This was such a fun trip. We did the Rock Bottom tour. If you are looking for more than just the…read morewalking tour, this was Great! We did this with our older teen boys and they loved it. You will get dirty so bring clothes you don't mind getting muddy. This was such a great memory!

First time visiting caverns, and it was an amazing experience. A must for anyone that likes caves…read moreand 54°.

James Madison lived at Montpelier his entire life. This is a really interesting historic home that…read morelater belonged to the DuPont family, who eventually donated funds to turn it back into a historic site as Madison's home. That renovation/restoration took a long time, and it's now a lovely place to visit and learn about our 4th President and his wife Dolley Madison. In addition to the house, which acknowledges its part in running a plantation through the work of enslaved people, it has exhibits about slavery at Montpelier and archeological finds. The property also has lovely grounds with a beautiful garden that's filled with many colorful flowers in the spring. The visitor center offers a movie, and the house docents offer hour-long tours on the half hour. They also have picnic tables under shady trees to enjoy lunch. The views from Montpelier are breathtaking. They charge a fee to visit the house and grounds. If you only want to visit the grounds, the fee is lower.

This is a great place to visit if you are interested in America's founding, American style of…read moredemocracy, or to celebrate the upcoming Sestercentennial of the United States. (Having experienced the bicentennial as a kid on a summer-long vacation, I am looking forward to it.) The guided tour of the house is well done. The out-buildings and grounds are self-guided. There are many and spread out, and the whole property is on a gentle slope. Could be an issue if it is a hot and humid day. Be sure to visit the garden! Think twice about buying the Looking Through the Landscape book for $10.00. I thought it would be something I could put on my bookshelf but no. Hardly a pamphlet, it contains QR code links to YouTube videos they created. It was snuck in during the checkout process and frankly left me feeling duped. I chalked it up as a donation.

What a gorgeous place! I went in the late winter/early early Spring and even though there were no…read moreleaves on the trees, it was still gorgeous. Monticello is the estate of Thomas Jefferson and there is so much history packed into the tour but the beauty is what captivates you. The woodwork, the flooring, the artwork...I could go on and on. The tour guides are excellent! Very knowledgeable, engaging, friendly and they keep history honest. I loved that they stuck to the facts and told the history as it should, the good, the bad and the ugly. The estate is still kept immaculate and holds so much history in every detail. The view alone overlooking the mountainside takes your breath away. It immediately sets your mind to wandering and fantasizing of a time long ago and how spectacular it must have been to live surrounded by such beauty. I highly recommend and would recommend going in late Spring or early Summer or Fall when the leaves have changed color.

Monticello is probably the most famous of all the President houses (Mt Vernon may have it beat)…read more As a self-proclaimed Presidential history nerd, I have been to several presidential homes, libraries, museums, gravesites, monuments, etc. Monticello's history is the most interesting because of many factors including Jefferson's architectural obsession, the atrocities with slavery that occurred with building and maintaining it, and the innovations and experimentation Jefferson used while living here. Monticello is a huge operation. You should definitely get a reservation. You park at the bottom of the hill (or maybe middle of it) then you go through metal detectors and are now in the cafe/gift shop/bathroom area. From there you can take the 1/2 mile walk up hill to the home or take the bus. Once you are up top, you will be put into different huddles depending on your tour time. Oh, there are several different style tours, we just did the general admission tour. Anyway, you can walk around the grounds while you wait. The whole thing is very well organized. Our tour guide took us through various rooms in the house, pointed out various artifacts from Jefferson's past, told stories and was very knowledgeable when asked questions. The group I was in was probably 20 people. The whole tour took 45 mins. Then we walked the grounds independent of the tour including looking at Jefferson's family cemetery plot. My only issue is that I went on July 1st, 2026, so the whole back (or front) had a huge tent set up for the America 250 celebration. Not a big deal just didn't get the complete feel or pics.

Saw this place on 'things to do' in the area and it seemed from the limited information from other…read morereviews, their website, and photos it was a historic center that would provide history and tours of Brethren and Mennonite and how the people of this faith lived during the 1700 & 1800s. Unfortunately, this was not it. This is more of a religious educational experience. Its all about the religion and what the Mennonite faith is about. The tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable. There are many old/historic buildings on site but our guide really didn't seem interested in talking about history. He was very interested in talking about the Mennonite religion. We wished it was more of a historical tour/experience.

