lot of parking lots, for cars, buses and rvPersonal is very nice, all of them are pretty young which makes me happy that upcoming generations are involved in hard work

Wow! This theme park is HUGE! Growing up in Florida, this doesn't compare to anything I've ever been to before. It's so awesome that your admission also includes Soak City, the water park. This adds to the adventure and fun, but you will have to pack accordingly. There is sooooo much to do here. From the rides meant for all ages, the games, and exploring all the food options, to shows, and a parade. I recommend getting all you can eat and drink passes. That allows you to eat every 90 minutes and refill your drink every 15 minutes. It's definitely worth it, especially on a very hot summer day and if you're a season pass holder. As a tourist visiting a family member who had a season pass, this was such a blast. I also was able to get a cheaper admission online by going with a season pass holder.

Great park! At least for me faster access to rides than Disneyland. Prices for food and drinks a bit pricey so keep that in mind when buying food and drinks. I recommend buying the 20 dollar cup and you can refill it all day. Specially if you are with family.

This was our first time at Kings Dominion, and there's so much to see/do! I would suggest getting to the park early in the morning, like 11 am! If you have a large group or family: it will probably take the whole day to explore all the rides. There are many places to dine & drink 😋 so save your appetite until after the roller-coasters? 😎🙏🏼 According to the website: the waterpark is only open on the weekends now! It's wise to prepay for the drink cups so you can get free refills every 15 minutes.! Dress for comfort and wear some good walking shoes too.! Happy Summer...🩴🥤🌻🍕

We went Sunday 13th. We were there for the Haunted Fest, but decided to arrive at 4pm to take daylight pics and go to October Fest. There was a good amount of people there, but NOT crowded. The crowds started arriving after dark, but it wasn't bad. Flight of Fear said 45 min wait. The line moved fast, but the whole experience took 58 minutes. It wasn't a bad wait. On average, we spent 5 to 45 minutes in lines (our other rides were 2nd and third most popular, though). Project 305 shut down after my sister waited in line for an hour.The website app froze on my phone. We think it's because everyone was checking for updates on shows, Haunted houses and popular coaster times. We couldn't find October Fest and it closes at 6pm. Turns out, it's a small area near the arcade and merry-go-round.The decorations were AWESOME! Lots of photos opportunities. We're glad we got some day pics.I was worried about scares and considered buying the lite up NO BOO necklace to keep ghoul actors away. I'm glad I didn't. The actors were great! The scares are in the comic range, but well into piss-your pants creepy because they use the darkness to just walk up on you.....and with you! I ended up talking to my sister for a good 3-4 seconds before I turned and saw a horrific clown thing walking with me listening! My sister was standing way back just looking at me. Yeah....I screamed.We haven't been here in years. We were there 8 hours and road 3 coasters and 3 Haunted houses (Trick or Treat, FEAR, Monster Con). And the 9pm Burlesque show was better than I thought it would be!! We lost time sight seeing and getting lost.We bought a Fun Day pass (ticket to park with all day food). $69.99 on Sat and Sunday. You can eat every 90 minutes. We 1st ate at 9:30pm, so we couldn't eat again until 11pm- 1 hour from closing. It was worth it, since simple meals start at $17.99 and the Fun Day ticket costs $10 more than the regular entry pass with no food. Restaurants were trying to shut down by 11:15pm.The performers were still doing the finale show at 11:30 or 40pm. People were trying to watch, but also trying to beat others to the parking lot and hotel shuttles. If you take UBER, tell the driver to tell security that they are DROPPING OFF or PICKING UP people. They'll get in and out easier then. Bathrooms were basically clean. Ghoul actors had almost disappeared by then, but it had been a long GREAT scare day!

Pros: Nicely themed, beautifully landscaped park. Wasn't too crowded and most lines were less than 30 min waits. Cool unique coasters, my family had a fun day.Cons: like most theme parks, food options aren't very tasty and overpriced. Bathrooms could use more attention and cleaning, for example, they should address clogged toilets and no toilet paper, etc. Would be nice to have more hand sanitizing stations and drinking water stations. On a hot day in VA you need lots of water!Overall it was a fun time and we were happy with the time we spent. Can't wait to visit again.

The park is well organised and has everything to enjoy. There are roller coaster rides for all ages and everyone can enjoy over there. They have couple of food options all around the park so which ever you go you will find places to eat, restrooms and water. We enjoyed a lot in the park and would recommend everyone to try it out.

We just took our first trip to Kings Dominion and we loved it! We have a season pass to Carowinds in NC, and decided to add the all-park passport that would get us into KD. We went on a Friday night during Haunt and all day/night on the Sunday before a public holiday. Friday night was not very busy. We bought fast passes for Sunday which were a life saver. The park was beautifully decorated with lights and Halloween everywhere. We were there for the roller coasters and they did not disappoint. The food options were not too great, many restaurants either had a very long wait and/or were out of food. But I am used to this on busy nights. I would say we enjoyed this park even more than Carowinds. It is a 4-hour drive for us, but we will be back!

Kings Dominion has been a great place to make memories for my brother and I for over 30 years. It is very clean for an amusement park and not too big either. The rides are fun, and the lines are very manageable. I highly recommend it!

This is truly a wonderful park! The prices to get in are reasonable (cheaper online) and even adding the food/drinks unlimited is reasonable too! It rained when we visited but they still had lots of rides open. The water park was still going strong due to there not being any lightening! This park is rather large. Be prepared for a lot of walking! It's worth it for the twist and turns of the rollercoasters! Bring your swim suit or just visit the main theme park. Either will take up the whole day! I would definately visit again if in the area! Thank you for a great time!

Kimgsdominion has always been an all time favorite for us, with lots to do from rides to games and just walking around and checking out all the different restaurants. There is a Theatre where performances are put on and as well, they often times have live bands and music. Planet Snoopy is meant for small children and always have characters dressed up from Charlie Brown, and tons for the Littles to do as well. Very kid/family friendly. I will say however, the entire park is now cashless, so be sure you have all your money on your card/credit card, there are only 2 machines in the entire park that can convert cash to cards for you and that can be an inconvenience because of their locations in the park. If you do convert cash onto a card, the cards can be used anywhere outside of the park like a Visa Credit Card.Also, when we bought our passes, we got all day dining with it and totally worth it. Guaranteed excellent time when you go.

100% one of our best experiences at an amusement park anywhere, ever! The combination of water park and roller coasters for all one admission is unique and makes for a jam-packed day! Be sure to get the daily refill drinks in the summer to stay hydrated with electrolytes. Huge shout-out to the crew at the water park for positive and professional attitudes. Everyone we met was happy and polite even with heat index of 108 deg F. Awesome fireworks for the 4th of July holiday, as well.

We had SO much fun! We went on a Wednesday the last week of May. There were hardly any crowds, hardly any waits. The only problem was that a ride we were most excited for was closed and for some reason, the water park was closed that day. Other than that, very reasonable ticket prices, and loads of fun

Loved our experience at Kings Dominion in Virginia! Well worth the admission fee and lots and lots of thrilling experiences for kids and adults alike! The park is clean and organized and adequately staffed with professional and helpful folks. There is no dearth for excellent food and dessert options! We didn’t go into soak city, but even without that we had enough to keep us occupied for 10+ hours! The kids were extremely excited with all the roller coasters! 🎢 We went on a weekday so the crowds weren’t crazy and the wait times were very minimal! This is a perfect family and has everything for little ones and teens.

4.4

(25306)

4.0

(1910)

16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell, VA 23047, USA

13 lists

This is specifically for the visitor's center and Sunken Rd self guided tour at the Fredericksburg Battlefield.The visitor's center is very nice. The exhibits have been kept up to date and are legible. There is a lot of great information, too.The self guided trail is nice and easy going. We had a great time!

Definitely a place to go for any history lover. Great visitor center and informative signs across the property.

Wonderful visit! Enthusiastic and helpful park service staff. The self guided tour using the NPS app and map was very easy to follow.

Main center for most information on Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania battlefields. Visitors Center, located at site of Sunken Road/Stone Wall, has small museum with well-done short movie on Fredericksburg battle. National Cemetery sits atop adjacent Marye's Heights.

So glad we went, really understood the history I learned in HS in a real tangible way walking the battlefield during the ranger talk, very nice young woman

This is yet another great national battlefield. Can’t recommend this highly enough. Highly recommend the ranger tour, it really paints a picture of what happened here. John was a great ranger and was able to answer all my nerdy questions. It is a very sobering story of blood and sacrifice.

I did not have a bad experience, but I have seen better. The museum did give an excellent account of the battle, but the grounds are really not set up for an easy tour. Part of the problem is that events were spread over a wide area. The driving tour was hard to follow. I only took it as far as Chatham, and only found that location by chance.

This place is a must see. You can stop by the gift shop and get the information on a guided tour via your phone. The house that is still standing on this battlefield still has bullet holes in it you can see on the outside and inside thru the windows. General Cobb was killed in this battle, the spot is marked with a stone.

Excellent museum and the ranger at the desk knew his stuff--really explained things about the battle that pertained to an ancestor specifically. We didn't have nearly enough time, so we will have to come back sometime.

Great video showing how the battle played out. Loved all the exhibits. The greeters were very helpful

Solid museum and gift shop too.The grounds are definitely worth the walk. We live close by so I frequent here and love seeing the sunrise over the cemetery on Mary's Hill.

Very informative. Great place for a self guided walking tour.

Historical placards and 20 minute video gave excellent refresher. Walking tour really highlighted General Lee's best defensive position of all battles. The supporting placards and National Park App really give a good lesson for historians of all levels.

A lot of history, it's hard to believe that so many died here. A nice visitor center with movie presentations, you can take a self or ranger lead tour of the grands. The gift shop offers souvenirs and National Park passport stamps.

Long, paved road through the whole battlefield park. Seating area, replica cannons at Spotsylvania end. Multiple trails through the woods, beautiful walking in all seasons. Been coming here for a long time and we just love it!

The physical facility is well maintained and the staff very friendly and helpful. A 600yd walking tour includes a number of significant locations of the battle. Very convenient. The signage around the facility is extremely helpful to a visitor unfamiliar with Fredericksburg. But the Ranger staff are the real gems here.

Wonderful park full of history! My family and I enjoyed the walking trail throughout, although unfortunately were there when the Visitor Center was still under construction. Luckily, the table set up outside and the signs around the park were more than enough to make up for it. Great for a quick day trip!

Visitor Center is always well stocked and have wonderful staff. No snack area but they sell bottled water. Restrooms are clean. The Innes house is interesting. It was not open today but I have been through it in the past. With the amount of damage from the battle is amazing it still stands and is in good shape.

Excellent place to walk and get a little history education.

4.7

(1402)

4.5

(565)

1013 Lafayette Blvd, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, USA

2 lists

Full disclosure: I did not visit inside the estate, but I did visit the grounds of the estate, and the grounds were great. My joy from visiting this estate surprisingly did not come from the exhibits that are included with passes, but rather from hiking the humid grounds of the estate. You can feel the history in the trails, and most trials are shaded and this fairly pleasant. Spent a good 45 minutes hiking until the humidity got to me!

