You’ve probably heard about many of the biggest attractions in Virginia. Shenandoah National Park, Luray Caverns, Virginia Beach, Mount Vernon, and Monticello, just to name a few.
But what about the many lesser-known hidden gems in the commonwealth that can be just as exciting to visit, even if they’re not quite as well known.
I’ve traveled around Virginia for much of my life, and I want to tell you all about some of my favorite hidden gems that are definitely worth visiting!
My top picks feature a diverse group of sites, including a cemetery so big you need to drive through it; several historic homes that are not Mount Vernon or Monticello; botanical gardens; caves; and even a glasshouse where you can take home a unique, handmade souvenir.
12 Hidden Gems in Virginia
Map of the Best Hidden Gems in Virginia
Maymont (Richmond, VA)
This historic home is one of the best attractions in Richmond! It’s so good, that I couldn’t even enter the home itself (it was closed for renovation), and I still spent hours exploring the beautiful gardens, farm, and nature paths around the sprawling estate!
Maymount is about 100 acres in size. The centerpiece of the property is the beautiful red brick mansion. Even from the outside it’s a beautiful masterwork of architecture with striking stone work and intricate details.
Around the mansion, there are incredible gardens to explore, including a colorful rose garden (I saw a wedding taking place here when I visited!)
One of my favorites was the beautiful expansive Japanese garden with several bridges and a large pond to walk around.
There are also a number of animals to meet and greet on the estate. There are even bears (though I only saw one in the distance and mostly hidden by shade.) There is also an aviary with a bald eagle and owls.
I also loved the farm, which features cows, horses, goats, foxes, eagles, and even bears!
Near the farm you’ll find the aquarium, which is small and a little pricey, but you’ll see some cool fish, turtles, frogs, snakes, and otters.
When you’re visiting the state capital, you definitely want to make sure you stop and visit!
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (Vienna, VA)
Meadowlark is one of my favorite destinations in Northern Virginia! It’s located in Vienna, not far from Wolf Trap.
The vast gardens are great all year round. They’re the perfect way to enjoy a leisurely walk on a lovely spring or summer day. In the fall the trees are brilliant with bursts of color.
And in the winter, even though the trees have lost their leaves, the park comes alive at night with the help of thousands of lights decorating the trees and shrubs!
This is one of my favorite times to visit Meadowlark. Every year they celebrate the holidays with beautiful light displays, plus hot cocoa and treats by the fire!
Meadowlark features rolling hills, forest paths, and several large ponds filled with turtles and ducks.
One of my favorite sections of the gardens is the Korean Garden, which features beautiful statues, ornate brick walls, and a giant ceremonial bell.
Gunston Hall (Lorton, VA)
Not far from Mount Vernon is this less known historic site, which features a great glimpse back in time without the crowds of Mount Vernon!
Gunston Hall was the home of founding father George Mason, who is also the namesake for a major Northern Virginia university.
The estate is much smaller than Mount Vernon, but it still includes an illuminating tour of the main house, including period furniture. You can glimpse the dining room, study, and bedrooms. There is also a cemetery nearby where Mason and his family are buried.
Don’t miss a stop at the small museum in an adjacent building that includes artifacts from Mason’s life, as well as historical details about his life and times in Revolutinary Era Virginia,
Cape Charles (Cape Charles, VA)
Cape Charles is a delightful historical beach town that is located just an hour north of the much more famous Virginia Beach.
The town is actually located on the southern-most point of the Eastern Shore. I had a great time exploring the beautiful town center, which is very walkable and features brightly colored Victorian homes.
The beach is nearby and tends to be much less crowded than the Virginia Beach area, even in the middle of the summer.
Don’t miss other top attractions nearby, including the Cape Charles Museum, which is small but has some interesting historic memorabilia and pictures.
I also recommend driving to nearby Savage Neck Dunes State Natural Area, which features cool sand dunes and a secluded forest walk to the Chesapeake Bay.
For an afternoon break, stop by Cape Charles Brewing Company. It’s right in the heart of downtown Cape Charles and features beach-inspired drinks like the citrus-flavored Assateague Island New England IPA, the tangerine-inspired Tangier Island DIPA, and the Bayside Belgian Farmhouse Ale.
Learn even more about the best things to do in Cape Charles!
Sandbridge Beach (Virginia Beach, VA)
This is another lesser known alternative to Virginia Beach. The pristine shoreline is just a 30 minute drive from Virginia Beach. It is located in a residential area with cute beachfront homes nearby.
Parking is generally easier than Virginia Beach, though it can still be a little tough during peak summer weekend days.
There are not as many shops, restaurants, and amenities nearby, but this adds to the charm by making it much quieter and more secluded for a perfect beach vacation.
I also recommend checking out nearby Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which is just down the road and features lovely beach and wetland trails with plenty of wildlife sightings.
National Museum of the Marine Corps (Triangle, VA)
As you’re driving along I-95 south of Washington, D.C., you may have noticed a prominent metal triangular statue leaping out over the trees.
This famous landmark marks the excellent National Museum of the Marine Corps, which is located near Stafford, Virginia about 34 miles south of D.C.
