The Top 10 Reasons Virginia Has the Absolute Best Summers in the U.S.

The Old Dominion state has not one, not two, but 10 claims to fame on why it has the absolute best summers in the U.S. Virginia remains one of the oldest states in the country, and its history lends itself to a flourishing, beautiful summer amid tiny towns, sandy beaches, and everything in between.

The summers spent in Chincoteague, Fredericksburg, Roanoke, and Blacksburg — not to mention all the other towns in the state — enchant visitors with festivals, pleasant weather, and outdoor recreation opportunities that make the heart pound of even the most adventurous adrenaline junkie.

Discover the top 10 reasons why Virginia has the absolute best summers in the U.S. and start planning a trip for yourself soon.

Beaches, Lakes, and Rivers: Oh My!

Virginia’s size is larger than you think — not only does it butt up against the Atlantic Ocean, it has mountains, rivers, and lakes on the other side of the state that offer a completely different experience. In Virginia, you don’t have to choose between a lake house for the summer or a beach house: simply travel across the state halfway through the summer and you can have both!

Beaches

By far, Virginia Beach is the state’s most popular coastal town. Sprawling for over 35 miles, Virginia Beach offers eclectic towns and districts for every vacationer. 

Families will enjoy the oceanfront — not only is the kitschy boardwalk perfect for toddlers and little ones, but the miles of sandy shore also makes a perfect day with pleasant weather. Not to mention — the whole family will want to indulge in seaside fudge, ice cream, and taffy at one of the nearby sweets shops. If you’re not a family of sand lovers but still want to visit Virginia Beach, consider staying in Pungo. It offers 8,000 acres of country living and you can even pick your own bushel of fresh berries.

Young singles and creatives should congregate around the Towne Center or the Vibe District. Artists, musicians, and performers inspire each other with their art. It’s home to music festivals, incredible culinary delights, and craft shows that will amaze and delight.

Looking for a beach to spend your honeymoon or a romantic getaway? The Chesapeake Bay and Sandbridge move a little slower — watch the sun rise or set from a quiet beach, cozy up in a summer cottage, or walk along the country roads enjoying the weather. 

Lakes

Smith Mountain Lake has ranked among the most favorite lakes on the East Coast for generations. Not only can you buy a house on lake property; when you rent, you never have to leave because the community surrounding the lake has flourished so much. You can eat, sleep, play, shop, and dine within the confines of the massive complexes around Smith Mountain Lake. From water sports to arcade games, the resort has you covered.

A bit away from Smith Mountain Lake is Lake Anna, another large lake and resort. Located near Washington D.C., Lake Anna boasts camping, fishing, hiking, and exploring opportunities. Outside of water sports, Lake Anna is close to amusement parks and outdoor farmers’ markets — checking something off the list for everyone in your family.

Rivers

If you haven’t gotten enough of the waterfront from the beaches or lakes in Virginia, consider a day trip to the most popular rivers in the state:

• The James River, which flows through Richmond.
• The Shenandoah River, which runs through the picturesque Shenandoah Valley.
• The New River, which passes Radford.

Despite its name, the New River is one of the oldest rivers in North America. It provides fantastic opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and tubing amidst breathtaking landscapes.

Outdoor Recreation

In a word, the outdoor recreation opportunities in Virginia in the summer are expansive. There’s so much to do, it’s nearly impossible to get to everything within a week-long vacation!

Virginia may be a hiker’s haven with so many scenic, natural trails. Shenandoah, Roanoke, and Charlottesville have the best trails in the state, winding around historic landmarks and bringing adventures up close and personal with Appalachian wildlife. Throughout the Appalachian Mountain Range in Virginia, you’ll find caves, covered bridges, and swimming holes in which to delight.

Along with Virginia’s natural hiking beauty: gorgeous campsites to spend a night under the stars. Virginia has such a stunning night sky away from the bustle of the city, there’s even a kids camp called “Camp Under the Stars.” Away from the lights of big Virginia cities, the stars and moon light up the night sky. On a clear night free of light pollution, stargazing next to a campfire brings sights of our galaxy, the constellations, bright planets, and more.  