Great piece of American history. Our tour was very informative and took us throughout the house. My only complaint is that their is no museum that talks about Madison's life.

My husband and I had wanted to visit Montpelier for years and it did not disappoint. The mountain view from the hill where the home sits is gorgeous! Unlike Monticello and Mt. Vernon, this presidential home was not over crowded on a Saturday morning. The mansion tour was guided by a very knowledgeable and personable docent who made it fun and shared several stories that you may not hear elsewhere. She also took questions unlike at Mt. Vernon where people pay to be herded like cattle through the home.It was disappointing that they were not able to display as many original artifacts as other presidents' homes; however, when you learn that the financial circumstances of the Madisons at the end of thier life led to the selling off of many posessions, it makes more sense. The story told about the enslaved people at Montpelier was very well done. The management have connected with surviving descendents who get to tell the story of their ancestors. It was a very moving aspect of our tour. We brought our lunches and sat in a shaded section of the grounds at a picnic table on a lovely October day. It could not have been more peaceful. We saw the entire property in about 4 hours. We took our time, ate lunch, saw the museum and our kids did a scavenger hunt. We would defintely go back again.

I’ve visited Montpelier multiple times with friends and family. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about Virginia, American history, and the writing of our constitution. The museum is great for a short visit - tours of the house take around an hour. Or you could spend all day here, visiting the cemeteries, the dependencies, the exhibits outside of the main house tour, and even walking miles of hiking trails! The work that has been done to the property is extensive and everything is beautifully maintained. The guides and staff are all very friendly and knowledgeable.

We spent quite a bit of time here. Tours are timed, but no need to order in advance. For two of us, it was $75 for the tour. More than I have paid to tour any presidential estate. They just did a major renovation, so I'm guessing that's why the high price. Nonetheless, Hayley gave us the tour of the huge home which faces the Blue Ridge Mts. Beautiful, extensive grounds.

The history tour was very informative. I learned a lot, and I appreciate all of the back stories. Having been on many historical tours , including several in Williamsburg, Monticello and Mt Vernon, I left wanting more. It is definitely worth the visit, but I don’t know if there is enough to go again.

Excellent tour, nice grounds to explore. The guide answered all my questions and kept us going on time. The house seemed almost small on the inside, which I thought was interesting contrast to the exterior and the grounds. The cemetery for the Madison Family is worth a visit; the cemetery for the enslaved workers was basically roped off.

Such a fun way to spend an afternoon! Make sure to arrive at least 10-15 min before your scheduled time, so you have time to park, check in, and walk to the main house (which is a 5 min walk).

Great history. The tour through the mansion with tour guides in each area was fantastic. We were there on a special $10 fee for mansion and grounds. The reenactor who is James Madison did a convincing job as the knowledgeable real person. The slave cabins were very informative about slavery.

Our tour guide was well versed on James Madison, and his legislative history. Very informative tour including discussion on the restoration of the mansion. The visitor center had a nice shop. The DuPont family was a former owner of Montpelier. There was a small museum adjacent to the visitor center on the DuPont family's equestrian pursuits including a racetrack.

Beautiful grounds and exhibits. The house tour was amazing and full of information. Tour guide was excellent. A must see on your list of historical places!

On this trip we went to Mount Vernon and Monticello and decided to add Montpelier as a last decision. What a good choice that was! The staff were the kindest and most thoughtful of all we had met. They were the one house that waited for my mother at every stop. Our tour was wonderful and so informative. I loved that they represented Madison and his wife with both praise and truth about their humanity. The house and the grounds were beautifully and thoughtfully restored. The view is gorgeous. There is also a meaningful and thought provoking exhibit on the enslaved that lived on the grounds. (Which in all of these houses is the largest part of who lived there!) There is also a house where children can learn about slavery that is very well done. I know this house doesnt get the most attention but , truly, it is a quality stop and not to be missed.

Very neat experience! I highly recommend the tour of the house. It was really interesting. Beautiful property and so much history! We really enjoyed it as a family.

It was a wonderful and interesting tour. IThey have done a fantastic job restoring the house and adding context to the story. I definitely recommend one of their guided tours.

I've been on two tours in a year and still enjoy the fascinating live stories of this incredible man. Intellectual, inquisitive, compassionate. And a boon to our country. Can't say enough about the staff and organization that keep James Madisons legacy bright and polished. Recommend, and do it more than once.

This was one of the most informative tours ever!Or guide gave a compelling history tour.James Madision was a good man, unlike the greedy, dishonest insincere Thomas Jefferson

We arrived too late for a tour of the house, as we stopped on our way home from seeing other sights. The staff was very nice, especially Lynn, who told us that after 3:30pm tickets were half the price so we waited 15min (gave us time to see the shop) and went then (it was 5 of us). Glad we did as it is a very nice property and we had just enough time to see it.

While the tour is a bit pricey, for us it was well worth it. The guide was first class with knowledge and interaction with the group of 11 people. We skipped the basement exhibits to have time to see the cemetery before closing.

Wonderful tour of are amazing American history. Was moved by being in the room whare are Constitution was written!

4.7

(1369)

4.5

(1270)

11350 Constitution Hwy, Montpelier Station, VA 22957, USA

+89 other lists

The value of the $42 guided tour depends on how interested you are in history. The extra $20 over a regular ticket is probably worth it because how often are you going to be in Charlottesville, but it probably should not be $20 extra just to enter the building. That said, it was a solid tour, and it is pretty cool to stand in the room where such an important person spent so much of their time. The grounds are bucolic, and the small exhibits accessible with any ticket level are worthwhile.

It had been years since I last visited Monticello as a child, so we decided to make a day trip to revisit this iconic estate. After all this time, it felt like a completely new experience, and it was even better than I remembered. The setting is stunning, and the entire property is meticulously maintained. It’s peaceful and serene, and on the day of our visit, the crowds were sparse. This allowed us to enjoy quiet moments of reflection without interruption, which added to the charm of the visit.The staff were friendly and helpful throughout the day, and we appreciated their warm demeanor. We brought our dogs along and found Monticello to be moderately dog-friendly. However, during our visit, we encountered a significant inconvenience when trying to return from the mansion to the parking lot. We were stopped by security and informed that we couldn’t walk back down the trail due to ongoing tree maintenance and were advised to take the shuttle instead. Unfortunately, the shuttle driver wouldn’t allow dogs on board, which led to some confusion. After some back-and-forth between very confused staff and a 30-minute wait, we were finally allowed to take the shuttle back to the parking lot.While this incident was frustrating, we chose not to let it dampen our overall experience, so we didn’t deduct any stars because of it.The one real disappointment was the Burial Area for Enslaved People. It’s located in the middle of a parking lot, with little attention or prominence given to it. Considering the significance of this site in American history, it would be more appropriate to have a more fitting memorial, drawing greater attention to it.Despite these shortcomings, Monticello remains a beautiful and important historical site, well worth a visit for anyone interested in American history and heritage.

Absolutely great experience. I had gone as a kid and distinctly remembered not being able to go upstairs. Now there are tickets to walk through the whole house so I bought those. It was a little pricey but worth it. The Tour Guide was knowledgeable and friendly. The building and grounds are well maintained. A true step back in time .

So so pretty and such a gorgeous property. I never knew how much history really was underneath this property until this week and I’m so very glad I got to visit and have the opportunity to become educated. Our tour guide was amazing and the tickets were very well worth it, there are many attractions (that do cost) to walk through which is super cool.

The morning I spent at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia was truly unforgettable. The sun bathed the iconic mansion in a warm glow, highlighting its graceful architecture and the stunning views of the surrounding landscape. As I wandered through the lush gardens, I could almost hear the echoes of history, feeling the weight of the past in every step. The guided tour brought Jefferson's vision to life, revealing his passions for philosophy, agriculture, and innovation. Each room was filled with artifacts and stories that transported me back in time, creating a profound connection to the ideals that shaped our nation. It was a beautiful reminder of the legacy of one of America’s founding fathers, leaving me inspired and reflective as I soaked in the serene atmosphere.

If you’re doing the guided tour (which I highly recommend), it’s best to purchase your tickets online beforehand. The tour gives you a peek into the life of Thomas Jefferson, not only his contributions to history but his shortcomings as well. The house and the grounds have been well-maintained. There is an also a sweet fragrance outside thanks to fragrant blooming trees. The museum gives provides more information and historical context.

Excellent museum docent/ guide. Ashley was extremely knowledgeable about not only the life of the Jefferson family extending several generations. She also shared many facts about the area's history. I bought my ticket for the 90-minute tour the morning that I went. The cost was $99.00. Although there were seats available here and there throughout the house, I stood on my feet for most of the tour. There were about a dozen people in my group. The stairway leading to the second and third floors is very narrow and steep. You must be able to manage these stairs on your own. The grounds are beautiful, especially in the Spring. There is a shuttle bus that will bring you up to the house and then back down to the museum/ gift shop. You have the choice to walk. It takes approximately 15 minutes. Right now, you will find an original copy of the Declaration of Independence on display in the museum. I am glad I went. It was well worth the price of the ticket.

They do give map. If you live Augusta, Rockingham and few other county, they do give $10.00 off the price you have payed for. To get the discount, please go to the office. They will ask your ID to see if you qualify to have the discount by looking where you live. You do need to go through security check. They have a shuttle bus to stop in certain places. They allow to take pictures without a flash. I think pets are allowed in certain area. The tour guide was great. She wasn't very slow or very fast when showing things inside the building and telling about them. She allows us (the group) to ask any questions that we have. She had very good information about Thomas Jefferson and his background history. The labels itself doesn't give a lot of information so I do recommended having a tour guide. If you have any questions, please contacting them.

We had a great day at Monticello. So many opportunities to learn. It was a beautiful property to visit and the tour guide and Thomas Jefferson were both really good. The garden area was really nice and well groomed. I recommend taking the bus up and walking the path back down. This could definitely be a full day if you see all the museum exhibits and so the tours.

Whether you are an American citizen or not you must visit Monticello and learn the details of how much history happened on this piece of land.Thomas Jefferson drafted The Declaration of Independence here. He was born and raised here, and in general Virginia has some much history. That is the reason why it is called the Mother State.When visiting Monticello and make the most of your money try to arrive in the morning so you can have plenty of time to visit all the areas of this 5 acres of property. God bless America 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Overall a nice visit. I don't think the $100 tour of both floors of the mansion is worth it. A decent amount of things to look at on your own and a few free hourly tours of additional historic stories. Meeting Jefferson was worth the effort put in by the actor. Montpelier was better .