If you love history, New Market Battlefield is one of those places that gets under your skin in the…read morebest way. The moment you step onto the grounds, you can almost feel May 15, 1864, unfolding around you. The fields are quiet now, but they hold the echo of the day the VMI Cadets -- boys, really -- marched into a real war and changed the course of the battle. The park is immaculately kept. Walking the Field of Lost Shoes with the mountains in the background feels like standing inside a painting and a memory at the same time. The interpretive signs do a great job placing you exactly where key movements happened -- Breckinridge's line, the Union artillery positions, the cadets' charge. If you're a detail-hound, this battlefield lets you connect dots you didn't even know you were missing. Highlights: * The Bushong Farm is a time capsule. You walk through it and suddenly you're in 1864, wondering what the family heard, saw, and feared as the battle rolled over their home. * The terrain itself is the best "exhibit." Once you see the slopes and fields in person, the tactics make so much more sense. * There's an almost sacred calm to the place -- the kind of quiet that makes you pause before you speak. Tips: Wear good shoes, explore the whole field, and take your time. Don't rush it. This isn't a battlefield you see -- it's one you feel. Bottom line: If you're a history buff, this battlefield isn't just worth visiting -- it's essential. It's intimate, haunting, and unforgettable. The New Market cadets left their mark on this field, and somehow, the field still leaves one on you.

Beautiful battlefield well kept up with the history of the battle the farm is well preserved and…read morenice to see how they lived in 1862 the museum on the grounds is beautiful and has the history of the battlefield and muskets and hand guns used in the civil war definitely a place worth exploring

Did the beginner's caving tour and it was great! Around 2 hours. I think all of the crawls/routes…read morehad options to skip, if you end up getting inside and feeling like it's too much for you. The tour guides, Evan and Kaylee, were amazing guides! Anna at the front desk was awesome on the phone and in person. They also had a great mini golf course outside. Highly recommend this place. I was also able to put a go pro with a helmet strap on the caving helmet and use it.

If you've toured the Grand Caverns walking tour and find yourself peering into the dark recesses of…read morethe cavern, the Fountain Cave adventure tour is a must on your next visit. Visiting on a day when temperatures were only forecast to reach a high of 42F, it was pleasantly warm inside Fountain Cave and did not require bundling up for most people. Long sleeves, long pants, and boots, are required due to the terrain you "may" cover in addition to keeping the [damaging] oils from your skin off the cave features. Helmets, mounted lighting, gloves and knee pads are provided and were all in good condition. The floor of the 1800s walkway is mostly dry but moist areas are present throughout the tour and can be very slippery; following the instructions provided by the tour guides (three points of contact) will ensure everyone stays upright in these areas. Dana and Ashelynn were our guides for a group of 7 and always took point and rear to ensure everyone was safe and accounted for. Dana took the prominent role in discussing the history, and geology, of Fountain Cave and was a very engaging guide. While Fountain Cave is not as large as Grand Caverns, getting to tour this cave by headlamp and put yourself INTO the exhibit is truly an awesome experience. The bonus comes in the form of the Adventure "opportunities" that run near or parallel to the original 1800s pathway; for those not able or interested in taking the Adventure routes, you simply stay on the 1800s walkway and meet up with the rest of the group a small distance down the path. There are a few instances on the tour where a break is taken in total darkness. The first is a short ways into the tour and is designed to show you the amount of light that can be picked up from the entrance way after your eyes are given time to adjust. The second sets the stage to show how the cave would have been illuminated by a small candle. Note: please be respectful of the other guests if taking photos in these black-out moments; lowering your camera to the lowest brightness setting and staying back from the group prevents ruining the experience for others. IMO, the only way to make the Fountain Cave tour better is to increase the length of time spent within. Just like the Grand Caverns tour, I still found myself peering into the areas off the guided tour path wondering...is there more to this cave that hasn't been discovered yet.

This palace is absolutely STUNNING. It's such a shame it's fallen into such disrepair. Each room…read morehad its own unique feel, and the artwork and detail was breathtaking. The best part by far was the stained glass window. The gardens were probably once beautiful but it's been decaying so much over the years that all you see are just sad remnants. WARNING: if you have severe asthma, do NOT visit. My father has moderate asthma and was only able to stay inside for about fifteen minutes before his throat started to close up due to the must. The place itself smells musty- not a BAD or rotten smell but just old. There's a feeling of immense love and sadness in the house and it's imperative that you learn the rich history of the house to truly appreciate it. The inside of the palace is only only open to the public on certain days of the year and not all the rooms are open. I was very satisfied with what rooms were open.

