Bill Goodwin's Travel Guides

Queen Elizabeth II visited Williamsburg to help Virginia celebrate the 400th anniversary of America's first permanent English-speaking colony at Jamestown in 1607.

That small band of Englishmen first set foot on a sandy Atlantic Ocean beach at Cape Charles, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, on April 26, 1607. Beyond them lay a varied, rich, and scenic land. They settled beside one of the great tidal rivers whose tributaries led their descendants through the rolling hills of the Piedmont, over the Blue Ridge Mountains, and into the great valleys beyond.

Today the history-loving Commonwealth of Virginia abounds with historic homes and plantations, buildings that rang with revolutionary oratory, museums that recall the bloody Civil War fought on its soil, and small towns that seem little changed since colonial times.

Fortunately, preservation hasn't been limited to historical landmarks. Conservation efforts have kept a great deal of Virginia's wilderness looking much as it did in 1607, making the state a prime destination for lovers of the great outdoors. Whether you like to hike, bike, bird watch, fish, canoe, or boat—or just lie on a sandy beach—Virginia has an abundance of places to indulge your passion.

• The best of Colonial Virginia, Civil War Virginia, the great outdoors, scenic drives, charming small towns, family vacations, country inns, accommodations, cooking, and unusual travel experiences.

• Complete information to plan your trip: visitor information, when to go, getting there and getting around, health and safety, online and specialized resources, and tons of practical advice for every city and town.

• Money-saving tips on airfares, accommodations, and dining.

• Suggested itineraries to help you make the most of your valuable time.

• Details—and what I think of—hotels, resorts, and restaurants in all price ranges throughout Virginia.

• The best places to go biking, hiking, bird-watching, boating, canoeing, kayaking, river rafting, fishing, horseback riding, and golfing.