Monticello: A Glimpse into Jeffersonian Innovation and LegacyWith limited time, we opted for the Highlights tour during our midweek visit to Monticello.The grounds and visitor amenities like the museum, cafe, and gift shop are well-maintained, providing helpful context about Jefferson's life and innovations.The shuttle service up the hill to the main house is a convenient option.While not the grandest plantation mansion, Monticello's design embodies Jefferson's pioneering spirit and functional mindset over opulence.The home and surroundings are impeccably preserved.Our guided tour was informative overall, though a bit too centered on family dynamics and slave relations compared to Jefferson's immense leadership and presidential achievements. As a founding father who shaped America's democratic principles, his political vision and forward-thinking deserved more prominence.Still, experiencing this piece of living history firsthand is well worth it for anyone interested in early America's foremost intellectual giants.Just be sure to plan ahead and allocate enough time to properly experience the museum exhibits and take advantage of the property's different tour options beyond just the house itself.Monticello provides an authentic glimpse into the mind of a true Renaissance man and nation-builder. While our tour could have delved deeper into Jefferson's public impact and legacy, it was nevertheless a meaningful visit to one of Virginia's preeminent historic landmarks.

Wonderful experience! Surprisingly, Monticello is an ornate home that was very much lived in and loved. I walked away, realizing Thomas Jefferson truly loved innovation, conversation, and solitude.A man of his times who knew that those times needed to be built upon with new thoughts and ideas. For everything that he wasn't, there were other areas that he was so much more than the average man.Such creativity, such sadness.The building and ground personnel for the tours, etc. do a tremendous job. Our docent was a grandfatherly gentleman who patiently included even the young children.$22 for access to the grounds with the added $20 for access to the first floor with a guide was worth it! Monticello is privately funded and needs to be treasured as the important place in history that it is!Food and gift shops are a little pricey, but hey, are any of us surprised?!

Monticello is a beautifully preserved piece of American history. The guided tours are informative, offering insights into Jefferson’s life, his architectural passion, and his role in shaping the nation. The estate balances his remarkable achievements with the complexities of his role as a slave owner, providing a thoughtful, respectful and balanced view of the past. The gardens and grounds are stunning, and provide scenic views of the Virginia countryside that are just amazing!

What an amazing site. Inside and out was so neat and the special care and insight into the lives of enslaved people was great too. Any tour gets you access to the grounds and exhibits. Buy your tickets online ahead of time or you may have to wait a few hours for your tour. Well worth it imo

Great experience! We hiked up the two mile trail with our children. It was very easy to navigate, and all of my children enjoyed the views. The visitor center was great with so many friendly and knowledgeable volunteers. The estate was a lot of fun to visit. We did the highlights tour, which was a lot of great information. Definitely walk the grounds. I would definitely like to come back and do the behind the scenes tour.

Kudos to Alice, our tour guide. I walked away learning far more than what I had expected of the visit. My group was inquisitive and some of our very specific questions revealed her wealth of knowledge in her detailed answers. Her expertise, warm demeanor, and clear enthusiasm made our visit to Monticello.The museum and grounds are well kept, informative, and immersive, preserving a fascinating and important period in history.

I am a Numbers Nerd first but History comes in at a very close second and the history in this place!!!!!! It just doesn't get much better!The entire estate was beautiful, just amazing but my tour guide…girlfriend nerded all the way out with me and I just couldn't have been any happier.She was such an amazing story teller but also so funny! She had me laughing and at one point when talking about the love between Thomas Jefferson and his wife Martha Jefferson and him losing her only 10 years into the marriage. My heart!!!The grounds are meticulously maintained and it truly has working vegetable and flower gardens!I highly recommend you pay a visit! Highly recommend. As a matter of fact, let me know when you go and ill join you myself!!!

Beautiful, interesting and educational, well managed and maintained. But admission is way too expensive, especially if you only have a couple hours and you only want to tour the main house and not everything else.Also, our tour guide was unable to explain why the underside of the first floor (as seen above the basement) were constructed in an undulating pattern. I asked other staff members and they said it was part of a rainwater collection system, very unusual and clever design.

4.7

(9918)

4.5

(7270)

1050 Monticello Loop, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA

+67 other lists

A+ health standard.

My experience at the Colonnade Club has been one of the best on Grounds. It is a very pleasant place, well kept, and with a most genial staff. They are friendly, greet you warmly, and are willing to chat and make you feel at home. I have been at the University for several years, and this has not been the case all the time. In the last year, however, I have seen a tremendous change with the current staff. It has made the Colonnade a place of respite from daily grind where a cup of coffee, a few cookies, and a warm reception by the staff makes my day. My colleagues and I frequently comment on this pleasant turn of events. Keep it up. Your staff make the place what it is!

Great group of staff. My THANKS to each and everyone.

Pro: Unmistakably a university. Many nice bricks. Has a piece of the Berlin Wall. I am told the libraries work properly.Con: Seems like it may be controlled by secret societies. No, really, there are too many of them and they leave sinister marks all over campus. No joke here.

Depending on the time you get to the ER if they will be busy or not. I have only been on a few floors and what I can tell the nurses are nice and a few really do care about you and and not just here for a paycheck. I have talked to UVA Security and Millennium Security and both work here are are really helpful.

4.0

(1)

4.5

(1279)

Charlottesville, VA, USA

1 list

The history here is amazing. We learned about the culmination of the American Civil War. Being able to tour the building where terms of surrender were written, learning about the mindset of how the war was ended in favor of building unity. The grounds and buildings are well maintained. The movie should be watched in the courthouse before going to the surrounding buildings. This is a big part of American History and if you are able to visit, I highly recommend it.

A perfect park! NPS did a fantastic job of preserving this important historic site and documenting the context and storyline of the events at Appomattox. Particularly, Ranger Luke truly made our experience memorable. His greeting at the visitor center was friendly, and he enthusiastically answered all our questions at the McLean House.The town of Appomattox is well preserved, and the walk is so pleasant around all of the old buildings. There are numerous nature / history trails to select from if you’re interested in a longer stroll. Between the small museum, the town of Appomattox, and walking to a few battlefield sites (one could easily drive if preferred), I easily walked over 6 miles just taking in the history.

What a great historical park. The history and the amount of information was awesome. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Really a great experience for all. Watch the video at the visitor center first before visiting the rest of the park. The video is well worth it.

Great place to visit to spend a few hours! Nice and peaceful out there.

We visited on a Monday morning in late May 2023 (Memorial Day weekend).There was plenty of parking with only 4 or 5 other cars in the lot with us. There is a large map at the parking lot which tells you to just walk straight up to the visitor center which is located in the old court house. It's a bit of a walk up hill on a gravelly path.You enter the visitor center on the bottom floor (follow the signs). There is a desk to your left where the park volunteers will help you with any questions you may have. The younger lady and older gentleman who greeted us seemed very eager to help. They informed us of the start time of the film in the upstairs theater as well as the program taking place outside at the next building over. We also grab our Junior Ranger booklets here at this desk.We went up and watched the 20 min video first which was very informative and the kids enjoyed it as well and it kept their attention. There are a series of exhibits right outside the theater and basically take up the rest of the space on the upper level. There was a number of neat items on display. Back downstairs there are also bathrooms. We left quickly to the special program outside which was basically a living history presentation by 2 younger gentleman. The one giving the talk did an AMAZING job. Really play the role well and knew all the facts. Kids all listened and paid attention. It was a bit long for my 8 year old with ADHD but still very well done.We proceeded then to the old slave house which is now the gift shop. There was plenty of merch divided into 2 rooms. I've included pictures. Then next door is the outdoor bathrooms. About diagonal to your right when you leave the store is the Meek's General Store. You basically go in and then it's a 8x8 foot glass room where you can look at the store displays. You can't walk through and really see everything.After leaving the store turn right and head down to the McLearn House where the meeting and terms of surrender between Grant and Lee took place. This was a nice walk through tour. There were 2 rangers at the front to answer any questions. There are also houses and exhibits in the buildings out back so make sure now to miss those either.Sadly we were on a schedule and didn't have much time to explore much further but the kids were able to complete the Junior Rangers booklets and earn their badges. Sadly the rangers didn't swear them in like usually but they were just handed over by the volunteers at the visitor desk.For those interested in the National Park Cancellation Stamps, they are located in the NPS store to the left of the register. I've included a photo of what the station looks like. They are not located in the visitor center itself.We would definitely visit again as we really didn't get to explore the entire town or do the self guided driving tour. We saw markers as we drove through the area but didn't get to drive and see the battle lines and the headquarters etc. I would plan to stay at least a couple hours around the grounds and maybe another 30-60 for the driving tour.

Losts of history here. The park is very, very nice. All the Rangers were friendly and helpful. Easy walking to all the sites. We were here on a Friday morning and it was not crowded. I would give yourself 2-3 hours to tour the grounds.

Appomattox Court House is a must-see for any American history buff. This is such an important part of American History!They have a great museum and visitor center and the video does a great job of explaining the historical significance.Another well done for the National Parks!See the actual desk Lee surrendered to Grant from, the actual pens used, and many Civil War artifacts. So important to our country! Loved the visit and I highly recommend it.

Actor playing Mr. Tibbs did a wonderful job putting his time in the war into perspective! Went on a lovely fall day and it was a wonderful experience. Can’t wait to go back!

4.8

(1895)

4.5

(1049)

111 National Park Dr, Appomattox, VA 24522, USA

+66 other lists

4.5

(2795)

Virginia, USA

+77 other lists

Beautifully located and situated. First time visiting with my parents and 6-year-old niece and it was an overall great trip. I thoroughly enjoyed the caverns, however, adjusting to the smell took some time. I have allergies and asthma and both were mildly triggered 🤧 as well as my father’s and niece's. So if you suffer from either or, you may want to keep your inhaler on hand or take your allergy medicine before entering. Other than that, fascinating stalagmite and stalactite formations.The Cafe and Toys food was simple, but it was good. I ordered the cheeseburger with fries and a pink lemonade. The toppings and condiments must be added yourself via the condiment/toppings station. I tasted some of my niece's broccoli and cheddar soup and I have to say that it was pretty good; I recommend it.

Best part was the temperature down there. Wish some of the employees were more welcoming when being asked questions. Young lady, working a stop before the cathedral on Sunday Father’s Day. She was very knowledgeable and helpfulWould have been nice to have them turn of the lights like they did back in the day.If you do plan on going make sure you have something else to do in the area. Not worth going there just for that. Especially if you’re coming from the dmv.

Phenomenal! Amazing! Fantastic! Magical! These caverns are well worth the visit. I am so impressed with the natural beauty here. The caverns are about 450 million years old. They are immense and vast. It was like being in a strange new world. There was a brick path throughout the caverns that was very well maintained and easy to walk on. The lighting was perfect. Everything was very well done and the employees were friendly. There was also a big gift shop. This is a must see.

Loved the caverns on a very hot weekend in Virginia (visiting from Wisconsin). Beautiful caverns, wasn’t super crowded. I was able to take plenty of pictures without strange people in the frame. The tickets get you to other attractions on the grounds, we loved the car museum and just walking around the grounds. Relatively short drive (around 90 mins, but beautiful countryside roads from NOVA). Highly recommend visiting.

