181 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Virginia - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Virginia

Williamsburg, Virginia

President Heads

Giant busts of 42 U.S. presidents are sitting in a field in Virginia.

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Abandoned Virginia Renaissance Faire

The remains of a failed attempt at medieval nerdery are hidden deep in the woods of Virginia.

Natural Bridge, Virginia

The Natural Bridge

A sacred site for Native Americans surveyed by George Washington and owned by both King George III and Thomas Jefferson.

Duffield, Virginia

Virginia's Natural Tunnel

A 300-yard long natural tunnel runs through a ridge deep in the Appalachian Mountains.

Saltville, Virginia

Great Channels of Virginia

This maze-like slot canyon is a unique gem within an already fascinating geological area.

Richmond, Virginia

Edgar Allan Poe Museum

This museum devoted to the gothic author holds such interesting ephemera as his socks and walking stick.

White Post, Virginia

Dinosaurland

Outsider art meets paleontology at this roadside reptile repository.

Buckingham, Virginia

The Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS)

The flower-shaped temple in Virginia aims to transcend the boundaries of the world’s religions.

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Upcoming Virginia Experiences

The Spies of Arlington National Cemetary

Fort Myer, Virginia

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia

Doumar's Barbecue

This old-fashioned carhop restaurant gave the world the waffle cone.

Lexington, Virginia

The Coffee Pot

The oddly shaped, steam-spewing building is now an art studio and gallery.

Gordonsville, Virginia

Gordonsville Fried Chicken Festival

This Virginia town has been famous for its fried chicken since the 19th century.

Alexandria, Virginia

George Washington's Distillery

The only place for a truly presidential dram.

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

8 Places in Virginia That Aren’t What They Seem

They say that Virginia is for lovers. If you love a little mystery, then they’re definitely right. With its mountain ranges, deep forests, and proximity to the nation’s capital, the state is filled with unusual corners and overlapping histories. From a Cold War bunker turned recording archive to a Styrofoam Stonehenge, these places in Virginia are more than meets the eye. As the pandemic continues, we hope this virtual trip helps you explore America’s wonders. If you do choose to venture out, please follow all guidelines, maintain social distance, and wear a mask.

The <em>Cementiscope</em> is a jumble of color and light—inside a cement mixer.

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Post	Replies	Views	Activity
What would you do on a time crunch in DC?	19 December 9, 2019	3057	December 9, 2019
Carolina House with a Natural Cavern underneath	12 April 1, 2020	5478	April 1, 2020
New Orleans suggestions?	15 March 26, 2020	3550	March 26, 2020
Off the beaten path / hidden gems near Nashville?	9 November 20, 2019	2951	November 20, 2019
Nashville Music Shops — seeking recommendations	10 September 12, 2019	939	September 12, 2019

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Stories About Virginia

A bus tour visited Shenandoah National Park's segregated facilities, ca. 1950.

The Segregated Campground That Was a Refuge for Black Travelers

Preserving the legacy of Lewis Mountain in Shenandoah National Park.

by Larry Bleiberg

October 19, 2020

The First Baptist Church was torn down in 1957 and replaced by a parking lot.

One of America’s First Black Churches is Being Excavated in Virginia

The First Baptist Church was a spiritual home for free and enslaved African Americans.

by Isaac Schultz

October 15, 2020

Qvevri are buried at Castle Hill Cider; in the country of Georgia, clay vessels like these have been used to ferment wine for thousands of years.

The Cider Makers Who Bury Their Booze

A Virginia cidery has adapted an 8,000-year-old winemaking method.

by Eric J. Wallace

October 1, 2020

Monticello’s 1,000-foot-long garden terrace served as both a source of food and an experimental laboratory.

At Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's Garden Is Still Growing

Restoring the grounds and its rare, heirloom crops recreated what was effectively the country's first seed bank.

by Eric J. Wallace

A slave house at Ivy Cliff in Bedford County, Virginia. This site was documented by the Virginia Slave House Project, which chronicles the architecture of slavery in the commonwealth.

Meet the Iowa Architect Documenting Every Slave House Still Standing

Jobie Hill has visited 700 former residences. Many have been abandoned. Some have become storage space. Others are B&Bs.

by Sabrina Imbler

February 26, 2020

The Chef Restoring Appalachia's World-Class Food Culture

A coal fortune is fueling the revival of a cuisine it nearly destroyed.

by Eric J. Wallace

January 10, 2020

Joe Littlejohn's racecar (No. 7) is seen outside “Little Joe’s” tavern in the late-1930s.

How a Group of Daring Bootleggers Created NASCAR

Moonshine money fueled the sport's rise.

by Tove Danovich

January 23, 2019

Unlike its ancient predecessor, this one is made of foam. And you can visit it in Northern Virginia.

Virginia Has Its Own Stonehenge, But It's Made Out of Foam

It even works like its predecessor.

by Matthew Blitz

October 29, 2018

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