The museum, naturally, traces the history of the Marine Corps. Some of the noteworthy exhibits include Legacy Walk, which is a semi-circular entrance gallery that guides visitors through the Marine Corps’ origins and evolution – from its founding in 1775 through early conflicts like the War of 1812 and Civil War.
There are also chronological war galleries highlighting major conflicts like World War I and World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam War.
Hollywood Cemetery (Richmond, VA)
The next time you visit Richmond, make sure a stop at Hollywood Cemetery is on your list. This sprawling cemetery is so large that you actually need to drive through it rather than walk.
There are places to park along the way and walk amidst the labyrinth of ornate mausoleums and headstones that cover the immense 135 acre property.
There are several famous historical figures buried on the grounds, most notably Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler.
One of the highlights of the cemetery is that it sits high on a hill with sweeping panoramic views of the Richmond skyline and James River below.
The beautiful grounds are also recognized as an arboretum, with over 2,000 historic trees, including majestic tulip poplars, white oaks, a 140‑foot bald cypress, and more.
Jamestown Glasshouse (Williamsburg, VA)
Nestled just an 11-minute walk from Jamestown Settlement is this fabulous hidden gem. Jamestown Glasshouse is where you can see master glassmakers working their craft sans creating beautiful glass vases, bowls, and other decorative arts.
Watch a video of the Jamestown Glasshouse artisans at work!
I went there at the end of a long day exploring Jamestown, and I got to watch them create wine bottles, vases, pitchers, candleholders, and more.
After you watch a demonstration, which occurs throughout the day, make sure to head over to the shop next door where you can buy one of the glass items made at Jamestown Glasshouse. I bought a blue vase that’s on display in my house!
Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail (Afton, VA)
This is one of the coolest places I’ve visited in Virginia! It’s located about 10 minutes away from Waynesboro, in the Shenandoah Valley.
The tunnel is part of a walking trail that leads you through a completely pitch black, one-mile long trail that used to be a railroad track!
You’ll likely want to bring some kind of flashlight (like your phone flashlight) to navigate the dark tunnel. Although some people actually walked through the tunnel without any light at all!
Here is a quick video to show you what walking through the tunnel is like.
Walking through the tunnel gives you a cool look at the inside of a railroad tunnel, with bricks, and marks along the walls that show where scaffolding and nails were in place.
You can continue through the tunnel and into a lovely wooded area. It’s particularly beautiful in the fall with the changing leaves.
Learn more about the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail and more things to do around Waynesboro!
Shenandoah Heritage Village (Luray, VA)
This cool historic site is located right next to Luray Caverns. In fact, you can park at the Luray parking lot and walk to not only the Shenandoah Heritage Village but several really cool and unique museums nearby.
The heritage village includes several historic buildings, including one of Virginia’s oldest surviving African American one‑room schoolhouses, as well as a log barn, and a blacksmith shop. There are also several historic wood homes and gardens to explore.
The nearby Luray Museum is also cool to explore. It features quilts, crafts, furniture, clothes, and more from 19th century life.
Two of my favorite museums nearby include the very neat Car & Carriage Caravan Museum and Toy Store Junction.
I’m pretty casual as far as cars are concerned, and yet I found the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum fascinating!
It is a compact space jam-packed with over 140 vintage cars in meticulous condition, including classic Model-T Fords, a 1897 Mercedes‑Ben, and a 1925 Rolls‑Royce, associated with silent film star Rudolph Valentino.
Toy Store Junction features vintage toys from the early 20th century through today. It was a very neat trip down memory lane, with rocking horses, board games, a big train set, dolls, and much more. There were some classic toys on display that I remembered from my childhood. They really took me back!
Learn more about my favorite things to do in Luray, VA!
George Washington Birthplace National Monument (Colonial Beach, VA)
I had a chance to visit this historic for the first time, and I thought it was fabulous and definitely worth a visit. In fact, I couldn’t even get into the main house (it’s closed on Mondays), but I could see the surrounding buildings, including the stables and kitchen.
Plus the grounds themselves are wonderful to walk around! There are horses grazing in the fields, shaded paths lined by towering trees, a lovely English-style garden with flowers blooming, and several fabulous walking trails that meander along Popes Creek, through the woods, and over wetlands.
You can also visit the site of the Washington Family Cemetery (George is not buried here though. His final resting place, along with his wife Martha, is at Mount Vernon.)
The site may not be as famous as Mount Vernon, but it’s well worth the visit.
Crabtree Falls (Nelson County, VA)
If you’re visiting the Charlottesville area, I definitely recommend taking a scenic detour to Crabtree Falls.
This lovely falls is actually the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi! You can reach it by taking a short trail that is pretty easy to walk along, though it does have rocks and an incline to reach the falls.
One great part of this trail is that many parts of it are right next to the waterfall, and do the views are fabulous!
One thing to note though is that cell service can be spotty in the area, and so you’ll want to either download an area map to access offline, or make sure to program your GPS ahead of time.
There is also a parking lot near the beginning of the falls.
Conclusion
As you can see, Virginia has a lot more to offer than just the famous sites like Mount Vernon, Monticello, and Virginia Beach! Whether you’re interested in quieter beaches, hidden waterfalls, or historic homes, there’s plenty of hidden gems to explore!