This is a more natural cavern than Skyline. We've been to both and prefer Luray. It's a 1 1/4 mile walk though a nicely lit pathway down to the bottom of the cavern and back up. It is so beautiful and a cool 54 degrees. It is now a self guided tour that you walk at your own pace and read a pamphlet that tells you about interesting things along the way. It took s an hour to do the tour, but there is a lot of other things to see there like a toy museum, a car museum (which was pretty interesting) and a garden maze (which cost $10 extra and takes about an hour to go through). The scenery outside the cavern is picturesque and they had ducks to feed. We had a great time.

Spendy but very nice area. Luckily the admission covers more than just the caves and there are other things to do and see. Caves are cool, but it was not cold. Definitely worth it when it’s been a 100 degrees outside. Very easy to navigate even with a 7 month pregnant wife. Unguided so we were able to go at our own pace.

Luray Caverns is a fantastic place to visit. The caverns are stunning, with beautiful rock formations that showcase the wonders of nature. The tour was well-organized, and the best part is that the site is easily accessible for everyone, including those with strollers.Beyond the caverns, the ticket includes access to other attractions that I thoroughly enjoyed. Toy Town Junction is a delightful spot to see a mix of old and new toys, all thoughtfully displayed. The Car & Carriage Caravan Museum features well-maintained vintage cars from the early days of engines, presented in an attractive way. The Shenandoah Heritage Village offers a realistic walk through historic American village life, complete with homes, schools, and town halls. Overall, it was a well-rounded and enjoyable experience.

I loved visiting Luray Caverns! I was debating on whether or not to go, but everyone told me how incredible it is and I’m so glad I listened. The formations are incredible and the path is easy to walk on. We went on a Sunday morning right when they opened, and within an hour the crowds were CRAZY so I highly recommend going right at opening time! Our experience would’ve been ruined by crowds had we gone later in the day. The museums included in admission are totally worth visiting as well! Gorgeous old buildings, cars, and mountain views.

Great place to visit as a family, it was amazing to see such formations that were over 7 million years old, the entire cavern is about a mile long and take about an hour to complete.I would also recommend visiting the toy museum and the car museum which are also on-site.There is also a maze there which I did not do but it seemed fun

Great place to see cave formations! Kid and mobility friendly. There is a total of 1.5 mi walk, sloped paved trail with hand rails available many places, but no benches or bathrooms along the way. A couple behind us had a stroller, and another with a cane. They have a sign limiting backpacks, food and drink - but hand carry a water bottle is okay. Self guided with brochure to read at numbered stops, and guides at various locations along one way path that will talk with you if interested. We had no wait, ticket $30+/per, and we took hour and half with a slow mosey walk. The reflecting lake, giant columns, drapery, and large chambers are best features to view. Museums included with ticket, but we chose other plans. Gift shop at entrance/exit. No steps - but ramps and slopes.

Luray Caverns is an AMAZING cave!This is a stunningly beautiful cave FULL of formations from beginning to end. There were many moments where we were amazed walking through the passages. Some formations are enormous and impressive.We drove 5 and a half hours all the way from New York City but man, once we saw the cave it was so worth it! We liked it so much that we went again the next day.The hike through the cave is easy and something I find cool about the cave is that it actually feels refreshing inside there, the temperature is a constant 54F year around.SUPER recommended. Especially if you are a person who loves nature. Prepare to be amazed!

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!We took the unguided tour & they have workers stationed every so often. I highly recommend it, definite must see. the car and the toy museum are 100% worth visiting as well.

We had an amazing time visiting the cave! It's one of the few we have found with no stairs. My wife has knee issues but had no problem exploring the cave. We loved the car museum too! I was surprised at the rarity of some of the cars they have. Overall we loved it and it was one of the highlights of our big summer trip.

Awesome experience! Great for the whole family though keep in mind they do NOT allow touching in the caves. It took us an hour and half to walk the entire tunnel. It was cool for a jacket but not freezing. Tons of parking spaces (which is free) and bathrooms available. They do have food and drink options as well as gift shops. They also have a maze to walk through and high walk but you will need to buy tickets for those separately. You can get a military discount with proof of ID and you do not need to buy tickets in advance though you can.

Visiting this ethereal destination is an adventure like no other. The vast area spans about a mile of trails that wind through enchanting landscapes, filled with ups and downs that both challenge and delight. As you explore, each step engages your senses and stimulates your mind, creating a truly immersive experience. Whether you're a nature lover, an adventurer, or simply looking for a peaceful escape, this magical place offers a unique blend of beauty and tranquility that will leave a lasting impression.

We have been here a number of times. The place just gets better. The cave portion now has an easy access instead of steep concrete stairs, and the route inside is vastly improved along with the lighting. The toy and car museums are very nice, the maze was excellent with mist spray all throughout for the very hot day we were there. The rope excursion was great for my grandson, and the historic village and winery were a nice way to end the day. This is a great family place with beautiful mountain scenery. A must do.

This is an awesome place to see the spectacular stalactites! At first I thought the ticket was a bit expensive compared to other places but after we toured the whole place, we felt it totally worth it! The touring paths were well built to allow tourists see everything at different levels. Already recommended it to several friends.

Luray Caverns exceeded my wildest expectations! The caves are immense and take quite about an hour to walk through and appreciate. There are some massive open halls, many stalactites/stalagmites of all sizes, and really amazing reflecting pools. I’ve been to other caverns, but this was the most impressive.We also took the time to complete the garden maze, which was extremely well done. My young children enjoyed it very much, but the adults had at least as much fun.Highly recommend this place, and will visit again if we return to the area at some point.

Very fun experience for our family. My son really enjoyed the Maze! Sadly he was to small to do the tree top adventure but maybe next time we are there he can. The toy and car museums were also very fun and cool to walk through. And ofcourse the cave, absolutely beautiful! I promise you will have a great time!

4.7

(22744)

4.5

(4934)

101 Cave Hill Rd, Luray, VA 22835, USA

2 lists

We visted back in April and had a wonderful experience. We had reservations in the restaurant and the food, service and wine were all fantastic. We moved to one of the outdoor seating areas once we finished our meal and enjoyed incredible mountain views.

Great wine and atmosphere! $20 for a flight tasting of four wines. We went around 11:30am when they first opened and were able to sit down without a reservation. I can definitely see the outside getting crowded during the warmer months and would recommend making a reservation. Their reservation process is confusing and not streamlined, but that may be due to third party websites issue.

Absolutely beautiful views and vineyards. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains is an extraordinary venue for events. Great food. Great wine. Great times. Variety of seating and selfie spots.Highly recommend the cab franc

Beautiful winery! This is more a live younger crowd. Make reservations for the outdoor seating. The inside seating was also beautiful, but obviously you miss the views of the property. It has great menu items for food. We ordered the bacon toast which was delicious. All of the white wines were great! I would definitely go back and hangout again.

Beautiful views with tasty wines. The outdoor seating is first come first serve but there are tons of tables past the patio in the woods. The window on the outside serves wine and food!

Update:our first Starry Night experience couldn't have been better! we sat on the deck and had a plated dinner! Wow! Food was FANTASTIC! Wine and servers were both 100%. Company at our table and the next table were all very friendly. Enjoyed all our concersations! Everyone we spoke too thoroughly enjoyed their dinner! Many compliments to the Chef! Well done. We will be back.Our first visit today was fabulous! Beautiful location, great wines and incredible food! Going back tomorrow for Starry Nights! Can't WAIT!

Wonderful white wines and a beautiful property to enjoy them! One of the best views and proximity to vines for vineyards in the area

We had a great first visit to Veritas! Wines were delicious, views were incredible, and great service. The charcuterie board is a great value!!

Nice place to relax. Good wine and snacks. Great for a date day.

We stayed at the Farmhouse at Veritas last November and enjoyed a four course wine paired dinner. Unfortunately there was a forest fire in Rockfish Gap with a resulting traffic jam that prevented us from attending "wine hour" prior to dinner. We visited the tasting room on 5 April 2025 and had the opportunity to enjoy more of this vineyard's offerings. This was the highlight of our weekend when it comes to the four vineyards visited.The tasting area here is a large two-story affair with plenty of outdoor seeting as well. We did not have a look at the food menu but did start to get hungry watching all of the food go by.Vesritas was awarded three gold medals in the 2024 Governor's cup and we enjoued them all. The two wines on the white side of the ledger are coming home with us to be enjoyed later. Highly recommended!

Veritas vineyards and winery is a wonderful place to visit over and over again! We are club members and each time we go to pickup our order, we also get lunch and enjoy our complimentary glass of wine. Not to mention, the grounds are a great place to enjoy the beautiful picturesque scenery. Finally, the wine is excellent! Dec 2023 - went to the Illumination night and really enjoyed it!

Loved this place! The waitress was super kind and friendly. I was able to try 2 sweet desert wines and bought a bottle of one of them. The cheese board was delicious with various cheese, grapes and raisins - very worth the price! I'll definitely come back with a friend next time.

Not much to say, great place, fun, and well done. Been here for a wedding and for wine tasting with lunch. All good!

This is my second time coming here. I'm not a wine drinker, but my brother and mom found the wines here to be delicious. We all thought the food was wonderful. We enjoyed eating on the covered deck while enjoying the view.

Overall our experience at Veritas was nice. Good wine, a stacked charcuterie board and a decent view of the groundsService was okay. When I made my reservation I added a table side wine tasting and once we arrived and it was explained to us I couldn’t see paying $40/person so we just opted for a bottle of wine.Also the number of restrooms is an issue. At one point there was a line 7-8 deep. Fortunately our table was on the opposite side and we were able to enjoy our wine in peace without a line of people beside us

Veritas Vineyards and Winery is an annual visit for my family as the wine selection is our favorite overall in the area. Additionally, the atmosphere is gorgeous, there is indoor and outdoor seating options available, they have excellent food to grab for your visit, and their staff are always helpful and friendly.

Always an amazing time..great wines...great service... beautiful atmosphere.

Way different than I remember from 2021. Today my experience was extremely disappointing. The waitress was cold and dry. When asked for the wifi password I was told “unfortunately that’s not for the public” which is funny considering QR codes are distributed as part of the tasting. There is absolutely no service where the winery is. The seats were metal and ice cold. The railing was filthy. It was dead silent, no music or anything. You can only build your own wine flight if you’re sitting inside so we went with the outdoor flight which was literally just the cheapest offerings and it tasted like it. I definitely won’t be back. Every single red tasted like a boxed wine. We went to pippin hill right after and the experience was night and day. We were met with warmth, kindness, exceptional views, and stellar wine. Highly recommend going there instead.

Love the views from this vineyard! Atmosphere was great! Plenty of seating and not crowded. We went in April, so it could be more busy during the summer months, but they do reservations, so I would suggest that when it gets warmer. My fiance and I both had different sandwiches and they were delicious. They also have a separate restaurant on the grounds with more food options. We left with four different bottles of wine, and could have left with more since they were all fantastic. Highly recommend this place for wine enthusiasts or just the casual wine drinker.

