Unplug and Reconnect: Virginia's Stunning Natural Escapes and Iconic LOVEworks!
After months glued to screens for work, school, and family calls, many crave genuine connections and time in nature. Virginia offers the perfect solution: accessible, affordable outdoor havens prioritizing safety for summer or fall road trips.
Virginia's 50th anniversary of the Virginia is for Lovers campaign introduced over 200 creative LOVEworks! installations statewide. These popular landmarks inspire "Love Tours" for photography and exploration.
Explore six premier natural destinations and spot their unique LOVEworks! installations.
Shenandoah National Park
Virginia's first national park spans 300 square miles of pristine wilderness with Appalachian peaks, streams, waterfalls, forests, and vibrant fall foliage. Drive the 105-mile Skyline Drive, a National Scenic Byway, for panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, woods, wineries, and farmlands. Wildlife includes bears, foxes, otters, and minks.
Stay disconnected in one of five campgrounds or backcountry sites. For comfort, choose nearby cabins or park lodges. In Luray-Page County, Virginia's cabin capital, visit Luray Caverns and the wooden "Logs of Love" LOVEworks!.
Virginia's River Realm
This enchanting region along the Rappahannock River—from Blue Ridge origins to Chesapeake Bay—offers exceptional water activities with 465 miles of shoreline and 22 marinas.
Enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, or hiking at Belle Isle State Park, Baylor Park Nature Trail, and Holly Point Nature Park. At Deltaville Maritime Museum, pose with the giant red LOVEworks! (each letter 8 feet tall, 4 feet wide).
Accommodations range from camping to glamping and historic lodges at Belle Isle. Savor renowned local oysters.
Eastern Shore
This 70-mile peninsula features Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic beaches, and barrier islands like Assateague with its historic lighthouse and wild Chincoteague Ponies at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Kayak tours reveal 300+ bird species.
Relax in massive Adirondack chair LOVEworks!. Visit Nature Conservancy islands for birding, hiking, and beachcombing.
Kiptopeke State Park offers birdwatching, campsites, cabins, yurts, the Concrete Fleet breakwater, and Cape Charles Lighthouse. Nearby LOVEworks! features sea glass L, tire O, kayak V, and crab pot E. Check NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center if open.
The Appalachian Trail
Virginia hosts nearly 550 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Day hikes are accessible, especially along the 35-mile Virginia Creeper Trail from Abingdon to Whitetop Mountain, intersecting the AT on a historic rail bed.
Bike the gentle downhill grade. Explore nearby craft breweries in Bristol, Damascus, and Abingdon. In Abingdon, see LOVEworks! at Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and downtown (with wolf howl in O) near Martha Washington Inn & Spa, plus cottages and cabins.
Breaks Interstate Park
This 4,500-acre park on Virginia's southwestern border offers zip-lining, rafting, elk viewing, and more. The LOVEworks! by muralist Ellen Elmes depicts hiking (L), zip-lining (O), wildlife (V), and rapids (E).
Unwind in Woodland Cottages or Lakefront Cabins amid nature.
Farmville
Sandy River Outdoor Adventure hosts Virginia's largest aerial park with zip lines, log cabins, and glamping tipis.
Experience High Bridge Trail State Park's 125-foot-high historic bridge over the Appomattox River. Paddle the Farmville Blueway from Wilck’s Lake to Buffalo Creek.
Spot the upcycled kayak LOVEworks!.
