Virginia

As the site of the first successful permanent English settlement in America -- Jamestown Island, founded in 1607 -- it should come as no surprise that Virginia is filled with historical sites and attractions. While much of the state is rural, filled with rolling hills and forests and valleys, you'll find historical monuments and carefully restored architecture from Virginia's rich past just about everywhere you go.

The state's largest city and capital is Richmond. Founded in 1637, it has a long and storied history stretching back to the days of the Revolutionary War. In the 19th century, Richmond served as the capital of the rebellious Confederacy during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Visitors today will find an architecturally elegant city that actively celebrates its past while maintaining its place in the modern world.

Northern Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., is very much linked with the nation's capital, with sites like Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon and several exclusive suburbs where many national leaders reside. Two highlights for visitors are Mount Vernon, where founding father and first U.S. President George Washington lived for many years, and Manassas Battlefield National Park, where one of the first major battles of the Civil War took place.

The other popular tourist area is the 'Historic Triangle', where Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown are located. Jamestown Island National Historic Site still has buildings from the 17th century colony and a large information center devoted to its history. A monument to early America, Colonial Williamsburg is a 173 acre historical district filled with shops, taverns, gardens and historic buildings that portray life during the 17th and 18th centuries. Yorktown was the site of the last major Revolutionary War battle, and both the Yorktown National Historic Park and the Yorktown Victory Center pay homage to its history.