4.4

(608)

4.5

(485)

151 Veritas Ln, Afton, VA 22920, USA

6 lists

This place is fun not just for the kids, but adults as well. I have come here a few times over the past 10 years. They are always adding new attractions or making updates to the park. I suggest getting your moneys worth. Get there when they open and leave about 20 minutes before they close. There are both indoor and outdoor attractions. Slides, tubes, lazy river, pool basketball, hot tubs and more. There are a few attractions for smaller kids but not that many. If you don’t like water, you can rent a cabana outside for the day and relax. There is a snack bar that serves alcohol as well. They are a little pricey so I would suggest bringing some drinks and sandwiches or snacks. Wheelchair and handicap accessible. Small gift shop on the top floor. Overall a great experience and definitely worth the price of admission. Make sure to check times before arriving. Different open and close times most days. Can’t wait to come back!

A true gem of the Shenandoah Valley! Massanutten has always been our favorite way to end summer break. The indoor waterpark is perfect for winter getways on the lazy River and great for big and littles alike with a multitude of waterslides for all ages. The expansive water fun system is hours of play for everyone.The outside is a true oasis. I highly suggest renting a cabana, grabbing a frozen drink, and letting you big kids have hours of fun in the wave pool, the huge rainbow slide or even take your littles to the obstacles, splash pad or the basketball dunk pool. The service was top-notch, and the lifeguards are even better!If you have been thinking of a cool weekend getaway for a waterpark. This is it!

Once a year we go to the indoor/outdoor water park. Buy the cabana! It's worth it! We always purchase the small one, but it comes with waters, a bowl of grapes, a tote bag, and two towels that you get to keep! Being in the cabana also provides personal service via wait staff to be able to order lunch or drinks and it doesn't matter what time you arrive your cabana will be waiting! Highly recommend this option as it is well worth it! Time spent here is between four and five hours.

We had a great time at the water park! There is literally something for all ages! I was really impressed by the cafe. They were fast and the food was hot. The prices of the food were also very reasonable! The tickets for the water park are pretty expensive but in my opinion, worth every penny! We will be back next year for cute! We did buy tickets ahead of time and got to skip a very long line so I’d definitely get tickets in advance if that’s an option

Pricey, but we had a full day of fun. You can play indoors or outdoors. There is food on-site available. Lockers for rent $30. You'll get either $10 back or a $15 arcade card with locker key return. It was clean. Lifeguards are attentive.

Had a blast there. They claim to be better then the Great Wolf Lodge but are not. But still a fun place

This was a fun day. We had perfect swimming weather. We tried most of the water slides and walked through the Giant Tipping Bucket, let the current of Blue Ridge Rapids carry us a around several times. The adult only hot tub was small but nice and relaxing. There were plenty of lifeguards keeping the kids safe. It’s a great experience for kids and teens. The Snack Shack had good quick grab meals. The arcade section is small but had comparable games to the likes of Dave and Busters kids would be familiar with. Its best to purchase your tickets online to save a few bucks, bring your own towel they do not provide any.

First and foremost, although I typically refrain from composing reviews, my recent experience compels me to share my sentiments. Upon arrival, I was promptly informed that the park had reached full capacity. Accompanying me were six individuals, four of whom possessed tickets acquired through a timeshare presentation incentive. While I acknowledge the unconventional method of obtaining four tickets, priced at a steep $70 per person, the situation is nonetheless disheartening. It raises questions regarding the park's policies: if they had indeed sold out, the issuance of tickets to those without prior reservations should have been preempted. Consequently, one would expect the option to procure additional tickets for the remaining members of my party, if not at least one or two. Regrettably, this was not the case.Furthermore, it came as a disappointment that towels were not provided by the park. This lack of amenities necessitates visitors to bring their own. Moreover, despite being aware that only the indoor water park was operational, the absence of the main attraction, the meltdown tower of water, compounded our dissatisfaction. Such an omission denies children the opportunity to experience a significant highlight of the park. Notably, my children, upon reflecting on our past experiences, expressed a preference for establishments such as Westgate Town Center in Florida or even Great Wolf Lodge.Additionally, the absence of a dedicated swimming pool for children, coupled with a limited operating time from 3 pm to 7 pm, leaves much to be desired. The recent opening of a section at 3:50 pm only serves to underscore the lack of foresight in managing the park's resources efficiently. While there is an inclination to delve further into the myriad inconveniences experienced during our stay, including the absence of towels, malfunctioning dryers, and the unwelcome presence of big black ants in the cabinets, such matters warrant a separate review dedicated to the resort itself.In summation, the overarching sentiment is one of dissatisfaction. The anticipation for a memorable experience was met with disappointment, exacerbated by the myriad shortcomings encountered throughout our visit. As of April 3, 2024, at 3:53 pm, it is regrettable to acknowledge that our expectations were not met, and the experience fell short of what was anticipated.

I arrived before the water park section was open, so I shopped in the Gift Store, peeked at the Arcade, and then got some food later in the day. Low on photos at the moment, but I be able to add soon.The warm water area where you can swim indoors and outdoors is one of my favorite areas. When you walk up the stairs to the larger water slides, The green Country Cooler slide is the slowest and even that one is a little fast for me personally, but it's not too bad once you relax and look up and enjoy the motion. The drop is the part I don't like.The lazy river is nice to ride on but the water is cold now instead of warm, so I am not a fan of the sprinkles that you have no choice but to go through/under. But the rest of it is nice.I like that they have an area for small children, so that parents can help their kids on little slides and do tiny activities to help them get acquainted with being in the water.The surf area looks impressive and hard to do, but surprisingly it really isn't too bad! All you have to do it follow what the helpers tell you, and you can figure out things and learn. I would advise you to try it. The scariest part for me was having to jump down onto the water instead of slide. But they explained how to put your arms on the wave board that they provide and that keeps you balanced. The right and left sides have areas where if you want to just slide down and get off just to get a small mini experience with it, you can. They have a stoplight that lets you know when your turn is up and the next person can go.There is a 18+ hot tub that's very hot that can be found off the lazy river or if you walk around behind the play area in the middle.The middle play area with the large water bucket has three slides: blue (tallest, longest and fastest of the 3 main kids slides and you have to cross a rope floor on foot so if you have sensitive feet--a pair of water shoes might come in handy here), green (shortest, and easier to get to (same direction as the blue slide, but you get to the green one first), and the orange slide (which is in between the slower green and faster blue in pace/speed, height, and duration. If you go the shorter route to the orange slide there is a rope floor, however you can go around a longer route to avoid the rope floor and save your feet if you would like to.There is a someone at the bottom who can electronically push a button to communicate with the employee at the top of the water slide to inform the individual waiting to go down the slide if it is safe to begin riding down yet or not. There is a light that turns from to green. It is red when a person is on the slide and green when the person leaves the slide from the bottom and there is confirmation that the previous rider has left the water and is safely on the ground, so there will not be a collision with the following person.There are also a couple of slides--on the side of the main play area in the middle--to go down that are shorter: a red one and a green one. The red one is shorter, slower and more smaller-kid friendly and the green one is of course faster and taller. You might want to hold your back up a little bit on this one because otherwise you have to watch out for splashing under the water and getting water in your face and nose. Just cautionary. It happened to me! :)The food area is a decent size and they have kiosks where you can order your food so you don't have to stand in line as long, but make sure you have your receipt number because sometimes technology is not our friend. If a machine runs out of paper, and you order food, you might have to say (for example): my order number is 500B and I only ordered a 20oz ginger ale, but the check-out kiosk did not print a receipt. Just something to be aware of the possibilities because this was my experience when I asked if they had received my order, but we figured it out.The restaurant has soft pretzels (very salty-which can be good if you need electrolytes!) and they also have mustard and other burger-style condiments. The fries are slightly breaded.

Great for younger kids, I would say 12 and under. My older kids just wanted to do the surf ride. The wave pool is so small. They have multiple little kids splash pad areas. I wouldn't go here again. Way too expensive for what they offer. It's pretty crowded too during the peak times. It's okay when they first open and after 5pm it thins out. Otherwise the lines are long for the sides. They don't allow food or drinks. Bring your own towel. The lazy river is pretty good.$65 a person if you order online a day early. $30 just to enter the building to watch.Purchase the day of $75 / $40The surf instructor was very friendly. Encounters with the other staff not so friendly especially when checking in the people telling you to stand in line at the bottom of the stairs prior to the counter to get your tickets.

Indoor and outdoor water park. One down side is they have very limited hours, the day we went they were only open from 3-8pm. This was disappointing because we still paid full price, they should at least have half day prices. Other than that everything was great, free parking, staff is very organized and great variety of activities.If you dare try Mass Mayhem, it is the rainbow slide and it scares many people away because you end up backwards, but just go for it.

Small compared to the amount of people they let in. No room to swim. Doors left open, so it was cold. Just packed. The resort was nice, but not many resort activities, just the expensive adventure stuff. For the most expensive part of the resort, the cleaning staff needs to pay better attention. Too many requirements before checkout. Usually, it's get out before 10am. At Massanutten it's start the dishwasher, strip the beds, and take out the trash, and get out by 10am. Too expensive for all of that. Hospitality is lost when you mention you don't want to purchase vacation ownership with them.

We made a visit to the water park. We went with family. Lot of rides for kids and adults. Wave pool, slides, rainbow slide, Hot water tubs, game arcade, soft and hard drinks available. Good customer service. Good cafe for lunch. Lockers, restrooms, showers, and changing rooms are available. Cabanas for private sun shades.

Huge Indoor Park! Tickets are steep but if you’re on vacay, you want to be in there! Buying tickets in advance on website is helpful and a little cheaper.

We stayed from open to close. 11:30-7 on Sunday. We had an awesome time and we were ready to go by the end. We were very tired. We can't wait to come back next yesr.

Very nice water park, clean and well maintained. The lazy river is nice, and the hidden 18+ hot tub was a nice relaxing little getaway. There are plenty of slides inside and out to choose from. We were there during July 4th week and it was busy but not overcrowded. All the lines for the slides moved very efficiently. As with any activity in Massanutten, buy your tickets ahead of time because they will most likely be sold out if you try to purchase the same day.

This review is for Christmas lights. Went there for Christmas Lights that they are doing it for the first time in the Outdoor section of the Waterpark. Overall, it was a good experience, something new. Buy tickets online to save. They have a little coffee shop set up there with a selection of coffee and sweets. At the time of my visit, the credit card machine was not working, so I had to pay with cash. The downside is that it is small if you compare it to price. $20 for 10-15 min walk..

My family and I had a blast here . There is an indoor section and there is an outside section . We hit the inside first and enjoyed all the things such as the lazy river then we enjoyed spraying all the people coming thru . Also the indoor section allows you access to the water slides . The indoor slides are good and my 7yr old loved it . This was his first time at a waterpark and needless to say he loves it . He rode every ride there and definitely fell in love with the water park . Outside section has the other type of water slides that you just ride down on your. Back or sit down on. It and ride . They were so much fun along with the color wheel water slide it was our favorite for sure ! I feel like the color wheel water slide was very different . Outside there is also huge area for infants and young children . There are also numerous pools thru out the park . Be sure and check out the Wave pool is was fun as well . They have many. Lifeguards that are.on duty and from my scope of them they did a wonderful job . Each lifeguard was at their designated post with equipment ready to go in case of emergency and that said a lot to me . For all the property offers I feel like it was worth the cost to get in . Now I do have a problem with the amount they charge to rent a locker .30.00 for a locker that is ridiculous . The company definitely needs to reevaluate this area . Overall we had a very fun filled day and will always remember our trip to Massanutten Indoor Waterpark !also if you buys tickets online it’s like 10.00 cheaper than gate prices !