Taking a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway or Skyline Drive? I suggested taking a slight detour on…read moreAfton Mountain to travel back in time to 1912 with a visit to Swannanoa Palace, a white marble mansion that was a bit of an albatross for James and Sally May Dooley. While the Maymont Estate in Richmond is a much more expansive visitor experience today, this hidden gem, modeled after the Villa de Medici in Rome, is certainly worth a stop, either on one of their open house weekends ($6 fee) or just to see in person from the outside. The real belle of the ball is inside - the 4,000 piece Tiffany stained glass window of Mrs. Dooley, which is a backdrop to the grand central staircase and artistic domed ceiling. There are plenty of interesting fireplaces, doorways and tower views. You will certainly notice the musty presence of mold throughout the building with various walls and ceilings falling apart. The grounds include some terraced gardens and somewhat restricted views of the surrounding area. It is a shame the interior of the building is in such a state of disrepair and the property hasn't been kept up, as it could be an amazing special event space. Still, people apparently elect to have weddings there, even though there is no running water and everything would have to be brought in. There is a no trespassing sign on the front door, so the inside is only accessible on one of the special open house days. The grounds are easy to walk around and being on top of the mountain it has a nice temperature, at least 5-10 degrees below of Charlottesville. Visiting should certainly be a part of any UVA student's bucket list, much like watching the sunrise/sunset from the peak of the quick Humpback Rocks hike.

We have been on a lot of walking ghost tours in different cities and both of us thoroughly enjoyed…read morethis one. Our Gal Guide was really nice and very informative. The stories were both historical and fascinating. Love that they have a choice to extend it if you want. We chose the shorter tour and felt ghostly fulfilled. It was just us and a family of four the night we went, and others got some extra special pictures. Definitely some activity around. Do know that you need to be able to walk over some uneven pavement in the dark, and that you do go into a dark cemetery. All things that make for a great ghost walk, but wouldn't be ideal if you have any mobility issues.

Worst ghost tour I have ever been on, and I've done several. Not at all spooky, left our major…read moreghost storied from Charlottesville, shared historical lyrics inaccurate information, and worst of all, our guide spent so much time talking about being upset the Robert E. Lee statue came down, insisting that removing Civil War statues was "erasing history," talking about how most slave owners "treated their slaves like family," and generally perpetuating right-wing slavery apologist talking points. I reached out to the company about this twice and never even got a reply. Don't waste your money. ​

Very cool transportation museum. Huge car collection from the 1800-1900s . It is free with…read moreadmission to the luray caverns. Self guided tour. Lots of signage to describe the make and models and original prices.

Part 1. The caverns. It was a thing of beauty. Very clean, beautiful, and well taken care of…read morecavern. The walk is a little more than a mile long, dress comfortable and wear light clothes. Don't go in there with heavy jackets, there's humps and stairs that will get you nice and sweaty. The tour guides were young and in training I think but still gave the information needed and threw in some good jokes. The group moved at a good pace. It's an amazing place to see. Part 2 the toy museum. It was small and cool to see the trains. That's about it. Part 3. The Car Museum. Incredible to see those old cars in such great shape. Very impressive to see cars over 100 years old look like they can still go. Definitely worth checking out after the caverns, especially if you like cars.

Pulled off I‑81 expecting a quick stretch‑your‑legs stop and ended up in one of the coolest caverns…read moreI've seen. Shenandoah Caverns goes way deeper than you'd think, with great lighting and a totally different feel from Luray Caverns. Not as big of a grand opening room, but the descent is awesome -- and yes, the elevator still works, which my knees appreciated. Inside the main building, you get an old‑school flat‑top diner vibe with burgers, grilled cheese, BLTs, hot dogs, and hand‑spun milkshakes made from Walmart ice cream. Simple, nostalgic, and exactly what you want after climbing around underground. Then there's the surprise museum of antique animatronic storefront displays and parade float bears. They still move. They're cool. They're creepy. They're unforgettable. If you're driving by, stop. Seriously.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this little tour. The caverns are beautiful and gorgeously…read morelit. We also were with a very small group of five including the guide so we had time to leisurely stroll. Pls note, the Main Street of Yesteryear was very disappointing and honestly, kinda creepy. Those animatronics defintely move around at night when the place is closed. It's a very small exhibit, took all of five minutes to walk through.