Fishing and Natural Wonders

Or, opt for a fishing adventure in Virginia’s abundant waters. With so many rivers and lakes accessible throughout the state, anglers can look forward to catching different types of bass, mackerel, bluefish, crappie, walleye, red drum, catfish, and perch. These are only a few of the many species of fish teeming in the waterways of Virginia. 

With such great access to bodies of water, pleasure boaters have the opportunity to sail both coastal and inland waters. On the coast, many choose to indulge in water sports like parasailing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, and more. Inland, marinas host fleets of personal boats and small yachts for fancy parties, booze cruises, and lazy days on the lake.

Finally, Virginia’s picturesque landscapes may bring you to the 10 natural wonders of the state. These outdoor landmarks rank as some of the most sought-after in the country. Luray Caverns, Natural Bridge, and Burkes Garden — also known as “God’s Thumbprint” — are among these stunning natural wonders. 

Pleasant Weather

An anonymous speaker once termed Virginia’s mild summers as a “Goldilocks climate” and the epithet never left. In Virginia, you can enjoy the perfect balance of warmth and comfort whether you’re on a beach, in the mountains, or walking historic cobblestones. Virginia’s five distinct climate regions enable you to see palm trees and mountains within a few hours of each other. Those climate regions are:

• The Tidewater.
• Piedmont.
• Northern Virginia.
• Western Mountain.
• Southwestern Mountain.

Rainfall tends to be heaviest in the Piedmont region, with an average of 4.96  inches of rain in July. However, the driest region — the Northern Virginia region — fairs only slightly better at 3.77 inches of average rainfall in July.

Officially, Virginia has as officially considered a humid, subtropical climate thanks to its winter frost. The only part of summer that isn’t “just right” is the stickiness at sea level during the hottest summer months of July and August. With so many rivers, oceans, and tributaries, the lowest cities in Virginia have a bit of humidity — so pack accordingly, and don’t forget your water bottle!

Vibrant Festivals and Events

Who would have thought that sleepy little Virginia lends itself to one of America’s biggest rock festivals of all time?

The Blue Ridge Rock Fest, held at Virginia International Raceway, offers some of the lowest ticket and camping prices for music festivals in the country. Headliners for the last few years were none other than rock and metal legends like Slipknot, Shinedown, Limp Bizkit, Evanescence, Staind, Papa Roach, and many more. 

Apart from the rock festival, Virginia holds the annual Rooster Walk Festival that promotes underfunded music, arts, and education throughout the state. The eclectic music festivals of the state also include jazz festivals, folk festivals, bluegrass and country festivals, and even a fiddler festival.

In August, the state plays host to the annual Sunflower Festival — a botanical wonder with over 40 different species of sunflowers to gaze at and photograph. Other festivals in the summer are dog festivals, weekly winery specials, and another flower festival that doubles as a winery and brewery tour.

Finally, the state hosts niche festivals you have to see to believe: like the Cantaloupe Festival, held in South Boston, and the Mary Draper Ingles Festival in Radford that honors colonial women’s lifestyles.

Natural Wonders

Apart from the 10 natural wonders of Virginia, tourists can marvel at Shenandoah National Park’s breathtaking beauty or one of Virginia’s many waterfalls. 

Shenandoah National Park has over 200,000 acres of protected lands — all of which tourists can explore, hike through, swim in, and camp overnight at. As an official U.S. National Park, Shenandoah National Park has live webcams of wildlife, helpful tourist guides for first-time visitors, and too many sights to see in just one day. Consider camping overnight to enjoy the true splendor of the forest and waterfalls.

Culinary Delights

Lucky for visitors and locals alike, the Farmers’ Markets in Virginia begin in April and persist well into October. The state has dozens; each community or town has at least a fruit stand with a plethora of fresh produce to take back to your Airbnb or hotel and cook at home. Throughout the season, produce and goods will change. If you can, try to visit around the holidays, as some Farmers’ Markets have artisans who make seasonal goods like quilts, flower arrangements, soaps, and more.