My son and I spent almost all day here and we had the BEST time! Although it is a little pricey on the tickets, just buy them ahead of time and save a little money. But it is well worth it because of everything they have inside and outside. We had an absolute blast. My soul left my body when I went on the giant rainbow waterslide. Good luck to you mamas lol I of course, included the video of us going down the waterslide. Enjoy my panic attack. It was one of the most fun days my son and I have had in a long time. :)

4.4

(5601)

4.0

(819)

1200 Adventure Dr, Massanutten, VA 22840, USA

13 lists

The star at the Bill Mountain Star stands tall for great pictures and the view from the top is amazing. There are easy hiking trails along with visitor centre, play area and zoo that can enjoy with entrance fee. Little crowded on weekends to find parking but there are lots of car coming and going so you might get parking spot if you wait a little. They have restrooms on both visitor centre and near the big star as well. We enjoyed our tiny hike with the little one.

Panoramic views of the Roanoke Valley from several overlooks. Also a zoo, small park and Discovery Center - all in the shadow of the world's largest man-made star. Only the zoo has an admission fee.

I've visited Roanoke for the first time last year and came again this year. We always visit the star because it has an amazing view of the town, definitely worth the drive up. Beware of the locals jogging up and down the road to get up there, the street is very narrow and does not have a lot of space for pedestrians and cars.

Beautiful, beautiful view of the city and just looking at all the mountains. Must visit if you're in Roanoke! Came to visit a friend, and she took me to see!! So grateful for the memorable opportunity she gave me as well as thinking of taking me! Thanks Olivia!!! :)

Wonderful views with easy access!The star is a magnificent spot that overlooks all of Roanoke and even highlights other peaks in the area. A road will bring you all the way up, and it is wheelchair accessible. The best part is that it's free!A playground and picnic area lies just below the star. A great place to bring younglings!There is a botanical garden, but that part isn't wheelchair accessible. It's a very pleasant walk, and it has a fish pond. It's not the biggest garden, but well labeled.

A marvelous view! A wonderful spot to go anytime of the day but I recommend going at night. I took my daughter and we had an absolutely amazing time! Very easy to get to. Not a far walk at all to the lookout. The lookout itself is outstanding! The star is truly a marvel. I highly recommend this for a family outing. I will be back here again and again!

This is a true Roanoke landmark overlooking the city. Well worth the drive up the mountain to check it out. The view is absolutely stunning. Can see all of Roanoke with the mountainside in the background. Come near dusk to take in the view and then see the star turn on. There is a platform to walk out on to take in the view and then check the star out. There is also a website where you can log on and see yourself. There are some walking trails around so you can go on a little gander. It's a must checkout.

Quiet and peaceful spot high atop Roanoke. Enjoyed seeing the massive star and the observation deck at its base. Clean restrooms and a few short walking paths wind around the park.

The star is one of the best and oldest attractions in the area, drawing visitors who are locals as well as tourists/visitors to our city. You can't beat the view of the valley, and the overlooks are perfect for capturing those gorgeous views. The playground has picnic tables next to it for a perfect spot to enjoy lunch while the kids have their own little adventures climbing, sliding, and making their way through the tunnel.The star and overlooks are free, as well as parking, making it an excellent choice for a weekend afternoon family outing or picnic.

Our visit to Mill Mountain Star was truly memorable. The star itself, towering above Roanoke, is an iconic symbol of the city, and seeing it up close was an experience worth the trip. The drive up the mountain was scenic, offering glimpses of the lush surroundings, and once we reached the top, the views were simply breathtaking. The panoramic view of Roanoke and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, especially at sunset, was nothing short of spectacular.The star lit up as dusk fell, casting a warm glow over the entire area. It was fascinating to learn about its history as the world's largest freestanding illuminated man-made star. The observation area was well-maintained, with plenty of space to take in the views and snap some great photos. There’s also a nearby park, which is perfect for a leisurely stroll or a picnic.While the main attraction is undoubtedly the star and the view, the peaceful atmosphere and natural beauty made the visit even more special. If you're ever in Roanoke, I highly recommend a trip to Mill Mountain Star, especially during the evening hours when you can catch the sunset and see the star in all its illuminated glory.

It was amazing to drive up the mountain to the overlook to see the Roanoke Star up close. It had just turned on by the time we got the top. And the view of Roanoke from the overlook was beautiful.

This was a beautiful walk to see the whole city from a birds eye view. There are several trails. We suggest starting at the discovery center to collect a free map. This would be a great family place to explore trails too.

Fantastic park up a mountain that culminated in a really cool landmark. The star is the largest man made star in the world, which is impressive since it was built in 1949. Good lookout areas and plenty of parking. The view over Roanoke was really spectacular.

Not a local but stopped by while passing through the area. The star is huge as expected but it's the view of the city that really gets you. Lol there is a restroom also located in the parking lot of the star. If you walk the trail next to the star, it leads you down to the discovery center and the flower gardens. Walking through the garden will lead you directly to the zoo. The garden was not yet in bloom and the zoo was closed for the day (5pm) but still a nice walk.

Easy but winding road through the park to the Star and overlook. Free. Informative signs. Facilities accessible including restroom. Kids and adults enjoyed local history and culture and unique experience.

Being that this is the largest man-made star, it’s a must see if you are in the area. Easy trail through the park, the star is located opposite to a beautiful observation desk. Also in the park are a kids playground, discovery center, wildflowers garden, zoo, a pavilion and probably more:)

Very cool star with a great view of the city. There are hiking trails up there, parking and bathrooms. Everything is free!

Quaint little place. Perhaps the place to be at in Roanoke.Theres a cute little trail to the left of the star… the view of the downtown below is very pretty

I always enjoy coming home and seeing the Roanoke star. That's how I know I'm officially home. Today I got to take my pup for the first time and he loved it! I'm sad that the Blue ridge parkway is closed, but I know it'll come back soon.

4.8

(4331)

4.5

(1304)

2000 Jb Fishburn Pkwy SE, Roanoke, VA 24014, USA

30 lists

My husband and I went on a Wednesday, had the whole place to ourselves and it was awesome! I loved looking at all the old cars and don’t forget the trains! The trains were super cool and some of them allowed you to go inside and look around! Friendly staff and clean!

The entry fee for 1 adult is $12.66, and you can add a donation. There's So Much to See! Trains, Planes, Cars! In addition, learn about the history of each mode of transportation, and important figures in each one. Very friendly and helpful people assisted us.

Really great museum that was accessible - main floor and outside. Exhibits were well done and comprehensive for the size of the area. Would have been nice to see the history of trains outside other than stats.

What an excellent museum! It’s professionally set up with trains, cars, planes, buses, fire trucks, and memorabilia. We really enjoyed our time here. The huge 611 steam engine was my favorite. Well worth the entrance fee.

There is a lot to see here! There are many locomotives and rail cars to see. Some that are beautifully restored. There were some rare ones, and some that were just plain beautiful! I enjoyed the road vehicles a lot. There were cars, buses, fire engines, among others. There were aircraft to see, and mock ups you could get in. There was much more There than I expected. I highly recommend it!

Beautiful museum with even mix of hands-on activities and hands-off displays. Decently priced for every age group and many things to see; from cars, trains, and airplanes!

Great museum! It's so much to see you could spend all day here. We kind of glanced over things because we had other obligations the day we visited but I highly recommend.

Informative and beautiful museum! Lots of rich history and cool cars and trains! It is about $15 per person, but they offer student and military discounts! Go Hokies!

We like this place! It's easy to do and fun for all ages. We even joined last year but refuse to join this year because at this museum they make you pay for special events, like their trick or treating etc. So we will visit when guests come. They are constantly adding things, and the history they have collected is very impressive. It was great that the 611 was back, but we unfortunately missed it by a day! It is doing trips elsewhere. All in all, I would recommend visiting this museum, but the membership is NOT worth it. And some displayed were closed when we went. However, I think they may have just been painting. My company loved it!

Passed through this area many times, but never stopped until now. A missed opportunity fulfilled. This is a transportation museum with many examples of vintage trains, buses, marine models & automotive on display. Definitely worth a look see.

This is a nice museum however it is overpriced for what you get. At the St. Louis transport museum you can climb in the locomotives. Not here. If it were more hands on would be a five star as they have some awesome stuff. UPDATE Also this has now gone down to a 2 star review. An employee threw something at my drone while I was simply trying to document some of the work going on the 611. I live right behind the museum and had clear line of sight with my drone and was fully following the FAA rules. It is also a federal crime to attempt to destroy or hurt an aircraft which a drone is. If I was in charge of the 611, I would be proud to have people try to photograph and video tape it. Not try to destroy their camera.

Great place to see old trains and other transportation. Price of admission is good too.

Very impressive. Loved seeing the 100+ year old cars. Seeing the trains up close was awesome! They're massive. We were able to climb aboard a few of the cars.

Third visit here in the last ten years, this visit was on par with my first. Plenty of things to see between the cars on display inside and the trains on display out in the yard. Really enjoyed the circus train displays on the upper level.

Very exciting visit today in the Virginia Museum of Transportation here in Roanoke. A really fascinating journey back in time to learn about the history of railways. 🚂⏳️ Beside restored locomotives and railroad cars, there are also some old airplanes and vintage cars. 🛻🚙🛩 So much to see here, that the time I had (around 1,5 hrs) was far not enough. Therefore I recommend to plan more time to be able to see and experience everything in all details. I did really enjoy the visit. 💯👍🏻

Great stop on our roadtrip.I’ve never been sort of a train fanatic but this was very informative.Little did I know we had electric cars 120 years ago. Now I do.Penny machine available.

Fun museum. The gentlemen working the desk and gift shop were nice.

Toddler’s dream! Kids wonderland. Stroller accessible (except for second level but don’t think much is up there). Family restroom with changing table (bathroom needs to be cleaned though). Awesome to spend hours indoors here on a freezing winter day. Cars, trains, buses, planes, and more! Outside you can even watch real trains go by. Gift shop is fun. Highly recommend!

Great family-friendly museum for transportation enthusiasts that is still appealing for kid-free travelers. The gift shop has a good mix of 1218 and 611 swag, regional souvenirs, and traditional gift shop merchandise. Several rail cars in the railyard are open for visitors to walk through (not wheelchair-accessible). The most expensive admission was under $15.

4.6

(1700)

4.5

(722)

303 Norfolk Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA

9 lists

Beautiful location. Fascinating history. The tour of the mansion was interesting. The tour guide, Letta, made every effort to answer questions, was friendly, and knowledgeable.

Enjoyable boat ride, beautiful grounds. Staff were knowledgeable and relatable. Horse and Carriage ride is a must. Bring your own snacks and prepare for a great day!

