We began our visit to Virginia by touring the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center where we saw the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery, the Enola Gay B-29 Bomber (the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb in warfare), and many other historically significant aircraft and artifacts. We also had the opportunity to watch operations at Dulles International Airport from the observation tower. Next, we made a brief stop to do some hiking at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Finally, we visited Great Falls Park to see the impressive waterfalls on the Potomac River. Each of the three overlooks at the falls were connected by part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
A few days later we returned to Virginia and visited the Fredericksburg Battlefield (part of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park) where we hiked to the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. At George Washington Birthplace National Monument, Elizabeth enjoyed seeing all the period-appropriate livestock breeds like Hog Island Sheep, Ossabaw Hogs, horses, and more. After a brief stop at the birthplace of President James Madison, we drove to Richmond for a day of sightseeing in the capitol city.
Our first stop in Richmond was the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site (the home of the Civil Rights leader). Next, we drove to Hollywood Cemetery to visit the final resting place of President James Monroe, President John Tyler, and confederate president Jefferson Davis. After a brief visit to the Virginia War Memorial, we explored the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol where we saw the Executive Mansion and some impressive statues of George Washington, Edgar Allan Poe, Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson, and others. Before leaving Richmond, Tiffany toured the Poe Museum while Benjamin and Elizabeth toured the Chimborazo Medical Museum, which was the site of a Civil War hospital and part of Richmond National Battlefield Park.
Next, we spent a few days in the ‘historic triangle’ region that includes Historic Jamestowne, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. The sites are part of Colonial National Historical Park and are linked by the Colonial Parkway. At Jamestown National Historic Site, we toured the original 1607 settlement location, then spent our time watching the many turtles in the swamp. We drove the Battlefield Tour Route through Yorktown Battlefield and viewed the Surrender Field where the British troops surrendered in 1781 to end the Revolutionary War. We also saw the impressive Yorktown Victory Monument, and enjoyed watching two woodpeckers attempt to destroy a road sign.
It was Father's Day when we visited Williamsburg, and we enjoyed a nice breakfast at Not Another Pancake House. Benjamin then toured the Colonial Williamsburg attraction (one of the largest living history sites in the world) and saw the Governor's Palace, Historic Capitol Building, and other sites from when Williamsburg was the capitol of the Virginia Colony. Tiffany and Elizabeth enjoyed some much-needed rest at the hotel, then we all had a wonderful dinner at Jose Tequilas Mexican Grill before playing a round of mini-golf at Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf. Finally, we visited Fort Monroe National Monument near Norfolk. The fort was the location where confederate president Jefferson Davis was confined after the end of the Civil War.
A few days later we returned to Virginia again and visited the Patrick Henry National Memorial at Red Hill. After spending a night in Lynchburg, we toured Appomattox Court House National Historical Park and saw the location where the Civil War ended with the surrender of the south. There had been several recent storms and unfortunately the tour road at Petersburg National Battlefield was closed, but we did a short hike at the visitor center and Elizabeth enjoyed seeing all the various types of cannons. We also stopped at the Cold Harbor unit of Richmond National Battlefield Park and did a short drive around the battlefield.
Near Quantico, we visited Prince William Forest Park and enjoyed a nice hike on the Piedmont Forest Trail and drove the scenic park road through the forest. Heading north to Bull Run, we visited several sites within Manassas National Battlefield Park including Battery Heights, the Groveton Prairie, Stone Bridge, Stone House, and the many monuments near the visitor center. Before leaving Virginia, we spent some time at Gravelly Point Park watching airplanes take off and land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Benjamin flew to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and spent three days in northeastern Virginia while attending the nearby Cherry Blossom Festival. Staying in Merrifield, he used the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) subway to visit Arlington. From the Rosslyn area of Arlington, he walked through Gateway Park (which is a site along the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail) then hiked south for several miles along the Mt. Vernon Trail to Theodore Roosevelt Island and Arlington National Cemetery. This section of the Mt. Vernon Trail is also part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
At Arlington National Cemetery, Benjamin visited the gravesites of President John F Kennedy and President William H. Taft. He also toured Arlington House (The Robert E. Lee Memorial) and saw the Military Women’s Memorial. The cemetery was in full spring bloom and there were even a few cherry blossoms.
Before leaving Virginia, Benjamin also visited the Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac. During his stay, Benjamin enjoyed a meal at District BBQ in Merrifield.
Driving south through Virginia we visited Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, then drove the Skyline Drive south through Shenandoah National Park. We spent a night in the park at the Skyland Resort, then drove the rest of Skyline Drive south out of the park the following day.
We also visited Thomas Jefferson's Monticello estate in Charlottesville where we toured the house, strolled through the gardens, saw Jefferson’s grave, and toured the museum. Finally, we drove west through part of George Washington and Jefferson National Forest towards the West Virginia border.
On a summer vacation we drove along the eastern shore of Virginia and crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel into Norfolk. We took an evening cruise on the Victory Rover where we saw Naval Station Norfolk, the shipyards, the headquarters of the Army Corps of Engineers, the headquarters for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the downtown waterfront, and of course many naval ships. After the tour, we drove to Virginia Beach where we enjoyed a surrey ride along the Boardwalk, walked in the Atlantic Ocean, and shopped at local souvenir stores.
The next day, we drove to Alexandria and toured George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, gardens, and the tomb of President Washington. In Arlington, we toured the Pentagon and the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. We also visited the Air Force Memorial, Netherlands Carillon, and US Marine Corps War Memorial.
On a tour of Arlington National Cemetery, we observed the graves of President William Howard Taft, President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Edward Kennedy. We also saw the memorials for the crews of the Space Shuttle Challenger and Space Shuttle Columbia. After attending the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier we visited the Robert E. Lee Memorial - Arlington House. We also drove the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway along the Potomac River.