Summer is the perfect time to hit up Virginia Beach — you won’t want to miss the ​Virginia Beach Street Food Festival in mid-August! Vendors from across the city come to park near the boardwalk. There, attendees will delight in the area’s best restaurants and food trucks. Some vendors will have their full menu while others choose to offer fair-only foods. Each item is $5 or less so tourists can sample as many vendors as possible. Not only does food abound; live entertainment, a cornhole tournament, an ax-throwing trailer, a giant beer garden, and crazy eating challenges fill this festival to the brim. 

The Street Food Fair only accounts for a small part of the eclectic food in the region. Spanning the coast and the mountains, cuisines in Virginia highlight the best seafood and southern cooking. While in the state, be sure to try delicacies like: 

• Oysters.
• Country-fried steak. 
• Peanuts.
• Brunswick stew.
• BBQ.
• Cured country ham.

Family-Friendly Activities

If you haven’t found enough to do in Virginia for your little ones yet, have no fear. Virginia is packed with kid-friendly places to go, like amusement parks or interactive historical sites. 

When you’re looking for an all-inclusive day of fun, turn to some of Virginia’s best amusement parks. Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Kings Dominion, and Ocean Breeze Waterpark will keep you cool in Virginia’s most humid months and entertained for days on end! On an unseasonably cold or rainy day in the summer, turn to the Great Wolf Lodge for a safe and fun indoor water park resort.

For kids who want to take a step on the wild side, several zoos and wildlife encounters will provide educational and entertaining experiences. The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk and the Metro Richmond Zoo feature a diverse collection of animals and allow for up-close encounters and interactions. Kids will learn through interactive exhibits, knowledgeable guides, self-guided walking tours, and more. Lastly, the Virginia Safari Park in Natural Bridge is a drive-thru safari that lets you get close to free-roaming animals from the comfort of your car. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for small kids.

Young explorers interested in the history of Virginia and the many mysteries of those who lived there before will delight in the immersive historical experience. Several presidents have lived in Virginia, and you can walk through their homes and estates to see where they lived parts of their life. In addition, you can visit Jamestown, walk the cobblestone streets, and interact with actors who portray colonial townspeople. In fact, all of Williamsburg and the “Historic Triangle” gets an A+ for kid-friendly historical fun. 

Scenic Drives and Road Trips

Two major parkways will keep your head tilted out the window as you drive: Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Skyline Drive gets its name from its views. As it runs on the rest of the mountains in Shenandoah National Park, drivers and their passengers are treated to a birds-eye view of the park and surrounding lands. It runs the length of the national park, connecting with the Blue Ridge Parkway at the end.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic highway that runs through the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and North Carolina. It is often referred to as “America’s Favorite Drive” due to its breathtaking vistas, diverse flora and fauna, and opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Welcoming Atmosphere

While it’s the northernmost southern state, Virginia natives have the southern hospitality down pat. Residents of Virginia often welcome tourists by inviting them to eat at a nearby restaurant, striking up a conversation at the convenience store, or offering to help with anything they might need. 

Some urban areas in Virginia have locals a bit more aloof; this is more caused by the speed of life lived in the cities rather than the countries and beach towns. In addition, with Virginia’s metropolitan areas booming in population and relocation from other states, many locals to these areas are new themselves. Still, it’s an incredibly inclusive and progressive environment in almost every Virginia town you’ll visit during the summer.

Unlike some states where tourists are seen as “outsiders” or transplants encroaching on the locals’ territory, Virginians love to welcome new people to their community. Full-hearted, salt-of-the-earth people live in Virginia waiting to show you a warm hello and share their food, home, or stories if you’re willing to indulge them!

Discover the Magic of Virginia Summers: A State that Truly Has It All

From food, to fun, to family-friendly activities, the state of Virginia will delight you on your next summer vacation. Its temperate climate ensures you can explore and frolic at your own pace. You don’t need to choose between a lake and a beach in Virginia; it’s one of the only states that has both in spades! Consider spending your next summer in Virginia to see for yourself why it has some of the absolute best summer experiences in the U.S. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Kyle J Little/Shutterstock.com