My review is of the Blennerhassett Island Scenic Overlook. The overlook is located at 1801 Washington Boulevard, Belpre, Ohio 45714 in a parking area behind a fast food restaurant. The view is great.

What a neat place to spend an afternoon. We enjoyed the horse carriage ride and the history lesson of the island and its structures. We then took the house tour which told about the family that lived there. The stern wheel boat ride to the island was very nice and relaxing!!

We had a blast when we visited here. I would def go back. The horse carriage rides were our favorite. Great history and family fun.

Our guide was well informed and a gentleman. He played the dulcimer for us which has a very pleasing sound.The property is well maintained and beautiful to view. It does have a snack stand down by the waters edge. The horse and buggy ride was a nice addition to our tour. The paddlewheeler ride to the island was pleasant as well.Highly recommend this tour. Plan on a minimum of 3 hours with the boat ride included.

Beautiful historic state park, full of sights to see & tales to hear

Perfect place to spend the afternoon! To get there, you ride a traditional sternwheel ferry. Once on the island it's picturesque. The wagon ride is definitely a must. All the staff is incredibly knowledgeable and really seems to enjoy their job. We got a quick bite at the concession pavilion and the prices were very reasonable. We spent about 3-4 hours touring.

Very nice way to spend a day. My wife and I picked up the 4 ticket package for the museum, the ferry ride to the island, covered wagon island tour and the mansion tour. The island is rich in culture and history also rich in black walnuts, as this was a walnut farm among other cash crops. Many different houses and historical areas to see on the island. The ferry ride was real nice and the museum was cool too. Lots of local history and finds from the local tribes 2000 years ago. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys living, tangible history.

This is a very interesting and picturesque park with a lot of history. Despite what my GPS says, it's not accessible by car. If you have a boat, kayak, paddleboard, or similar, it's a free visit. Otherwise, the ferry is a relaxing and reasonably priced alternative.

Beautiful island to visit. You'll want to get there early to have time to see everything at a good pace. I recommend doing the wagon ride first so you can have an introduction to the sites to see along the road, then you can walk the road at your own pace and read the signs. There are some picnic tables along the road so you could take a lunch along the way. You'll want to pack water and sunscreen if you plan to walk the road or rent bikes. The guides on the island as well as the ferry captain were knowledgeable about the island's history and the Blennerhassett family. We didn't have time for both the island and the museum, so if you want to do both, it might be best to plan for two days so you don't have to rush.

Everything was perfect. Lovely staff all around and tour guides! Hope to come back again soon!

Had a wonderful time touring the grounds and mansion at Blennerassett Island State Park.

Beautiful place to visit for the day. The boat ride was really pretty and as well as the grounds. The trees are beautiful and it's a park like setting. The wagon ride was definitely our favorite part of the tour. The horses are beautiful! My only thing I could have done without for the day was the lady telling us about the ghost in the house. She had her ghost detector on her phone. She then proceeded to tell us that there is a little girls spirit who is there and then my daughter came asking questions. Seriously...just give us the facts not your ghostly opinions!

Wow, so much to unpack here. It's a beautiful rebuilt plantation manor and it's even furnished with some of the original homeowners belongings. It burned down in 1811 and wasn't rebuilt until the 1980's by the state of West Virginia. The stern boat ride there, the wagon ride, and the tour of the manor were worth the money. There's a tree that over 400 years old still standing on the island that very impressive, as well as the other centuries old trees, and walnut tree grove. We met wonderful tour guides and guests from all over. It was fascinating, gorgeous, and entertaining. It's a must see if you love visiting historical sites, because well, there's so much history!

4.7

(513)

4.5

(376)

137 Juliana St, Parkersburg, WV 26101, USA

2 lists

Great fun and people!! BRE & IAN did a fantastic job teaching and sharing their knowledge & humor! I would have LOVED photos while actually zipping! And we were sad the super zip was closed Tuesday & Wednesdays (our vacation days). Worth the time & money! The views were awesome too!

WOW-we had a fantastic time yesterday (11/5) on our Canopy Tour! Ian & Joya were the best guides :) They were very patient and very encouraging with our group .They explained all steps very clearly and were such fun guides.The jokes from Ian were also a highlight of our day.lol We will definitely be back! Thank you for a wonderful “moms” day out.

My husband and I did the X tour. It was a blast. Justin and Michael were great guides. We appreciated the 4 wheeler "taxis" to and from the towers. They also had water available midway through the course and at the end. With great views, and great zips, we would definitely recommend this company and this tour.

This was my first time zip lining, and Dan and Ian made it so much fun!! They both made me feel completely safe, and they were very knowledgeable. I had issues with some photos, but I got a response in a timely manner and it was resolved immediately. Couldn't be happier with my experience with the staff. I'll definitely go again!!

My family had a great time taking the canopy zip line tour. Everything ran like a well oiled machine, they were busy but we never felt crowded or rushed. Our guides, Brad and Andrew, were funny, personable, and professional. I’m deathly afraid of heights but I would go back if my family wanted, only if we had the same guides!If you’re on the fence, give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Loved the zip! Loved the views! Loved the weather! Highly recommend zip lining with hocking hills canopy tours and if you’re lucky enough to hangout with Skyler and Dan well then you hit the lottery for your adventure! Prepare to laugh and enjoy the day with these two comedians.

The X-Tour zip line was an amazing experience! I had a total blast! This was my first time ever zip lining and Claire and Lia were the best guides I could have asked for! They were both very knowledgeable and made learning everything very easy. They were funny, engaging, full of facts, and made me feel very comfortable and confident that I was completely safe and in good hands. I would recommend this experience! I would especially recommend asking for Claire and Lia to be your guides. You won't be disappointed!

Our Canopy Tour was amazing! Our guides, Brad and Ella, were professional, skilled, personable and friendly; our full tour of nine people was outfitted with harnesses and helmets (some with helmet cameras) then trained on how to safely ride the zip line. This three-hour tour took us across several zip lines at good speeds, landing on well-secured platforms; we also walked across a couple of suspension bridges. Throughout the entire activity, our guides made sure that we were always clipped to a cable, so everything felt safe and fun (the platforms have no railings!). They also made a point of mixing up the order, so different people went first and last. There was good rapport with the group. The guides also took photos along the way. We purchased the photo package, and it was definitely worth having. The last activity was pseudo-rappelling down to the ground for our final group photo.The only disappointment was that the helmet camera preview didn't show anything but some ground preliminaries, and it was very hard to see, so we didn't buy it.Overall, very enjoyable and worth doing! My wife and I are a fit 65 and 62, and we thought the level of activity was very comfortable.

Such an amazing.Place. A excellent family vacation. Good food, beautiful surroundings. And some of the best weekend getaway cabins You can find in the State of Ohio.

What a great time! First timer and definitely worth the cost! Carl and Aimee were amazing guides! They were well educated on zip lining and made you feel safe throughout the entire tour. Took my granddaughter for the day and ENJOYED IT IMMENSELY! Do it - you’ll be happy you did.

Our kids enjoyed The Dragonfly zip line so much they begged us to go back a second time. Everyone was great, Bradley was very good with the kids. Thanks guys, we will be back!

Very cool zip line are through the woods of Hocking Hills. We did the X Tour which was like 10 zip lines varying in distance from the training wires to one that was 1000 feet long. Passes through some cool areas, into a cave and over a river a couple times. Guides were friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend if staying in the area and looking for something else to do than hiking.

Amazing. And it was only the short tour. Our guides were Laurel and Hardy, Dean and Martin and Abbott and Costello. If you do it, ask for Ian and Dan. I'm sure the others ones are good too, but don't know'em, can't vouch.

Our kids really enjoyed this place. Our oldest daughter did the super zip two times and our youngest did the dragonfly two times. They both had a lot of fun and created good memories. The only thing I don’t like is the price for the amount of time that you’re actually zip lining. But that’s comparable to other places too.

I can't say enough good about this experience! Our tour guides were Claire and Amy. Amy had just started working there, but still did a great job. Claire was absolutely phenomenal! She is funny and quick witted, but also very confident and competent in her abilities that for a first time zipper, your anxiety was calmed in a heartbeat. We did the 'X' tour, which I would highly recommend. If you're visiting Hocking Hills, please give this some serious consideration!

Brad and Olivia were the 2 nicest people we met during our trip to Hocking Hills! Very nice, personal and professional! We (Group of 4 friends with 4 others) laughed the whole time and enjoyed every line.Brad even mentioned his mother enjoys reading the reviews so hello and shout out to Brads Mom! You raised a strong young boy!

Our guides, Anna and Ian, were excellent! Very friendly and patient. And entertaining and informative! The tour was fun and beautiful. I am still in awe of one of the amazing, giant sycamore trees that had a large platform where we landed near the river. My youngest did the Dragonfly course and enjoyed this, as well. Her guides, Brie and Skylar were also very patient and kind. They were also helpful in assisting my mobility-impaired husband so that he could watch our daughter on the course.

We had a fantastic time on our tour. Our guides Lia and Maddy are some wonderful people that made our experience fun and they even had some funny random facts!! Would recommend everyone to go! And for sure have to do the super zip!!

We had such a good time here! We did the original canopy tour, not the X-tour, as my wife and son were anxious about heights/speed, but the instructors (Carl and Xandra) were the absolute best at making everyone feel safe and comfortable. They were also great at pointing out info on trees and the local area, all while making sure everyone was laughing and having fun. Highly recommend for anyone looking to add a little thrill to their next Hocking Hills trip! Next time I think we will go bigger for the X-tour, but for our first try we couldn't have asked for a better experience or instructors!

4.9

(2156)

5.0

(4534)

10714 Jackson St, Rockbridge, OH 43149, USA

2 lists

Great fun and people!! BRE & IAN did a fantastic job teaching and sharing their knowledge & humor! I would have LOVED photos while actually zipping! And we were sad the super zip was closed Tuesday & Wednesdays (our vacation days). Worth the time & money! The views were awesome too!

WOW-we had a fantastic time yesterday (11/5) on our Canopy Tour! Ian & Joya were the best guides :) They were very patient and very encouraging with our group .They explained all steps very clearly and were such fun guides.The jokes from Ian were also a highlight of our day.lol We will definitely be back! Thank you for a wonderful “moms” day out.

My husband and I did the X tour. It was a blast. Justin and Michael were great guides. We appreciated the 4 wheeler "taxis" to and from the towers. They also had water available midway through the course and at the end. With great views, and great zips, we would definitely recommend this company and this tour.

This was my first time zip lining, and Dan and Ian made it so much fun!! They both made me feel completely safe, and they were very knowledgeable. I had issues with some photos, but I got a response in a timely manner and it was resolved immediately. Couldn't be happier with my experience with the staff. I'll definitely go again!!

My family had a great time taking the canopy zip line tour. Everything ran like a well oiled machine, they were busy but we never felt crowded or rushed. Our guides, Brad and Andrew, were funny, personable, and professional. I’m deathly afraid of heights but I would go back if my family wanted, only if we had the same guides!If you’re on the fence, give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Loved the zip! Loved the views! Loved the weather! Highly recommend zip lining with hocking hills canopy tours and if you’re lucky enough to hangout with Skyler and Dan well then you hit the lottery for your adventure! Prepare to laugh and enjoy the day with these two comedians.

The X-Tour zip line was an amazing experience! I had a total blast! This was my first time ever zip lining and Claire and Lia were the best guides I could have asked for! They were both very knowledgeable and made learning everything very easy. They were funny, engaging, full of facts, and made me feel very comfortable and confident that I was completely safe and in good hands. I would recommend this experience! I would especially recommend asking for Claire and Lia to be your guides. You won't be disappointed!

Our Canopy Tour was amazing! Our guides, Brad and Ella, were professional, skilled, personable and friendly; our full tour of nine people was outfitted with harnesses and helmets (some with helmet cameras) then trained on how to safely ride the zip line. This three-hour tour took us across several zip lines at good speeds, landing on well-secured platforms; we also walked across a couple of suspension bridges. Throughout the entire activity, our guides made sure that we were always clipped to a cable, so everything felt safe and fun (the platforms have no railings!). They also made a point of mixing up the order, so different people went first and last. There was good rapport with the group. The guides also took photos along the way. We purchased the photo package, and it was definitely worth having. The last activity was pseudo-rappelling down to the ground for our final group photo.The only disappointment was that the helmet camera preview didn't show anything but some ground preliminaries, and it was very hard to see, so we didn't buy it.Overall, very enjoyable and worth doing! My wife and I are a fit 65 and 62, and we thought the level of activity was very comfortable.

Such an amazing.Place. A excellent family vacation. Good food, beautiful surroundings. And some of the best weekend getaway cabins You can find in the State of Ohio.

What a great time! First timer and definitely worth the cost! Carl and Aimee were amazing guides! They were well educated on zip lining and made you feel safe throughout the entire tour. Took my granddaughter for the day and ENJOYED IT IMMENSELY! Do it - you’ll be happy you did.

Our kids enjoyed The Dragonfly zip line so much they begged us to go back a second time. Everyone was great, Bradley was very good with the kids. Thanks guys, we will be back!

Very cool zip line are through the woods of Hocking Hills. We did the X Tour which was like 10 zip lines varying in distance from the training wires to one that was 1000 feet long. Passes through some cool areas, into a cave and over a river a couple times. Guides were friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend if staying in the area and looking for something else to do than hiking.

Amazing. And it was only the short tour. Our guides were Laurel and Hardy, Dean and Martin and Abbott and Costello. If you do it, ask for Ian and Dan. I'm sure the others ones are good too, but don't know'em, can't vouch.

Our kids really enjoyed this place. Our oldest daughter did the super zip two times and our youngest did the dragonfly two times. They both had a lot of fun and created good memories. The only thing I don’t like is the price for the amount of time that you’re actually zip lining. But that’s comparable to other places too.

I can't say enough good about this experience! Our tour guides were Claire and Amy. Amy had just started working there, but still did a great job. Claire was absolutely phenomenal! She is funny and quick witted, but also very confident and competent in her abilities that for a first time zipper, your anxiety was calmed in a heartbeat. We did the 'X' tour, which I would highly recommend. If you're visiting Hocking Hills, please give this some serious consideration!

Brad and Olivia were the 2 nicest people we met during our trip to Hocking Hills! Very nice, personal and professional! We (Group of 4 friends with 4 others) laughed the whole time and enjoyed every line.Brad even mentioned his mother enjoys reading the reviews so hello and shout out to Brads Mom! You raised a strong young boy!

Our guides, Anna and Ian, were excellent! Very friendly and patient. And entertaining and informative! The tour was fun and beautiful. I am still in awe of one of the amazing, giant sycamore trees that had a large platform where we landed near the river. My youngest did the Dragonfly course and enjoyed this, as well. Her guides, Brie and Skylar were also very patient and kind. They were also helpful in assisting my mobility-impaired husband so that he could watch our daughter on the course.

We had a fantastic time on our tour. Our guides Lia and Maddy are some wonderful people that made our experience fun and they even had some funny random facts!! Would recommend everyone to go! And for sure have to do the super zip!!

We had such a good time here! We did the original canopy tour, not the X-tour, as my wife and son were anxious about heights/speed, but the instructors (Carl and Xandra) were the absolute best at making everyone feel safe and comfortable. They were also great at pointing out info on trees and the local area, all while making sure everyone was laughing and having fun. Highly recommend for anyone looking to add a little thrill to their next Hocking Hills trip! Next time I think we will go bigger for the X-tour, but for our first try we couldn't have asked for a better experience or instructors!

4.9

(2156)

5.0

(4534)

10714 Jackson St, Rockbridge, OH 43149, USA

5 lists

4.5

(3307)

Columbus, OH 43219, USA

29 lists

4th largest stadium in the world. Well organized, everyone was friendly. We arrived fairly early, so getting to our seats was a breeze. Although concessions were pricey, still cheaper than the US tennis open :-)

Best damn stadium in the land! I recommend going to a game if you have never gotten the chance! Skull session is a must, and walking through the tunnel for first timers! Skull session is where the band plays inside the old basketball arena before games, and the tunnel has an atmosphere like no other! Absolutely one of my favorite places to be!

Just always a great time to go see an Ohio State game!! Security seems well staffed, entry was smooth, tailgating was busy but not disruptive, and folks generally wanted to be there and have a good time. Super fun place to see a game!!

11th largest field! Built 1922. Gorgeous views everywhere! Turf is plastic material that’s plush! You may reserve a seat for around 5k a year. Or a box for around 45k. Immaculate surroundings. Very kind staff & very hospitable! We were with a private event that gifted us a behind the scenes thru the tunnel and on the field! We also were taken to the press box & Athletic Director area! Surreal to see it all from the 50 yard line! Great memorable experience!

Always an awe-inspiring moment when you walk into this stadium. Whether you're there for a football game, concert, or any other event, it is an impressive atmosphere.Staff around the building are always helpful and polite, and parking is relatively painless, considering the size and logistical nightmare it must be to have that many people in one place.

Few other stadiums provide the ambiance, experience and ruckus of this masterpiece in a land wheee football is held close to the heart. If you are curious about the American Football Game experience, seek one here

We were there for the Chelsea FC and Man City game. I had an issue with our seats and the ticketing agents went above and beyond to accommodate us! Even though Chelsea lost, we enjoyed our visit to Ohio Stadium. Thank you for helping us with our seats even though we were from Alabama 😂We appreciate the hospitality!

The shoe is such a unique experience! We took a guided tour and got to see and hear about the rich history behind the traditions and different architecture of the stadium. Definitely a MUST SEE! Game day is cool, but the behind the scenes tour is a bucket list experience FOR SURE!We will absolutely be going again, and again, and again!

One of the most iconic football stadiums in America. I have always seen the Horseshoe on television but this was the first time going to visit. The only bad thing about having over 100,000 capacity is the seats are pretty far back from the field. Overall nice to be in the historic stadium and also see an Ohio State Buckeye win as well!

Super hot! The heat was extreme but it was awesome to be there for the game! It would be nice if they bring the prices of the food down and the drinks prices down!

OSU Spring game 2024. Was a great day for a game. The Buckeyes did not disappoint. The stadium hosted a variety of vendors. Love some Dirty Franks! Restrooms were clean and there were plenty to accommodate the crowd. Traffic had a great flow. The CPD did a great job. Overall no complaints.

Ohio Stadium is an iconic venue, home to the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the atmosphere during a game is electric. The energy of the fans, along with the performance of the team, makes it a must-visit for any college football enthusiast. However, for all the money the stadium generates, there are areas that could use improvement. The seating is notoriously uncomfortable, with little legroom and hard benches that can make long games difficult to sit through. Some updated amenities like better seats and larger, more modern TVs would go a long way in enhancing the experience.Another puzzling aspect is the limited food options. For a venue that hosts such a large crowd, it would be great to see local favorites like Schmidts or snack options like nuts being sold. Overall, while the Buckeyes are fantastic and the game-day atmosphere is second to none, the stadium could certainly benefit from a few upgrades to match the quality of the team on the field.

We attended a concert here at the beginning of last month. No parking allowed near the stadium, but we found a garage close by pretty easily and walked through campus to get in (really nice by the way!). Very well organized event with pleasant and helpful staff, as well as student workers. Food was typical, nothing exciting or different. We had field seats and had a good view. Definitely would see a concert here again.

Possibly the worst stadium I have ever visited. The stadium was disgusting, littered with trash, dust, cobwebs, and urine. I understand that maintaining cleanliness in a stadium is difficult but this was unacceptable. On top of that we witnessed a group of fans racially harass two fans of the opposing team. The only positive was being able to experience a great and glorious victory and watch the stadium quickly empty. However, even that is not enough for me to ever step foot in Columbus again.

Recently we went to "The Shoe" for the 2024 spring game. It was our third along with a handful of actual games we have attended and Ohio Stadium is always an amazing experience. Plan ahead, get there earlier and give yourself time to walk to and from the stadium to where you parked. I always tell the little ones, the walk is a part of the experience, not just parking but walking the campus. Give yourself the time to take in and truly enjoy the campus, the fans, the atmosphere, the stadium and at the end of the games, don't leave a couple minutes early because the joint singing of Carmen Ohio is full of emotion and feels being well worth the traffic. "How firm thy friendship"! O-H!

One of the most historic stadiums in college football!!! That midwestern sky hits just right on an Autumn afternoon!!No bad seat in the house! Energy from Skull Sesh to the final play!!! The one must to do...watch TBDBITL enter the stadium through the Oval!!!O-H-I-O!!!!

Was a nice place to visit. Much bigger then we thought, was pretty too. The workers were rude no matter who you talked to. This was mine and my kids first time going to anything like this and we asked simple questions to make sure we were going to the right areas, and we were met with nothing but rudeness. The other fans we meet were very nice.

Getting to and from site is a challenge when 70,000 others doing the same. Lines for ticket check had safety metal detectors. Staff were kind and helpful. Police had strong presence. The C-deck is full sun which was hard on spectators, only shade was down near venders and bathrooms (clean considering). The soda drink area nearest our section was out at beginning of game, requiring a long walk to just fill the 12$ drink paid for. Not many actual trash cans, too many recycle and compost (what is actually composted from venue?). Steep stairs to concrete bench seats were not accessible for people with any challenges (crutches, balance, visual, etc). Overall classic historic stadium, not as nice as Big House in Ann Arbor but better than other 100,000 person arenas.

Amazing stadium and a great tour guide . Visited with the vip tour package . I must say it is worth it. 36$ per adult and 26 $ per kid . Kids aged 5 and below can go free.The tour guide is amazing , very knowledgeable took time to explain in detail. Plenty of fotos can be taken except in the locker room although no game strategies were there didn’t understand the reason for not taking the photos there.

4.7

(7859)

4.5

(980)

411 Woody Hayes Dr, Columbus, OH 43210, USA